The REAL Housewives of Madrid

I really think it should be mandated that weekends need to be for three days instead of two. The weekends go by so quickly! I spend five days looking forward to the weekend, only to see the days pass by in the blink of an eye. It's just unfair. Anyways, I was planning on getting a rough draft finished of my paper that's due in two weeks, but here we are on Saturday evening and I'm staring at a blank screen.

This afternoon, I went to a friend of the family's (that I live with) house. All of the moms got together and the kids played. All sixteen of them. Anyways, I ate lunch with the moms and it was pure comedy. The house we went to was an actual house and it was beautiful. This was my first time in a house here. I mean, a brick home with a backyard. One of my first graders from school was there with his mother and sister. I may actually start baby-sitting for them every once in awhile, because the parents go out every weekend and they live close to me. They all sat around talking about everything - kids, having babies, c-sections, etc. It was quite hilarious. Of course, I couldn't really chime in and say, "Oh yeah, I was in so much pain after my c-section too!" But I found it quite amusing. And also a good reminder that I'm nowhere near having children of my own. Come to think of it, it was a reminder to myself that I don't want to have any. (Especially after hearing about their childbirth pains. I promise every time I hear about someone giving birth, I cringe and shudder. I guess it also doesn't help that I get a pain in my stomach hearing about it....) I was planning on taking a bus back to town, but the mother of my student drove me back into town. It was only a fifteen minute ride, so she said she didn't mind.

Anyways, as I was sitting in this gorgeous home with the women, I realized that this was a page straight out of the TV series The Real Housewives of.... Some of you all remember that back in the fall, I blogged about passing the days with the Real Housewives of Madrid at the pool. But after today, I realized that the first group is just a bunch of housewife wannabees. Kinda like the trashy version. This group of housewives are legitimate. Highly educated and driving BMWs and Mercedes....My kind of people!

I had to be at school today because we had activities planned for the Amigos de Jesus kids. We celebrated Carnaval and they all wore costumes. It was fun, but I must say I am beyond exhausted. To go from a house with 16 kids to a school activity with another 50 will wear you out! This is the earliest I'm going to bed in awhile. My 11:00 bedtime hasn't been working out so well for me lately and I've been tired. I need to get back on it.

I hope everyone had a relaxing Saturday!

Planning for the Future

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last blogged. Mid-terms started right after I posted the last blog, so as you all can imagine, it was an extremely stressful time for me. I am really pleased with my test results - I got A's in both of my Spanish classes :) Funny, the only C I got was in History and I've always been a straight-A student in that subject. I was so worried with my other tests that I barely studied for History and it showed. Unfortunately, I have no time to relax - I have a presentation and a paper due in two weeks, followed by three more papers and another test in five weeks. No time for the weary. As the mother of one of my students tells me, I go sin parar (without stopping).

The weather here has been cold. Like really cold. We even had a wintry mix of snow and rain today, but only for ten minutes or so. It was funny, because for a second I thought I was back in Louisville - last night on my walk home, I noticed that a lot of buildings had put salt out on the sidewalk. Everyone was freaking out that there was a chance of snow! Last weekend, the weather was beautiful of course. I missed out on the chance to go to the beach with friends from work because I had my economy mid-term, but the family who I live with went out of town, so I had the flat to myself. I cooked my own meals :) and ate in the dining room with the windows open. For a moment, I thought I was sitting on the deck of a penthouse suite. (Hey, cut me some slack - I do live on the top floor of my building!) I enjoyed the peace and quiet! Saturday evening, a co-worker invited me to a performance of someone she knows. It showcased a dancer with a flamenco band. But they broke away from traditional flamenco music, playing a mix of flamenco, indie, and pop music. It was quite an interesting mix - very eclectic, but I loved it! It felt very "local" to me.

This week has also been a stressful week for me because I found out on Monday that I can actually graduate in December with a degree in Spanish with a minor in Political Science. I had to give it a lot of thought, because tuition is beyond expensive - what I pay for one semester is a down payment on a house! (And a nice one at that.) However, I had always thought I would study both Spanish and Political Science since I was in high school. I conferred with several professors and they all agreed that since it was just one more semester, I should stick around. I had also come to that decision on my own, because I felt that if I graduated early, I would be giving myself the short end of the stick - I was afraid that I would always regret my decision, especially since I would be so close. I have decided to stay, so I will be graduating next May.

I also found out on Wednesday about a trip to Israel during the month of July. A theology/sociology professor from school is taking a group of students to an archaeological dig site in Israel. Throughout the course of the month, the group will be taking trips to sites such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, etc. To say I want to go is an understatement. I have already applied for the trip and am waiting to find out whether or not I will be accepted. However, I have no clue how I am going to pay for the trip if I am selected. The trip in itself is $2200, plus airfare and money for a hostel on some occasions. I figure the trip will cost about $3500. And then I have to pay for tuition for the class, which is another $1700. Naturally, I don't have an extra $5,000 lying around. However, I have faith that if this trip is meant to be, then God will provide a way for me to pay for it. Depending on whether or not I make the trip, there is a chance I will not be back in Louisville until December....

