Pulpo

As I stepped out of my house this morning, setting out with my host dad to get a notebook for school, I never thought it would have ended the way it did.

After buying the notebook, we met up with my host mom and went to a bar. No, I didn’t overload on cerveza. Instead, I tried patatas y pulpo, or what the Americans would call potatoes and octopus. Yes, I tried octopus today. My first impression when I saw those suction cups staring back at me from the plate was, “hell no”. But then I started thinking… this is all about experience, so why not? So I grabbed my fork, picked up a piece of the suction cupped lined tentacle, and chewed it up. It was kind of disgusting.

But in the most delicious way possible… if that makes sense.

Un Gran Momento Hermoso

You know when you’re driving on the open highway with the windows rolled down, blue skies, and the music turned up, or when you’re at the beach with your favorite people, laughing and taking it all in… or whatever makes you content, and you kind of get that rush of emotions? The kind that makes you realize that no matter what, everything will be okay. The kind that makes life feel perfect, and lets you take the simple things and create something completly beautiful. Well, the past 1,987,200 seconds of my life have been like one really big moment, where that’s exactly how I feel.

As I was walking through the rainy streets about an hour ago at dusk, through the puddles, and in the park, I had an epiphany. I’m so damn lucky. What a life I’m living. It honestly feels just like a dream. Unreal.

Living La Vida Loca

Things have been going pretty well lately. My Spanish is greatly improving, and I’m becoming closer with my host family, so I have little to complain about, and I’m almost done my 2nd week of school. Time is flying.

Yesterday in school, my class of 28 took a vote to elect a “president” and “vice president” that will represent my fellow students students and me. The teacher started reading off the names on the papers that the kids had written down, and before I knew it I had multiple tally marks next to my name. I’m pretty sure everyone was just messing around, and they all know I wouldn’t be able to do much for them considering I’m not bilingual, or anywhere close. Me and another student were tied for VP, but the teacher gave it to the other student, even though kids were chanting my name. They were making fun of me, but not in the terrible way. Everyone is very nice, and they all make me feel welcome… at least in English. Who knows what they say about me in Spanish; but I’m not too worried.

It’s weird because everyone knows my name. Today I was coming home from school and as I walked past a group of kids they all said “Bye Emily!”, and I don’t think I have ever met any of them. A couple steps later I passed a couple more students and heard “…Philadelphia” as I walked away. It’s just so different from what I’m used too.

I had my first math exam today, and let’s just say that I calculated that it isn’t possible for me to get higher than 56%. It’s difficult because some of the problems were word problems. So I just took the words I knew, guessed what the sentence might say, and created a problem. I’m not too sure about a couple of the answers I got, but then again, I only answered a couple questions.

Like I said, the days have been flying by here. Some times when I’m sitting in school, and trying to understand physics and chemistry in a language I hardly know it’s so mentally draining. It’s easy to become frustrated easily. I try to remind myslef that I’m here for the experience, and even though school is important, I’m not going to stress myself out. Life has been nothing but beautiful so far here in Madrid, and everyday brings new surprises and memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colegio Nuestra Señora Del Pilar

The title of this post is the name of the school I have been attending over the past 4 days. It is incredibly beautful, and looks nothing like any building I have seen in Pennsylvania. The first day was the worst because I had NO idea what I was doing, and I didn’t know anyone in my class. Unlike North Penn, I stay in one class and the teachers come to me. There is a set group of kids, which can be nice because I’m getting to know some of them pretty well.

Thankfully the people are all SO nice. I was worried that the other students would exclude me, or wouldn’t talk to me because I don’t know Spanish very well. It’s honestly the complete opposite. I have kids coming up to me and saying hi, introducing themselves, and sometimes their friends as well. Everyone can tell that I’m the new student, partially because there are only 150 kids in the grade so they know when there is someone new; and partially because of the way I look. I’m the only blonde in a 50 mile radius.

