Mas

I´m half way through my trip! 2 more weeks to go! Where to start... This week we went out to dinner at an old restuarant named Casa Botin, took a tour of the Royal Palace, and went to Segovia and Salamanca!

Mi Madre Y la comida

This first week she had some trouble finding food that my roommate and I like. Lately she has been doing so good! The food here is very hit and miss with me. I either love it or hate it. The meat is thicker and greasier than in the states, and they like to serve things luke warm or cold, especially soup.

Casa Botin

Casa Botin is the oldest restuarant in Madrid, it was founded before 1776 I believe! Almost all of the group attended and the food was perfecto!

Palacio Real

This place was beautiful! We couldn´t take any pictures, but it was definatly memorable!

I learned a lot of history about Spain. It was full of paintings by Goya and Minx! Its getting easier for me to understand what the tour guide is saying without having to ask for help.

Segovia!

Other than Madrid this has been my favorite excursion! This town is about four hours away from madrid. Its very old with an aqueduct extending a few miles througout the city! We visited a castle called Alcazar! Although we had to climb 150 stairs to get to the top tour, it was so worth it! I´m going to have some amazing calves when I get home, just sayin...

Salamanca

We stayed the night in a hostel in Salamanca this weekend. If/when I return to europe, I definatly would like to stay in a Hostel over a hotel. Its cheap and convienent! My roommates and I had a nice relaxed evening, we walked around the town saw some sights, got some dinner, and had good conversation. The following day we toured around the city looking at monuments, churches, and schools. We even saw the first university in europe! The walls were covered in red letters. The tour guide explained that the red paint was made of ¨Sangre, leche, y agua¨ ¨Blood, milk and water¨. The names were of those who graduated from the school. They signed their names on the wall with their own blood!

Cosas

I miss waffle house

I miss sweet tea

I miss working my job

I miss TV, my cell phone, having internet whenever I want it

I miss my family and friends

I miss Poker night

I miss driving

I find myself not having to ask my mom to repeat herself as much when conversing. I´m more comfortable speaking in past tense too, something I´ve always struggled with. I´m hoping that I can keep practicing my spanish when I get home. I´ve decided to atleast attemp to continue my spanish Academically after this summer. I´m signed up for the next level Spanish class this fall.

Its hard to believe that about 5 years ago I went to mexico on a mission trip not knowing or caring anything about Spanish. A 5 year old boy Jorge graciasly taught me a few phrases to build on from there. Ever since I´ve hated to think about giving up the language.

Things are good here, I´m excited to go home and excited to return here!

Fin de Semana

I probably won´t be able to summerize everything in just one blog. This week has been very busy! Thursday night I spent the day at retiro with another student here. We went to the park and a bunch of cool places, like Plaza Mayor, the zoo, a futbol game, the prado, etc

EL PRADO

El Prado is huge! This was the first tour that I went on where I could follow what the tourguide was saying about each picture. We only saw a handful of paintings by Velazques and Goya, and I still learned a plethora of information about each. I´m planning to go back and see everything else this week sometime.

PLAZA MAYOR

Plaza mayor is in the center of Madrid, it´s a very open space surrounded by older tall buildings with copies of Velezques paintings painted on the wall. There are several cute outdoor restaurantes there too. The weather at night here is PERFECT. It´s never too hot or cold (atleast it hasn´t been yet). We went to the palace, but I´m unsure of facts or history about it. It was grand and beautiful though!

SABADO

Saturday was a big day. Two students and I spent the whole day at the zoo! We saw every animal there and had time to take a siesta in the grass. Once three o´clock hit you could watch people stop in the middle of the path, find a nice sunny grassy spot and sleep. Siesta is something that needs to happen more often in the states!

After the park we went out to TGI fridays. After finally getting used to the food here, the american food did not settle well with my stomach. The soccer game was a blast! Real Madrid won 8-1.

ESPANA VS MEXICO

I notice that if I mention that I learned spanish in Mexico, the spaniards role their eyes, sigh, and begin to tell me that mexicans don´t speak the real educated spanish language. I´m used to spanish pronunciation, however i like that spaniards speak a little bit slower.

OTRAS COSAS

I want to be able to...

Eavesdrop on an argument on the subway and understand it.

Comprehend how much a meter or a kilometer is.

I´ve learned how important transition words are like ¨and then¨, ¨so¨, ¨however¨ ¨in addition to¨.

Favorite things here

The metro- Its so fast and cheap! You can travel get anywhere with it!

