Va a nevar en España!

Here are some pics from our first venture to Madrid. The one on the bottom is the ministry of Agriculture, and the one on the top is a building near the puerta del sol.

So Friday was the big day-- the first day of school at Alcalingua! What would I wear?! Would I get lost? Will I make friends?--are all questions I would have asked if I wasn't still super jet-lagged. Instead, I showed up unprepared (sin cuaderno) in a standard jean and tee Mare outfit. Luckily for me, I didn't get lost and everyone is super friendly. Friday was the normal first day of class icebreaking attempt. We all chatted with each other, and all of my teachers seem very nice and helpful. Besides the UMD people, there is a small group of Aussies we have gotten to know a bit and a BUNCH of Asians. A lot of them were here for the previous semester, and have mad Spanish skills. I'm not worried about the academics of it, but I am worried about the Monday-Friday long days, and my ability to stay awake/attentive in class.

After some lunch out in Alcala, I came home where my Spanish Padre insisted on taking me to Alcampo, a nearby Target-like store in a mall. He thought I could look for boots I mentioned I wanted, so I went with him and of course didn't like anything. We picked up some groceries, and got a really good cafe (coffee) I wanted. We came back, and he told me he had a son who lived a few apartments over? Why did I not know you had a son? Apparently, the groceries were for him. We brought them over to his apartment and I chatted with him and his friend. I think he was trying to make us become friends. However, I'm not very friendly and I'm sure his attempt failed.

That night, the UMD kids and I decided to meet up for our first Friday night in Spain. We met at the Cafe Continental, kind of a local joint with a lot of smoke and some great wine I sampled. After everyone got there and we all had a couple drinks, we decided to go somewhere more exciting. We didn't know where that was, but we were going to try. We walked in the general direction of "la zona" where a lot of the bars are, and asked around. We found ourselves at some sort of dance club where I was surprised they even checked IDs. We were so clearly American it was almost entertaining. For a while we were the only ones really dancing, but everyone seemed amused at the sight. It was fun, and we met up with the Aussies from Alcalingua, who were exceptionally drunk. But, fun times had by all. Except for when I went home and realized I WREAKED of cigarette smoke from the bars where EVERYONE was smoking. My lungs are taking a hit just by being in Spain.

Saturday I slept in super late, walked around Alcala to get a better feel for it, and ended the night by watching El Señor de los anillos 3 con mi familia.

Sunday, I met some of the girls on my trip in Madrid. Our objective was simple; to explore and to shop the rebajas. I would say both were successful. We walked around, took pictures, and ended up eating lunch in some really fancy place where I had delicious Sangria and raviolis. So much for authentic Spanish food! I definitely learned my way around Madrid much better, and we successfully navigated the subway. I feel so European! Well not really...but less of a tourist. Everything was going great and then it started snowing! People freak out here when it snows. Literally if there is one inch of snow on the roads no one goes to work or school. After we took the train back to Alcala, I walked to my homestay in the freezing snow where I somehow got terribly lost. I was never scared or nervous, just mad I had to be cold longer than was necessary because of the detour.

Now, I am back and just ate dinner with the padres and Esperanza's (my madre's) four year old son who goes in between his mom and dad's house. Ok so I know he is only four, but I really wish he was less annoying. He never speaks, he only yells at the top of his lungs and repeats the same things over and over. I want to tell him to shut up but that would probably be out of line.

Overall, Spain is snowy and good. I have my first full week of classes starting tomorrow, and I'm curious about the course load. I have a cuaderno now, so I think I should be alright.