A New Beginning

Granada

2005-05-31T01:09:00.000+02:00

Yep, it's been that long since I've posted. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE!!!!! I can't go back and explain it now. But just to summarize... Kathy came, we had a blast... Jessica came over as well and we went to Granada and just got back about two days ago.

GRANADA:

Well, we got on the bus and took a long drive down to Granada. We got there really early in the morning and verrrrry tired, I didn't sleep the whole way down (5 hours, from 1am-6am). We finally got to our hostel.. and I didn't think it was a hostel when I walked in cause there was this little old man sleeping on some seats and he freaked out when he saw me and started screaming. lol... he gave us the BIGGEST attitude and was going crazy telling us crap. I was like W T F? we were very very tired and jessica was sick and we didnt want to be there. Finally, like at 11 we got our room (we were waiting around til then sleeping in the restaurant lmao..).. and the room was pretty good at least.
We were in the middle of no where but in front of the Alhambra WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL!...

In the following days, we went to the Alhambra and Generalife palaces ... they're so amazing and have such strong Arabic influence.. it's TRULY amazing. I would definitely recommend Granada to ANYONE coming to Spain!!

Ahhh.. I wish I would update as things happen. So much has happened and I cannot even put it into context cause it woulkdnt make sense. We danced with a guy selling roses in the club.. lol.. hmm.. I dunno... so many things. AHH!

Well, i shall update soon. I'm doing my finals now and I'm stressing cause I really don't know what to study for.. I'm just studying... stuff that I find on the topic on the internet lol...

until next time

2005-05-08T15:07:00.000+02:00

I haven't updated in a lonnng time because I haven't really been able to and have to say, haven't felt like either.

Kathy ended up coming and we had a great time checking out my campus, going out, and traveling. We went to Barcelona and had a real blast there.

Jessica is getting here next week and I feel that I'm going to have a blast with her also.
I haven't posted up many pics but I will fix them all soon and leave the links to save them online for later viewing.

Well, my friend is currently working in Bilbao and he wants me to go up there so that I can see the city... supposedly it's really pretty because it's not too far from the beach..... sooo... maybe I'll go if I have the time.

School is gettin' kinda crazy because finals are coming and they're ALL PACKED into a couple of weeks... they're all accumulative... and I dunno.. all my assignments and everything are due as well. I think it would be a whole lot better if they were to spread it through the semester... ahhh.... whatever.

I already bought my airplane ticket to Liverpool and I'm going to be looking for work there... hopefully I find something.

Last night I went out with my friends, something I hadn't done in a loooong time. We went partying and I got home at like 8am... I don't really like getting home that late (early) because I'm just sooo tired throughout the day. Well, hopefully next semester I live closer to el centro and I won't have to rely on public transportation.

Well, I'm off to put all the pictures in order and put them online.

Hasta luego

Update!

2005-04-28T19:40:00.000+02:00

Ok, it's been a looong time since I've updated and a lot of things have happened.

Kathy came by and we had a blast... I don't exactly remember the details but we went to Barcelona and also to Cuenca. It was really fun. I'll try and remember the details later and I'll update then. I'm going to Galicia this weekened. It's very hot here in Madrid and it will be very cold up north.

Au revoir!

Avila

2005-03-25T23:03:00.000+01:00

Today we went to Avila, in Castilla y León.

Well, we've been meaning to go to Avila for a while... although we never did read anything too interesting about it lol. According to my book (which I fail to believe anymore), it says that it's the "highest city in Spain!".. my ass lol. But it is one of the highest.

We met up at 8:00am in the recepción and ran to the train lol... unfortunately, when we got there it was just leaving lol. So we waited and we finally got to Chamartín and bought our tickets for Avila. I went with 5 Belgians.. lol... so they were speaking French most of the time... (which I didn't understand but I did learn many things! lol). The train ride was soooo long.. it was 2 hours and stopped in every single station.

We finally got to Avila... and we walked around to the historical center. There were a bunch of churches... like, A LOT... very religious city. And the churches were very nice... except for one which was sort of boring (too modern). We walked and walked... it started raining... we saw a bunch of storks which were pretty cool...

I don't know why, but a bunch of the statues in Avila didn't have heads. And there was a statue of some hog/pig/animal with no head lol... the birds were chillin' on the statues' heads (the ones with heads). We ate at a restaurant called Más Palomas and they gave us a full fish lol.. and we cut the head off and didn't eat it. Afterwards I learned that "tête" meant head.. lol.. so we spoke about writing our thesis on the têtes/non têtes d'Avila ...lol... it was very funny.

We walked on the city walls.. which was pretty cool... and very long. It started raining and luckily I brought my umbrella (parágua).

On the way home we had to get a Regional Express train cause there were no more regionals.. and Leive and me were cracking up the entire time about the heads we saw/didn't see in Avila lol... and we had these Spanish people sitting in front of us probably wondering what in the hell was wrong with us. The guard came by to check our tickets and I was like "Salut Monsieur! Viva la tête du poisson!!" ..lol we were cracking up so hard lol.. the fish head was too funny.

Oh yeah, I lost a fork from my room.. i dont know where in the hell i put it. I looked in my bathtub, my underware drawers... under my bed... lol everywhere and I can't find that fork.. I think that I threw it away. So when we were in the restaurant... Ayse's husband stole a fork for me lol.. it was really really funny.. by the way, the food there was so awesome.

We got home... I went to my room.. super tired... talked to myself for a while lol.. and then went to sleep. I spoke to mom today too...

-Fin du entry-

La Procesión en Madrid

2005-03-24T23:59:00.000+01:00

Today was a cool day.

I woke up and eat breakfast.. took my time... and then met up with David in Gran Vía. I was late because (OUT OF ALL DAYS!) that I decide to get off Renfe (as you can tell, it's always Renfe) in Nuevos Ministerios... they cut off the train and were in obras so I had to take this gitney to Alonso Martinez and from there catch the Metro to Gran Vía... what a hassel. Well, we went to Burger King lol... and I ate like a horse... I had my cell phone on the table and then David is like "OH SHIT" and he grabs in and puts it in his bag. I was like wtf? So then he tells me to watch my food. Apparently "nomads" or "gypsies" came into the BK and are known for taking stuff. So I'm watching them and they're just going up to people's tables and grabbing their food and eating it... without any shame!! lol.. it was funny as hell. So I see the girls go upstairs... when they come back down, they had this huge hamburger and fries... so obviously they had taken it from someone lol.

We went walking around and then got to Sol. We waited for Lieve and Ayse because we wanted to go to Las Procesiones that they were having around that area. We finally found them after waiting around and cracking up 'cause there was this guy thrown on the floor --dead asleep-- while these Indians were playing music in the Plaza... so we walked around and a crowd started gathering... the processions took FOR EVER to begin.. and finally the Jesus and KKK-look alikes passed by and we called it a night lol...

We went back to Argüelles because that's where the other Belgian friends were living... they ate pizza there and I ate a kebab dinner which was AWESOME... we finally went home with Ayse and her husband and Lieve and me... we were cracking up the whole time.. OH YEAH and we were with a girl from Holland.. I forget her name. We got to the residence and decided to go to Avila on Friday... so we made plans.. and were very tired..

-Fin!-

El Escorial

2005-03-23T23:30:00.000+01:00

Today I went to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, España.

It was another awesome place and I would definetely recommend it.

I woke up after hardly any hours of sleep... and it was sooo difficult to get up. I got ready, took my time, and sat down. I noticed that I wasn't going to make it to the train station on time and it would be best if I caught the next train in Chamartín in 2 hours. But then I looked at the time again... and I felt I had time to get to the station real quick. So I stormed out of the residence hall and ran to the train station. When I got there, the train was leaving already. So I was sort of pissed. I needed to catch that train... because if not, I will arrive at Chamartín too late and not be able to get the train on time.. and have to wait two hours. So I pushed my luck and waited (since the residence hall is far away anyway and I was too lazy to walk back). The next train arrived 10 minutes later and I was freaking out that it wasn't going to arrive. I got to Chamartín and hauled ass into the station and ...lo and behold.. there was a line to buy the tickets. So I was waiting there aaaaaas my train was just getting there (I had two minutes). So these tourists were taking forever cause they didn't understand the teller lol... so I was like omg... they finally left... 1 minute left... I bought the ticket and hauled ass down the escalators... I'm surprised I didn't fall. Right when I jumped into the train.. the doors were already about to close. I can't believe I made it.

On the way there... I don't know why, but Segovia (and some ...SOME parts... other scenic routes I've taken on bus/train) has been the only one which such beauty that I have been in total awe at the panorama. It's usually the meseta.. and that's desert-looking and just open fields (which are kind of nice, too). Luckily I brought a book (which I'm supposed to be finished with by the 28th) and I read a couple of pages then crashed into sleep lol... I'm too paranoid to sleep around people so I practically had one eye open watching the freaks next to me.

We finally got to El Escorial after like 50 minutes. Right when I got out of the train... I smelled ...I'm not kidding.. "mountain air".. which was like soooo different. It felt awesome. Does this stuff actually exist?? I guess so! ...Well.. it felt really clean and pure. As I walked away from the station, the smell got stronger... this time mixed with pine. It was the best.

I had to walk down this looooong road (like 3 miles) to get to the Escorial. I enjoyed that mountain air and it was actually pretty cold and foggy, but not too bad. I was going crazy taking pictures lol. I finally got to the escorial... went inside. It's pretty cool.. no biggie.. the outside is actually better than the inside... afterwards, I made it my duty to get lost in the city. I'm going to do this from now on because I'd prefer knowing the citys local area rather than the touristy areas (well.. check them out too of course).

So I got lost... and WOWZA! BEAUTIFUL! I made it beyond the base of the mountain.. it was extreme.. beautiful houses... I couldn't believe my eyes!! ..then it started raining.

I bought a loaf of bread.. and then waited in a parking garage (a nice ass parking garage with a huge garden ...this is obviously the rich people area).. I ate the stupid loaf (which I should have)... and waited for about an hour and a half watching the rain and just thinking. It helps... a lot.

I decided to go out into the rain 'cause I was done thinking lol... I was getting all wet and not really enjoying myself.. I got the bag from the loaf of bread and put it over my head and walked around like that... people were staring lol. My camera was getting all wet... I then decided to go home.. I'd come back another day (it's worth it).. as I was walking back.. the rain stopped. ::sighs::.. so I decided to get lost again.. and I saw some of the most beautiful trees/vistas/everything I'd ever seen!! NOT KIDDING!

Well... I had a fun day. It was really an educational experience for me at least... I got on the train... checked out the mountains... slept... then got back home.

Fin!

Valencia

2005-03-21T17:40:00.000+01:00

I went to Valencia, in Comunidad Valenciana.

I had a blast... it was really, really fun. I was a bit skeptical about going as/with ERASMUS (exchange program for Europeans) because I felt as if I was going to be alone. Also, the trip was only going to be one day and I didn't think that I was going to enjoy it much.

Thanks to Payli, I signed up for it (it was only 22€ RT) and it was from 7am Saturday-5am Sunday. I recommend this trip! It was during "Las Fallas" or Falles in Valencià. This is the official poster for this year's "Falles de València"

I didn't sleep much the night of the trip, and when I woke up, it was 4:50am. I left my place and got to the train station where I found these two Belgian girls who live at my residence.. I forgot their names, but I always see them around. I chilled with them and rode the train until Nuevos Ministerios where we got off and walked to Santiago Bernabeu since we were early anyway. Turns out that we were like the first ones and it was almost 7am... Afterwards, when it got packed (there were 5 tour buses full of ERASMUS students) I was alone 'cause the Belgian chicks split lol... so I was like "omg Danny, what do you get yourself into.." blah blah blah 'cause I was alone. Well, I finally got onto the last bus and tried to look for an empty seat... luckily I found one next to this guy who thought I was speaking French to him 'cause he responded "non parlo".. I was like what? lol... so I sat next to him. He was a cool dude... he was from Cologne, Germany but was of Russian origins.. and spoke English perfectly. Along with him I met a bunch of other really, really cool people. I met on the bus, a girl from PennState or UPenn, I get confused and she was Puertorican/Americanish... I met other Germans and some French girls from Paris who were really cool also. My German-Russian friend, David, and I were talking about so many different things on the way over there.. he spoke Spanish real well also...

We got off at a pit stop and I found my friend Leela from Finland... she taught me how to say hi/goodbye in Finnish...: hello is hey. bye is hey hey... i was like.. LOL... ok... well, well I was getting out of the bus, another tour bus was coming and it almost ran me over. lol...

We saw a bunch of pretty panorama on the way to Valencia and when we finally got there.. there were palm trees, hot weather, and a cool breeze... I already loved this city. I brought my bathing suit so that I could go to the beach... on the way out I noticed the train station and it said "Estació d'autobusos de València"... they speak another language in this city... which made it even BETTER... it was really cool.

We walked over the bridge to the city center and there I met two Germans from ERASMUS who are in Autónoma also... their names were Dániel and Alex. We got to the centre and immediately saw some Fallas... they were really nice. It was super packed with people... like, SO MANY. I met Ivana, a girl from Sicily who was also really cool. Our group wasn't really seeing/going anywhere so we split up. Ivana and me went walking around the city and saw some of the monuments which were awesome. The entire time there were bombs going off which were verrry loud it was so cool. I almost got ran over by a horse. lol.. there were people dressed up around the city like medieval style.

Ivana and me went to go look for stuff to eat, we ate churros/porras with chocolate... it was really good. We later went to a restaurant and ate dinner with Sangría and we were talking for hours.. it was great.

We later went outside and saw the cremá de las fallas... the blew/set them on fire right in front of us... and people were shouting in valencià... it was amazing!! I had such a fun time.. I'm really glad I got to meet such cool people.

When I went to the ayuntamiento there was this huuuuge falla that they set on fire and everyone was going crazy! Major fireworks and they were beautiful. We finally got out of there (it was really packed) after a couple of hours and then walked around the nightlife zone and Ivana and me had a glass of wine while there was Bob Marley music playing lol.. it was cool. It got really cold and we were verry, verryyy tired so we went around 4:30am to the bus station and the bus still wasn't there... I don't even remember what happened on the way home but, we finally got there and I got to my room and couldn't sleep. I stayed awake until like 12-1:00pm (I got home at 10) and then knocked out until 9pm.. then went to sleep again like at 3am until 12:00pm today... then I went to the supermarket, I'm tired now.