Today, I had a conversation with my principal. I had decided awhile ago that after graduation I want to stay in Spain and continue to teach. Currently, I'm here on a student visa and it allows me to work 25 hours a week (which is full-time for teachers.) Next year since I will be in school, I will also be on the student visa. I decided to talk with my principal because I've heard how difficult it can be to obtain permission to work here in Spain if you're not from the European Union. The process is quite a pain - you must have an invitation from a company to work, but they must provide the government with many documents, including something like the past ten years worth of tax documents. Because of this, a lot of businesses don't want to offer positions to Americans, and honestly, I don't blame them. However, my principal told me today that it wouldn't be a problem for them to extend a job offer to me and that they would go through all of the necessary steps with the government! She was going to talk to the lady in charge of finances and administration and let her know that we were going to start the process in the fall! She told me that they are thrilled with my work so far and me as a person and that I've meshed so well with my co-workers :) I am so happy! I am beyond content with my job - I think I've said it before, but this is the first time in my life that I have absolutely no complaints about my job. My bosses are wonderful - truly a blessing!

I ask for your prayers as I'm reaching the point in my life where decisions that have serious implications on my future are needing to be made, that I have guidance and wisdom to make them. I really appreciate the few of you who send thoughtful messages and emails - it means so much.

One day we'll be together....

What a great week it's been. My school sponsors a school in Burkina Faso. Every year, they have an event to raise awareness about the school and the problems they face, mainly a shortage of food. This week, we had a run that all of the students participated in. Each day this week, a several grades ran laps in the park and/or at school. They found friends, families, and teachers to pledge money for each lap they completed. On Friday, we ended the week with a celebration assembly out on one of the patios. Each grade had representatives to place their collection into a basket. It was a beautiful, moving ceremony. Our theme song for the week was a song entitled, "One day we'll be together," by Bob Sinclair. It is a song that speaks of friendship and the importance of looking out for everyone because this world is yours and mine. Friday night, Amigos de Jesus had an event at school - our solitary dinner. People who came were served a garlic soup that is a typical dish in Africa, an apple, and water. The meal was to represent what the children who attend the school we sponsor eat on a daily basis and to remind us of how fortunate we are to have all the food we could possibly imagine. I had fun with my co-workers - we supervised the kids and helped clean up. Actually, a lifelong dream was fulfilled that night. When I was younger, I was always amazed by those huge dishwashers that were in the school cafeteria. I finally got to operate one! Although I have to admit, drying the dishes afterward with a hand towel wasn't so fun....After the dinner was over, I rode with my friend Eva to take another friend/co-worker home. Our friend Tamara, lives in the northern part of the city, and it's quite a way from the school. It was funny, because Tamara was telling us how to get home, and Eva told me I had to remember what she was saying, because she's not good with directions. Funny, the girl from Kentucky has to tell the Spaniard how to get back....Anyways, we followed her directions, but somehow ended up on a dead-end street and decided to look for the expressway instead. That took fifteen minutes to find, but we finally made it back.

Los Cotos

I had to wake up early Saturday morning because we had a field trip with Amigos de Jesus. We met at the Nuevos Ministerios train station at 9:30 am. It was pouring down rain and that kept a lot of kids home. We had a forty-minute train ride to Cercedilla and then had to switch trains and ride another one for 40 minutes. The second train reminded me of the train Daddy, Bart, and I rode from Lausanne to Gstaad, when we were in Switzerland a few years ago. We had to climb up the mountain and the train was old and slow. It was amazing to see snow within a matter of minutes and we climbed the hill. We finally arrived at a place called Los Cotos, which is on the border of Madrid and Castilla y Leon (the bordering comunidad - something similar to our version of states.) After changing shoes and putting on gloves, hats, etc, we walked up the hill from the train station. The area where we went was in a valley type thing - one hill on one side, facing another, with the road in the middle. The area was fenced off, and full of snow. The kids (and adults) had a blast! I was somewhat amused by the sleds here - they're made of plastic and really thin. They look like a toy shovel. Even the two seaters are really thin and cheap - nothing like the heavy duty sleds we have. However, they were tons of fun. I am forever grateful to my co-workers who loaned me nylon pants, gloves, and scarves. Isabel, the mother of the family who I live with, let me borrow a snow jacket she bought in Indiana last year. One of the students at the train station told me I wasn't prepared for the snow because I was wearing the wrong clothes. I had to agree with her. Everyone has snow pants and snow boots and here I was wearing my $20 black snow boots from Kmart. (The fashionable snow boots, not snow boots to hike up mountains). I had even thought I was doing good that morning to spray my boots with water protector. It didn't help one bit. My boots were completely drenched in water. Needless to say, I think those will be going in the trash pretty soon....Word of advice: Don't wear snow boots (uggs) to go sledding. They won't help you at all. I kept slipping and sliding and eventually fell. Finally, I decided it best to slide down the hill on my bottom until I reached the base.

