one of those days

I had stomach ache today so laid around watching Beatles videos after class. I now know all the words to "Let It Be," so I'm trying not to feel like I wasted a day in Spain laying around :/

gringa

friend: you don't look too much like the other gringas

me: i don't? how come?

friend: well. you're short. all the gringos are so tall and loud.

I think that's a win.

Friday: Spent the day walking around Alcobendas with my friend Enoc. He's looking for a job so we went to every clothing store/fast food joint to hand out his resume. Then there was ice cream. Dolcelatte, the Argentine heladeria, has the most amazing ice cream. Ever. And I have tried a lot of ice creams. I'm normally not a fan of mint-chocolate chip, but the kind at Dolcelatte has so much chocolate chip in it, I'll be a fan for life.

That night, I went to Plaza Norte, a big mall, with Sheila, Josue, and Enoc. After walking around for a while, we ate at this place called "Cien Malanditos" (I'm pretty sure I'm spelling it wrong...) Basically, it's "100 tiny sandwiches." And there really are a hundred different sanwiches to try. I only got four though; tortilla and ali oli, chicken and ali oli, lomo with queso, and salmon with brie. I have no idea what kind of meat "lomo" is, but it was awesome. I also tried some traditional Spanish ham that was very good too.

Saturday: My day-time was very lazy on Saturday, but that night was La Noche en Blanco: The Night in White. There are a ton of museums, concerts, plays, movies, and other activites, all free to the public--all happening very late at night. We got into the National Museum of Natural Sciences at about 10 p.m. Afterward, we went to tour the soccer stadium where Real Madrid plays. It was awesome. We got home about 3:30 a.m. Needless to say, I went to the LATE service at church on Sunday. Here, the second service starts at 1: 00 p.m.

After church, I stood around visiting with everyone for a while. There was a very spirited argument about Barcelona versus Madrid happening in the parking lot and it was hilarious to watch. After leaving the church, I had a 'mixto' kebab with Sheila and Josue at this Middle-Eastern place across the street from the seminary. Mixtos are amazing. And huge. So I had mixto leftovers for dinner.

Monday: Today I talked to my professor about my student ID card, then took the train to the University of Comillas to buy a text-book. It might seem like a boring day, but every time I use public transportation, it's an adventure.

I got to talk to the family on Skype yesterday--pretty awesome!

hasta luego

on tha grind

friend: "Whitney, what does it mean to be "on the green?"

me: "Like in golf? You know, the 'putting green.' "

friend: "Really, 'on the green,' G-R-I-N-D....?"

me: "Oh no no no... that's different... umm, the Spanish verb is 'empujar...' but, it's like slang, you know?"

friend: (blank look)

me: "check out urbandictionary.com"

Classes

Classes started Tuesday in the seminary and so far... so good. The continuous Spanish in various accents makes my head spin sometimes, but I am really enjoying everything so far. I have:

New Testament, Old Testament, Philosophy, History of Christianity, Christian Education, and a research class. The first four are very reading-intensive, while the last two are practicum based. After classes, I spend my time studying, playing cards or soccer, and eating with friends. I spend a lot of time playing soccer, but more time watching it. A Spanish team is playing someone, somewhere, basically every night.

I also learned how to watch "The Big Bang Theory" on the internet in Spain! HULU is not streaming in Europe yet. Boooo.

Interesting fact: My friends tell me that people in Spain don't floss their teeth because they think it will separate their teeth and make them gap-toothed... even if that's true, I'm too big a fan of my Dentek single use floss-sticks to give them up.

Tomorrow... class from 8:30-9:30, then going to get my ID card (since I'm an extranjera--foreigner, I have to register with the local authorities), then Plaza Norte with Sheila and Enoc.

Have a great day and good luck to the GANG! Break lots of legs at TSU!