I need to post the pictures soon.. they're amazing.

by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY POP!!!

Kathy in Madrid

2005-03-07T19:23:00.000+01:00

Kathy finally posted and she's alright. She went through a lot of trouble to get back to Barcelona. Well these are the pictures of us while she was here.. thanks to her brother for posting them.

Update

2005-03-05T17:31:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted for a while. This entire week has been a blur.

I don't even know what has happened... I know I was sick, my throat was swollen and I know that my teachers decided to not show their faces either lol. Some days I couldn't get out of bed... my ear was hurting... ahhh.

Thursday I started feeling better. I've been going to Barrio del Pilar lately to la Vaguada 'cause that seems to be the closest bank to me. I think it was today that I spoke to Kathy for like 20000 hours 'cause she called me... I'm glad... she's coming soon and I can't wait. Oh, Joanna's not coming anymore:(! But she has her reasons, so it's ok.

Last night I went out with Payli, Nathalie, and Ricardo... we were going to go out with a bunch of other friends but I don't know what happened to them lol. We met up at Plaza de Castilla and it was sooooooo cold. For some reason the streets were empty... but I don't know if it can be blamed on the cold weather, 'cause these people party in any weather. Out of all the times I've got out clubbing, this has to be the only night that has been so empty in everywhere we've gone, and the metros, everything! We were waiting around for a bunch of friends to come but they were some where else blah blah I don't know what happened... so we walked around el centro. Payli saw some famous actress named Natasha (from Argentina) who was on Big Brother... something like that, I don't know, I've never seen the show. It was so funny, she was getting humped by some guy ("her cousin") and the camera guy was filming and everyone watching... it was really funny. I tried to come out in the video saying "Hi Mom!" lol. We were walking in the same direction as her so I called her name out and she blew a kiss to me.. I took a picture, BUT THANKS TO MY CAMERA!... it came out a bit messed up lol. joder... so we were walking a bit further and we saw another famous actress... Monica or something... not sure. We met up with Ricardo's friends and we went to a lounge I've been before... but it's like a bunch of old people and the drinks were expensive.

We went to another bar that was super packed and there was this drunk guy dancing on the table... we were cracking up so hard. I bought a mini there (1L drink) for 5€!!! That's so cheap... so it was pretty awesome, it was Malibu Piña or some crap.. it tasted great. After we were at our puntillos, we left to another place, this time a club. We had to run to get in there free before 2:30 but we got there a bit late and it was 12€ entrance + drink. So we said forget it and ... for the first time, found myself in Kapital!.. it's a huuuuge club with 7 floors... they make it seem as if you're buying a ticket to watch a movie.. it's called "Kapital Theatre."

I liked Kapital.. it's just that it was a bit empty... but I didn't like that there were a bunch of foreigners... I like the more local places. There were a bunch of white American girls... lol... which was fun to watch. There were some African Americans, who we immediately knew they were because of how they were dancing... which was cool. Kapital has this big air thing that blows air down on the people: super strong/cold every so often on the main dance floor... we were dancing and that shit scared the hell out of me... I was like OMG WHAT'S HAPPENING!!! Unfortunately I didn't take pictures while it was happening but it was really funny watching everything get blown away lol.

We were pretty much going to each floor the whole time.. it was pretty fun. Kapital is too expensive though... even though it comes with a drink. I had Red Label and coke... didn't do anything to me... hmm they are known for watering down their drinks... anyway.

I finally took some pictures of only 3 of my friends here but I will try to take many more later on.

I don't know what in the heck is wrong with the first picture, but it doesn't come out all the way.

I went out with Payli after we left the club (since we both need to get to Pla. de Castilla to get home... we ended up eating at some place called Gugo (I think)... we just talked and talked... she was scared to go on the metro alone to her neighborhood so I went with her (it was only 30 min. difference from me) and then I went home. It was already like 8am or so ...by the way, I'm so blind, I can't see crap!... anyway, I got to my university and it was freezing!! There was no one around so I was taking pictures of the campus and stuff... looks nice at this time of day. I got to the train station (after taking the bus) and I saw the sign said "-3°" ...I was like BRRRR....

I went to sleep like at 9-9:30 and woke up around 1 or 2. I'm tired.

By the way, I went to the doctor yesterday (free medical services!) and he prescribed some medicine for my throat and stuff... Zitromax and Ibuprofen... I didn't buy the Zitro 'cause it was a bit expensive for me... but I feel better now anyway lol.

Nevermind with the pics... I can't upload them to the internet cause jerry's computer's not working... so, I guess ask me for them and I will try to send them.

Toledo

2005-02-27T23:22:00.000+01:00

Today I went to Toledo in Castilla-La Mancha.

I went to sleep last night with the intention of waking up at around 8:30 to get out of here fast and I could. Unfortunately, and I don't know why, my alarm didn't go off... but luckily I only woke up 40 minutes late. So, I rushed to make my sandwiches and pack my stuff for the day-trip. I got out of the house and walked as fas as I could to the train station. ::Side Note:: I like the Metro, train, and buses... they're awesome. This type of stuff doesn't exist in Miami... the buses do, but they suck. lol. But... since they're all on a schedule, and you have no control of how fast or slow they go... it can cause delays. If you arrive so much as one minute late, if you have to catch another bus, train, or metro... you won't be able to take any shortcuts or speed... so you'll eventually miss them. :: :: So, I got there like a couple of minutes late. lol...

I was kind of pissed because I wanted to get on the train that I had planned for. Well, I tried my best to get on it... but the guy told me it had left already and the next was to go to Toledo at 8:30 ("de la tarde") PM. So I was like greeaaat. So I went to Méndez Álvaro (or whatever it's called) and looked for any buses going to Toledo. I went through the biggest mission to get to that station only to find out that the cercanías train I had been on had a stop there and had been going in that direction (grrrr!). So, I finally got there.. it was like 11:30 already and I was seeing no point in going to Toledo (since it was such an "awesome city") and not spending much time there.

I found a bus company (Continential) that offers Madrid-Toledo trips... luckily I went with them, because they were pretty cheap (only 8.24€ round trip) to Toledo (cheaper than cercanías train). So, I went with them... I practically died on the way over there because I was so tired... and fell straight to sleep. I woke up at times and looked out the window to see nothing but highway and nothingness... I guess if you would want to see scenery you'd have to take the train (maybe this is why it costs more?)... however, the buses get to the destination quicker.

I finally woke up from my power nap and we were almost there (the trip is only an hour). We finally got there and I went to go buy my return ticket (I bought it for 7:30pm).. it was 1pm. I got out and first thing I see is some castle.. ok.. yeah cool. lol... I walked a bit and found myself in the city centre already.

It's a nice city, I have to admit. However, I would have to rate it (on a scale from 1-10) as a 6.5- nearly 7. It's great and all... really nice, cool structures, awesome places to visit... but it is highly overrated (for me at least). I thought Segovia was 10 times better (and it's hardly known compared to Toledo!). Well, unfortunately, I can't rate this city at a 10 because of my personal experiences. The major places were closed: El Alcázar, Casa-Museo del Greco, and Museo de Santa Cruz. Three of the most important places were closed due to renovations or because it was "Sunday." So, I only saw these places from the outside... not a complete waste.

I did go into one of the other overrated Mosques from my "travel guide", this was the Mezquita Cristo de la Luz. OK, in the book it describes it as "one of the oldest and loveliest buildings in the city". OK, I'll agree with the old part... but loveliest... yeah, depends what you're talking about lol. The book, not to mention the flyers and propaganda, put this place on the 9th cloud. When I got to it, I paid the entrance, yada yada yada not that bad (only 1,40€)... when I go inside, I was actually at the end of the museum...lol. The "loveliest" and yada yadas building was a building indeed... with one room and a picture of Jesus. That's it!... so, I was like.. ummm OKKKKKKKKKKKK, so I just left.

I walked around for a long time, taking pictures etc. etc... getting lost on purpose... regreting the fact that I brought this 10 pound book with useless information... I finally reached a road called Cuesta de Carlos V (at least I think it was called that) where you can see the Alcázar (at least I think it was it) from ....far... and you see a river in front of it. Cool... I wish I could get closer but all the roads that lead to it seemed to either have collapsed or "mysteriously" disappared when I referred from the map.

Well, I got lost.. literally... and I didn't care... I ate my two sandwiches looking at the Alcázar... then I got lost... I was in some park called "Parque del Crucero" where I was all alone, and eating my other crap I brought. I took a bunch of pictures of the roads and little parts of the city. I saw a bunch of cats. Hey! I love travelling alone.. it's great... you get a lot of time to yourself to think about happy things and you get a chance to breathe and just ..be happy (or some shit lol)... well, there is a downfall to travelling alone, this picture should describe it perfectly:

Anyway, I was impressed by the Cathedral. Unfortunately, there were no pictures allowed... and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Really great... that added 6.4 points to my Toledo trip...lol....

At this point, it was ALREADY 3PM... so I had been there two full hours! So... I was like uh... let's get lost again. So, I did... I went into this thingy ... anyway it had one painting by El Greco and it had an altar or something, which was pretty cool I have to admit... the entrance was 1,40 also (student discount baby)... and well, that's it!... I did go to this other museum but I didn't go in after all, I don't know why... but I didn't.

The signs in Toledo suck. They lead you in the totally wrong direction lol... if I were to have followed them, who knows where I would be right now lol. Well, I did follow some, and I ended up in who-knows-where. The signs tell you where to go... but once you're about, let's say, 1KM from where you had intended on going, there are no more signs... so within a 1KM diameter... you have your destination... happened... A LOT to me... I never got to see the Sinagogas Visigóticas because of this... I had been walking all over town then I quit listening to the signs. I never got to el Alcázar because of this, also. Those signs get two thumbs down lol.

Oh yeah, how can I forget... I was walking, looking for la Iglesia de San Nicolás... and I thought I found it cause I saw these people coming out of this little place.. which, in my book pin-pointed it with street names and everything. So, I went up to the place and tried to get in... but a guy closed the door on his way out... so I asked him "¿puedo entrar?"... and he's like "...¡no!... ¡es una casa particular!".. I was like... (LMAO in my mind)... ohh "sor--- perdon..." lol.... I tried not to laugh, but I felt extremely stupid. Yet, again, my "travel guide" has let me down... I need DK or Lonely Planet.

Well, I got to the station an hour early in hopes of changing my ticket for the earliest possible... I wasn't going to sit around the station all day.. and, luckily, I got it changed for 6:30... So I got home, cooked... now I'm here typing. ZZZ I'm tired... I'm off to bed. Tomorrow I'm going to Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes (which is in my community) and walk around... maybe I'll find something interesting there.

Goodnight.

Thanks Kathy R!

2005-02-25T20:59:00.000+01:00

Last night I was really, really tired and cold. So I put on a beanie to go to sleep... I woke up without a shirt, I don't know how/why? lol... I also woke up with a really bad headache... I think it was from the beanie.

I took a shower, made myself breakfast... etc. etc. I turned on the heater "cause it was cold" and took a shower... I left my room and went to Barrio del Pilar because that's where my BBVA bank is (closer than Sol) so that I could take out money from my US account.

Yesterday I was missing the "heat and humidity", I think I spoke too soon. Today was so, damn, hot! I was sweating soooo much. Incredibly hot... didn't it just snow!?!!? lol. I also went to the mall just to walk around and get-to-know the area. I've been in Madrid for over a month now and I still don't know where anything is... is it because I live so far from the city? Maybe. I need to start exploring more. Well, I wish that Jerry and Fernando would have gone to this area of Madrid 'cause it's really nice, there's a huge monument that you can't miss.

I walked soooooo much today. I have an ass like a horse lol... no but seriously... I did. I went to my university after I came back from Bro. del Pilar and went looking for the director of the Linguistics dept. I found him and he told me that the classes will be held starting 7 March. They better... shiiii... I couldn't find the Anthropology Dept. so I gave up... too much walking, my university is HUUUUGE way bigger than FIU at least.

So, I came home and cooked... chicken hotdogs with turkey fillets or whatever.... I didn't want to eat too much 'cause I'm going out clubbin' tonight and .... yeah. lol...

I tried to clean my room today... there's just too many things all crazy around the room that I just give up lol... also, I put my clothes to wash. That is the last time that I use the stupid dryer! It left my clothes all wet... so the 1,50€ was for???? nothing! they're hanging around my room.. as usual.

Last night I didn't have change for the washing machine so I got a bucket here, poured hot water and started washing my own shit... hey, beats using 1,50 for nothing... well, I totally forgot about the clothes and this morning they were sitting there in a cold bucket of water lol.. which was kinda funny. I ignored it again.. and went to do the things that I did today. When I came back today, my only towel that I have to dry myself was on top of the bucket... all wet. Does anyone see how weird shit always happens to me? Is it just because I'm lazy and "someone/thing" is trying to teach me a lesson???? W T F... so now, I want to take a shower to go out, but I have no stupid towel to dry myself.. and the dumb dryers downstairs don't even work.. so... what's going on? lol... by the way... I turned on my heater cause it was cold today... how about, when I got home from the university and walked into my room... I couldn't even breathe cause it was so hot... I had left the heater on (stupid me)... so I was a bit angry at that.

And, how can I forget. Kathy sent me a card in the mail for Valentine's Day. I was so happy to see that I got mail! lol... I always look at the mailbox and all I see are club invitations. The card has a teddy bear on the front dressed in leather bondage clothes lol... she wrote a lot of nice stuff, (aww i miss you :( ) and now it's hanging on my bulliten board.

OK, my friend just IMed me, I gotta go get ready for some p a r t y i n g... until the crack of dawn (literally, probably later... damn Metro lol)!

¡Hasta logo!

I'll have a cockroach to go, thanks.

2005-02-25T00:59:00.000+01:00

I'm bored.

Actually... today was a great day. I really liked it... I don't know why.

I woke up this morning feeling like hell... I just wanted to be in Miami. Yes... laugh at me, say what you want, but yes... I was homesick. I wanted to wake up in my bed at my dad's house, eat pancakes with aunt Jemamai syrup, I wanted café con leche and pastelitos de guayava, I wanted to pet Kelly, I wanted to ask Luz if I got anything in the mail, I wanted heat and humidity for God's sake! lol...