Walking- I want to keep walking everywhere when I get home- I feel better, I sleep better, I can eat more and not gain as much weight too!

Parks- El Parque de Retiro is this huge park next to the school. I´ve literally spent three days there and still saw new things each time. It´s full of botanical gardens, an art museum, sculptures, fountains, monuments, and probably more!

MANEFESTACION

There are protests going on in Sol right now. Hundreds of younger people in madrid are camping out in protest of the economy. From what I understand 40% of people ages 18-25 are unemployed. I´m not sure what the protesters want the government to do, but they sure are getting alot of attention. So far there hasn´t been any violence, just tons of signs plaguing the city.

PROFESOR

My profesor Alavaro is very vocal about his views. He believes that Anarchy is the answer and the system is flawed. He keeps trying to get us to debate politics in class, but we don´t really know the right vocabulary for that.

PERSONAS

I´ve made some really good friends here. I´m excited to see where those friendships go also. When preparing myself for spain my thoughts were ¨I´m going to learn so much spanish, see so many things, and eat so much good food¨. I didn´t really think about the conversations I would have with my teachers, classmates, random waiters or people on the street.

I´ll upload pictures later!

Buenos Dias!

Mejor!

This week has started out great!

1. I mastered using my key to get in my apartement

2. I´ve mastered using the subway to go to and from school from home.

3. I haven´t gone to any catholic churches yet and embarressed myself.

4. I started class and I LOVE it! It´s all in spanish. My professors only know a few words in english.

Some observations

I´ve seen these pants quite a few times

http://www.google.es/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thefashionpolice.net/images/2008/01/21/harempants.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thefashionpolice.net/2007/02/harem-pants-from-la-redoute.html&h=327&w=352&sz=13&tbnid=Ztv9Dv9X0u-3bM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=120&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhammer%2Btime%2Bpants%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=hammer+time+pants&hl=es&usg=__qihbmowRiV72dsV8YEQZvHmPufo=&sa=X&ei=HhzSTYL6C4-0hAfC_qDyCQ&ved=0CC4Q9QEwAg

Also Shorts with tights is pretty popular. I saw a handful of younger girls wearing them at church.

http://www.google.es/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrpcvdxI6sQzay9XPizR8jYiLM4U4oEpUky7qoC0w1nZc20MiRpHyd202CAC1WBpJ719ZfXcMKdAqgq-aHmLfjnbI-9V88C0zZ3-Kqy5zWys64_IcYgvRCsYZqztiwx3OOiUYqdLY-9E_/s1600/shorts3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://whoyoucallinghousewife.blogspot.com/2010/11/yes-that-does-make-your-ass-look-big.html&h=560&w=445&sz=24&tbnid=yBGSyJryGXvYUM:&tbnh=252&tbnw=200&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshorts%2Bwith%2Btights%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=shorts+with+tights&hl=es&usg=__ZcBJfUI8SQ-_mWA8fGYtqcDnxgg=&sa=X&ei=NBzSTfaRJY2KhQeE5ZGVCg&ved=0CDoQ9QEwAQ

AYER

Yesterday I went with the whole group to dinner at Casa Minga- their specialty is chicken. So of course I had half a chicken con agua! Afterwards a bunch of us went out around the city. We ended up in an Irish pub with a Polish waiter with American music in Spain. We stayed out pretty late so I went home with some of the other girls.

Mi Madre

I just found out that my mom thinks that I´m mad at her. My roommate said that she was sad the whole night. She called me three times after I told her I was staying with friends tonight and kept asking if I was content. I grew up in a pretty strict home. But not as strict as my Madres house. She has specific places for everything and is constantly cleaning, I´m not sure what dirt she is cleaning up, the house looks spotless. She got upset with my roommate for getting up too early on sunday. She gets extremely frustrated and impatient when I don´t understand what she´s saying.

Ahora

I am enjoying spain much more after yesterday, there is a bull fight and flamigo dancing this week that I might go to! And there is talk of extending our trip a couple of days and going Paris!

I am so ready for a nap though. So far Siesta is my favorite part of Madrid!

Los Fotos y la iglesia!

These are pictures from yesterday in Toledo!

Now, about today!

Today was a little bit rougher than yesterday. Now that i´m starting to get comfortable,I´m starting to get homesick of the things i´m most comfortable with at home. I haven´t gotten to speak with most of my family, friends, or my boyfriend. So that has taken an extra toll on my emotional state. To top it off today, I had a horrible embarressing experience at church today.