Getting there is half the fun and all the time

To get to Immanuel Baptist Church, Madrid:

Leave seminary. Cross street to train station. Ride train to Nuevos Ministerios. Exit Nuevos Ministerios. Take special service bus to Avenida de America (except it's not really Avenida de America, it's the street that crosses it). Cross street to Avenida de America. Enter subway station. Go down two floors to Autobus terminal. Take bus 114, 115, 200, 214, 221, or 222. Get off at first stop. Then walk.

...I miss my car...

El Prado y El Escorial

Wednesday: I took the C4 line to Atocha station in the center of Madrid. Public transportation will hopefully begin to freak me out less as time goes on. Luckily, there are signs everywhere! In Spanish, of course.

I went to El Museo del Prado (The Prado Museum) and spent a good 4 and 1/2 hours. I will have to go back though; that wasn't nearly enough time. I saw some of my favorite works of art that, until this point, I had only seen in text books!

For example:

Caravaggio: "David Vencedor de Goliat"

Francesco Furini: Lot y sus Hijas"

Pedro Pablo Rubens: "El Rapto de Europa"

Pedro Nunez del Valle: "La Adoracion de los Reyes"

And of course... everything the Prado has by GOYA, including the Pinturas Negras and the "Maja Vestida" and the "Maja Desnuda."

Thursday: Thursday I went to the Real monasterio de El Escorial in El Escorial, Spain. It's about a 45-50 minute ride by train. The city itself is very picturesque, with wandering streets and buildings of every color. The Monastery was magnificent! After walking up a hill that makes Jaybird look like a kiddie skate-board ramp, we reached the monastery at the top. It houses museums of painting, tapestry, and architecture, as well as a grand library full of scientific gadgets. One of these gadgets was a gigantic, gold-plated model of the solar system based on Ptolemy's model. (As in, Earth at the center, everyone revolves around us) There were also beautiful gardens that offered a great view of some of the Monastery's architecture. If you are ever inclined to visit El Escorial, there are some things to remember:

1. No photos of the OUTSIDE from the INSIDE. Lame rule. But it's true. And security will hear you turning on your camera from a mile away. Trust me.

2. If you cannot read Spanish, I recommend a guided tour, or at least, an audio guide. The tapestries and some of the paintings have English captions, but most do not. It's a beautiful place, but no one wants to visit and not realize what they're seeing. You might miss the fact that Escorial houses Taller del Bosco's "The Creation." And that would be a shame. The Monastery also has a pretty big collection of Van der Weyden's work.

When I got back, I was in a cleaning mood. I cleaned my floors, baseboards, and bathroom, then rearranged my room. I think I finally found a way to disguise my "Wall of Electronics" (see fb for details).

I am trying to figure out how to put up pictures on here, but it never quite works. Until then, I'll be putting them all on Facebook.

Missing you all. Hasta Luego!

Whitney

Mercadona, Like Sam's Club on crack

Going to the super market in Spain is a lot like being on the floor of the New York stock exchange.  Not that I've ever been on the floor of the New York stock exchange, but the crowding, the noise, and all people trying to get the best deal is pretty much the same.  Mercadona is a multi-level super market with underground and above ground parking.  The prices of fruits, vegetables, and rice are cheaper than the U.S., however; PEANUT BUTTER is 3.50 Euro for a cup the size of a small yogurt.  Sad day.  The super market also has these things, like the baskets we have @ Food City, but with tiny wheels and a handle to drag behind you.  Between the rolling baskets, buggies, the gigantic, rideable, cleaning  machines, and the couples making out (yes, I saw it three times: once, in the meat section, once in the yogurt section, and once near the trash bags), grocery shopping is quite an adventure.  

Today was spent walking around Alcobendas, a city of waaay over 100,000, that my friends say is a small pueblo.  Which, compared to Madrid (6 million), I guess it is.  I went to a mall called La Gran Manzana, "The Big Apple." There, two people asked me for directions (like I know?), which reinforces in my mind the notion that I am blending in.  All the girls here wear skinny jeans with sandals or flats.  I wear skinny jeans with sandals or flats.  It's wonderful.  A man also tried to convince me that 94.00 Euro is a good price for a pair of Pumas.  I don't think so.  After the mall, I went to Dolcelatte, an Argentine ice cream shop that I'm sure I will visit often.  

