Moments in Madrid: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

My new and improved coffee making routine. Steamed espresso!

Frequently used white rice

This picture is for my dad.

This is real ice cream! And delicious!

Outdoor clothes line

Our door handle

Ines and Sofia headed to the Metro station

This is my street Calle Vital Aza.

Travel books from students past. I did not have to bring the 3 that I packed!

Calle Alcala is very famous in Spain. It is 2 minutes from our apartment.

Fruit juices. 1.5 liters each

Our favorite store. They have apartment items at an excellent price!

The people I almost missed

The streetlight turns to red, but the people cross the street anyways; that is, everyone except me and a little silver haired lady. She looks like she is in her eighties or so. She is stout and determined, and her bolsa (purse) is firmly tucked under her arm. She carries a cane, not because she cannot walk without it, but because she knows that she looks vulnerable to others. Her cane is a possible weapon. Studying martial arts has put a respect in me for the elderly, and the battle they fight each day. To a common thief, an elderly person with a big purse is a perfect target. As I stood at the stoplight beside this inspiring woman, I felt a need to protect her and so many others like her.

As the rest of Madrid walkers rapidly pass by, I realize that I too, am walking very fast. I slow down, and then I see them. Little silver-haired people are dotting the sidewalk, walking slowly with canes. The normal masses are literally speed-walking around them. I feel as though I am seeing slow motion. The old gentlemen keep their Euros stowed away deep in their front pockets. I am touched when I see a couple walking slowly arm in arm, beaming at the day. The husband is carrying his wife’s purse and she is smiling fondly at him.

The people of Madrid have three paces while walking, young, middle aged, and old. The young whizz by on motor bikes wearing expensive clothes. The young have their minds on the latest gadget, the latest girl, and making it to class on time.

The middle-aged with children by the hand, are riding the bus to school. They answer their cell phones and chat with their friends and spouses. The men wear business suits, the ladies, lovely dresses and heels. They head to careers and family events. They converse with their children, they may smile at me observing, but usually don’t glance up from their own lives.

The elderly are entirely different. The gentlemen meet their friends at parks, enjoy good pipes and conversation. The ladies meet each other at home and cook, chat about days past, and sit out on a balcony or in a street café enjoying the view. These meetings may take three to four hours. There is no hurry to get anywhere, and no pressing matters to attend to. As I walk by they not only smile at me, but they wave. The elderly each have a story to tell, and if one takes the time to listen, lessons can be learned. The elderly board buses very slowly; and after they are seated they look around the bus and smile at each person with whom they make eye contact. They begin conversations with perfect strangers. They are quick and ready to help out in any way they can. Yesterday an elderly gentleman told Rajesh that he should button his back pockets to protect his money.

I feel that we as a generation are missing something important. We have forgotten that the elderly have been here long before us. They are the patriots of our history. We visit expensive castles and sights of old, but we don’t ask advice of the elderly though they are connected. It is as if we would rather read lifeless historical plaques than hear stories first hand. There is something else that we are missing. One day, we too will be old. And we will witness the disrespect that the young give to the elderly. I choose to learn my lesson right now, before I am old, so I can benefit from the wealth of lessons that have already been learned.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Mom's dog Baxter was so depressed when he saw the suitcase

Friends and Family,

After months and months of planning and hoping, we are finally here!! Por fin llegamos!!

Below is an outline of what has gone on this week. Enjoy!

Monday
Mom and Dad agreed to drive us to Chicago, and dropped us off at O'hare Airport.

     The gate number for our flight changed, and our plane was changed. After some confusion, we boarded the right plane, and flew to Washington D.C.
We then boarded the plane to Madrid and I began feeling sick. Migraines tend to visit me at the worst possible moments. The flight to Madrid was seven hours, and I had a migraine for five. Despite the headache, the flight was very comfortable. International flights offer excellent meals!

     At the baggage claim in Madrid, we started meeting other study abroad students that were in Madrid with the same program. There are probably 30 students in total that are studying in Madrid with us, not to mention all the students heading to other cities in Spain. We located our USAC directors: Susan, Gabriella and Álvaro holding USAC signs and beaming from ear to ear. All USAC students were packed on a bus and driven to our orientation hotel.
In the afternoon, we purchased a mobile phone and signed our rental agreement, then met our new roommates Hyung Jung (Spanish name is Ines) and Hye Sung (Spanish name is Sofia) who are from South Korea.
USAC treated us to a Spanish, gourmet dinner later that evening, hosted by the four-star Hotel Huso Paseo del Arte.