Well, I ate breakfast in a really grumpy mood... I made my usual museli whatever it's called and orange juice... I cooked an egg. ***This is just random but... the eggs I bought feel as if they were picked right out of the hen's "you know where" lol... they were all sticky!! and not broken... lol*** So yeah, it's only been over a month I thought... I still have like 13 months to go. I got dressed... didn't really give a shit what I had on, and left to class. I was not in my typical hyped up mood while in class... and I think people noticed... 'cause I was just quiet... staring into nothing... the professor came in, yeah it was an interesting class. We gotta do a research project on non-native English speaking university students (about six of them... individual project) and transcribe a 10 minute conversation and have them write a short essay. We have to look at the linguistic differences between them... compare, research, look for common errors and crap... stuff like that... I'm really interested in this type of research.

I have been thinking lately about what I'm going to do when I get back to Miami. My plans were set: I was going to get back... finish my last semester @ fiu and then graduate. Move to UF and begin my doctoral work... finish that in no time (about 4 years)... then be happy. Now with all this crap that FIU is giving me about not offering classes and shit... I'm going to have to postpone things about a year. Ah... well at least I'm young. Since this happened... I'm thinking about just getting my M.A. ...blah.

I left class and went to Alcobendas. I needed to check whether or not damn Vodafone approved my contract request ...damnit... I've gone there so many times already and the stupid shit isn't there. Well, finally today they told me that I was not approved because I don't have my residence card. Ahh, fuck them. Guess they lost a customer. Since I was already there, I had been meaning to get a haircut for about 2 weeks... and well, I went for my haircut!... they charged me 7.50... and you didn't even have to tip the people lol... the lady cut my hair super fast... and it came out.. "alright"... nothing special... but whatever.

I called mom and I was glad to have spoken to her... Barbie was also on the line although I couldn't hear her... abuela too... :( ... well mom OK'd me to buy clothes and so I did... I bought some pretty nice jeans and stuff... at a store called New Yorker... the jeans were probably the most expensive thing.

I went back home and cooked dinner... my famous olive-chicken and rice... I added a special ingredient this time lol...

Oh, how can I forget. I saw my first cockroach today. I hadn't seen any rodents (except for the rat that got run over at Gran Vía lol) until today... and what better place to find it than your own food lol... yes, I was eating Burger King (and you better believe that I am never going to eat that shit again) and there was a roach in my bag with my food.. I was like ....... w t f. I ate the sandwich anyway... shit, I was hungry and I had no more cash on me to buy anything else lol.

Well, I was talking to my friend today and I'm planning on working in Blackpool, England (UK) this summer. It's pretty difficult to get a worker's permit (even for Americans)... so we'll see how that goes. There are also jobs for Au Pairs lol... I already have experience with taking care of children anyway... so I figured this wouldn't be so bad.

I was happy a while ago... now I'm just tired. Someone on my buddy list keeps signing off and on off and on off and on and it's driving me absolutely nuts.

I think I'm going to go to bed now. I have class in the morning (well that's if the professor decides to show up) and I gotta go talk to the Director for the Linguistics department to go see what's up with the professors not showing. I also need to take out my money from the bank and put it in my bank here... we'll see how that goes (I've been putting that off for the past week).

Goodnight.

Snow, Hanging Rabbits, and more!

2005-02-24T00:26:00.000+01:00

Today I woke up very, very tired. I opened my shutters and it was soooo bright. I couldn't see anything, I was like daaaaymn! So when I could finally see, I saw that it had snowed...

I got dressed and went to go meet up with Payli... it was snowing hard outside, it was nice for like 5 minutes lol. I wish I would have brought my camera today... a lot of funny things happened. I met up with Payli and we ate at a cafeteria in filosofía y letras. We were just talking about different things, yada yada yada... I had to go to la Gran Manzana and she was going to meet up with me later.

I love European style... the clothes is so awesome. I found so many things today for super cheap. If I can, I'm going to go back and see if I can buy clothes, because it's incredibly cheap and very, very nice and my style. The Gran Manzana is a mall for locals with a supermarket and a bunch of boutiques.

I called Payli but unfortunately she couldn't meet up with me... it was snowing really bad so they cut off the turnpikes. I went to the supermarket and bought my stuff that I needed for the week. In Alcobendas I bought a bookbag with wheels (I really, really need one 'cause carrying things from the supermarket is not easy). And the bookbag is ok... I thought it was going to be more useful ...but as I was walking outside of the supermarket, and on the cobble-stoned streets, I noticed that wheels wheren't exactly that great. It was also very cold today... having my hands out wasn't a good idea.

I finally got home and cooked turkey with chickpeas... chick peas are not that great and not that easy to cook lol... I also ate vegetables. I'm falling asleep lol... I'm not making sense.

The funny things that I saw today: a rooster hanging by it's legs...dead... at the supermarket. LOL... it was soooo funny. It was on sale.. and it was a real rooster. To top it off, right next to it was a rabbit HAHHA... hanging by one leg ...that is one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. I wanted to take pictures sooo bad... next time I go, I will bring my camera, hopefully they're still there. I also saw some packaged rabbit meat... I'm interested in buying some lol.. it's not that expensive.

Some guy knocked on my door a while ago and asked for ice... lol... I didn't have any.

What am I doing up? I don't have class tomorrow (again) because my teacher is weird... I really, really should go to the psycholinguistics class just in case... I really don't know what to do... I'm freaking out about this whole mess with the professors just cancelling.

I wanted to go to Toledo this weekend... the train leaves at 8:00am... I don't know, 'cause I wanted to go out with my friends.. but I usually don't get home 'til 8am lol... they tell me just to sleep on the train and whatever.... yeah right. That's crazy... I'd smell like smoke from the clubs the entire day and be super tired. I guess I'll go on Sunday (if I don't go out on Saturday night)...

I'm going to bed. You can look at pictures of the snow from my dorm window (lol) here.

Welcome to Madrid

2005-02-23T01:23:00.000+01:00

WELCOME TO MADRID KATHY!! WOOHOO!!

I haven't posted in a while 'cause the Internet was down here :-/

Today, I woke up at who knows what time, super tired... after a long semi-restless night 'cause I think I'm getting even more sick. I ate my breakfast, the usual: muslei (however you spell it), "toasted" bread/waffles/wtf, orange juice, and a centrum pill lol.
I went to class, and lo & behold... the professor didn't show. So, this time the students were pissed... so we went to his office to see what's up. Apparently, the guy doesn't want to teach the class anymore because they're not paying him enough money (wtf is this???... couldn't someone let us in on this before?). So, we were like great... so I'm (for the time being) left without a class to take. The class before (which I didn't go to) was cancelled and moved to Wednesdays only... but, today I recieved this in the mail:

Hola Daniel este correo es para avisarte de que la clse de mañana día
23 no
podrá ser impartida, la razón es que he pescado una neumonía y me han
prohibido salir de casa. En cuanto me mejore nos veremos sin falta.
Cordial
saludo.

OK... I guess there's no class??? wtf... this system is really, really wacked out. So, I just went to my other class at 12. The guy comes in, teaches us about rice (as usual)... tries to make his point... which, is pointless (as usual) and then tells us there is no class (I think) tomorrow, or the following week. . . . I tell ya... these Spanish people are really, really lazy. Well, that's a harsh word, let's just use "extremely unstressful."

So, after I went to my other class... and the professor... eh, she's ok. You just gotta get used to her. So, after that I rushed to my dorm then to Atocha 'cause Kathy left me a message telling me she was in the Palacio Real. So from there I took the metro to Ópera and went to the Palacio.

I was waiting outside because I wasn't going to pay to get in... looking through the gates, I saw some chicks taking pictures and acting crazy... at this point, I knew it was Kathy and her friends. I was soooooo happy... unbelievably happy. They took forever to come out, so I walked in (free entrance into the bookstore) and saw Kathy reading a book... I approached her and told her she wasn't allowed to read the books and she looked at me... and she didn't know who I was! lol... it took her a good 5 seconds to realize it was me. I'm so glad to have seen her... in Madrid... who would have thought.

We left from there and walked around... we went to Plaza de España and chilled... then it started raining so we left to Gran Vía then Sol (like 5000 times). We saw that damn bear eating the tree like so many times lol... we went to go eat at a McDonald's because I couldn't find the restaurant that my brother, Fernando, and I ate at.. lol... it was really cool though.

We went to an Internet café... where Jenny, Francelle, and J.. I forgot how to spell her name... were using the internet while Kathy and me talked... I'm so glad to have seen her. I really, really missed her... and I found out today how much it is that I miss my friends, and family. I'm here now in my dorm... and well, I feel kind of down cause I had a lot of fun having her company. I hope I can go to Geneva one day before she leaves and go visit her.

I went with Kathy and her friends to where they were staying in Legazpi (around Delicias) and I was invited to dinner at a lady's house they knew from the church. The lady was really nice... she was Peruvian and she cooked an awesome dinner.

I said goodbye to Kathy on the subway... and went home feeling a bit blah. I got to the Cercanías... only to find out that it will reach Chamartín and then end. So, once at Chamartín.... I heard a familiar accent and then I saw this guy and his wife. I asked him if he was Cuban and he responded "claro que sí, tu ere ehpañó?..." I told him that I was from Miami and that I had Cuban parents... apparently he didn't identify my "cuban" accent lol... well, turns out he knows my mom's boyfriend... but the guy was a bit "off" if you ask me.. his wife was cool though. From Chamartín we had to walk to Plaza de Castilla (about 1km ½)... then LUCKILY... I caught the train that passes "by" my residence. So, it was raining and I had to walk like 4km to my dorm... not bad... I was thinking about the good times I've had with Kathy and all that... well... they were going to Barcelona. I wish I could have gone with them... but I have "school" (if the professors show)... so I couldn't. I wish that they would have stayed in Madrid longer... they only stayed one day!!! Well.. if all turns out well, I can go to Hungary with Kathy in April (gotta save money).

Well, the pictures from Segovia are finally posted up. You can find them HERE. You need a password... if you want it, ask me for it and I will provide ;)

FIU

2005-02-18T01:23:00.000+01:00

Today I woke up in the morning at the usual time to go to class.

Why do I bother? lol... yet, again, the professor did not show up to class. So, I got up... ran out of my room as quick as I can... of course I ate breakfast and all that.. I was really tired. Only then to find out at the end of the class that the professor isn't showing today. So, I went back home really quick to spend the rest of the 30 min. I had 'til the next class. Then I caught Kathy R. online and I was talking to her for a while... she's really sick and I hope she feels better.

I had to end the conversation and I ran back to Uni. and got to class on time. I sit in the front, as always, and waited for the professor. He never showed. LOL... so... blah... I just waited for my last class at the school isntead of having to hike back up the mountain to the residence.

My other class started... yeah... my professor... she's weird. She's the lady with the Brit accent. I sit in front... try to answer her questions... but she always (pratically) tells me that I'm wrong. I'm like wtf lady lol... the other day she asked what a "handbook" was... I was like... well, "it's a guide".. and she's like, "no... it's not a guide... it's more of something you consult." I'm like... um ok lady whatever you say lol. But the class is really cool... I got the feeling that I will enjoy it a lot. We will be doing studies on foreigners who learn English as a second language. Very interesting topic.

Today I found out that I will be graduating in Fall 2006. Shit. I'm so pissed... this is going to totally ruin my plans. What I intended on doing was: Go to Spain... come back to Miami in Spring 2006 (not be able to attend school, however), go to Summer.. then graduate. Well, just out of my own curiosity, I emailed FIU to ask about some of my core requirements and if they will be offered in Summer. This was my question and their response:

Hello,

It's **** ****. I'm not sure if you remember me,
but I was the student who was going to study abroad in
Spain.
I'm coming back to FIU in Summer of 2006 and I will
only have the following classes left in order to
graduate:

SYA 4010 - Sociological Theories (3)
SYA 3300 - Research Methods (4)
SYG 4972 - Senior Capstone Seminar (3)

are these classes offered in the summer? If not, I
will have to wait until the end of Fall to graduate.
Please respond as soon as you can.

Thank you,

**** *****

Reply:

*****,
The core courses are NEVER offered in the Summer.
Guess, we will see you in the Fall.
-------

OK... lol.. it's kinda funny lol. But no! Damnit! Well, I wanted to graduate with my B.A. in Summer, and then transfer for Fall to UF to begin my M.A. program. FUCK! (pardon my ...Spanish lol). Yes, I am angry... I needed to do this for FALL... I'm going to email the director for the M.A. program in UF to check if I can be accepted for... A WHOLE YEAR LATER.. Spring '07 (AHHHHHH!!!!) ...which, I think is impossible because their programs begin in Fall terms. Thanks F I U.... THANK YOU because you never offer core classes during NORMAL semesters. THANK YOU because you don't provide equivalents for me to take over here in Spain so that I can graduate in the summer. THANK YOU India, THANK YOU terror, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SILENCE! lol.. sorry.. I felt like Alanis for a bit.

Well, I cooked myself a wanna-be Spanish Tortilla today... and damn it tasted good.

I plan on going to Toledo on Monday... even though I know many things will be closed (grr..) but it's my only day off (I THINK?).. I don't know if I will make it this weekend... 'cause I'm going out Friday (today) night and I won't be able to get home until like 7am... and the first train leaves at 8am.. and and I wanna be there nice and early!!!.. so... that sounds impossible. So, I guess I'll just save it for Monday... it's only 10€ ...you can't beat that.. I used to spend $25 in gas a week, and about 20 more on lunch/food.. so.. it's not bad. Especially since I bring my own lunch and I get student discounts on many museums (well, probably won't even have to pay because the museums will be CLOSED!)... I'll see.. maybe I just won't go out Fri night.. or Sat night.. hmm..

Kathy told me she's coming on the 22nd most likely. She will be here on the 21 (monday, SHIT!).. and on the 23rd then leave... this is going to be so cool.

I'm so awake right now. But I know I need to sleep. I came home today from class and I was wasted... I needed to eat lunch... so I ate my soup from last night and a bocadillo (which I choked on... long story)... and then I totally knocked out. I can't do that anymore!!! I went to take a "nap" at 4, and woke up at 7:30... why! what a waste.. I could have been on the internet all that time. lol... So I cooked dinner afterwards. Now I'm here.. awake.

