La vida Española

Ok, so now I've experienced some good and some bad here in Madrid...but mostly good! School started last week and I really enjoy it so far. It's an intensive four week course in the Spanish language, culture, history, etc. Our building is pretty old and very different from the California Universities...the school actually reminded me of the school back in former Yugoslavia...with the chalk board and wooden desks. Since this is a course only for our program, we are being thought how to behave with our future professors: Don't chew gum, don't stretch when you're tired, don't ask the professor too many questions (best is if you don't ask any at all) lol, take lots of notes, since there is only one exam at the end...and no re-takes, etc.!!
Although there are no-smoking signs inside the school, some people smoke (a lot of people actually) : ). I don't mind it...YET! hehehe But it's fun experiencing such differences in cultures.
Everyone from the program meets at the cafeteria at break time and we have a "caffe con leche" which is equivalent to a latte. Btw, I once ordered a "latte" and they looked at me like I was crazy! : )
Some of my friends have had bad experiences here. There was a group who took a cab and the cab driver wanted to rip them off. When they wanted to get out he became a bit agressive and my friends had to flag down a police officer who, luckily, was passing by (this was very late at night). Another friend has been followed by some guys on her way home and they were very pushy...asking her why she isn't running away...she was all alone and very scared. She discovered that the neighborhood where she lives is actually pretty bad, so she is going to move soon! : (
I've also moved into my new apartment (piso) which is amazing! My room mates are fun and we get along very well. There are five of us...Bree (american), Ruben (Spanish), Miriam (Spanish), Davide (Italian)...I went out with some of them and we had a blast. Last night we just hung out at our piso, celebrated the fact that we are all here together...and of course we had lots of wine...and once we ran out of wine, we moved on to stronger stuff! Hahaha!

Oh, and last, but not least: I got my ticket to go to Sweden!!!! Vanja, here I come! LOL

Keep in touch guys! I miss you!!!!

In Madrid!

Dudes, I'm finally here and I'm having a blast!!! Last night I went with a group of about 15 people out. We started out at a bar that had awesome sangrias and ended up at a club that played Spanish music-we danced our asses off. But, on our way there some of the people in my group were putting unecessary attention to us. They were yelling, dancing (in the metro), jumping, using the metro hand poles as stripper poles and various other acts of...well, you be the judge. I wasn't too happy about that...but then I tried not to be the party pooper-and I kept thinking if am I being too conservative? Most of the people here are a bit younger than I...
But after that the night was awesome. At the bar they were playing techno music...how cool is that? They also had all kinds of ham and cheeze hanging behing the bar that you could just point to and they served it to you as tapas. The bar closed at about 3, so we started looking for a club. After dancing for a while at the club (which closed at 4 or so) we started looking for another place to party, but everything cost 10 euros...and since we are students, on a budget, we sat on the ground at some plaza and talked. There were random people selling sandwiches and beer on the street...they just walk around and ask if you want to buy a beer! hahaha That was pretty cool. As my friend Brittney and I got on a mission to find a restroom, we found a chocolateria that was open all night! So we went back to get the rest of the group! About 5 am we ate churros con chocolate...it was aaammmmazing!!! Especially when you're still a bit buzzed heheh. At 6 we took the first metro back home! All in all: What a night! hahaha I can't wait for you guys to come so I can show you everything I discovered!!!
Kisses!!!

The night before

Wow, it's the night before my flight. I'm excited, happy, sad, worried, nervous, and a bit more excited! I think I packed everything I need, or did I? Aaarrgggh!!! Scarry!!! But all will be good. It's going to be a fun adventure (writing this as I'm drinking my thirds glass of wine) LOL. Thanks guys for making my last few weeks super fun...taking me out for coffee, drinks, happy hours, breakfast, lunches, dinners...and of course on road trips (San Diego wohooo) ;). I will miss you guys TERRIBLY MUCH! I'll keep writing! : )

jaca

The beginning

So, I have decided to start blogging! Yay! I hope that this will be a fun way to let everyone know what and how I'm doing while away. ; )
I'll try writing about my experience in Spain and when I get sad and lonely...hopefully you guys can say a few encouraging words!
Ok, that's it for the beginning...keep in touch!

Jaca