The only problem I have had so far is with my math teacher who doesn’t seem to understand that I don’t understand. All my other teachers realize that at this point I’m just trying to learn the language, not what they’re teaching. I was called out in front of the class by him… in Spanish. He knows I don’t know the language, and he knows how to speak english, so I’m not sure why he did that. He was questioning why I wasn’t taking notes. First of all, if I don’t know what you are saying, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO WRITE? I couldn’t make out half of the words he was saying, so my notes wouldn’t be good, or accurate. Second of all, what am I going to use them for? Studying? I can’t use them if they are just a random string of Spanish words with some numbers here and there. He also accused me of copying off another student today because I had the right answer. Not to toot my own horn here, but math is one of my stronger subjects. Not that I’m in calculus, or get a 100% on every test but I usually know what I’m doing and learn quickly. I finally felt like I could understand, then he just made me feel really stupid. Sorry for ranting, but it made me a little angry. Other than that things have been going well, and I found out yesterday I don’t have to take french, “lengua” which is like our english classes, or english. Instead I can go to the library like a study hall.

I actually really enjoy walking to school in the morning and in the afternoons. I get some time by myself, and the mornings have been a little chilly, so it’s prefect weather. I can get up as late as 7:45, which is 20 minutes after class starts in North Penn, so I’m a little spoiled right now.

This weekend I am spending time with my host parents, and a new friend that Blanca introduced me to.  We are going to a nearby village because there are apparently many cool things to see. Tuesday I will be going to the police station to get my “residency” card… or something like that, so I won’t have to go to school. This is fine by me, because who doesn’t like a day off?

I have had a great first week of school, but I’m glad it’s over with, because it was very stressful. As of now, we get out at 1:50, but starting September 24th, we start getting out at 5:15, which I am not looking forward to. It’s all good though, I love it here! My first 9 days here have gone better than expected… in every aspect.

Spanglish

I feel like it has been so long since I stepped off the plane, into Madrid, and started this new journey, but today is only my 5th day here. I start school tomorrow, and I have never been so unsure about anything.

Its not that I am scared of not making friends, or not being able to find my way around, it is all about the language. It wont be like me and my host parents having “spanglish” conversations.  I wont have Blanca by my side to tell me what the teachers are saying, and from here on out, it is just me, on my own… but  I guess thats how you learn.

Earlier today Blanca and I walked around Madrid and she showed me a park near the house, and its absolutely gorgeous. There are multiple, very big statues and a large pond in the center of the park. I believe it is called something like “Radito Park.” Dont quote me on that, but thats what it sounds like.  Over the past couple of days, I have met four girls, 2 of which I will be in the same school with, so it will be nice to see a familiar face or two tomorrow.

I have finally adjusted to the times of things around here, such as eating lunch at 2 and dinner at 10 or 11. My host family says I eat very little, but I havent had a really big appetite since I got here. I have asked multiple people, and they all say that Americans have a reputation to always be eating a lot, but I have never had a meal as big as these spanish lunches. Today, or about 2 hours ago, I tried rabbit. Let me just say, it was pretty disgusting, and watching my host dad play around with the rabbits foot along with the still attatched nail didnt make it any easier to try.

I miss my family. A lot, and I think Im becoming homesick. Its tough because I feel like I have been here for weeks, when in reality, it has only been 5 days. It makes me realize how long 10 months can really be… how long I have to wait to see them again, and it does suck to miss those small moments of laughter and random joking with the people you love, missing the memories. Thankfully I have been lucky enough to get a good host family that cares about me, and I do feel comfortable here. So dont get me wrong, Im not complaining, I just miss “home”.

Those are the most interesting things that have happened so far, and before I forgot about them, I wanted to inform those who care. Lastly, while I have been here, I have recieved about 3,592,710,385 looks from people wondering why the straight-up, blonde hair, blue eyed, irish/german, white girl was wondering around the Madrid with a typical spanish family. Its like they have never seen an American before.

In 12 hours I have to be at the school for “presentacion”, so I should probably call it a night. Buenas noches.

