Finally Adjusting

So I’ve been here a few days short of two weeks and I am finally adjusting. AFS put together an orientation last week which was at the perfect time. I got to see my new friends from the program again and also some  more of Madrid. Some other AFSers and I were strolling around through Plaza Mayor, a very beautiful and popular square, taking pictures and simultaneously getting lost and loosing the rest of the group.



Me, Ozen, and Ville



A normal reaction to being lost is to worry yet the Turkish, Finnish, the other American and I, the foreighners, couldn’t be happier to aimlessly stroll through the beautiful narrow alleys of Madrid trying to find our way back. Of course we ended up going in the exact opposite direction and after some delicious mango zumas and a while’s wait, we made it to the park where everyone was enjoying a traditional Spanish lunch.  While eating lunch in the grass, you could see amazing historical buildings and alleys everywhere you look and live violin and accordion were playing through the streets. It was absolutely remarkable. After another activity right outside of the Palace, the orientation was over but the day had only begun. Afterwards, I went with Clara and her two friends to a local festival full of rides, games, and food. That night I had my first churros, a delicious Spanish dessert, and laid under the most magnificent fireworks I had ever seen. This past Tuesday I met with my friends from AFS and explored Madrid again for a total of eight wonderful hours, my favorite being Retiro Park. This park has the same function as Central Park in New York City, with people selling their art and jewelry and people playing and singing music. It was magnificent; with trees everywhere and people canoeing and again old historic buildings in sight; absolutely beautiful. After a long and fun day, I managed to use the metro without worries which is what made me most happy. I switched metros and from the stop to the home where I live is about a twenty minute walk and at first I did get lost but I managed in the end. This day, I also signed up for my classes in my new high school “Instituto Alameda de Osuna”. Some of the classes are: Cultural Classics, Latin, History of Culture and World Religion, Music, History of Spain, Computers, Spanish Language and literature, and even English. All of these classes are new to me and some of them sound really exciting, especially Cultural Classics and History of Culture and World Religion. This School is very different than Emery. There is no dress code, I am not taking any form of science, the day is from 8:30 to 2:30, there is no lunch break, and It is public. Also, something that is interesting is that I stay with my class all day; the teachers move from class to class, it is not the students that move around. From the sound of it, the class must get really close by the end of the year, if everyone is together all day. The School is walking distance and every day I will walk to and from which is wonderful because being outside and walking in the morning is nice, and I desperately need the exercise with all that I am eating. Yesterday was the first day so I walked there and I was very nervous, but it was only an hour presentation. Today there were busses taking the students to an event but unfortunately I wasn’t sure where to go and I missed the bus. Tomorrow is whats tough; there are placement tests in SPANISH; that shall be interesting. I forgot to mention that I still speak little to no Spanish and did not understand one word of the presentation yesterday at school. Real classes start Monday and I cannot wait. The thought of a new school, meeting new people, and all in a new language is exhilarating and exciting. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, I guess I shall wait and see.

Hasta Luego

Danielle



First Days in Madrid

  Today marks a week from when I said those extremely hard goodbyes at the airport. I have been in Spain since Friday and with my new host family since Saturday. You could say that it has definitely been a long week. The family is very nice and they have two adorable dogs; black and white. Yet, I still had a nasty case of homesickness. I found that I spend too much time wishing I was with my family at home and too much time connecting to them on the internet, that I didn’t pay enough attention to Madrid. On the first night, we went to the center of town and Madrid is very beautiful. It has both the historical pretty buildings as well as the modern buildings. We ate dinner at a very popular square, or plaza, where tons of people were strolling the streets. The city was very alive and joyful, even at midnight. On the second day, I woke up and got out of bed thinking it was about midday but it was actually almost five o’clock. With shock, I remembered that I am still jetlagged on Houston time. My sleeping is a little better but I do still have jetlag. Yesterday, I went on a walk with Clara and the two dogs, and afterwards we went to the metro where we met up with Belen, my host mother, and Clara’s friend and then went to the All Time Low concert in center Madrid. The funny thing is I saw them about two years ago in Houston. American music has definitely made its way to Spain. I hear California girls multiple times a day, along with love the way you lie, and a lot of lady gaga, and also many more songs. I think I hear more American songs than I do Spanish songs. I can leave America, but America will never leave me. Including the time difference, and therefore I shall now go to sleep and attempt to beat jetlag.


Buenos Noches

Danielle

On the Plane

Well, today is September 2nd (or third) and I’m currently on the night flight to Switzerland, where I will be switching flights to my new home for the year, Madrid, Espana. (Although this will not be posted until I find some internet in Madrid) After a lot of last minute packing, a nervous throw-up on the way to the airport, and some painful goodbyes, I’m finally on my way to a new journey; First, I had a two-day orientation in New York City with other nervous kiddos like myself. Although, I am one of the few sophomores; I guess I was just too eager to get to Spain. I’m now in between a million (more like thirty) other AFS Spain-going Americans without a chaperone, I guess you could say that we invaded the plane. The gate right next to me was Elal Airlines going to Tel-Aviv, I had such an urge to just jump into that crowd of Israelis and go back to Tel-Aviv; but the idea that in a year’s time I could have the same feeling toward Spain kept me in my seat still eager to go. Also, a long talk on the phone with both my parents and some friends definitely helped. Thank god for convenient technology these days. If you think about it, if this was a few hundred years ago I would be sailing on some fancy ship for a month to reach the other side of the world and loose contact with absolutely everyone. HOWEVER, being its 2010, I’m only a phone call away.

AFS Spain 2010-2011

The Idea of being in Spain in a few hours is still quite surreal and unbelievable. I keep thinking I’ll be waking up in my messy blue room with my obese dog stepping all over me. I guess I have to accept the fact that that won’t be the case for about another year. Yet, that’s not a bad thing. My host family seems super cool and nice and excited to be hosting me. They have a daughter, Clara, who will soon be fifteen and so her and I are close in age which is a huge plus. Also, being in Madrid- the coolest and biggest city in Spain- definitely doesn’t hurt. Like mentioned in my earlier post, a real city! I already feel the Real Madrid Soccer (football) team spirit building up. I really can’t imagine going to another country at this point but Spain just feels right. If I’m not mistaken my last name, Tobias, come from Spain, also I THINK my mother’s side has some Spain in it, I have some of it in me, I guess I’m just keeping it alive. Hopefully I do my part, and I come back speaking perfect Spanish. Now THAT would be unbelievable, but to tell you the truth I can’t even think that far ahead. At this point, all I’m concerned about is getting to Madrid and meeting my host family. Well, actually I’ll I’m concerned about right now is going back to sleep, the Swiss definitely know how to make comfy plane seats.

Buenas Noches

Danielle