I need to sleep.

la aceituna...

2005-02-16T23:18:00.000+01:00

Today was definitely an olive day.

I woke up this morning... very tired, so I went back to sleep lol. I didn't go to my first class, because, I don't really have one. The professor hasn't shown up for the first class nor the second, and I doubt she's going to show up ever. I sent her an email and guess what I found out:

Hola Daniel, no se ha cancelado la clase, sólo sucedió que al
retrasarse las
clases de Doctorado, se nos han solapado con las del segundo semestre,
pero ya
lo hemos arregaldo, de forma que las clases serán los miércoles de 9 a
11 h.
en el aula de 4º curso. Pilar jimeno

Well, I guess they didn't cancel class... oh yeah, how am I supposed to know where in the hell aula of the 4° curso is?? And, wtf... 9am class! No way! they changed it for the worse... grrr, if this class is only on Wednesdays, I will take it... if it's on any other day, I'm so dropping it.

Well, I went later on to my ethnology class... guy talking about rice again... got to his point, and no, I did not get it.. again lol.

******* previously posted on another journal:

today i had class.. woo hoo. i took a spanish placement exam and they put me in basic - 3. I was like wtf, i guess my spanish isn't so great after all.. so why am i taking 5 other classes taught in university-level spanish and understanding/note taking perfectly? i dunno.. im thinking about dropping the spanish class 'cause it's probably a waste of time ...and it's on a monday.. wtf.. my only day off aside from the party days (sat, sun lol). i'll see. i wanted to go to Toledo, it's in another state here and it's like 10€ round trip.. not bad at all.. but everything seems to be closed in spain on mondays... and after 2pm, and on the many holidays they have "just because"...

i'm retarded... like slow... how is it that i can be in those classes with the teacher speaking super fast spanish and respond to their questions, and speak with my friends almost perfectly, then when the language professor speaks to me i fail to respond properly? Is it because I'm nervous... or is it just because I'm retarded? lol

I'ma go cook now... chicken.. blah i hate chicken, but, i need to eat.

*******

Well, I got home and I was so tired. I started preparing the chicken for dinner tonight. I bought plastic wrap so that I can ..wrap.. my food up, etc. etc. 'cause using plastic bags wasn't working. I took out the chicken and cleaned it and then put it in plastic wrap with olive oil and olives ...and I put some Adobo (thanks Kathy lol) on it and left it there to marinate for like 4 hours. I didn't notice I had put so much chicken... I made some asparagus soup (which was awesome... and I'm having it for lunch tomorrow), and I also made rice with lentils mixed in... lots of food right?... well I usually save it for lunch anyway.

I chopped the chicken into pieces and then fried it... it was so tasty.

I'm very tired now that I ate my chicken. . . and I am going to sleep. I need to wake up early in the morning.

By the way, I've included a picture of my olive-chicken ici.

Today

2005-02-15T21:30:00.000+01:00

Today was a better day than was yesterday.

I got up this morning after an ok night's sleep... then I had time to do everything I wanted and all that. I got there in time for my first class, again, no professor showed up. I think they cancelled the class... I have it again tomorrow too... if he doesn't come then, I don't know what to do. This school.. or country doesn't seem to have the 15 minute rule for professors... so, you can be waiting there for the entire time, leave at the end, and if the professor decides to come then, you're screwed. Things are a bit weird here... but it takes some getting-used-to.

I went to my second class... and let's just say, it was funny as hell. It reminded me of the times when I was in elementary school and there were just days that I couldn't control my laughter... and I would try to hide from the teacher so that I wouldn't get caught laughing. Well, today was sorta like that. I got to class, "Lingüística Histórica y Comparada," and the professor walks in. Some little tiny guy with a soft voice. He would talk and I'd be like,... huh??? But I started cracking up because there were other students behind me laughing at him. 'Cause... the class sizes here are very small.. at least in my faculty. There are like 7 people in this class. Since I always sit in the front, the professors usually call on me or call on me first for everything... so, he asked a question for the class to answer, so then he chose me. I was like, "no sé, no entiendo lo que usted me preguntó." ... and then the girl next to me explains it to me,.. I was like ahh vale... and I answered... so then he asks the next person. The question was in other words, but it was practically, "what types of courses have you taken before that are related to this one language wise (Spanish)?" So I answered of course, my introduction to Spanish linguistics. The girl behind me said "Finnish." And everyone started laughing 'cause the teacher was like um ok.. lol.. it was really funny... but the girl behind me said it as a joke.. lol. Well, actually... I met the girl behind me before the class started 'cause I wasn't sure if I was in the right place. So, I asked her and it turns out her name is Leela she's from Finland... she knew Spanish pretty well.

Anyway, that class was purely taking notes... here in Spain, they usually don't give you a syllabus, so you need to copy down what they plan to do for the term and then they give you a bibliography with like 10 entries and expect you to read them. Since, they don't usually use text books. I think it's harder over here..than it is in FIU and Dade at least.

My next class... was a bit odd. First of all I was sitting in this classroom with what seemed to be a bunch of kids... probably their version of Freshman. So, I asked the girl next to me what class it was and I was totally in the wrong place, so I left and got to my other class late. It's my "Etnología Regional" class. The professor was just going on about something totally pointless, because when he made his point at the end, it had nothing to do with what he was talking abut the entire time... nothing connected lol. I was like uhhh um ok, and I was looking at other students and they were making faces as if this guy is so boring. Whatever, this class seems ok. This class was a bit bigger, about 15 students.

The last class I took today had to have been the best. The professor is this super cool older lady. She speaks English with a British accent lol... and it's cool. "Aquisición y desarrollo del lenguaje" is the name of the course. I like it... I know it's going to be ok on my list.

I have yet to go to my Applied Linguistics (Lingüística Aplicada) class, it's on Thursdays and Fridays. But, since it's linguistics, I know I'll like it.

By the way... this morning I woke up and my clothes were dry. Great! not really. Since I didn't use softner, my clothes was hard enough to stand on it's own lol. So, I go to use one of my shirts this morning and when I put it on, I notice that it's all weird and stretched and just ...dumb lol. Since I hung it on the corner of the cabinet... it had ...what looks like... points coming out of the chest lol. So, it looked like I had some pretty hard ass nipples or it was my "birthday" if you know what I mean. lol... it was pretty funny, and it's like 10:30pm and they still haven't gone away. So, I put on a jacket to cover them.

I turned in the Ironing board today and got my passport. I went to to the supermarket (it was so windy) and I got off on Valdeslasfuente ... I always see people coming back with bags and stuff from here so I thought there would be a market close by. I walked, and walked.. and still didn't see anything. It was a very nice neighborhood. It looks very upscale and where rich people live... really nice. So, then I got back on the train and went to Alcobendas and went to my li'l ol' market I always go to and shopped. I got the normals... and this time it wasn't that heavy!! I got home fine... although tired. Then I cooked my version of a Spanish omlette lol.

I have class tomorrow... I'm so tired and it's so early.

"praxis, intervención, antropología..."

2005-02-14T00:46:00.000+01:00

AHHHHHHH!

Today I started school. Let's just say that I haven't been having a good day... last night I couldn't sleep, I wasn't nervous about school or anything, but my body just wouldn't let me sleep. Then, my alarm clock went off... grrr I hate that sound!!!! It's soo annoying and loud and it beeps without stopping lol... I am like AHHHHHHHHHH!!! I think I wake up the neighbors everytime it goes off.

My alarm clock went off... I didn't feel like taking a shower blah... mainly because I had no time to. I cooked breakfast really quick... I'm running out of food, I need to go to the damn supermarket already lol. I didn't have any clothes to wear so I just picked up whatever shirt I had there... it was all wrinkled and I had to wear my jeans that still smelled like smoke from Saturday's party... so I went to school like a major bum.

I got to my faculty... and had to look up on a big pizarra where my class was located and what group it was and what course and cycle... sooo confusing, I don't know why they can't put this online or something. So, imagine a bunch of students trying to see this information, pushing, shoving, and blah. So I get the info and get to class 15 min. early. I'm waiting there... it's weird 'cause the classrooms are so different from ours. The seats are unified... I guess to.. "unify" the students lol.. who knows, but they're all together and not really thaaat comfortable, just like ours (they make us want to love being in class breaking our asses, don't they?).

I chose my class schedule so that I would only have to go Mondays-Thursdays and then at least I would have Friday off just in case I needed to do anything (since it's a business day... even though everything closes at 2pm, weekends... forget about it). My professor never arrived to class... I'm wishing that they don't cancel that class because I really, really need to take it.

My other class was in the same room afterwards, so I picked up a Qué! newspaper and chilled there until it started. The professor walked in... greets everyone, blah blah gave us the syllabus which is like a book lol. The course is called "Antropología Aplicada," and I never thought that anyone could present a subject in such a boring manner lol... except for my Accounting class I took in MDC. Well, this guy... expects a bit too much from the students... I didn't have any problem with him speaking Spanish... I understood everything perfectly.. just that the guy wants us to:

write an essay after each class (to be turned in at the end of the semester) on what he lectured about
write a 8-10 page paper on one of the "exciting" subjects he has given us
present a group project orally
do a project that is 25-30 pages long
take the final
read the text, if not... you fail lol.

my reaction: I'm outta here lol

So, unfortunately, I think I'm going to drop that class and sign up for another one to fill its place... I have a month to do so anyway.

The guy didn't see my name on the list or see my picture. Over here in Spain, the class roster contains a photo of the student with his information. So, neither my information nor my photo was here... so he asked who I was and I had to repeat it several times... especially since I say "C-A-S-...etc." for my last name... C = se. and they pronounce it "the" so, he didn't understand me right away... sl;fjsl;fsjlfsdl embarrasing. Anyway, the guy was lecturing and kept making comments about money-hungry Capitalists and North Americans this and that.. I was like great... I'm from Cuba while I'm in this class lol.

So, after having to sit through this, he let us out late... with this, I know this teacher is going to be problematical about using up every single minute... and whichever ones he can squeeze in out of your precious time lol ...I've had teachers like that before. So I left... got home and was exhausted. I'm not going to that class anymore, hell no. I'm choosing another.

I got home and cooked myself lunch... then got alllllll my dirty clothes which I have been procrastinating and not wanting to wash... and went down to the laundry room. Then, here is where I get pissed off lol. The damn washing machine requires you put 1,50 to wash... the dryer, the same. I don't have any coins as it is... just enough.. and the reception seems to never have any change either... so I must go to the vending machine, buy something, and hope that it gives me change in 50 cént dominations lol. So, I put my valued coins into the washing shit machine to find that if you put money in while the "machine door" is open, it will eat your money. SO, I bet you can't guess what happened to me...! Alright, now I have my clothes in the damn washing machine, and only have enough for 2 washes.. and one dry (I had a lot of clothes). So, I figure that I don't want to put a lot of clothes into the dryer because it won't dry... so I'll wash one big load.. and use the other coins for two separate dry's. Everything seems as if it's working out.. la la la yada yada yada... I go upstairs.. take my siesta.. go back downstairs to check on my clothes like 3 times... the last time, they were finally done. So I put my clothes into the two dryers.. and leave. When they finished... they were all wet.

They did not dry. Why?... because I'm Danny and things like this happen to me lol. So, I have no coins... my clothes it all wet... it's freezing outside so I can't hang them out there even if I wanted to... so I take them to my room. As of now, almost all the clothes I own is hung up around my room... this got me kind of stressed out becauase it's so annoying... they're everywhere! All wet... BLAH! They're ...still wet lol.

I was supposed to go to the supermarket today... but I had to make use of the ironing board by putting my wet clothes on it. I borrowed it like 3 days ago from the reception. I had to deposit my passport... so yeah, they have it lol... and well, I couldn't go to the supermarket because I need my passport in order to use any card (debit, credit card) to make purchases... isn't it funny how things happen? lol.

So, I have no food lol. I did cook the chicken I bought last week... it just reminds me how much I hate chicken. I listened to Ileana and I boiled it lol... so "disinfect" it... lol... I stuck it in the microwave and then I fried it. I used Adobo for seasoning but it still tasted like chicken which is the most disgusting taste! I ate rice with lentiles lol.. and yeah.

Oh yeah, I finally washed my covers and blankets... which, are still wet and I'm going to bed soon... oh this is going to be a fun night.

Also, I was looking at my schedule and I noticed that I can take 5 classes (15 credits, 30 for Spain)... I would have to go to class on Fridays anyway because I'm dropping the Anthropology class. So, we'll see... things are pretty disorganized when it comes to school here. I think it's much more difficult though.. contrary to what my friend's have told me.

I hope my other classes aren't as bad as this one... if so... I'm screwed. I'm too used to FIU... and FIU is a serious joke... at least in my eyes... it's too easy!

By the way, today it was so windy outside. It was very, very windy. Which made it so much colder outside. My friend told me that since it was so windy, the building that was on fire was sending debris flying to other buildings and other stuff... ashes, etc. My window.. for some reason, because the shutter was down so it wasn't called for, was letting wind in... to my room. I was like no way, wtf is this?!

OK, I'm tired. I'm taking a shower then going to bed. My schedule is below... (the one I have no choice but to choose):

Cultura y Comunicación (LMX: 10-11)
Lingüística Histórica y Comparada (MX: 11-12, V: 12-13)
Etnología Regional (MXJ: 11-12)
Lingüística Aplicada (J: 10-12, V: 11-12)
Adquisición y Desarrollo del Lenguaje (MJ: 13-14.30)

-FIN-

Fraguel Rock

2005-02-12T00:00:00.000+01:00

lol.

Last night I went out with my friend Payli (Pilar) and a bunch of other friends to this bar called Fraguel Rock (Fraggle Rock-- the kid's show). It was packed... it was the end-of-the-semester party for UAM's School of Law. I met a lot of cool people... and I promised Marta that I was going to dance with her lol but I never did. I met this guy who did some sort of Peace Corps Missionaries to Honduras... it was really awesome the stories he was telling me.