Our snow family :)

Before we broke for lunch, the teachers had a race down the hill. Talk about pure comedy! My friend Conchi and I were on one sled and we won! It was quite hilarious. We ate lunch in the train station - that was an experience. It was packed and everyone was eating sandwiches. The entire time, I kept thinking about my mother, who would never have let us eat in such conditions. The bathrooms of course, had no toilet paper, but I figured that ahead of time and went in with kleenex. After our break, we walked back up the hill and made snowmen. My team created a family, complete with a puppy. We then walked back down the hill (well, in my case, slid down the hill) and began the journey home. The kids were still wound up and naturally, seemed to recharge. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep!


I was quickly reminded that I'm getting old for all of this. Last night, I got a cramp in my leg. Every year, I tell myself that sledding is dangerous and one of these days I'm going to get hurt. (Like the time I went sledding two years ago, and tried to be cool and snowboard down the hill. I fell immediately and came down hard on snow that had been covered in ice, that was covered by more frozen snow - this was the year we had the ice storm. My back hurt for six months....) But I'm such a big kid and can't resist. One of these days, I will learn. This morning I woke up in pain. My entire body was sore....Well, at least I have a year to recover until next year's trip....

This is probably the reason why I am sore....

I ended my day over at Eva's flat. She helped me study my Spanish literature because my test in on Wednesday. I'm so grateful to my co-workers! We then sat around and ate potato chips and cold fish that was marinated in vinegar - a typical Spanish tapa. I'm really getting into this Spanish thing :)

I'm off to bed. I hope tomorrow I'm not sore :(

Bi-Polar weather

So, I really thought a few weekends ago that spring was on its way to Madrid. Boy, was I wrong! The weather this week has been completely bi-polar! One minute it's sunny and blue skies, and a few minutes later, dark clouds are rolling in, the wind is so strong it pushes people back, and the rain is freezing cold. Last night I had to walk home in the rain. It wasn't fun because the wind was so heavy, I promise it was out to get my umbrella! I thought the poor thing wasn't going to make it, but it held up! I also realized that it wasn't the best day to wear fishnets....I dressed up yesterday because we had administrator visits at school, so I thought I should look professional. I begged my kids to behave themselves. Today, the sky was so weird - one side would be blue and the other side gray, filled with clouds. I started off the day wearing sunglasses and ended walking up underneath my umbrella. Thankfully, the wind was nice to me tonight :)

At school all this week, the kids have had a race for the cause type thing. The school actually sponsors and school in Burkina Faso, in western Africa. This year's "carrera" was to contra hambre (raise money for hunger). It was so much fun! Tomorrow, we are having a celebration to end the week.

Mid-terms started on Tuesday for me - I got an A on my Spanish for Business test!!!! This weekend (with the exception of Saturday, when I go play in the snow with Amigos de Jesus!) is going to be devoted to studying and more studying, No relaxing for me this weekend :( I have three tests on Wednesday, one on Thursday, and the final one on Friday. Luckily, I have a five pound bag of Sour Patch Kids to get me through it all!

Just another example of how blessed I am with wonderful co-workers/principals this year: in my Spanish literature class, we have to give a presentation in a few months on a topic or author. I spoke with my professor after class yesterday about researching Santa Teresa de Jesus (my school is based on her principles). I explained to my professor that I worked at the school and wanted to research her anyways. She gave me the okay and I was telling a co-worker about it this morning. Soon after, my co-worker ran me down and had two books with her based on Santa Teresa - one is an illustrated, comic-type book on her life that belongs to my principal, and the other is a small book that has the majority of her writings. The latter is an extra copy that belonged to the school, so they gave it to me! How lucky am I! Plus, my co-workers offered to help me with my presentation!

Just another perfect example of how God has blessed me since I've been here!

Discovering new places

One of the things I love about living here is how many places (i.e. cafes, restaurants, etc.) there are. The first time I was here, I didn't stray far from my neighborhood - I took the metro to school and came home, and that was pretty much it. However, in the past few weeks, I have discovered other places in my neighborhood, and some that aren't in my neighborhood....For example, I'm writing this blog as I'm sitting in a bagel shop. This is my first time eating bagels in Spain! This place is amazing - it reminds me of a Bardstown Road spot - music, tables, couches, dim lighting - all in a little confined space. It's quite cozy. Plus, they have free wi-fi, which is always a plus.