Then... a siesta.  I also talked to Brandi on Skype.  Love seeing her pretty face all the way in South Korea!  The time difference for her (11 hours ahead of Tennessee), and the time difference for me (6 hours ahead of Tennessee), works well because when I get back to the apartment for a siesta, she is about to go to bed; in Tennessee... you are all just waking up :/

Youtube tells me that my country won't allow me to watch videos from channels like MTV because of copyright ordinances.  Lame.  But there is a way to do everything.  Check out PriscillaRenea and her acoustic version of "Dollhouse."  Love it. 

Time to read a little and then dinner with friends.  After dinner, it's basically just like college in Tennessee... we watch soccer and get on facebook and study.  

Ayer (yesterday)

Sunday is a big day in Spain. Very big.  My day was incredibly busy.  I spent the morning with Oscar and Noami at Immanuel Baptist Church in Madrid, where Dr. Dixon preaches.  The church is English-speaking and very diverse.  I met people from Africa, Holland, Japan, England, and some other exchange students from the states.  After that, we went to la Iglesia Bautista de Buen Pastor, a Baptist church.  People keep asking me if the services in Spanish are different from churches I've been to in America, but honestly... all church services are different and this one was no exception.  It wasn't wildly different, no more than going to First Baptist and then First Methodist are wildly different.  Oh, except that it was in Spanish.

Next, we went to the mall (there is an H&M!!!), where we ate at... Taco Bell.  It is the only Taco Bell in Spain.  The menu was basically the same, just a little smaller.  And they sell beer.  Everywhere.  For the same price as soda.  Currently, they are promoting the Gordita.  

When I said Sunday was a big day in Spain, I didn't mention that things close.  Madrid is the only city where the Malls are open on the first Sunday of every month.  The supermarkets, however, are closed.  It's a lot like those days when you really really want Chik-fil-a, but guess what? It's Sunday.  

I'll be finding out about my classes tomorrow.  The time difference is still wearing on me a little.  I really feel like it´s 8 a.m., even though it is 2 p.m.  It makes the days feel incredibly long.  Hasta luego!

Ice cream

Friend:  All the babies in America eat ice cream, right?

Me: Sometimes....

Friend: But then they run all over the house like crazy after they eat ice cream?

Me: Babies can't run. 

_________________________________________________________

Friends: How much do you weigh?  How tall are you?

Me: 107 pounds, 5 feet 3 inches

Friends: You have 5 feet?  What?

Me: No I am 5 feet 3 inches tall

.......continues.........until I remember............

Metric system.  Duh, Whitney.  

Hi all!

I am writing this post from my room in Alcobendas (which is a beautiful city, 10 minutes from downtown Madrid).  The flight here was long and I didn't sleep much, but I am adjusting to the time difference. Sort of.  

There was a bit of excitement while passing through passport control in Copenhagen, Denmark

Danish Customs Official: You are going to Spain?

Me: Yes

DCO: Do you have family there?

Me: No, sir

DCO: Friends?

Me: Not yet

DCO: Then why are you going? To work?  You don't look old enough to work.

Me: No, to study Spanish. And I'm 20. 

DCO:  (intently) Why would you go to Spain to study Spanish?

Me: Because they...speak Spanish?

DCO: Let me teach you some Danish! If someone says "thank you," you say "bet bonvauffhg von"

Me: Betnskfgjhdjklsaslfjal

DCO: No, no, two "bets" 

And on and on.  I still have no idea how to say "you're welcome" in Danish.

When I arrived, I was given a tour of my room and the seminario. The people here are incredibly welcoming. I had dinner with a family from Colombia last night, and this morning I had breakfast (Corn Flakes, 97% maiz) and went to the store with them.  There are more than 3 super markets within walking distance of the seminario.  Lidl is the name of the one I went to.  

I will try to upload pictures of where I am living later.  Hasta luego!