Angst

I haven't posted about Paris and Andalucia, namely because I haven't had the motivation.

I am met with mixed feelings about this trip. It started out really well: I was meeting new people, going out every night, planning trips and so on. Now everyone has more or less settled down into a routine, found a group of friends, and are realizing those plans.

Except for me. In fact, one of my worst fears about studying abroad has essentially come true. I seem to have failed to have made any friends here. Yes, I have people that I talk to from time to time, if it's convenient. However, I don't really get invited to anything, nor am I particularly included in anyone's plans. Although I went to Andalucia this weekend with a group of 30-something people from my program, I spent most of my time not talking. I have become that person who takes other people's group photos, but is almost never included in them (does this make sense at all?).

I have tried to make attempts to meet people. I go to intercambios. I try and contact people on Facebook. Maybe I am not trying hard enough. Maybe my personality is defective. Whatever the cause, something isn't working.

Case in point: It is a Saturday night. Carnaval, a popular Spanish festival, is going on right now in Madrid. It is 10 pm. I just popped a couple of sleeping pills and am about to slip into my pajamas, because I have spent the last 12 hours online waiting for some sign of social invitation to no avail.

In fact, I spend the majority of my time in my apartment by myself.

So, Goodnight!

Nerviosa

Nervioso(a): Spanish for nervous

[nur-vuhs]  

–adjective

1.

highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress.

E.g. The feeling Chelsea gets before embarking on a new--and therefore unfamiliar--voyage

I'm going to Paris!

Segovia, Avila, Salamanca

Things are picking up. I'm trying to find ways to occupy myself during the hours after class. I've discovered that several bars hold intercambios, a language exchange of sorts. It can be a good way for people to practice new languages and meet others. It's not a perfect system, but it's easier to walk into a bar with the unspoken agreement that you are there to meet people. I attended an intercambio last Wednesday, and within seconds of walking in the door I was conversing with a girl from England. As a shy and awkward individual, I can attest that this would not happen under normal circumstances. So, assuming that I continue to attend these things, it may be a good way to fend of the feeling of ennui and loneliness that seems to creep on me when I find myself alone in my apartment.

Additionally, this weekend marked my first major trip of my study abroad experience, notwithstanding my arrival into Madrid. The event was planned by a fellow program-mate who, thankfully, organized the entire trip. I woke up early and we met at the Chamartin station. Buying the tickets was a bit of an adventure. Spain is not particularly known for it's rapid service, so although only one person was in front of me in line, I found myself waiting a good 5-10 minutes. After, I asked if the had tickets for Segovia at "quince menos nueve," which to my understanding should translate to 8:45. The man selling tickets said no, and that I would have to leave the line in order to find out the schedule. So I renounced my position in line and went to the information section, only to find out that, yes, there was an 8:45 train to Segovia. Thus I commenced more waiting, only my two-person line magically multiplied to five or six in the minute that I had stepped aside. Thankfully, the ticket window opens a specific line for trains about to depart, so I was able to buy my ticket just in time.

Despite the inconveniences of navigating Spanish ticket booths, I must commend the country on its public transit. Aside from the easily-accessible metro lines which take me around the city, Spain also offers trains within the country (and internationally). I definitely enjoyed my short, 1/2 hour train ride to Segovia.

Segovia

I have been wanting to see the Roman aqueduct for over a year now. It has been on my "To-Do" travel list. At a short distance from the city, it is also one of the more easily-accomplished tasks. So now I can check it off the list. One of the first things I did, aside from whip out my camera and take a million photos, was reach out and touch one of the great stone bricks. I still have trouble conceiving of the history behind so many of the things I have seen. It's hard to imagine that something so old is still standing, and in such amazing condition.

After seeing the aqueduct, we hopped on a bus to "La granja", which to my understanding is a smaller neighborhood/region just outside of Segovia. We saw el Palacio Real. It was interesting, although I admit that it pales in comparison to the splendor of el Palacio Real de Madrid. I think my favorite thing was seeing the snow lingering in the shadier parts. As a Californian, I am easily impressed by any sort of indication of "seasons." Additionally, the amount of "dead" (dormant is a more accurate word) trees made me look forward to Spring, when everything should start to bloom.

 Another cathedral. There is a point when you become disenchanted after seeing cathedral after cathedral. I also think that nothing has been able to measure up to the one in Toledo. It was, by far, my favorite thus far. Unfortunately you couldn't take pictures, although I don't think pictures could have done it justice. Anyway, yeah. A cathedral.

