The LIST

I'm technically in what's called the "honeymoon" period, but regardless, I'm posting my top 10 favorite things about Marid so far, even if they are subconsciously influenced by a false sense of novel excitement (in no particular order:)

1. Doors: Mine uses a really awesome, over-sized skeleton key, and on the inside there isn't a handle or a door knob; instead, we have a button! On alex's family's door, the knobs are dead center instead of on the right hand side... I could go on with examples, but I'll just continue with the list...


2. Stores: Every food item has its very own store. Need ham? There's a ham store. Need fruit? Theres a fruit sore. Need dried fruit? There's a dried fruit store.


3. Showers: This one is not unique to Madrid or Spain even, but the European showers are so dang environmental. Who decided it was necessary to have a steady 10 minute stream of water over our backs while we lather our heads with shampoo. It makes so much more sense to only use the water to rinse, when we need it.


4. Light Switches: Among the other things that just make so much more sense. The switches are OUTSIDE the rooms, so they can be turned on before entering---to do what they're made for---lighting the room so you can see.


5. Cookies for Breakfast: Not Cookie Crisp. Cookies.


6. Coffee: It doesn't taste like its been to hell and back and then poured into a Starbucks cup.


7. Naps: Mostly everything is closed from 2-4:30pm, which is Madrid demanding that I sleep for 2 hours after lunch.


8. Crime: I know pick-pocketing here sucks BUT this is their biggest problem. It's almost cute when you compare it to DC and Baltimore which top the "most dangeous cities in the US" list-- complete with murder, drugs, and gangs. Im probably jinxing myself with this one :(


9. Metro: It doesn't smell like urine.


10. El Palacio Real: We went yesterday and its pretty outside, but inside is REALLY nice. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside though.

Here's my list to balance things out of things I miss about home:

1. Street Signs clearly marked on street corners: It might not be as pleasing to the eye, but you don't get lost as easily.
   
2. USD$


3. Special K Red Berry Cereal: especially with real milk from a cow.

Madrid antiguo

Recap of yesterday:

• Ran in el Parque del Oeste- I didnt think anywhere could rival running through the monuments in DC, but Madrid's got some parks
  
• Sat through a ridiculously long orientation


• Went out like locals=until the metro opened again in the morning

I finally bought a phone!!! Since it was the cheapest one, we all have the same little white phone with lime green trim, so if a group of 30 americans touring the narrow srteets around la Puerta del Sol isn't funny-looking enough, we all have matching bright white, toy-like phones in our hands.

The tour through Madrid antigua, which is basically just the center of the city, was all gorgeous. I'm adding an apartment in the center of Madrid antiguo to my list of "to have when im rich"-list. Mom-side note- we're going to the Guiness-sanctioned oldest restaurant in the world. I don't remember how old the oven is, which distinguishes the restaurant as the oldest, but it's REAL old.

Its Snowing

BTW you cannot sleep before 1am and wake up by 8, the streets are LOUD. Today I met up with Alex in the middle of the city and we just wandered- thanks Petra for the travel guide/pocket map. We stumbled into the Plaza de Oriente, which had really gorgeous gardens and fountains. Against all my attempts to avoid looking like a tourist, I whipped out the camera.

My host mom doesn't speak any English- which has been great, because it forces me to use Spanish. We did hit a little snafu when I didn't know the word for pickle and in trying to describe it, I realized I don't know cucumber either. In case anyone cared, it's pepinillo en vinagre.

Oh and its snowing.

Estoy aqui

I am sitting at my desk in my new room in Madrid. How did that happen? The flight was fine- I can do anything now that Ive flown to China. From the airport, I took a taxi to my host mom's apartment downtown. Its the cutest. Its small but quiant and Ikea-esque. perfect. My host mom, Elvira, is very sweet and made me a ginormous lunch- I wish I brought her something better than a Baltimore "I'm Crabby" mug and a USA flag glitter pen in my makeshift gift wrap of an insideout barf bag and some colorful post-its. Georgetown also managed to find the one woman in all of Madrid who doesn't eat meat. double perfect. Were going for a walknow... Adios.

Readyish

Im procrastinating the packing-process, so Ive committed myself to blogging while Im away. Good idea? I leave in 4 days and Im ready to GO. My to-do list is still long though:

1. Plant memories of myself around the house to constantly comfort my family with "my presence" while Im away---you're welcome ;)


2. PepperJacks Sub


3. Bank--get them Euros


4. Pack 5 months worth of clothes for freezing and hottt weather + TJ's crunchy peanut butter + facewash + anything else they sell here but not there


5. Gift for my host mamacita...ideas?


6. Commit the best of Scaggsville to memory