A Broad Abroad: August 2011

I am very glad that I signed up for the group flight because they made it pretty easy for me. Directors and "Campus Ambassadors" met us off the flight and walked us through the terminal to get our bags. Once I collected my overweight bags, I headed for the Currency Counter. Although I was disheartened when my 102 American dollars left me with 64 euros, I stayed optimistic and tired for the coming adventure.

A CA led me into a taxi out front and translated the address I had on my phone to him, so I would go to the right place. I went to the Aluni office to pick up my keys. A good hour or so later I was on a metro subway with one of the Aluni women who was nice enough to show me to the apartment and help me with my bags. We conversed mainly in English because she wanted to practice, and after an 8 hour sleepless flight, that was okay by me.

Up the elevator to the fourth floor I found my new apartment. No one home, I was sad to find. To the left when one enters is my room. I had another key to open my room. It was pretty bare bones when I first walked in, but a good size. I'll upload pics tomorrow of it now with my things in it tomorrow when I'm not so exhausted and jetlagged. There's no air conditioning in the apartment, but with all the windows and fans, it's okay. I've heard a few complaints about the weather, but I find it quite pleasant so far. It's warm, but not stuffy or humid, just the right consistency. With air flowing, it's very manageable.

Leah warned me beforehand that she was not impressed with the apartment when she arrived, so I entered skeptically expecting to find rats and molded food. It wasn't that extreme, but the apartment was clearly experiencing a lack of attention. The kitchen was okay. It featured a washing machine, small refrigerator, stove, microwave, and a clothesline out the window for drying. No oven, though. The bathrooms, next door to each other on the opposite side of the apartment from me, were not in the best shape. A panel was coming loose on the frame, Leah complains of the shower not draining, which I can look forward to tomorrow morning, and she found hair all over the place. I'm lucky to have her, because she took pictures and has been complaining to the Aluni company for days, though with little response.

Anyway, I was simply happy to have my own apartment, my own space. I unpacked a suitcase, made my bed, and decided a nap was an order. I hoped that when I woke up, Leah would be here. Lucky me, two hours later who wakes me up but my wish and friend! We chatted and decided to go run some errands (get food, buy her some sheets, etc). Since she had been here for a few days prior, Leah knew her way around.
Stores here are different. The store we went to for the sheets had a display in the window of towels and bedding. According to Leah's informant, stores feature a product in the windows for a few weeks, then clear out the merchandise and start selling something new like lawnmowers. If you don't get it when you can, tough luck.We got our supplies and headed back. Trying to set up the internet, we had some malfunctions with the router. There was also a broken doorknob involved. Humble features of my new home.

Soon Silina and her boyfriend arrived. Silina is from Holland, and her boyfriend is visiting for a week or two. They speak English, but no Spanish. I look forward to getting to know both of them better.

Leah had made plans to meet up with some people from her program she had met, so I tagged along. We met up with Yona from Romania and walked around the Plaza Mayor for a bit. She had a thick accent and a warm demeanor, casually discussing her whereabouts. Though she is from Romania, Yona goes to school in Denmark, but is studying abroad in Madrid. How cultured!

Soon it was time to meet up with the rest of the group in front of none other than Mickey D's. Yes, it is a sit down restaurant here. I sincerely hope that the menu is a bit different here, as word is that it is very pricey. We met two people outside when we arrived- a boy from Paris and a girl from Holland. No one knew each other who was meeting, so we began getting to know each other. As we started talking, more people walked up, and more, and more. Soon we had 16 international students discussing their cultures. If memory serves there were two German girls, two Dutch girls, a Danish boy and girl, two Finnish girls, an Australian boy, an Italian boy, an English boy, the French boy, and the three of us.

We all decided that though Spaniards don't eat dinner until 10 or so, we weren't accustomed and were all hungry. Yona suggested a place nearby that would be good, so we began our journey. Our journey continued for about forty-five minutes as people disagreed and changed their minds and couldn't decide. Finally Leah and I forced the mob to a joint she had been to the day before.

I was surprised to find that many people on the trip did not speak Spanish. They struggled to read the menus with their pocket dictionaries. The meal lasted well over 2 hours, and I was glad. With such an eclectic group of people, conversation would not get dull. They laughed at my Texan "y'all"'s, and we all swapped stories of the norm in our country of origin.

Exhausted, Leah and I bowed out and decided to call it a night. Tomorrow I have orientation and am very excited to see what the group of people at my school are like. I am glad to have met the people in Leah's program and look forward to getting to know them more, but I hope that I can learn about Spanish culture as well. I am, after all, in the capital.

Sidebar, as I write this, I can see and hear through my open window a man across the way with a tambourine shaking it to the music he and his companions are creating. Although sure to be obnoxious in a few moments when I am trying to get some shut-eye, I enjoy the proximity and the peace of the residents right now.

If today was any indication of things to come, I think I'll like it here a lot more than my last visit to España!

Some snacks, books, music, and an oversized suitcase or two and off I go! I'm spending the night in Chicago tonight with a Crate and Barrel relative in the area, Maria. She has been a wonderful and gracious host I am happy to report! My flights to Chicago were pleasant- the first I upgraded to first class so my suitcases wouldn't cost me more than the plane ticket. Then from Dallas to Chicago, I got into a wonderful book donated to the Paige travel fund by Aunt Diji.

Tomorrow is the big day and I can hardly wait! Leah, my friend from Richmond with whom I'm rooming, is already there. She reports that our three other roommates are from Holland, France, and Russia! I hope our cultures don't clash too much, but provide us all with a new worldview after the trip.

Although I'm very disappointed about missing the White Panda concert at Richmond the other night, I do feel lucky to be far out of the path of Hurricane Irene and the random earthquake last week. Please Richmond readers, be safe!

Well, I have an eight hour flight and a time change to look forward to tomorrow, so I should get some shut-eye. Expect lots more very soon!