This was by far my favorite part of Segovia, and perhaps my favorite part of the trip in general. The Alcazar, a castle-like fortress. Outside, we met a nice Spanish man who recommended that we walk around to see the front of the structure, which apparently resembles the castle at Disneyland. We didn't have time to do so. Regardless, it was a worthwhile stop. We actually extended our stay by two hours in order to accommodate a trip here. We climbed the 152 winding and narrow steps to reach the top, which offered amazing views of the city and landscape.

Avila

This was admittedly the least interesting of the cities. I did, however, enjoy the bus ride. I was able to see more of the Castilla-La Mancha/Leon landscape. Spain, from what I've seen, still seems very agrarian. I didn't seem much outside of the "main" cities. Occasionally, a small town will pop up, distinguished by a church which towers above all the other buildings. Of course, my observations are hardly representative of the entirety of Spain. Anyway, on to Avila. We only stayed here for two hours. Most of the attractions had already closed. However, we saw the famous wall surrounding the city and took a detour at a bakery to eat some sugary goodness and drink coffee. We were already tired from our Segovia trip, and we still had one more bus ride.

Salamanca

A beautiful old town that boasts an old university (from the 1200s--old, indeed). We arrived at night and were excited to experience the supposedly famed Salamanca nightlife. It was a college town, after all. However, it still doesn't compare to Madrid. I'm glad to be studying where I do. I feel like I wouldn't be able to see everything in just one weekend. Nevertheless, Salamanca was an interesting trip. We went off the beaten path to local bars to eat some tapas. It was definitely a worthwhile venture, and my first experience with a tapas bar crawl. Admittedly, we only went to two bars, but it's a start. We were in a fairly large group, which allowed us to get a little bit of everything. That night, we stayed at a hotel. I was under the impression that it would be my first "hostel" stay, but alas--no such luck. I suppose I shouldn't complain about paying 22 euros for a hotel room. The next day we ate breakfast in the Plaza Mayor (I've noticed many Spanish cities seem to have a Plaza Mayor) and explored. We saw more cathedrals, more old buildings, and the usual.


Although we only spent two days of traveling, I was glad to head back home. Three cities in two days can be exciting. Nevertheless, it marks the beginning of my travel adventures. Next week I will be in Paris. The week after will be our program field trip to Andalucia (Cordoba and Granada).

Toledo

February is here. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised, given that I arrived in Spain at the tail end of January. Nevertheless, the passage of months reminds me how little time I have left in this country. February will go by quickly, given that it's the shortest month--followed by March and April (with Spring Break and the preparation for final exams). I suppose, technically, that I also have the morning of May 1. I don't think that particularly counts. I finally booked my first flight. Provided that all goes well, I leave on February 17. I previously booked a flight for the same day, only to have it subsequently cancelled because they didn't accept credit card payments. The story is, of course, more complicated. First I had to make a bank transfer to confirm my purchase. However, international bank transfers take a couple of days, so I called the ticket providers to ensure that my flight would not be cancelled during this waiting period. This was somewhat challenging, as I had to communicate entirely in Spanish over the phone. I felt that I was successful in doing so, although apparently they cancelled the flight anyway. So now I have to e-mail the company and ask for a refund (when they receive the transfer) and additionally call BoA to notify them of this miscommunication.

In the meantime, I bought a new flight to Paris through a different company. They allowed me to use my credit card and I immediately received a printable boarding pass. Now I just have to book a hostel--although I want to wait until I am absolutely sure of my travel plans. Normally, I think I would be panicking due to a lack of planning and somewhat last-minute purchases. Then again, a trip to Paris from Madrid is not so drastic as a trip from the US. For example, my flight cost about $200 (150 Euro), which is less than some flights from Oakland to Ontario. 

Aside from planning big international trips, I have been trying to enjoy the day-to-day activities in Madrid. The Universidad in Getafe, as I mentioned, are unremarkable. I took a walk around the city on Monday, only to discover that it was almost entirely comprised of apartment complexes. Thankfully I organized my schedule in such a way as to finish class in the early evening. I've therefore been trying to explore the city between the time I get back from classes and dinner time (around 8:30-9 pm). I have been taking walks around the city--mostly around Gran Via, Sol and the more "central" parts of Madrid. I used to feel far away from everything interesting. However, by walking every evening I realize that I am relatively close to a very active and fascinating part to town. I'm also trying to get into the habit of ducking into busy cafes or cervecerias when I'm on my own, in hopes of interacting more with actual madrilenos. Although I enjoy the company of my EAP group, sometimes I feel like it can be a crutch. We all tend to speak english when together, which can be isolating. Thus far, I haven't had much luck in socializing with anyone. However, it has been a good opportunity to see and do what I want at my own pace.