Payli and me bought a "mini" which is a liter mixed alcoholic drink... by the time I finished it I was "a la puntilla" and it was cool. It was really funny because por el letrero I could see all the things the bar offered and one of the ones I saw was "Absenta." Payli didn't know what it was and so she wanted to try it... so we asked the bartender if we could have some absenta lol... goes to show how blind I am that it didn't say absenta but "asesina" lol... so the bartender was like ummm ok. And it's really funny 'cause the barmaid and bartenders drink with you... and you don't have to tip them.. it's completely unheard of to tip a bartender (the hell with you US!) lol. So Payli and me were just talking mad shit for a long time 'cause we were buzzed lol...

"¡Quemar a Madrid!" is a popular saying that the youth here says when they're going out to party at night. They were laughing because they usually say it... but with what was happening tonight... they thought they spoke too soon! Before I met up with Payli and her friends I had to take the Metro to Santiago Bernabeu because that's around where the Stadium and the club are (Avenida de Brasil). I walked behind the Caja Madrid building only to see another building with flames coming out of it! I was like ...WHAT IN THE FLYING SHIT ??? It was really crazy... the closed the entire street (main street.. I think Bernabeu) and there was mad traffic... this was like at :30.

Most of the time that we were in the club the tv was on and everyone watching in awe. Anyway, we went downstairs to the other part of the club and there was FOOD! I can't believe it. Awesome food too.. there were sandwiches, tortillas españolas, croquetas... la ostia!!!! I took sooo advantage of the food and I ate so much... I think people were looking at me weird lol. Anyway, I was talking to Marta cracking up because she tells me things and... let's just say, I don't immediately recognize it's a joke... So I'm like ohhh ...joder... and she's like PFFF.

So, we left that club and we all stayed outside laughing and talking and then we got to this other club called Lolitas where they were complaining that a bunch of losers hung out lol. So, Marta and David and the other people ended up leaving and Payli, me, and a bunch of others went into Lolitas. It wasn't that bad. The thing is that here in Madrid they have been celebrating Carnaval since last month.... so almost everyone is dressed up in a costume. They played 80s American music and we were dancing going crazy... there was a bunch of Payli's friends "al pedo" hahaha ...they were very drunk. So, the club closes and we are standing outside and we see all the people dressed up ..omg these people are soooo funny... their accent is hilarious. I was standing next to one of the actors from Madrid's version of the CATS show... it's the same thing but I think in Spanish. And he was making me crack up... he was like jumping on people lol. There was this other girl who was saying so many bad words and I looked her laughing, and she's like "hally hally crishna" or some shit ...I was like LMAO QUÉ¿¿?? ...

Afterwards we went to Payli's friend's house were he picked up his car keys (like 6:15am) and we drove around passed the building where there was a bunch of debris falling. We passed Plaza de Castilla and got to Chamartín where we ate breakfast. Her friend ate the traditional Churros con Chocolate (yuuuck)... but I ate something called "Porra" (pfff lmao).. and with a café con leche. It was cool... we were talking about politics and 11-M/9-11 and Spain's immagration problems.

So, I finally got home. Went on the Internet (7:45am) and then went to sleep like at 9. I woke up at 12:00... super bored and needing water. Then I went back to sleep and woke up at 1.

I got the chance to speak to my grandmother today and let her know how I felt... I feel really bad still and wish that I could have been in Miami right now.

Kathy Torres is gonna be here next week!!! WOO HOO!!

Kathy and Johanna and Jane and Adrian and and and and others hopefully will be here in a month!!! YEAH!

Segovia

2005-02-11T21:51:00.000+01:00

Today I went to Segovia. It's a city in la Comunidad de Castilla y León.

All I can say is that I cannot fully describe what I saw. That has to be one of the most amazing cities that I have ever seen in my life.

I woke up early this morning because I had to go to the Servicio de Idiomas building to take a test for the Spanish classes I'm going to be taking aside from my credit clases. I got there, there were a bunch of foreigners... Italians, Germans, Portuguese/Brazilians, just to name a few. I think that I was the only American. Anyway, the test was super easy... but I took my time on it anyway. I pretty much guessed on the questions that asked me to write stuff in vosotros. I was like uhh... vosotros comed... coméis... I dunno... whatever. So, I finished there and bought myself a bocadillo de jamón serrano con tomates y una coca-cola... all for €2,55! You can't beat the University's cafeteria. From there, I went to the Cercanías station and took the train to Chamartín.

So, I bought the ticket and got on the train for Segovia. I was on the train in total awe with the scenery. The mountains were huge... they were amazing. The mountains were full of snow and you can see all the little towns at the base. I was taking so many pictures, most of my pictures are mountains and shit lol...

I was looking at all this when an old man starts asking me if I like the snow. I was like yeah, I love the snow... it's so pretty. So then he starts telling me about this town called Cercedillas... and how I should visit it and he recommends it over Segovia. So, I was like oh ok, cool. He sounded as if he wanted me to go with him. So, I was talking to him and he was telling me his life story lol and how he loved to go to the mountain peak and just sit there and think. He asked me if I wanted to go with him and that he would show me around the town. I was like ehhh lol... but he was a little old man anyway, he couldn't hurt me even if he tried to. So, I got off the train to go to another train that takes you to the top of the mountain. As I was getting off the guard told me that if I get off the train I will have to pay again to get on even if I have a ticket to Segovia. So, I ended up not going with the old man lol.

So I was in the train by myself... looking at the beautiful mountains and bulls and cows and horses from the windows. I finally got to Segovia after two hours.

What I thought that was that Segovia was going to be like this little town with 5,000 people. When I got there, there were busses, loud cars passing.. people walking across the streets... you name it. It was a well-sized city. So, I got there on a budget... and that was 15,-€... I paid 10,40 round trip... and I wanted to see the Cathedral and the Alcázar. So, I didn't take the bus to the Historical Center, and walked instead. I got there like at 14.00 so I had a lot of time to spare. I walked and walked... like 30 min. and it was great. I saw a lot of the residential sectors and they were super cool. I finally reached the Historical Center which is actually huge. The typical European narrow streets were everywhere... cobblestone streets... old houses. Amazing. So, I walked through the non-touristic parts (contrary to the recommended itinerary) and it was great... I felt like I was in another time period... I can't even begin to describe what I saw.

I reached the Plaza Mayor where I could see the Cathedral. I went inside, it was €2. I was in there alone... all alone. There wasn't anyone else inside the Cathedral and it was freezing in there! But, it was amazing because I, again, felt as if I was in another time period. It was so big... and when I went to the courtyard... I just felt so great. I love Europe lol... I took many pictures.

Later I reached the Roman Aquaducts... these are awesome because they were used always until 1940... so that's fairly recent comparing to how old they are... hundreds of years old... it was from when the Romans were in Spain... Later I went to the Alcázar... a castle that looks like something you would find in a fairytale. I went to the foundations where they let you see things carved by (who they think were) the Romans and early settlers of Segovia. I then went inside and there is a big Military room. What shocked me were the ...I forgot what it's called... the knight's outfit... the metal ones... whatever... they were super cool. The shoes were pointy... sharp enough to kill. Well, it was great. I went to the top and then my camera's battery ran out lol... but the view from the top is indescribable.

I went back down, and walked through the city. I brought lunch with me so I walked allllll the way back to Plaza Mayor and ate it there while I watched the people walk by. I was a bit skeptical at first about traveling alone ... but I have to say that it was an amazing experience. Seeing things with my own time limits, taking pictures of things I found to be great... just having time for myself. Although with another person you can exchange feelings and thoughts and take pictures of one another... but... I still think its something we should all do at least once in our lifetime.

I went back on the train... the sun was setting so I could see the mountains in this transition between day and night.... it was great. I finally got home... put on my party clothes... and went out! lol... I went out with my friend from Alicante/Luxembourge and had a blast. But, next time I'm not going to drink so much :(.

Pictures of Segovia will be up as soon as I figure how to make them available online.

the rat

2005-02-10T21:18:00.000+01:00

Today I woke up "early" so that I could go and get-to-know Madrid. Staying inside my room all day really blows. So, I picked up some itineraries for the city. By the time I got to Puerta del Sol I didn't even want to go on my little tour anymore lol... I ended up walking around and I finally reached Gran Vía. I love that street... it's super cool and they have lots of cool shops and people.

As I was walking I see this huge RAT run out in front of me and jump on some lady lol... it was so funny and something totally random. Then the waiters from the ...restaurant... it ran out of chased it with an umbrella lol. It hid behind a garbage pale and it actually hissed and tried to jump at the man who was trying to hit it. IT WAS HUUUUGE... unbelievable. Anyway, the man hit it (poor thing, I shouldn't have been watching) and it looked as if it was all dizzy and about to pass-out. So then the man kicks it and it flies into the middle of Gran Vía (Spain's biggest street) and ....luckily it stopped on a line where cars don't pass... but... yikesssss... it moved a little and a bus ran it over. Now, I ask myself this, what in the hell was I doing watching this?!! BARF!

I was walking when I noticed it was siesta time hehe (mmm rat!), so I called Nathalie and asked her what she was up to. She told me that she just got in from Segovia and that she was super hungry. So, she came down to Gran Vía from Nuevos Ministerios and we went to this Brazilian place... but the menú was over for the day... so we walked in between the little roads and found this cafeteria called Barreros (Barquillo, 37). They looked pretty cheap (money wise) and so "quedamos" there. I ordered something called "Barreitillo" or something like that... I saw the bread that they were using to make it and I wondered if paying 3,50 was worth it...

Let's just say that the sandwich was la ostia...! It had jamón serrano (lol I eat this a lot) with mayonaise, tomatoes, and eggs inside... it was very good. I think it was worth the money. So, Nathalie was telling me about her trip to Segovia and how it was super cool. She went alone 'cause her rommies had been there already and she was telling me all about it. I thought to myself, I cannot believe that I've been here this whole time and I haven't taken any of the little weekend/day trips that Europe has to offer.

We went walking around afterwards and we checked out some stores by Chueca (close to Gran Vía) 'cause she was looking for radios and television sets. We went by east Vía where the theaters and movies are... we asked the man if it was a "cine" and he didn't understand us. We were like wtf... so then we asked him if this was a "thine" lol... yes... thi-ne.. and he was like ahhh ¡sí! But, the movie had already started and it was dubbed anyway.. so she just went home and I headed home aswell.

I got home and planned my trip to Segovia (looked at prices and stuff) and that's it!

Car bomb explosion

2005-02-09T17:28:00.000+01:00

Well, today there was a "terrorist" car bombing here in Madrid. It was just around the airport. I'm ok... I didn't even notice because no one looked worried or seemed to care while I was riding on the Metro and cercanías. The bomb threat was called in by a member of the ETA with 30 minutes warning... about 42 people were injured anyway because they didn't specify the exact location.
Truthfully, I'm not that worried about all this, but I do begin to think of the chances that these terrorists have to bomb universities... so, that's on my mind.

The story can be read here from CNN: Madrid Car Bomb: 42 Injured

La Lluvia

2005-02-08T17:41:00.000+01:00

I carried around my umbrella today thinking it was going to rain. Since Madrid's weather is so unpredictable.. I was carrying it around for nothing and it looked funny lol. I tried to get to el Rectorado as soon as possible before Pilar or Tina (the advisors) left and to pick up my carné (student ID). Unfortunately, the carné wasn't ready yet... grrr what a waste of time to walk alllll the way over there. So, Pilar told me to come back at around 14:30 and it should be ready. So I went down to the Servicios de Idiomas building by the train station and spoke to a lady about taking courses to help with my Spanish. They offer them for free... and they do not count as university credit. So, I think it's pretty cool. I have to take the placement exam on Friday at 10:00am.

Later I went to the Dpto. de Relaciones Internacionales in the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras building (my Faculty) to check on what I need to do to register blah blah. I was given a bunch of useful papers and a CD with everything I needed to know about registering and class schedules, etc. Really cool.

By the way... while I was in the convenios office in the Rectorate building I ran into other exchange students from the USA. They were from Boston University, and boy, did they fit in my stereotype for Americans abroad (at least one of them, with whom I spoke). What is wrong with my people! What type of representatives of the USA are you trying to be while abroad??? Damnit... cold, non-talkative... snobby... and I can go on too. Whatever... I guess me being from Miami labeled me as too much of an outsider (?).

I called Pilar later on from my room to ask her if she could check on whether my carné was ready or not... 'cause I really didn't walk to walk to the Rectorate... it's not that it's thaat far... it's just that it's downhill (very downhill lol)... then I need to go through all these buildings... and then it's cold... then I have to walk back empty handed uphill if it wasn't really... maybe I'm just complaining too much? lol... well anyway, I asked her and she said yes that it was and she'd be happy to drop it off at my residence. So, she came over and we talked in the lobby... then one of her friend's happened to pass by. She introduced me and they're super cool... we went to their habitación and it looked a whole lot better than mine! It has an awesome view of the university and the city... well at least I have a more "natural," desert-look lol.

I just chilled after that and ate leftovers from the night before yum yum!

************************************************
February 7, 2005

Today I had to get up early to make it to el centro so that I could deposit money and get my abono mensual from el estanco.

It was raining... and I went out dressed normal thinking it wasn't going to last very long. I left my habitación and went to the city so that I could get my abono mensual for the Metro, Cercanías and EMT. I found myself in Ópera... ¡treeeemenda vuelta! because I wasn't paying attention while I was on the Metro... so I missed my connection and ended up in BFE. So, I got back on the Metro and went to Sol. Since I decided to take the "zoned-out" Metro path... it was passed 14:00 hrs. and the banks were closed for the rest of the day. So, I was already pissed off... so I went to un estanco in Sol and luckily they were still open ('cause they close at 14:00 hrs., too). I asked the man if I could buy the abono mensual for 27,-€ because I just had turned 21 and I "won't" be studying here for long... see how far I can push my luck. Well... turns out he didn't let me and he scolded me lol.. damn old bastard... I was just asking a question. PLUS IT WAS RAINING so I was a bit angry myself. He was like, "¡para de joderme, ya te dije que no se puede hacer!".. I was like wtf, crazy ass, I only asked him once lol. Whatever, I laughed about it later on. (the reason I didn't want to buy the other abono mensual was because it costs 44,-€!... major difference!)

