hullooo. not too much new lately. this past weekend my art school friends from WashU who are studying abroad in Florence came and visited! It's their spring break so they are traveling all around Spain (how perfect) and they came to Madrid for the weekend! It was really great to see familiar faces. Friday night we went to El Tigre for dinner (crammed, sweaty, good food). They went out and I stayed in and watched Up with Carissa (yep). Saturday, we met at 100 Montaditos (I don't know if I've mentioned this place yet, but it's heaven...I went 4x last week). Danielle and Carissa came and ate with us, but then they went home. We all walked through Plaza Mayor and then went to Parque Retiro. It was a little chilly, but we walked around and sat for a while on the grass. Then we went to Museo del Prado and split up because some girls wanted to go the Reina Sofia instead. It was so funny to walk around the Prado with people who have sat through the same art history class as me, so we all commented on the same paintings and laughed about our professor, Wallace.
That night, a couple of the girls came to a concert (but we only found two of them there), where we saw Crookers. They're two guys from Italy who dj, and are incredible. I'm so glad I was able to see them live. I stayed in Sunday to do homework, etc. so I didn't see them again, but I'll see them in 2 weeks in Belgium!
Today is Danielle's birthday..HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIELLEEEE!! We went to a mexican restaurant last night to celebrate...got there around 7:30, and found out that they don't open until 9pm. Great job, Spain. So we walked back home and waited around until 9. I had chicken enchiladas, which were sooo good.
In my communication class, we're talking about intercultural communication and thereby mostly comparing and contrasting American culture and Spanish culture. It's really made me realize how different the two cultures are; and there have been so many things that I've had to get used to. For example, I hadn't realized until I came here how rushed eating is in the states. You go to Starbucks and you only get a to-go cup, people eat on the go all the time, and the minute you finish eating in a restaurant, the waiter runs over and gives you the check. Here, Starbucks assumes you are going to drink your coffee there so you get a ceramic mug (you have to ask for a to-go cup), people stare at you if you eat on the street, and you need to ask the waiter multiple times for the check. And the mexican restaurant example too...you don't realize how late people eat here. Restaurants OPEN at 9pm...on a sunday! And it's rude to put your hands under the table when you're eating...but in America that's what you're taught to do.
also, it was around 70 degrees last week and I was legitimately sweating in a light sweater, but everyone else was still in heavy coats, scarves, and gloves. I don't get how they do it. So i asked my Señora and she said that the custom is that when it's winter, you dress like it's winter, no matter what the actual temperature is. how strange! In the states, if it's February 1 and 70 degrees out, you wear shorts and flip flops.
Also when we were talking about intercultural communication, my teacher discussed culture shock. He explained how it goes in a U shape, where you're excited about something, but then realize all the differences and get homesick (even physically sick!) and then come to accept it and start the U all over again. And I've realized that yes, I miss home and I DEFINITELY miss the food, but I really haven't had a hard time adjusting. I love this country, despite it's minor cons. It has been a lot of learning (and a lot of learning about life in America too! becoming much more aware of culture) but I couldn't imagine being physically sick due to culture shock. I'm trying to accept everything as it is and live as much as a Spanish lifestyle as I can. I can't believe I only have about 9 weeks left here. It really has flown by, and now that I'll be traveling every weekend for the next 7 weeks, it's going to go even faster. (Sweden this weekend to visit the au pairs!!!)
Sorry for the rant, I think all the ham is getting to my head.
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