Additionally, we went to Toledo today. The former capital of Spain is close to Madrid--an hour away by bus. I should mention that the buses are both comfortable (charter-style) and inexpensive (around 8 euro). As an old city with eclectic stone buildings and winding narrow streets, Toledo seems more typically Spanish (I should note that it is more typically "castillian", but Americans tend to generalize Castille-La Mancha as the whole of Spain). The weather cooperated with pleasant mid-50s weather and sunny skies. It was the perfect backdrop to the medieval-seeming architecture. The day consisted of wandering the streets until we found the cathedral, a towering and ornate structure that dominated the scenery. As impressive as it looked on the outside, it paled in comparison to the decor within. Everything was decorated with rich and intricate detailing. It's amazing to conceive of the amount of human labor that went into a structure so old. I may be incorrect, but I believe that the church existed before the United States had become the United States--in fact, before Cristobal Colon (e.g. Chris Columbus) "discovered" the Americas. 

At times, it was difficult to conceive of all the sites. Toledo is an old, old city. Yes, some of the buildings are more moderns. However, I felt like I was going through an amusement park. The streets were empty, save a few other tourists, and most of the stores sold gifts and souvenirs. I have trouble believing that anyone can actually live in the city. Despite the beauty and clean air of Toledo, I definitely prefer the variety that Madrid offers. 

I should also mention that it was very interesting to see the Castille-La Mancha landscape. Yes, I have seen a bit from my trip to and from school. However, I have never really traveled outside of Madrid and I curious to see what the rest of the country looks like.

Finally, I wish I had a more thorough record of my trip and my thoughts. However, after a long day of walking and site-seeing, I am tired. So you, dear readers, get another filler post.

Filler post

It's been almost a week without posting. Whoops. This has been a week of settling down and adjusting to my new (albeit temporary) life. Despite being in a gorgeous city, I don't think that I've had that moment in which I stop and realize, "Wow, I'm in Spain. I never thought I would be here." 

Some days have been harder than others. Although I feel well-adjusted to the city, at the end of the day I realize how much work it is to acclimate to a new country. My brain is working harder to process the new information (including a somewhat-foreign language) and by the end of the day I want to slip back into my comfort zone the way that one slips into a pair of sweatpants after a long day at work. Additionally, I am beginning to realize how little time I have in this country. At first, 3 1/2 month sounded like a long time. In reality, I know the time will pass by quickly. Moreover, I will not have 3 1/2 months worth of travel time, since the majority of my days will be spent in class. I am also the only person in my program who is leaving immediately after the program end-date, rather than taking anywhere from a week to a few months off to travel around Europe. They therefore are in less of a hurry to travel around Europe.

In contrast, this is realistically my one trip to Europe. Given my choice of major and current socioeconomic status, it's unlikely that I'll be able to return. Therefore, I sometimes feel pressured to go and see everything as soon as possible. I haven't booked any flights yet, and it's difficult to coordinate with other people, since they are more likely to wait until Spring/Summer, when the weather warms up. These past few days I have felt anxious to travel.

I had wanted to write more about the city itself, or about my recent "adventures", but at the moment I am tired and my thoughts don't seem to be forming themselves into coherent ideas. Ah well. Maybe later.

Things of Interest

Here is a list of Spanish (or madrileno) cultural things that I find interesting:

• Coffee: I knew that European coffee was strong before coming here. I was worried that I wouldn't like it. On the contrary, it's AMAZING. They don't serve as much coffee as American restaurants, but what they do serve is so tasty. I don't think places here have coffee just sitting on a pot. Instead, they make it fresh every time. Even the school cafeteria serves great coffee. And on that note...
• Cups and saucers: If you buy a coffee, they give you a cup, saucer, a tiny spoon, and a packet of sugar. Now, I love coffee cups. For some reason it's a weakness of mine. So I am disproportionately excited about this (as my family can attest)
• Smoking: More people smoke here. In fact, tobacco shops are everywhere. Thanks to the (new?) law, however, people cannot smoke indoors. Therefore, smoking hasn't been an issue for me. Honestly, I think that Los Vegas is much, much worse. 
• Fur coats: This isn't a particularly widespread thing, but I do notice that more women (particularly older women) wear fur coats
• Heating: I remember reading in our EAP guide that some older apartments in Madrid don't have heating. I expected to be cold all the time. On the contrary, many places that I've been to are heated. In addition, it is very warm indoors. With the heater on and the bright blue Spanish sky outside my window, I feel like its a pleasant spring day. In reality, it is 40-something degrees outside. 
• La gente: (the people) Spaniards, in general, are very friendly. It's much more common for someone to come up and talk to you than in California. Additionally, because I do not look Spanish (at all), people just sort of [correctly] assume that I speak English. People on the street will therefore speak in English. For instance, while waiting at San Gines for chocolate con churros, a guy approached me and started speaking in English. So, we had a conversation in which I spoke Spanish and he spoke English. In stores, however, people speak in Spanish. 
• Laundry: I don't recall seeing any laundromats in Madrid. My senora has a small (and I do mean small) washing machine in her kitchen. However, clothes are dried outside the window. It's fairly common to see clothes hanging from a balcony. Good thing I bought new underwear before leaving, since it is currently outside for all of Madrid to see. :P
• La comida: (the food) I don't know if I can really say too much about Spanish food. Here are some things that I noticed
• Jamon: Ok, this one is obvious. Spain loves ham. Normally, I don't like ham. However, they prefer to eat dry-cured jamon which more closely resembles prosciutto. It's fairly common to see pig legs (there is probably a nicer way of saying that) hanging from bars or restaurants as they dry.
• Bocadillos: These are sandwiches made with a crusty baguette-type bread and are generally simple in nature. What you see on the menu is what you get; you generally don't have to ask "what does it come with?" For instance, a bocadillo de jamon serrano will just have the bread and jamon. They don't dress up their sandwiches as much as Americans.
• Condiments: This is something that has frustrated some of my Californian friends. I personally don't have any problems with it. Spaniards generally don't use hot sauce, pepper, ketchup, or other "standard" American condiments. However, they love mayonnaise and olive oil. 
• Meal times: Lunch is at 2:30-3:00 pm. Dinner is around 8:30-9:00 pm. 
• Bread: Bread is a major part of the Spanish diet. As a fellow bread lover, this is amazing.
• Eggs: In contrast to American customs, eggs are common as a lunch or dinner items. La tortilla espanola (Spanish egg + potato omelette) is a popular and accessible meal. I also love eggs, so this is great
• Olive oil: Spaniards love olive oil; I believe that it is a major export in Spain.
• Obesity: Given the carbohydrate-rich diet, its surprising that I haven't seen any heavy-set Spaniards. Granted, I live in a city where people walk everywhere. Nevertheless, they are doing something right. I also thing that they don't generally eat as much as we do.

So that's the list of thoughts thus far

The First Week

I haven't even spent a full week in Madrid and it already feels like I have been here for a while. I am settling in well (I think) and adapting to la vida madrilena. Studying abroad is an interesting experience, because you're somewhere between a tourist and a resident. My activities this week have fluctuated between exploring the city and taking care of the mundane necessities. On Wednesday and Thursday we traveled to campus in Getafe, a small and industrial pueblo outside of the city, to familiarize ourselves with the university. The campus itself is small and relatively unimpressive, much like the city at large. Of course, I will only be spending a fraction of my time at school. I will probably end class no later than 4 pm and my school week ends on Thursday. It is a lovely feeling to go out on a Friday and realize that you still have two more days to enjoy the city. On campus, I also took an language placement exam which put me in the "Avanzado" level (there are four levels--Intermedio, Avanzado, Avanzado alto, and the Superior level for bilingual students). In other words, my Spanish is not that great but it could be worse. I had wanted to take some language-specific courses such as Espanol coloquial but those are recommended for more advanced students. I don't particularly mind though, since all my classes are in Spanish so no matter what I will be learning. Additionally, these classes will give me the opportunity to meet other international students outside of the EAP (e.g. University of California) program.

Outside of the class, I have been exploring the city and spending nights with other UC students. Yesterday we went to el Parque Retiro, a famous park outside of the center of Spain. Unfortunately, I live somewhat far from the rest of my group, and thus it takes me a longer time to meet up with them. Thankfully, Madrid has an amazing public transit system. I absolutely love public transit, since I hate to drive. Yesterday, however, I decided that I would walk around and meet up with my group. It took about an hour, mostly because I was briefly lost, but the experience allowed me to see more of the city.

Later that night, we reunited at Sol (the center of the city) to go to a discoteca (nightclub). While I am normally not the type to go out to clubs, Madrid is a city known for its nightlife. People begin the night between 11 and 1 am (and later) and stay out until 6 or 7 am, when the metro re-opens. This also means that the streets are somewhat safer in the early hours of the morning. For instance, some of us left the discoteca at 4 am (we need to work our way up to 6 am) and took a taxi home. People were still out wandering the streets. 

Here's an interesting thing about the nightlife in Madrid: in Sol, there are tons of people handing out cards and ads for free/cheap drinks or entrances to their discoteca. However, they don't just hand you the card and then leave, hoping that you will actually read it before throwing it away. Instead, they approach you and tell you about their party. Then, if you're interested, they will accompany you to the location. So last night we followed a complete stranger down an alleyway in Madrid. Haha. 

And then I slept until 2 pm for the first time in my life.