So, it was raining and it was like 35°F outside... brrr.. and I never wear my big coats or jackets because the weather is very unpredictable here... and it gets hot (17°C) during noon. So, I left the stupid estanco and not wanting to swallow my pride... I didn't buy the stupid abono from him. And the estancos aren't everywhere... you see them once in a while. So! I went down Calle Mayor in hopes of finding another one... I passed by Plaza Mayor and all that crap and I didn't see one... I walked and walked and walked lol.. and it was raining and I had nothing protecting me lol... I was getting soooo pissed off... it was sooo cold... and my hair was all messed up lol.. and I was all wet. So, after all that walking I noticed that I wasn't even on Mayor anymore lol.. the street disappeared and I was in unknown territories lol. So, I made a right and walked North... and then made another right and walked East lol... so, practically I was going down a different road back to where I had been walking from. I walked, and walked, and walked... my feet... were killing me, and the rain wasn't helping. I passed by el catedral and everything... I walked a lonnng ways... I also had to piss the whole time! So, I don't know how,... but I arrived after all that walking for so long... at estación Príncipe Pío .... wtf! So, I got on that crap on the cercanías and took it all the way up to Alcobendas/San Sebastián de los Reyes lol.

I got to Alcobendas, and luckily, I brought an empty bookbag and my messenger bag. I went to supermercado Híper lol... an awesome supermarket with just about everything. I made sure to take my time and look at everything very well and compare prices. I ran into some pretty funny things on the way. There was an isle called Bollería(s)... I was like pffff so I had to take a picture. I also saw a pack of Salchichas Frankfurt (pack of 20) for super cheap... like €2,20... verry good price.... I questioned the quality later on at dinner time lol. The Frankfurts were called "El Casal" I also took a picture of that lol. I bought a lot of shit... well... maybe not a lot of things but I did buy variety... 'cause those spaghetti were practically coming out of my ears. I spent a total of 45 Euro and I think it's going to last me a while... not that bad. Last time I spent a lot and I didn't even get everything I needed. By the way, I also bought "cinta de lomo", pollo y ternera packs... all costing about 2,50-3 € each... not bad at all! And they'll last me...

I packed everything in my messenger bad and in my bookbag and I still had to carry about three... heavy... bags.

I forgot to add that earlier, I had bought an umbrella (guardalluva and/or guardalluvia to Madrileans)... I just called it sombrilla lol. I had to buy it... I had no choice... I was already soaked and I was going to the supermarket and going to get soaked again. It was €3 and I looked at it and it looked fine. I got on the cercanías and when I got to Alcobendas.. I opened it... and it ripped! Damnit!! There was no way in hell that I was going to travel alllllll the way back to Príncipe Pío... it's far as hell! So, I used it and thank God that it covered me somewhat.

I left the supermarket and opened up my guardalluva and proceeded to the estación. I got on the train fine... it's very direct (although there is an uphill/downhill road {Avenida de España} in Alcobendas). When I got to my stop (Cantoblanco Universidad) I whipped out my umbrella and prepared myself for the long haul to my residence lol.... and boy... I hate doing it with bags lol... my back and arms!! I finally got to my room and felt as if I had been slapped, kicked, and trampled on by a donkey lol. I was really beat... that little excursion to Alcobends and back really kicked my ass! So, I put everything away all happy with my new food.

I cooked dinner... which consisted of lomo adobado, white rice, and a tuna salad... very good! I was a bit scared about cooking any meats or chicken... 'cause I don't trust my cooking lol. So, I fried the shit out of the lomo to make sure it was cooked very well lol. It was a bit salty, I have to admit... but the leftovers were great!

I forgot if I wrote it in before, but I had to wash clothes for the first time the other night. I was soooo tired because I finally put the clothes in like at 00:00 hr. and it took sooo long. I was kind of freaking out because I didn't know if I put the detergent in the proper container... and it specifically says "do not put the detergent in the clorox container" lol. I mentioned this before I know... but, afterwards lol. I put my clothes (all of it) in the dryer 'cause I had no more coins and I didn't want to leave my clothes all wet (cause it starts to smell like crap ...i've experienced this before). So I shoved it all in there and put it on "normal +" dry. When I go back downstairs to check on it... it's done, everything is fine... I can go to sleep now that it's almost 3:00am. Not! the clothes is all halfway dried/wet and this really sucks. I bring the clothes back to my room ::pissed off:: and so, I have to do what I have to do. I hung all the many different accessories that I had around the room. So, my room was filled with hanging underware and socks and jeans and just about every piece of clothing I've worn for the past 2 weeks! grrr... and it was a lot too. I ran out of space so I was too tired to care, and I left those inside the bag. In the morning I didn't even want to look at the clothes... I was all cranky. But, I just felt them.. they were dry thank goodness and I folded them and voilá! I'm happy.

Pictures of the Bollería Aisle, "El Casal" Frankfurt Salchichas, and "my lomo" meal.

-FIN-

Eurotrip 2005

2005-02-06T19:51:00.000+01:00

Alright, the pictures from our trip to Paris, Berlin, (and Madrid and London) are up!

Click Here to See the Pictures

Anoche nos fuimos de Marcha...

2005-02-06T14:24:00.000+01:00

Last night I was super bored here in the residence halls so I decided to go out alone to a club that I read about in a Spanish newspaper. I forgot what the club(s) were called though.

I had decided to go alone, but some friends who stay at the residence halls were going out anyway, so last minute I just met up with them outside the Metro. I left my place at like 23:30 'cause the last cercanías train to Chamartín is at 00:00... and I had my li'l walk ahead of me... I got to Charmartín and from there I went on the Metro (like always) hacia el sur en por linea 10 {hacia Puerta del Sur} and then untill Tribunal, then change to get onto linea uno hacia Congosto to Gran Vía. It's a bit complicated... but entertaining. The thing is that Madrileños go to clubs at 2:00 and since the Metro and Cercanías stops at around 00:00... it's normal for them to stay untill 6-8:00. These people are party animals. lol... last night when I was getting onto the Metro... I couldn't!! It was sooooo packed. I managed to get on and I was hanging out of the Metro and the door shut on my ass lol.. it was really, really packed. So, since it was soooo packed, I couldn't get out at my stop which was Gran Vía... and I had to take the Metro to Sol. It was really funny because while I was waiting for the next Metro to come, I reached in my pocket and I was like "wtf"... and it was a lopster! lol... no kidding. It was the red lopsta (and shit) that Bessy gave me for my birthday. I was laughing, alone lol.

I ended up finding my friends there... they're super cool. It was raining too!!! and it was so cold (like 3°C hmm.. about 37°F). So, I was practically all wet. We waiting in line to enter the club and I got in free since it was before 2:00. Since it's cold over here, people go to clubs wearing coats and jackets and all that mess... so, there is a coat-check which costs 1-2€. It was a club with two big rooms... pretty cool. And, it was packed. I wanted Absinthe... lol... all my friends were like wtf? why? I asked them why they don't drink it and they just looked at me as if it's something crappy... soo,... no sé.. I wanted to try it anyway. Unfortunately, the club didn't serve it. But, they served Tequila mwahahaha and I love Tequila. Now, they don't give you "shots" (chupitas ...lol)... they give you cups lol. So, for €7 you get a tall cup of whatever you want with a coke or whatever to mix it. So, it's kind of funny 'cause you see people carrying cups around with a bottle of coca-cola or something... holding all this crap. I never drank the coke lol... I ordered something called Cuatro Rosas ...don't quite remember... but it didn't really do anything to me, not even buzz. I was dancing a lot... they were playing all types of music. A lot of that Gipsy-Spanish sounding music where everyone's clapping their hands lol. But it was really fun.

There was a guy who had a little arm dancing... lol... well, it's not funny, but he danced super good... I was like waatch out lol.

So, they club-hop here too. From there we left and went to another club (which I can't remember the name either). It's funny 'cause we're walking to the other club like at 4:00 (party still booming) in between the typical European buildings and alleys... I was like ahhhh this is so cool but it was sooo cold. And we got to the other club (it was 7€ to get in and you get a free "cup" of whatever you want). So, I then had my tequila.. and no, it didn't do anything not even buzz! lol... I was still dancing a lot. This club was smaller... but better. These people are party animals... I'm not just saying my friends, everyone in the club!! And the girls hit on guys like bigtime here... I was hit on lol by like 10 girls at the same time lol.

So we were in there for a long time, until like 6:00...(STILL PACKED AND BOOMING... I was like uhh). Then we ran to the other club 'cause it was super cold and raining. My friend wanted me to translate something into English so I did it for him... it was funny 'cause they were playing R.E.M's "losing my religion"... ok maybe it's not so funny but whatever. We were in that club until 7:00 when my friend needed to leave and another girl we went with had to catch her train back to Toledo. She invited all of us to stay at a house she has over there whenever we want... so... pa' Toledo me voy! lol. My other friends stayed in the club and weren't leaving until like 8 around there. How about when we left the club it was raining super hard. And with the rain it was not snowing... but looked like hail to me... but not that big.

That night I hadn't eaten anything. I was so hungry... so my friends told me that when they leave the club (I'm here thinking like at 4 or 5am) that they'll pass by "las chinas" lol. I was like ok... the chinese? I was like ok, so when we were leaving the club running in the hail/rain and coldness I saw "las chinas". Las chinas are Chinese women who sell stuff early in the morning for super cheap. You can buy anything from CDs to food to household products lol... beer too. They have their little cardboard boxes set up and selling... and PEOPLE BUY! So, I bought a jamón con queso bocadillo ...and damn, it was the best bocadillo I ever had (I was so hungry).

I went on the Metro and then had to get on Cercanías... unfortunately, I didn't have the billete... so I bought a child's one-way pass.. (like I've been doing for the past days)... hopefully I don't get caught lol. It's 0,65 eurocent... compared to the adult 1,40 € ...the hell with that. So, I got to Chamartín... and me wishing that it wasn't raining... it was raining. It was then 1°C (33°F) and it was hailing like there's no tomorrow. It was like hail/snow/rain. Everything was wet and there was snow all over the ground... and as I was walking (that LOVELY long ass walk to my residence) the hail was hitting me lol... I started running and I stepped in a huuge cold puddle of blah ..I don't even know what it was... it was like sleet/water. I got to the residence all white (lol) and full of snow it was pretty funny... I got into my room like at 8:30 and the sun STILL wasn't out.. and I died on my bed lol. It's Sunday, I woke up like at 14:00.

It's really rainy outside right now and the little birds I always see flying around are munching on worms right outside my window.

************************************************

Earlier on Saturday... I couldn't do ANYTHING. Everything was closed so early. With siesta and weekends and religious holidays... it's not so easy to get stuff done. Unfortunately, the Metro took forever and I got to Sol after 13:00 and the bank was closed. Shit! I needed to take out my money and pay for my residence on the 4th February! I have to sneek out tomorrow and not let the receptionist see me lol. I also have to go pick up my ATM/Bank card from BBVA. So, since I wasn't able to go to the bank... I had to go to un estanco ASAP to get my abono mensual for the Madrid transportation system (which includes Cercanías, Metro, and EMT {urban/suburban buses}). Lo and behold they were closed on Saturdays...grrrr, another thing I wasn't able to do today! And I really need to do it. It costs €27 for youth and is valid only in natural months (you buy it for February... not for a "one-month period"). So, already I would be missing out on 6 days! It's still better than the one-way (€1,40) or the 10 trips (€8,40). So, then I was just walkign around Gran Vía... Callao and los juzgados. It's really nice to walk around at least... 'cause of the pretty buildings. Also, I needed to change my phone (the piece of crap NEVER works!). So, I went by Sol to the Vodafone store and the girl said that she couldn't help me there and I would need to go to Gran Vía, 77. You swear... that was so far, so the hell with that. I have to go to las chinas to see if they're selling any nice cell phones.

By the way, later on tonight my friend finds a really nice phone in the sand of a playground lol.

I was walking and I hadn't had breakfast. It was like 15:40 already...well into siesta. I went to a café where I found out that they do have "menú"s (daily specials) on weekends. So, I just ordered something that sounded as if it was going to be filling. I'm here thinking that they're going to give me a piece of crap portion... but the meal was pretty big (for Madrileans). It had eggs with scalloped-type potatoes and jamón (like picadillo) on top. It was very good... I had no choice but to order a caña with it so they also gave me tapas (which were anchovis with a tomato and the other one.. I don't know what in the heck it was, but I ate it anyway lol). So, I came back to my room. That's it! I don't quite remember every detail, although I wish I would. Danny, you need to pay closer attention to every single possible detail lol.

It's raining and lightining outside my window. The birds are going to get hurt lol (I'm kidding).

I posted here pics of the bread I've been eating... lol.

I posted here a picture of my carné (picture ID) for UAM.

I posted here pics of today's snowfall.

FIN

hola xaval ¿q tal x allá?

2005-02-04T18:59:00.000+01:00

Today I had a lot of fun with Pilar, the OIS department advisor. She's really cool... she has a car, and she took me around to different parts of Madrid. We went to Ciudad Universitaria, which is a complete city for the Complutense University. It's reaaaally big, and a very nice university. I met a bunch of her friends who go there and many others who go to UAM in la faculdad de derecho. We ate at the cafeteria in Complutense and I met another friend of hers.

Yesterday, I was coming back from helping Nathalie (the other FIU exchange student) with her compras and stuff... we went to Champion supermarket... suuuuper cheap!!! I wish I had one by where I live! She lives by Nuevos Ministerios and pays like 400€ en un piso compartido... it's ok. My place is a bit more personal and stuff, but I have to admit, her's is so much communicated with the city. Anyway, we went for tapas and the guy didn't give me anything to picar while I drank... so I was like wtf... so then he gave me una ración de tortilla... it was good. So it was English day. Randomness. I saw these two kids ...probably around 18-20 riding on the metro in front of me on my way back from my friend's house. They looked SOOOOOO American. Like... it's incredible lol... they had their Frat shirts and ballcaps on and the whole 9 yards. So, I asked the girl, what part of the states are you from? lol.. and she's like huh? How'd you know we're American??? and I was like.. ::stayed quiet::.. So they told me they were from Chicago and Atlanta... it's funny 'cause they kept looking at me and talking to me as if I was a strange foreigner and I was going to rob them. Might I add that my friend bought me sugar at Champion supermarket... so I was carrying around my school bag and a damn plastic bag with a big sugar package lol... So.. I was talking to them and being friendly and lo and behold.. they were soooo cold and I dunno... were sorta snobby if you asked me. And they were students for god's sake. So, it's funny because there was this girl listening to the entire conversation standing next to me. She looks at me and asks me if I can adjust her backpack for her (it was a huuge backpack... she was ...a backpacker lol). So, I did... and then I asked her what part of Australia she was from. She was like.. Sydney.. and we had our conversation, I helped her get to the station she needed to go to. She was headed to France I believe, then Tokyo... she was really cool. And not closed up and cold like the other two ..Americans. Also, earlier that day, my friend's roommates happen to be English. So I met one of the girls and she instantly knew I was American after I said "hello" to her and we chatted.. she was really cool also. Allllllllso... there was this German chick the other day taking pictures at the booth... I was waiting, and I said hola to her and she responded in English... turns out she was from Köln in Germany.. super cool girl.. she studied in the Netherlands.

