Travels of a Histrionic peripatetic

Sitting down you see some of the most interesting people. I think the most interesting that I have seen is that of children of about 5 or 6 years sitting in a baby carriage- their parents pushing them around. How crazy and abnormal is that??? Definitely not used to that- then again I’m used to children running around, screaming at the top of their lungs. Although I have not been coming in as much, it is nice to know that those who work here still remember you. They actually talk with you and ask you about, for example, your weekend. Once that friendship is really established, then they ask you why you have not called them in order to go out that weekend (I should know; it happened only a couple of moments ago). Oh the differences in cultures around the world- how lovely! Again..I will finish later as I have little time. Until next time.

Greetings everybody! I know I have not written in a very long time, and I am sorry about that. As I had mentioned before, my computer has been misbehaving and well, I do not have the greatest internet access in my room. Also, I have been out a lot more. Although I have not explored as much as normally did the first week, I still have explored. I think, however, the idea of not exploring has to do with the fact that I have become more familiar with the places. As I had mentioned earlier, we have “monitors” who are Spanish and are around our same age. Well, since the last time that I wrote, I have become more familiar with my own “hired friend”- as our professor put it. She is a great person! She is a Poli-Sci student at one of the universities. The great thing about her is that, not only have we met her, but she has also invited many of her friends that are also now our own friends. And let me tell you, they sure know how to party in the city that never sleeps! Well, it’s not only that ...

Hello Everybody! I hope your weekend has started off as great as mine has. Friday, yesterday, was a great day. Lately it has been raining, so I have not really had a chance to take pictures (or take them as I wish), but this weekend is supposed to be nice and sunny. After living through  a Minnesotan winter, 50ºF and the like are not as cold as they used to be. Well, continuing with my Friday, we have an assignment for Professor Huergo's class, and that is that we have to keep a diary. Not one where we write how we feel or how much we may miss something, but it is more about writing observations. We have a number of specific entries to include. For example, drawing maps of Madrid as we are getting to explore it more; it is our duty to get lost and familiarize ourselves so that each map becomes more intricate. I have already started my first one, and amazingly enough, I have explored quite a bit! Another series of entries have to be about how the employees attitudes change once you ...

So in state of my computer behaving in such an awful manner, I decided that I WILL post all of my pictures online. Thankfully, Facebook has it to where we can have a public link to an album- which is great because now I will not have to create another profile elsewhere. In light of that, here is that link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020126&id=1507890190&l=2dc2124897 But, just to repeat some of my favorite pictures, this first one is of the non-typical study session that I have at my favorite Cafeteria: And here is an example of the types of desserts I have available during lunch:   And here, a friend and I are just acting silly: And now, I promise I'm off to bed!

Another day in the city of Madrid and let me tell you, so much can happen in the course of, well, less than a week. First of all, I have not been able to update you on a daily basis (because believe I have time!) due to the incompetence of my computer at the moment. Unfortunately, I have been having problems when I start it, as there are times when the screen fails to show; it’s pitch black- no signs of it working whatsoever! This was getting so bothersome (as it has been acting like this for more than a day now) that I restarted my computer so that it was in the same condition it was when I initially got it. However, that also means that I have lost of my pictures- from the time I was in Mexico up until the ones I had taken a few days ago. The only ones that have been saved are those on CDs, those online, and those that I managed to not erase in my camera. The same goes for my music- all gone! No worries though. I will take more here; I have an opportunity to create more memories and ...

This picture here is just a brief look into my room. It is quite nice and spacious. I have so much closet space- the ones you see there are not the only ones. I also have a walk in closet. The bed also pulls out of the wall, so if I wanted more room, I could just put it against the wall.  In this next picture, you can see my own bathroom! I was lucky enough to have one to myself. It´s great because it's like a minitub/shower.Oh, and the washing machine is in there as well.    Here is where i will be having some of my classes. The first is with my Carleton professor (he will be teaching us about Urban Life) and the other will be with a professor here in Spain, Prof. Teresa Delgado, and she will be teaching us about the history of Spain. The other class we are having will be held in various art museums. Our first, however, is in El Museo del Prado . So these are just some examples of the places where I am. I am thinking of setting up a different site where I just put up ...

Yesterday was my first day in Madrid. When I first arrived, however, it was a complete mess! First our plane was about half and hour to 45 minutes late. I already had someone waiting for me, and yet I had no way of communicating to them that I had just landed or anything. Then we had to go through the Passport/Visa check and customs. That in itself was another 30-45 minute wait. Can you imagine how late I came out of there? We were supposed to have arrived at about 10A; I actually did not get out of there until almost noon. Then came another hurdle- finding that old family friend whose appearance I had forgotten almost completely. I was coming out of baggage claim into a crowd of unfamiliar people- who was I looking for? My classmate found her host quite easily, as she had told her what she was going to be wearing. I should have done that as well; it would have made this process much easier! Also, I had not changed currency yet- and I still have not. I have to wait until tomorrow becau...

In a few hours, I will have to leave the commodity of my home in order to begin my adventures abroad. I cannot wait. After forcing myself to bed last night and forcing myself to wake up at a decent hour, I am getting to excited to want to sit still. Even now, however, I still have a number of things to do. One, for example, being that of buying a gift for my host mother. I'm debating on buying something from Starbuks, as I used to work there and they have a nice little mug with the Memphis skyline on it. I am unsure yet... Other than that, I still have to say my "See you later's" to some friends, and as time is counting down, I have to make them quick!" (the above was written almost 3 hours before I had to be at the airport) At the airport, on my way to Spain: The first airport I had to go through was my own Memphis International. Although a fairly nice airport, it is always awful traveling to and from here. Unless you are going to Amsterdam, you are going...

So today is the first day I decided to write about the experiences that await me in foreign countries. First of all, I would like to let you know of the many places I will be able to visit as a result of my education. During the fall term of my sophomore year, I will be in Madrid, Spain. In other words, that is where everything is going to begin. After only ten weeks of studying there, I will return to the winter in Memphis, although I have to admit I will no mind since the cold is not as extreme as it is in Minnesota. I will stay home for about 5 weeks- a rather long winter break, but again I won't mind. Then, only days before New Year's, I will take off to western Africa- Mali to be exact. There I will experience a different sort of learning opportunity since it will be the first time that I am in a country where neither of my first languages are dominant; hello Francophone country and culture! Again, as we run by a trimester system, I will return home for about 3 weeks and o...