     I would like to mention that while trying to purchase a phone, Rajesh and I attempted to use four different ATM machines to no avail. I have never been so stressed out before. We owed rent (in Euros), an apartment deposit (in Euros) and needed Euros for expenses during the week. Each ATM were about five blocks apart, add in jet lag and a six hour time change, you get two frustrated, tired people. :) It all worked out when Álvaro noticed that we had come in and out of the Hotel five times trying to figure out how to use the cajero automático (atmin Spanish). He told us that the cajero automático has a limit of how much you can withdraw. Problem solved. But now we were hungry. We ordered (in Spanish) at McDonalds :) Lets just say that the guys behind the counter were laughing by the time we got our food.   Rajesh and I were used to ordering in Spanish, but here in España (Spain), all orders come as a value meal.   Who knew that saying "I need a burger and some fries" could be so hard? Laughing at ourselves has become crucially important this week!

Tuesday - Breakfast, checkout, and a four-hour tour of famous buildings in Madrid

I wanted to take pictures of these marvelous sights, but did not have my camera with me. We toured Plaza del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace. Spain is very proud of their historical buildings. Rajesh and I were so thrilled on the tour! We could of walked around for hours.
Back at the hotel we met our intercambio (our student guide), Jaime. After introductions, we headed to our new apartment and to meet our landlady, Loli (pronounced Low-lee). Gratefully, we found Loli to be sweet and hospitable. We live on floor two, door two, and Loli conveniently lives on floor three, door two in case there are any issues. Loli has assured us to come and knock on her door if we need any help whatsoever. Although she speaks only Spanish, we can understand almost everything she says because of our previous, language studies and past, Spanish experience. We were comforted by her hospitality and kindness. As soon as we dropped our baggage at our new home, we were whisked away for a tour of our suburb area of Madrid on Calle de Hermana Graciella Noblejas. (Noble Sister Graciella Street). We are a walk away from a los grande centro comerciales (large malls), los bancos (banks), unos restaurantes buenísimas (excellent restaurants), renown restaurant for tapas (a famous snack of Spain) and of course, and the METRO station Ciudad Lineal (Line City). Our guide and friend Jaime took us grocery shopping (because there was nothing in the apartment) and we discovered... a bit of America, shall we say. There is a chain of grocery stores here in Madrid called Lidl (pronounced Leedil) that is also chained in England and other European countries. It is run by the same company as Aldi. Prices at Lidl are very affordable! Needless to say, we got some sleep as soon as we could.

Wednesday

On the morning of Wednesday I felt extremely sick. As far as we can tell, I ate something while wandering about the streets of Madrid, and my stomach did not agree with it. (I also believe that my sickness was slightly induced by high stress levels, jet lag, and all things related to traveling abroad :) I was sick for ten hours, so Rajesh had to get on a bus and head for college orientation, sign papers for both of us, take a proficiency test, and register (both of us) for classes. I was still sick when he came home. I will never take being healthy for granted again.

Thursday
We awoke bright and early and headed for our first day of class. We have a twenty minute bus ride into the east side of Madrid, Vicálvaro, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (University of King Juan Carlos). (the same Juan Carlos is the current King of Spain). Our profesora Sara Elso, is bright, energetic, and full of surprises. That afternoon, we headed to Lidl to buy more groceries, (the ones we were too sleepy to remember last time :) and finished off the day with my grandmothers recipe of Spanish Chicken soup and percolated coffee over the stove. We finally took some time to sit on the balcony and enjoy los edificios Madrileña (Madrid designed buildings).

Friday

Back to School, meeting with Gabriella on how to handle culture shock, met new friends at METRO and traveled to Alonso Cano to buy textbooks. We went home to study, finished off the night with all-day, Spanish conversation and Korean food cooked by Ines and Sofia. Who said you couldn't learn two cultures at once?

We thought it wise to mention some important things we have noticed...

1. Madrid buses go wherever they want to go, and they will run you over when you cross the street. There is nothing that you can do about it. Either run across or best, wait for the Go signs.

2. Residents of Madrid are multicultural. None of them look alike. Rajesh and I both agree that Madrid is more diverse than the cities we have been to in the States.

3. There is a sidewalk and a lane for bikes. Don't walk on the bike lane, they won't stop either.

4. The espresso and cafe is so strong, that if you can get it down, you could be caffeinated for days.

5. Speak loudly in English and they will all look at you. It is most embarrassing. Therefore, we are always speaking Spanish in and outside the apartment.

6. Residents and restaurants in Madrid eat ham and eggs for breakfast, ham and bread for lunch, and ham, potatoes and a vegetables for dinner.

7. Madrid has the best Metro system in the World. That is, if one can understand it.

8. Knowing the METRO station near you is as important as knowing your address. When you don't know it, anyone can tell. It is also quite embarrassing.

Thank you all for everything! I will do my best to update this blog often...

Nos Vemos!!!

Un Saludo (Best Regards),

Sarah (from Rajesh as well :)