(Excuse my lack of apostrophes, but Im using a spanish laptop and Im about 90% sure that there isnt one present on the keyboard. Also I had no desire to proof read this, because Im lacking a good nights rest. I apologize for anything thats is poorly written or you are unable to understand.)

The First Days

Today is Friday, September 7th. It is my 3rd day here, and my sleeping schedule is still a little messed up. My host family is very nice, and thankfully I have my host sister Blanca around most of the time to help translate, because my host parents know limited English, and I know little spanish. I can pick up words that I know, and I understand some things, but it is still very difficult to communicate with them. We all get along very well though.

The past couple of days we have been living in Leganes, Madrid, which is where the family lives in the summer because the house is built a little bit underground so it is cooler. On Sunday we will move to their flat in the center of Madrid in time for school. Both of their houses are very beautiful, and both are comfortable to live in. It is so different here. Everyone walks, and uses the metro or train. Rarely do they use cars. The food here is not the same, they have the same types of food, but it all taste slighty different. So far I have tried ¨lomo¨, which is the meat from a pig’s back, and lamb. Both were surprisingly good. One of the biggest differences I learned about so far is at breakfast, if they have coffee in the morning, they put their cereal in it. The family was very confused as to why I had coffee seperate from my cereal.

Yesterday we went into Madrid by train/metro and everyone was dressed up and the city was very alive, because it was Vogue Fashion Night. During “Fashion Night”, stores are open later, and some serve champagne. We then went out to dinner at TGI Fridays which was nice because it was like being in America.

Today I went with Miguel (my host father), and Blanca to sign up for Spanish classes online, because it will help me to learn the language faster and make it easier for me to learn in school. I can tell I’m improving my Spanish already. Sometimes when I am typing to my friends via facebook, or e-mailing family I keep inserting simple Spanish words where they shouldn’t be. For example: whenever I write the word “with” , my mind always wants to write “con”, which is spanish for the word “with”. I also realized yesterday that the voice in my head is still in English, but now it has a strong Spanish accent.

I know I am no where close to being adjusted to this new life, or the language, but I’m really enjoying it here. I miss everyone back home so much, but I have been talking with them a lot so I don’t feel as home sick. The first day was the hardest, and right now I think I am just high on life from being here, and my home sickness will get worse, but until then I’m just enjoying these days in Leganes. So far, it has been great!

Just Call Me the Champion of Packing..

It seem like just yesterday I was sitting in 9th period when K031 called my teacher asking me to come to the office. I remember impatiently making what seemed like the longest walk from A pod in the high school, to K pod. I remember Mr. Brett saying “We’ve chosen you to represent North Penn abroad in Madrid.” and after that it was just a blur until now.. two days before I’m leaving. It’s so weird to think that in just two days I’ll be two hours into my nine hour flight.

I can’t believe that the time has finally come for me to leave the country. It all doesn’t feel real quite yet, although come Tuesday I’m sure that the emotions and reality will set in quickly. I don’t even want to think about saying goodbye to my family and close friends, but it’s comforting knowing that there are things such as Skype, Facebook, and e-mail that will make it easier to communicate.

Anyway, to explain the meaning of the title, you must first know that Delta Airlines has a rule that your check-in bag can’t weigh more that 50lbs. Today is my second day of packing and yesterday, you couldn’t see the floor. I didn’t, or should I say couldn’t, sleep in my bed last night because on it sat everything I was planning on taking. I can’t explain how much I feared weighing my bag and it being way over 50lbs.. what would I leave behind? Me and my step mom spent a good hour “rolling” up my clothing to create the most space possible, while listening to my dad try and read an e-mail in spanish from my host dad, which was way funnier than you would think.  After successfully fitting everything I needed into my bag, my brother kindly weighed it. It only weighed 37.8 pounds. The amount of relief I felt was too great to explain. Seriously, you don’t even know.

As of now, I just have my carry on to pack, and a lot of goodbyes to deal with. Thankfully, this past summer I was able to spend plenty of time with the most important people in my life, and created enough memories with them to keep me content until I arrive back in Pennsylvania.