A Mi Iglesia en Tennessee

At my church at home, we take communion every week, and I take it very seriously. I think it is an incredible spiritual experience with God. I believe that if you believe in Jesus and that you are his child if you have asked him to forgive your sins and ask him into your heart. And if you checkd all of the above, you may take communion.

A la iglesia de Catolics

I had forgotten that catholics believe in transubstanciation. ¨In many Christian churches, the doctrine holding that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus, although their appearances remain the same.¨. I had forgotten that you can not take communion in a catholic church if you do not belive this.
Hoy
Not only was this was a horrible mistake to make in a catholic church, but in a church where you barely speak the language. So this afternoon like everyone else, I got in line to recieve commonion. I paid attention to the order to make sure I was doing everything respectfully and correctly. The priest held up the bread and said ¨de el cuerpo de cristo¨ (of the body of christ) . He then placed the bread in the persons hand, or mouth. When it came my turn, he handed me the bread said the phrase, and I ate the bread. He stopped me. There was some confusion and he told me to go sit down. He followed me and took the bread away. Later, he came to me and asked me if I was a christian, if I believed in jesus, and if I was catholic.
Yes, Yes, No. He then asked about transubstanciation which my reply was no. He then told me that he could not give me the holy bread and i could not take communion with the catholic church because i was not catholic. This was incredibly embarressing and I was trying my best to hold back my tears.

Mi Madre

My mother was with me the entire time and was very understanding, as to why I was emotional. She walked home with me quietly asking me questions about my religion, and reassuring me that that everything was okay. She reminded me sweetly that we believed in the same God, and that we are sisters in Christ.

Almarzar

When we returned we set the table for lunch. Lunch here is the biggest meal of the day! We had pancho (Cold soup made of tomatoes, onions, peppers,), bread, beef, potatoes, strawberries with whip creme, and little donut like pastries, and red wine. My Madré´s daughter and her family came to visit! Sh had two little hijos (children) who spoke a few phrases in english. I enjoy practicing my spanish with children the most, because they don´t get frustrated if you mess up and usually their vocabulary is smaller.

Siesta

I was so tired afterwards I took a long siesta (nap), and now I am at this little internet cafe writing this.
I miss and love you all!
Hannah

HOY

I just wrote an entire recap of my trip so far and, it did not get saved. So here´s take 2. Its condensed because I´m frustrated. Sorry!

¡Estoy Aqui!

I arrived yesterday jetlagged, ears unpopped, and lathargic. Trying to avoid expressing my complaints, I somehow made it through the day.

Mi Madre
My mother is a 71 year old widow, who lives by herself in an itty bitty apartment. She greeted me with joyful kisses as we exchanged introductions. She cooks amazing! Last night we had ¨tortillas de patatas¨. Apparently its a very common dish here. It is served cold and made with potatoes. I´m not sure what else. It tastes like Kiesh without egg.
La Universidad
The school is very small and hard to find. My roommate and I passed it three or four times on our first try. There are other groups from all over studying there also. I met a group from Roanoke Va today! And I hear groups from france and china come through sometimes also.
Otras Personas Aqui
A couple of observations-
No one is rarely in a hurry Everyone is very relaxed and takes their time.
Most stores close down during the day for ¨La siesta¨ (Naptime)
The sun does not go down till 9pm so the nightlife is very active

HOY
We visited Toledo today. I was very pleased to see original Greco paintings! The city is very old and beautiful. The streets are small and made of stone. After we got back to Madrid I got seperated from my roommate and was forced to venture the subway on my own. I failed miserably. I was forced to ask a very nice elderly couple for help. They too were from out of town but knew the subway and rode with me to my stop. They told me that someday when the visit america I will help them!

Mi Espanol
I believe my spanish is improving. I´m more confident...more confident to mess up and not be embarressed that is. My spanish mom told me that my spanish was much better than the first day, and the couple on the subway complemented it also!

Aprende Hoy

1.I should have reviewed spanish vocabulary on the plane.
2.It´s okay to get lost. My house isn´t going anywhere and neither is the school. I will find it eventually
3.Leave home at home. Dont think about the past or the future. Just the present!

It´s late and I need to go to bed, I´m going to the flee market tomorrow and possibly church with my mom! I will keep this updated as much as I can!
Hannah

P.S.
Apparently the boys of jersy shore have been spotted! I haven´t seen them yet though
Sorry about the typos. The spell check is in Spanish!