Well everyone, I made it. I'm typing this during a break in our conversation class, so I don't know how much I'll actually get typed in the 5ish minutes we have left. So here it goes.
The flights were long but good. Only one screaming child and she only yelled during take off, but that is to be expected since it was really hard on everyone's ear drums. The crew on the 7 hour flight spoke Spanish and so that was a good time to practice and they were really nice. The food was alright, not fantastic but edible. There was tea that they brought around and that was really really good. :) Mady and I got Chili's in the Chicago airport before the long flight so we didn't really need to eat a lot on the plane.
Madrid's airport is GIGANTIC! I thought Chicago's was big. There is nothing in the Madrid airport until you get past customs. Not even a trashcan on the mile or so walk you get stuck on. At least there are moving sidewalks. But they have breaks in them so you can't just sit down and ride. There is I think 1 bathroom and then passport check then another mile of walking then customs then more walking then a 5 minute tram ride to more terminals and then another half mile of walking to the VERY END terminal for our flight to Malaga.
But we got to Malaga and found our luggage right away. It was already circulating by the time we found our way down there and then we found the bus 10 minutes later and then got to the bus station and then had an hour to sit around for the bus to Ronda.
The drive to Ronda was very beautiful. The bus went through the mountains and there were small towns and houses and a lot of wind turbines on top of the hills. Everything is green and there are flowering trees and wildflowers everywhere even though it's cold.
Ronda is really pretty. The first day and a half was really overwhelming with tours and everyone trying to show us around and so I just let it all go over my head. It wasn't worth trying to remember everything.
Today (Feb. 2) has gone pretty well. Still feeling a little sick, but not as bad. We all went out to a tapas bar last night and I had two different tapas. One was a skewer OF THE BEST SHRIMP I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE and the other was fries covered in ketchup and this white sauce that none of us could agree on whether it was mayo or cheese. It was good, odd but good. This was at Bar Antonio, and Peter and I had (I think) Machau Clasic (yes, weird spelling I know) beer which was good.
THEN everyone but two went to Husky's, an American Bar where we watched figure skating on TV, talked to an Italian guy who was traveling all over Spain making money playing his guitar and spoke no English, and we came to the conclusion that no matter where you are in the world, once you get a few drinks in some heavly opinionated Americans (*nudge*Dan and Diana*nudge*) they will inevitably start arguing politics, the war in Iraq, healthcare, and how cool an American one dollar bill is.
Also, side note: Everyone gets a lot better at Spanish and a lot more willing to use it after a few hours of drinking cervezas (beers). Another side note: CruzCampo is the Budweiser of Spain. IT'S EVERYWHERE.
So onto today. I just also realized how long this is. Wow. Anywho. School was good. Grammar was easy, I might go up a level in that depending on if i was borderline on my test or not, I'll talk to Daniel tomorrow. Conversation was good. My stomach hurt after our pausa in between classes so it was hard to concentrate and participate. People tend to try to talk over each other sometimes, but that's alright. I just sat back until I was asked a question and then I talked until I couldn't think of anything else. It went pretty well.
I'm realizing that there are a lot of people here that don't know English, and Spanish is what we have in common. Like the Italian guy, or Dan's girlfriend, or the French tourists who asked me to take their picture in the plaza today. But it is nice when you're lost and the sympathic veterinary assistant speaks a little english. (Thank you whoever you are)
But for now, I will go. There are things to be done, like reloading my phone with minutes. Again.
I am really starting to get comfortable here. I'm happy it's not AS scary as it was and that things are settling down and there are people here who I can talk to that know what's going on and speak English. Just hearing English songs on the radio is something I love.
Pictures coming soon, hopefully some here, maybe I'll find a photo hosting site or make it so you all who don't have Facebook can get to them there. I'll figure something out. But they should be on Facebook soonish. Give me another 2 or 3 days. I have to walk 10-15 minutes for internet. Be patient with me.
Love you all.
-Erin
No comments:
Post a Comment