Yeah. I'm processing... I'll remember more later lol... right now I have my clothes in the washing machine.. which... I have waited so long to use (CAUSE IT ONLY TAKES 50 cent coins! and no one seems to have change for a euro!)... and well... they're in there. I'm scared 'cause I think I put the detergent in the "clorox" only compartment... ::bites nails::... shit. We'll see....

Tonight I had my favouuuurite.... Spaghetti! Yep.... I'll be diabetic when I come back to Miami.

They call Basketball "baloncesta" here... wtf... a guy was asking me if I played "baloncesta" and I was like uh... I think?

I learned that "pija" meant snob... and it has it's other meanings too lol...

Kathy Torres is coming soon!!! woohoo! She's only gonna be in Madrid for one night though :(...

apparently they use x's instead of "ch" and "por" lol.. i guess i do notice everything.

Hasta Logo!

¡hola Internet!

2005-02-01T19:17:00.000+01:00

Wow... having Internet for free in the dorm rooms was a big mistake!

I forgot to add to my earlier post that I was walking in... Alcobendas ::sighs:: today lol... and I saw a big poster that had the gay flag on it and it said PAZ really big. It's some sort of concert or something... the funny thing about it was that the reason it caught my attention was because it said "Luís CASAL". I was like ...lol. The funniest shit ...hm so... maybe I've just been observing things too much.

By the way, I just cooked dinner again. I cooked a totally spectacular and original meal: Spaghetti (THANKS FOR THE ADVICE ON SPAGHETTI KATHY!), with tomatoes and pieces of pork (the famous pork I've had everyday now) and chicken hotdog pieces. It's actually very good. I also included salt and the Adobo seasoning Kathy gave me lol... (even though it's only for fish, chicken, and meat lol). You can look at the picture of it here: "Spaghetti à la poulet-jamón-you say tomayto I say tomahto con meat seasoning." Damn, I should open up a restaurant.

Saludos

bollo

2005-02-01T15:27:00.000+01:00

haha... well... same as usual... woke up this morning and ate leftover spaghetti from last night.

Right now I'm hearing "what if God was one of us" by hmm... Joan Osbourne I think. Randomness.

Anyway, I went to Alcobendas today and had a very odd experience on the train... but I'll keep that to myself. Well, I passed by a supermarket called "Mercado 2" something like that... it's by the OpenCor convenient store I went to the other day. However, this place sells waaaay more stuff than OpenCor and even, el Corte Inglés... they're more residential I think and more for locals instead of tourists. They are cheaper than the others as well... so I guess I found my new supermarket. The 5L water was 42 cents!!! w t f... and I thought 75 cents for a 1,5L was cheap! Oh yeah... I saw a brand of Oranges ... yes... oranges called Bollo ... it was really funny. Unfortunately, I could only share the laughs alone 'cause I'm a big fat loser and I haven't met any friends to chill with. Anywho, yesterday I was walking and some people in the dorms spoke to me and they want to take me for a caña tonight... "Caña" is what they call a round of beers. So I'll update on how that goes. I left for the train again 'cause the police station required appointments. The officer told me how to make an appointment but I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying so, basically, I'll just go to another police department and see what they tell me lol.
SO! The other day I was walking to the train station and there are always a bunch of students on the grass and walking around... the Student Association here was handing out energy drinks (do we see this in FIU???) I saw that they were handing out a can to each person that walked by... as I walked by, the girl gave me two cans... I guess it looked as if I needed energy lol.
Anyway, as I was leaving the train station today, I noticed that siesta began and so I had to have my li'l food break. So I went to this cafeteria and asked for un bocadillo de jamón serrano y una caña. It was like 3,50... the beer was San Miguel.. tasts nothing like the dark beer I had in Berlin. But it was good... the food too... but I need something more filling. So, anyway, I remember hearing about how they mix Red Bull (energy drinks) with alcohol in clubs ..and it's really supposed to slaughter you jaja... well, about half an hour before I had drank one of the energy drinks the girl gave me that I brought along for the day.... I drank the caña without noticing.. and so, yeah... I had to ride the train pretty woozed up lol... it wasn't that bad though. I just feel as if I got home quicker than usual (time lapses).
Ahh... so now I'm home like a big fat loser! I can't wait until school starts... it's so damn difficult to register here, they require so much from the student. The University system here is wacked-out and I'm not saying that the US system is any better... but this one is an odd one. I'll include pictures of my spaghetti meal I made last night and the energy drink lol...
OH YEAH! How can I forget... at the cafeteria they offered a meal that included "green peepers" lol... I started cracking up when I saw the sign... 'cause it was a permanent sign.. not written. I was like hmm peepers you say? Alright, I'm an idiot for noticing other's mistakes so frequently... I don't speak Spanish very well myself!!!
Hasta logo.

*Click here for Pictures*

"Loma"

2005-01-31T17:57:00.000+01:00

I just got back from the city. I spent most of my day in Sol and Gran Vía. I had to pass by a little section called Chueca which is known for being the gay part of town lol... and with that... me being alone and all... ya tu sabes. I was walking and some old man started winking at me.. I was like what the hell... so I walked through Gran Vía and found this super cool place to eat around 13:00... it was a Brazlian placed called "Cafezinho - Coçinha". It was a pretty good deal: una vitamina (un batido ..or shake with different fruits ), lomo con patatas, and a salad buffet and bread... it was pretty good.. only for about €6. I was talking to the lady and shit... I don't know Spanish lol... 'cause I was like uhhh wtf did she say?? then she asked me if I wanted "lomo" and I was like yeah "loma" lol... whatever.. it was funny then and there, but,.. unfortunately I could only share the laughs alone lol. I'm such a loser.. I've been walking around alone all day. I need to make friends... everyone's really nice here and shit, so I better brush off this "cold" american attitude that I've grown up with and start being more friendly.

Hmm... what else... oh yeah more randomness... it's so cold that my hands have actually begun to bleed. Yep, my skin has ripped... especially by the knuckles. I think I need to put lotion or something. I'm going to make spaghetti soon 'cause I'm getting hungry again.
Well! Here is at least one picture of the many that I promised... this is of the view from my dorm window. As you can see... it's very "mountaineous" lol:

¡JODER!

Ici Réposé le entry or someshit lol

Yeah

2005-01-31T10:59:00.000+01:00

Alright, I need to start updating on a regular basis... according to Kathy lol... no, but it's true. Alright last night I went to go chat on the phone but no one picked up!! grrr... I called my mother, my sister, Maria, my house, my dad's wife... and no one picked up! I was like, is it too early to call? But no, it was about 6pm Miami time.
Anywho, I went back to my room and made myself a highly nutritional meal: three-breaded pork and mermelada sandwich with that wanna-be water I bought which turned out to be an immitation of Sprite.
However, this morning I woke up and made myself eggs a la virgin oil lol... with cold bread ('cause I have no toaster... but I put them on the frying pan and they got somewhat warm lol)... instant coffee (which was actually very good except for the fact that I have no sugar)... soja milk, and that famous pork I ate the night before. It was a nice meal...
Ok, more randomness: I've been having to carry those big ass bottles of water up the mile-long uphill to my dorms everytime... I was walking around the residence halls yesterday and I found a vending machine selling the water bottles (1,5 L) for €0,75... I get the waters at the supermarket for about 0,45... the bigger the bottle is, the cheaper the price is. For example, a 5 liter bottle is only €1! But to carry that shit all the way home isn't going to happen... so... I'll settle for the 1,5 and such. So this bottle at the residence is a bit pricey... but is it worth buying here and not having to break my back from the supermarket? I'll find this out later lol.
Today I need to go to the bank where I opened my account and ask them what the hell is up with them not giving me a card or DNI number... I need to also pass by the police department in ...::sighs:: Alcobendas... to get my passport/visa validated and get my residence card.
I have to also call Arelis and Pilar (the international exchange advisor) to meet up and find out what's going to happen with school.
Alright... it's cold! I need rags! Jerry stole one of the blankets from his flight and he left it here... so I cut it up into pieces and use them for rags... they suck though! I need to pass by El Corte Inglés, probably later, to go find some. Although they claim everywhere to have "rebajas," they're super expensive!
Bueno, "hasta logo" (that's another thing, Spaniards say 'logo' instead of 'luego'. And they say 'pos' instead of 'pues'.... almost like Portuguese... hmm, do we sense a language evolving???)

Ici Réposé the entry

¡joder!

2005-01-31T03:32:00.000+01:00

OK! I better update before I forget everything that has happened lol.

Alright, Madrid has been pretty cool. The people are super nice and everyone says hello to you. I don't know exactly when I did certain things 'cause I've forgotten lol... but I went to el Palacio Real de Madrid on Saturday which was super cool. It's really nice inside and it has a great view of the city from certain parts. We have walked around and eaten at different areas... Jerry ate a Paella which had lobsters (lol) in it ...at least they looked like lobsters. Jerry and Fernando ended up staying in Sol in a super cool hostel run by an old couple... really nice (Paloma hostel). These people bought me toilet paper 'cause I didn't have any in the dorms and we were using McDonald's napkins in the mean time lol. Hmm.. the euro is killing the dollar...for $50 I got €36... randomness... oh yeah, I had to open up a bank account like ASAP because they charge me for the time I've been staying in the dorms. So, I woke up that morning that we were leaving to Paris and I rushed to find a bank... I wanted to open one in Santander or in Caja Madrid... but unfortunately the ones on campus were closed damnit. So I went straight to Sol to find one there. I immediately got off the metro and saw a BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) so I just went in and opened the damn account before it was too late (being a Saturday they were closing soon). It was €50 to open the account (so I was thinking twice about it, but at this point I had no choice). I wanted to open it in Santander or Caja Madrid 'cause those are the ones on the campus and there to my advantage... BBVA isn't. So, I had to open it... when I got out of the bank, I walked about a block and found a stupid Santander and Caja Madrid... I was sooo pissed off! Oh well. I didn't get to deposit the money while I was in Madrid so I had to do it in Paris (see Paris lol). I went to El Corte Inglés because I needed to buy sabanas for my bed. They were in the metric system (not the stupid US inches and crap) so I didn't really know what I was looking for lol... but the ones that I bought fit nice they're sky blue. I had to go to the supermarket to buy some stuff because I didn't have crap to eat or other necesities in my dorm. So, I listened to the people I've spoken to and they said to go to Tres Cantos (a small town outside of Madrid) to buy my stuff. I took Cercanías and it took forever... I got to the supermarket and bought stuff like bread, jelly, what I thought was water and it wasn't, I also bought tuna lol. They were super nice to me and they even had soy milk which they call soja. I had to carry all the packages and crap in my bookbag and in bags all the way to my dorms... this is something I never want to do again!! They were so heavy and walking that mile uphill to my dorm isn't easy. Plus, Tres Cantos is outside of my Cercanías zone, so, I had to buy another ticket to get back... this really sucked. The name of the supermarket was Mercadona.
By the way, I met this girl, her name is Arelis... she's super cool and stays in the dorms above me on the D floor. She's Dominican and has been studying here for the past two years... she is getting her Ph.D. I met her on the Búhos bus that I took at 3am 'cause the Cercanías stops working. The Búhos didn't stop at my university so I had to walk a long ways on the highway. She walked with me 'cause she made the same mistake... she made me breakfast the next morning and I helped her with some application for to be a teacher in the US.
Todaaaay, I woke up like at 11 (que buena vida) and I went to Alcobendas where I found a bunch of stores and supermarkets... super nice part of Madrid... it's a suburban municipality. Most people who live there are minorities (and of course Spanish people). I went to a store called OpenCor which sells everything that I needed. I went back to my dorm and then back to Alcobendas to stroll around the city and pick up a few other things that I couldn't carry the first time. Alcobendas is super nice... I love it. I got back to Madrid from Berlin yesterday... the flight was pretty good... it was only 2 hours long. I sat next to this German chick who I didn't talk to the whole time 'cause we didn't understand each other lol. I got into the Barajas airport and then onto the Metro... and then and there I was all alone in Spain for good.
While I was on the Metro lol (Kathy knows this story already 'cause I told her last night on the phone)... I was sitting in the cart and there were a few other people. Some guy walks in and sits RIGHT next to me... and this cart is empty. So I was like wtf. The entire ride he was getting closer and closer to me and I was like super scared.. he wasn't stealing anything from me cause I was looking at his hands.. but he was leaning on me... he was probably gay lol. He didn't get off until I got off and then he started following me and so then I lost him... so.. then I was on my own again lol. I got home and cleaned up a bit.
Right now I'm probably going to walk around the residence halls looking around.. I haven't really seen what I've got here to my advantage... I'm probably going to wash my clothes that are in need of a good cleaning. I also mopped my dorm today 'cause it was nasty after that bottle blew up in my room the other night lol... LONG STORY! I'll add in more things as I remember.