The food doesn't hurt either. Bagel sandwiches. I walked down here this afternoon to get some peace and quiet. Sometimes, living in a house with six kids can be hectic and loud. Mid-terms start for me on Tuesday, so I needed to come down here and focus. However, the loud-mouthed woman one table over from me isn't helping at all. She was here with two friends and they were anxiously waiting on Charlie. Well, about thirty minutes ago, Charlie showed up, much to her delight. This woman has not stopped talking and I've been here for two hours....

Anyways, I'm looking forward to spring. I can't wait just to walk around and find even more new places. I've found that it's best to wander and to get lost on purpose. That's how I've discovered some of my favorite places here....I also think that's how life's journey should be. I always think that life's best things come to us when we go out and find them. You can't sit around and wait for things to come to you.

This entire move was something I decided to do, for me. And so many good things have happened in my life since making the decision to move. I went out to find my journey and in doing so, found myself.

An evening with La Furia Roja

Spain vs. Colombia, February 10th, 2011. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

I've always been one to enjoy football (soccer.) I even played when I was little, at the YMCA. My love for football started back in 2008, when I was here in Madrid. The Euro Cup was going on and Sol told me one evening that everyone watched the games in Plaza de Colon, in the center of the city. I went to one game, and the rest is history. That was the summer I fell in love with not only football, but the Spanish national team. I cringed in 2009 when we lost to USA (still can't believe it!) in the semis of the Confederations Cup. And last summer during the World Cup, I think I drove all of my friends, family, and those who follow me on twitter, to the point of insanity. For one month straight, all I could do, think, tweet, was about football. I even bribed all of my family with Spanish food on the day of the championship match. Looking back, it's amazing that I didn't suffer a heart attack in July, after the 1-0 win against Germany in the semis (a Euro Cup 08 final rematch) and the 1-0 WC final game against The Netherlands (a team who I can't hate, because their jerseys are my favorite color....)

Anyways, I have been dying to go to a football game here. The tickets are really expensive, even for the nose bleed section. Last night, the Spanish national team had a friendly match against Colombia, and guess who got to go?! ::raises hand:: ME!!!! Boy, was it worth the wait. The plan was to go and buy tickets at the gate and meet a friend from work. Turns out, my friend got me and my friend tickets because he is a coach for one of the youth teams of Athletico Madrid (the other La Liga club in the city). Our seats were in the 15th row. FIFTEENTH. I almost cried. We were so close to the field, it was unreal. I could actually make out the faces of David Villa, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, etc. David Villa almost broke Raul's record of 44 international goals with the Spanish team, literally right in front of my eyes. His wide-open shot went just left of the goal. We barely won, 1-0. Silva scored with four minutes left. We played pretty crummy, but at least we pulled out a win.

The evening was beyond amazing - I still can't believe I was actually there!

The view from my seat....And I didn't zoom in at all. Just to give you an idea on how close to the field I really was....

La vida "Typical Spanish"

I am really slacking this semester in the blog department!!!! Let me recap my weekend. It was a "typical Spanish" weekend. This phrase is somewhat of a joke between my co-workers and I. I'm not even sure how it started. I think it has something to do with the fact that we have weekly "English lunches", so we needed a Spanish counterpart.

Anyways, Friday after work, I went with some co-workers to a cafe and we relaxed after a long week at work. Several of my friends were going on a field trip with a group of kids from school. The group is called, "Amigos de Jesus" (Friends of Jesus.) They invited me to come along. We took the kids to a museum in the northern suburbs of the city. The metro ride in itself took at least thirty minutes, one way. Imagine sixty kids in a confined space. Scary. But I had a good time. After we made it back to school, a few of us went and hung out for awhile.

Sunday, was a "typical Spanish" day. I had tons of fun, but I was so tired! We met at El Rastro (the Sunday, outdoor market) and walked around. We then walked to La Latina and went to a cafe. This was followed by walking to Plaza Mayor, where we eat calamari sandwiches. We then went to Retiro Park and enjoyed the sun. Finally, we ended the day in Goya and watched the Real Madrid game. I really felt Spanish this day! It was really nice to walk around town - we went to places I had never explored before. I really love my co-workers. We're all around the same age and I have lots of fun with them. We also started planning future excursions, like a ski trip and spending a weekend in a casa rural (out in the countryside). On Saturday, we are meeting at someone's flat and we are going to cook "typical Spanish" food and eat. I'm really happy to have found a group of Spaniards to hang out with, plus it's really nice that we are all the same age. I feel so old sometimes, especially at the university!

It didn't hurt either that the weather this weekend was gorgeous. Even today, it was in the sixties! Tomorrow, I MAY go to a football game. The Spanish national team is playing the Colombian national team and another co-worker may be going. I'm really excited about that if I get to go!!!!

Ahh, how I love the "typical Spanish" life....