So I´ve been in Madrid for a couple days now. I love my host parents, Paloma y Pedro, they´re really helpful and friendly. They also have a pool in their apartment complex, which I took advantage of while hanging out with one of their nieces. My room is pretty small, but I have my own bathroom (w/ a shower) and plenty of closet space, so I´m fine.
My host parents don´t care what time I come home, they gave me keys and told me to do as I like. I like how chill the atmosphere is, and Paloma is a great cook so I´m always happy w- the food!
School:
It´s been a little stressful, but things are working out okay, I think. So far I´ve visited the school (Universidad Carlos III, campus en Getafe) a couple times, and have taken placement tests... Classes start tomorrow and they have yet to let us know where we have been placed.
I think I´m going to take a class on Spanish+European Economics, Colloquial Spanish, and the language class they place me in. Other than that... I guess I´ll be checking out history or gov classes. More updates on that later.
A night out in Chueca:
Yesterday, we went out to (salimos de farra) to Chueca, which is known for its many gay bars/discotecas. At nighttime, it´s not uncommon for promoters to approach you and try to lead you to their establishment of employ. We were approached and lured into a great new restaurant that provided free sangria with our pizza, pasta and salad. It was delicious and the atmosphere inside was amazing. Definitely a place I want to go back to.
Later, we met up w/ Devon´s host ¨mom¨ who is actually very young and tons of fun. We lamented over how we couldn´t get into the discotecas for free in that neighborhood because we were female... ¨This has never happened to me before!¨she said, as we clutched each others hands in despair, while watching the hordes of gorgeous men pass by.
Speaking of which, I made a Spanish friend last night! Alvaro also happens to be a student at the Getafe campus of Carlos III, so hopefully I´ll have someone to hang out and practice my spanish with.
Apologies all around!
My internet has stopped working at home, so my already spotty correspondence will probably just go to nothing. After getting home at 5AM, I got up and made my way to this cyber cafe... I´m pretty proud of myself -- I´m finally adjusting to the spanish schedule. Apparently that´s what students do here. Party till morning, go to class, then sleep. Repeat. I don´t really know how they do it, but what I do know is that my body can NOT handle that at all.
If you ever visit Madrid:
- Bars and Discotecas are NEVER the place to buy drinks. Too expensive. I once had the misfortune of ordering a 11Euro drink. For those in the states and Korea, that´s about $16 or 19,500 Won.
- Instead, drink wine at dinner or something else... in a park with friends.
- Do not carry around anything important with you (Credit/debit cards, passport, unnecessary ID). They will get stolen.
- Bags or purses always across the chest and to the front. One hand on the bag, if you´re extra careful. Otherwise, your posessions will get stolen.
- Never hang your bags or purses on your chair. They will get stolen.
- Always take the metro in Madrid. It´s amazing.
- Don´t order tap water in restaurants. They will stare or laugh at you.
- Always drink tap water at home! Apparently Madrid has great water.
- July and August = Sale season
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