Day 3... or is it Day 300?

No puedo creer es el dia tercero de nuestra viaje! (Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish.) 

Silly me! It slips my mind every now and then that I wasn't born and raised in this amazing city... but when my eight-year-old host sister tries to tell me about her weekend, and I only understand "Mi padre y yo...", I snap back to my American "Yo no speako Espanish" self. 

That pretty much sums up by three days here - feeling like I've been here a lifetime and not knowing how to ask for something like a fork. 

Lack of vocabulary of silverware aside (HIES, take note), Mary Jordan, my roommate from Birmingham, Alabama, and my host family have been integral in my easy and comfortable assimilation to Madrid. MJ and I discovered that we share loves of overpacking, fairly priced beverages and croakies. It's a match made in roommate heaven. Cuca, my host mother, is an absolute doll. She has been so welcoming and incredibly laid back except for one thing: we have not had a meal without her telling Mary Jordan and I that we didn't eat enough. I guess the mom nerves are imbedded internationally. Cuca has four kids - Maria (20), Alberto (19), Luis (17) and Ana (8). We've only met Maria and Ana because the boys are at their dad's house for the week, but the girls are just as sweet as their mom. 

Their house (but it's more like an apartment or condo) is large by Madrid standards. There's an open sitting room/dining room, four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and a large kitchen.

Mary Jordan's bed

My bed - Mary Jordan is hiding. 

Truly, an unnatural feat - a shared closet between two Vandy girls. 

 From the outside, the building does not convey the cozy atmosphere that the house embodies. 

"It looks like an insane asylum!" - Mary Jordan. Well said.  

Our building is convenient to several Metro (subway) stops, so it's been easy to get around, especially since we have a month-long youth pass. 

"We're not tourists!!!"

The neighborhood consists of similar (but prettier) buildings with small shops on the ground floors. 

Mary Jordan creeps on Jennifer and Sarah.

The street next to ours. 

The businesses around here close for the afternoon siesta, around 2-5 p.m., but then reopen until 8 p.m. Getting used to the Spanish schedule has been the biggest adjustment thus far - they eat a small breakfast, a large lunch (called la comida) around 2 or 3 p.m., then have a small meal at around 9 or 10. Also, "snacking" is not a verb. If you're hungry, you have a small snack, and that's it. Languishing in front of the pantry and making the decision to eat Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese Doritos isn't really an option. 

However, taking your time while you are out drinking with friends is an entirely different matter. One of the highlights for me thus far was going to the small pub right next to the building of Drew and Tyler, who are bravely representing the male gender on our trip. The four of us had a few beers worthy of a Super Bowl halftime ad, and we met some exciting characters like Martin from Ireland ("This is the best f@#$in' bar in Madrid... Sorry do you mind if I curse? No? Ok, well it's the best motherf@#$in' bar in motherf@#$in' Madrid!") and Agnes from Latvia ("Girls, you can't let the men be in charge!!! Haven't you ever heard of feminism?!") These cats could have chatted with us for weeks, but I don't think we're quite used to the marathon dialogues yet, so in typical ADD fashion, we went to a new bar. It wasn't quite as exciting as the Christopher Guest movie starring Martin and Agnes that we fled, but we did get to witness the exciting Spanish cultural norm known as Excessive and Overwhelming Public Displays of Affection. I thought that they were going to knock over the table. 

Now those are cervezas.

And a fitting segue to that is my other highlight of the adventure so far - an afternoon in El Parque de Retiro that was filled with children and families! (Cue ba-dum-chhhh drum noise.) Mary Jordan and I met up with the 6 other Vanderbilt students in our group, as well as the two directors of the program. After enjoying some limonada and getting to know each other, the girls decided to continue to explore the park. Since it was a gorgeous Sunday, the park was quite packed, but the vibe was mellow. Children and adults alike would stop to watch jugglers and puppet shows, and some were definitely eligible (read: weird enough) to compete on Spain's Got Talent or whatever the equivalent may be. 

Bob Esponja and Mary Jordan! 

Yay!

Children watching a fascinating French puppet show! 

So gorgeous. We're going to rent boats next time! 

Perfection!

Children chasing bubbles!

This morning was the non-highlight for sure - a typical orientation in the building where all our classes will take place. 

It looks like the dorm building from hell but don't worry - it's just the classroom building from hell.

Starting Wednesday, we'll start a two-week intensive Spanish class to prepare us for our other classes, but tomorrow we are taking a day trip to Segovia! 

Stay tuned for my abilities to ask for utensils...  

Besos :)