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!!!!