Madrid-Paris:
That day was hectic... with the bank and the supermarket and all that crap mentioned before. We finally got on the train.. we thought we were going to miss it. We hadn't eaten that day and Jerry and Fern bought chorizo the night before and bread also... so that was our food for the over-night trip. We fell asleep like 30 min after the train departed... we were super tired and were glad that we were only sharing the compartment between us three. I woke up like 4 hours later and super hungry. I looked out the window and saw some billboards in French or Catalan... so I assumed we were either in France or close by. I went back to sleep. The train was creeking the entire time and we were going nuts!! We woke up again and it was like 6 am. We ate bread and water as usual and stayed hungry lol. We watched the scenery which was pretty cool until we arrived.
Paris:
We got to Paris. It was suuuuuper cold... and we got to the Austerlitz station or whatever it's called. We walked down to our hostel which was about a good 2 miles plus from the station... I love Paris.. it's so pretty. We walked by a bunch of places and then got to our hostel in Voltaire (Hostel Richard). It was pretty cool for a hostel.. and the lady was nice and she knew the city very well. We had bunk beds... I slept on the bottom and Fern next to me and Jerry on the top. We went out and walked around again.. I think it was today that we visited a church called Saint Paul-Satin Louis... it was really nice, just as many cathedrals in Paris.
We visited Notre Dam and went up the stairs to the top... we saw the bell that Quasi Modo supposedly rang and the gargoyels and everything ...it was really nice and an awesome view of the city. We walked around and stuff ...lol.. as you can tell, I forgot a lot of stuff. Hmm.. I had to deposit money in the BBVA in Paris 'cause I didnt'have time to do so in Madrid. Soooo... they were being all anal about me sending money to another city blah blah... I don't know why they were acting like that.. then they don't even stamp our passports when we're entering any country in the EU! So, I didn't see the point.. the guy was from Galicia and he spoke Portuguese and crap... la la la... lol. We went up the Eiffel Tower (again for me) and it was closed off (the summit) damnit, my second time in Paris and the top was closed off again.. what luck. Hmm... it snowed for like 5 seconds and we were all happy taking pictures and it didn't even come out lol. We went to Jim Morisson's grave and we found other famous people burried there such as Auguste Compte and Jean-François Champollion. We walked by Pigalle at night and were attacked by the caberet hosts lol.. as usual.. and you cannot escape these people because they speak ANY language you speak to them in... I SWEAR... THEY KNOW THEIR CUSTOMERS! We also went to the Opéra which was a nice part of Paris and also has an Opera ballroom... it has hosted many famous composers... it was really nice. We also went to the Louvre (again for me) and I saw new things I hadn't seen before like the Venus de Milo and the Code of Hammirubi. We allllso went to Museé d'Orsay which was super cool. It had many works by Monet, Manet, and Vincent van Gögh! It was soo cool.. I'm glad I went there. Oh yeah, we also went to Versailles.. I hadn't been there before and I was so glad I went cause I got to see Marie Antoinette's place and stuff... great! It was SOOOOO COLD! I'll add more as it comes to my head lol...

Berlin:
All I can say is "amazing." Yes... amazing! This city is fairly new... considering all the damage it has gone through. You can actually still see the bombed buildings and Berlin wall. Sort of scary... but pretty cool. It snowed the entire time we were there... and with that comes Snow Ball fights... which are begun by Jerry. We flew on easyJet to Berlin and got to our Hostel in Charlottesburg station. The woman at the reception knew English perfectly and our Hostel was great... I had the feeling we were the only ones on the floor... 'cause the bathrooms were always empty. We went out into the city and it was snowing sooo much.. we walked around and reached a huge church (I forgot the name) ... but it is absolutely spectacular. We also went to Brandenburg's Gate... which was aweeeesome also... we walked a lot that day. Jerry and Fern had a snowball fight in front of the cathedral. The Berliners were super cool.. they are much closer to the American culture than are the Spaniards and French ...in respects to food and other things. We looked like total outsiders though....nothing like the Germans.
I was attacked by a greyhound in front of the cathedral lol.. I screamed super loud cause i saw it running towards me.. it was soo funny... the owner was like wtf.
We would go out and walk around to different places... there are like two downtowns in Berlin: Zoologischer Garten and Alexanderplatz... German is sooo different.. we didn't understand crap.. we would just order things by pointing and speaking our wannabe French it was soooo funny. I ate a Weinerschnitzel or whatever it's calle and had some pretty weird stuff after that. I learned how to say "bye" in German .... juz ..something like that lol. We went to a concentration camp called Sachsenhausen in the north of the city in Oranienburg which was totally amazing.. and pretty damn scary. That museum has soooo much information and we used the audio sets to listen to everything that happened.... they had pics and everything. You can go into where the prisoners slept and were they were killed and all that... ::spooky::... Jerry and Fern went to a town called Potsdam after that ..I didn't go cause Jerry wasbeing a dickface and I got into an argument with him. We went on this "free tour" of Berlin which was pretty good.. the guy relied on tips and gave us a lot of information.. we saw pieces of the Berlin wall and found out a lot of things. I got into an argument with Jerry because I told him I wanted to go to the Andy Worhol Museum and he didnt want to go cause he says that he couldnt stand that guy being he was super annoying and his character as Lacta in Taxi sucked.... omg and he took it to his grave on how the guy from Taxi was Andy Worhol....!!! It is ANDY KAUFMAN!!!! whatever... JERRY IS JERRY. Anyway.. we had a massive snowball fight infront of the Berlin TVTower which is super pretty at night... Jerry made me eat snow and he threw a snowball at me so hard that my kidney/lung/back was hurting lol.. I got him pretty good at other times as well. We were SOAKED! I went to an internet café in Joachenmister something like that dunno how it's spelled lol... it was cool. The last night we went to this bar/restaurant where I drank this dark beer and it tasted the best! I had never had beer like that before... excellent... we got pretty buzzed and then took the metro home and fell to sleep. ....I can't remember all the other details now, but,.. as they come to me.. I will update.... pics are going to be up soon!!!

Ici Réposé the entry lol... (something written on the tombs of the dead in Paris.. I guess "here lies..")

First Day

2005-01-20T08:59:00.000+01:00

My first post from Spain, lol.

Well, my flight wasn't that bad. I swear that everything was keeping me from going to Spain. As I was going through the scanners in MIA to get on my plane, two security guards pull me aside and begin reading Florida law. Unfortunately, my friend who carries around a switchblade left it in my car so I put it in my carry-on bookbag so that I could give it to him when I see him. I forgot to give it to him, and left to the airport. The lady (after a bunch of questions and me waiting) whispered to me and told me to keep on walking and she was going to act as if she didn't see anything. She kept telling me that it could cost her job, but, I didn't look as if I did it on purpose. This was a very serious matter, I could have been sent to prison,.. and my Spain trip gone down the drain lol.

The plane ride was ok. Iberia airlines is sorta ghetto. The food wasn't that bad (we had Lasagna and later for breakfast un bollito (lol). I got to Spain super tired... I didn't feel bad or sad while I was in the plane, but, I have to admit I started crying when I was saying bye to my family. Well, not crying crying... I was just getting all teary-eyed. Especially after I told Carolina that you're not supposed to look back after you've said good-bye.... which, I did look back! lol.

I took a taxi to my residence halls... it was pretty cool. The taxi driver was nice and used profanity in just about every sentence. He said in one (esta gente ni sabe donde mierda esta la polla!) I was like wtf lol. I got to the residence halls and I needed to sign a bunch of contracts and stuff...

My dorm room was smaller than I had expected lol. It comes with practically everything and It HAS HOT WATER!!! I have an excellent view of a mountain that is literally right in front of my window lol.... I mean literally too... like, I can't see farther than 10 feet out of my window lol... but light does shine in a lot lol. A lady came into my room today while I was laying on the bed and she took my bed sheets and toilet paper... I was like nooo!! (she was the maid... they thought I had ordered those things and it doesn't come with my room).

Yesterday I went from Cercanias located on my campus to different parts of Madrid. It's really country looking around where I'm staying. But, it's only like 16 km from Puerta del Sol (the direct center of Madrid). I bought a SIM card for my cellphone in front of the famous Tio Pepe sign (I think in Nuevos Ministerios or Sol).

Unfortunately, I couldn't pick up my brother and Fernando from the airport... they came to my residence halls... Jerry was pissed off for some reason and giving me attitude as usual. We got into the dorms and tried to figure out how they were going to stay the night. According to my contract, I can't have anyone after 12am. If they find out, they kick me and my visitors out lol... so right now (9am thursday) I'm still wondering how we're going to get out of the building without the reception seeing us.

Last night with Jerry and Fernando we went from Cercanias to different parts of Madrid to find something to eat. It was only like 11pm, and everything was practically closed... so we settled for McDonalds!!! lol We got to the dorms super late and we were able to sneak in with no problem. Last night I didn't really sleep cause Jerry was tossing and turning the WHOLE night (he's sleeping on my cold, hard, dorm room floor)... and it was soo cold in my room.

I'm awake now, hungry.. and I don't even know what we're going to do. I'm going to wake these people up now.

I'll try to keep updated.

El Visado

2005-01-04T20:25:00.000+01:00

Today (03-January-05) I called the Consulate to check the status of my visa. Luckily, they picked up the phone right away.

I told them why I was calling and then they told me that I had not submitted the "Certificacion de Penales" and that they are waiting for me so that they could send all the info. If you scroll back to the older posts, you would see that I did in fact submit this "police report." So, I told the lady that I had submitted it already and that she should check again. She checked, and lo and behold, it was there. So, she apologized and she expedited the visa.

NOW I'M FREAKING OUT. I told the lady that I am leaving in two weeks! She gave me a tracking number and said that I would have it by Friday.

***

Today (04-January-05) my mom called me in the morning and told me that she had opened an "express envelope" that had arrived in the mail for me. She thought that it was the visa but, unfortunately it wasn't. Luz calls me later on and tells me that my mom was wrong, it was the visa... my passport and everything was included.

I'm really happy now that my visa came and that everything is going well...so far. The visa is glued onto my passport pages and it's green with some holograms; it's pretty cool. It's valid from 18 January 2005 to 18 April 2005 (I'm supposed to get it extended at the police department in Madrid).

In other news, Fernando and Jerry are planning on coming with me. As far as what I know of right now, they don't know if they're coming on the same day or a different day as me. They're most likely not going to come on the same plane as me and will fly to London where they will catch an easyJet.com plane to Madrid (which is very cheap).

The visa looks somewhat like the picture below only it says "VISADO" instead of "VISUM."

El Comprobante

2004-12-24T17:19:00.000+01:00

Today I had to get up early in the morning to that I could wire-transfer the payments for the dorms. The Residence wanted me to send over two months rent to guarantee my room. The total for the two months was €805,80... which is about $1,146.00 as of today's date. There was also a wire-transfer fee at my bank of $40.

I woke up after "snoozing" for a while and got dressed and woke up my dad. He needed to give me about $550, but unfortunately, could only give me $200. So, I left to my mother's house because she was going to give me a check for about $550... she saw that I only had the money my dad gave me so she gave me $800 instead. So, then I had $1000 total... I was $146 short.

I got to the bank and filled out everything and made a cash advance on my credit card for the remaining amount I needed. The transfer took longer than I had expected, so, I had to fly home and fax el comprobante as quick as possible to the Residence. I faxed it, they received it; I called them, they okayed everything.

Now, I have to pay for the credits I will be taking abroad. I originally had registered for 15 credits, but, I don't want to overload myself while abroad (especially my first semester). If I see that things aren't that tough over there, I will register for 15 credits for the Fall '05 semester.
Problem: Everyone is on Christmas break and there's no way to tell my advisors that I will not be taking 15. Also, they're charging me all these fees (Athletic, Health, and Parking) along with my tuition. Now, not to sound stingy...but... I WON'T BE HERE! I won't be using their parking spaces, and I sure as hell won't be using their health or athletic crap... so why charge me? I need to dispute this with them.

Countdown

2004-12-19T05:03:00.000+01:00

It has begun... the countdown towards my departure date... lol. In one month from today, I will be leaving to Spain. Classes ended today, and my finals were very difficult... and it didn't help having "one month left" on my mind.

The visa hasn't come in yet... and I was just thinking: If the visa doesn't come before my departure date, I can just leave and have my mom mail me the visa later on. But, that isn't going to work 'cause I forgot that I gave the Consulate my passport... so, even if I wanted to, I couldn't leave the country.

I bought stuff to keep me warm during Madrid's cold days: sweaters, jackets, gloves, thermal socks, and beanies. I hope they come in handy... to me, I look like a clown wearing it, but I guess everyone else will be dressed the same in Madrid.

There are about 29 days, 19 hours, 48 minutes and 7 seconds until the date!

Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna

2004-12-12T21:50:00.000+01:00

"Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna" means "Basque Fatherland and Freedom." Better known as "ETA"; it is an organization that was founded in 1959 with the aim of creating an independent homeland in Spain's país vasco. There have been many bombings since it's beginning, and, in recent days, it's been in the news.

On Friday, December 3rd, five bombs exploded in different gas stations throughout Madrid. Later on, on Monday, Spain had their "Constitution Day." Seven bombs exploded throughout the country. You can read the story here.

I'm a bit scared about this whole situation. I don't know what to expect in Madrid, or Spain, for that matter, because I've never been there. With all this news about bombings and stuff, I begin to worry. Well, I live in Miami... with the psychos who live here, I have about the same risk of getting hurt as over there in Spain. And besides, we all will have our last day on this earth... where ever the hell you are on this earth, that day will come.

In other information... I really would LOVE to go to Basque Country. I would love to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, they have many famous works. Also, Basque is an extremely interesting language. And me, LOVING languages... find it awesome. You can read about the language and what it's all about in this page.

Until next time... "agur!" (Good-bye! [in Basque])

Basque Flag and Protestors

OK, FINE!

2004-12-11T07:24:00.000+01:00

You win! Today was the "Pre-departure" meeting with the OIS department at FIU. I heard from many people who are going to study abroad... most were going to Spain. Only one other person was going to the same university as me, and the others were going to Barcelona. Some of the others were going to Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and England. Our advisors went over many things with us, such as terrorist attacks, standing out as an American, where to and not to go, etc.

I was talking to the advisor about the bad areas and if the dorms are worth it. She said that they're really nice, and that they are worth it. I thought about it, and, finding an apartment will be much more difficult. And, the apartment will probably not include the same things that the dorms can give me... including security. So, YOU WIN! Damnit... so this means I am going to have to contact the dorms and tell them I'm staying with them after all.

brb

"Breakaway"

2004-12-10T01:45:00.000+01:00

Those who have been around me while the following song is playing know that I feel it came out on the radio just around the perfect time. The song is called "Breakaway" and it's by Kelly Clarkson. I think it somehow describes what I'm feeling and what I'm going to be feeling while I'm away. The lyrics are below:

"Breakaway"

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I just stared out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)

Trying hard to reach out
But when I'd try to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I pray (I would pray)
I could breakaway

[Chorus]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes 'till I touch the sky
I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I loved
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

[Chorus]

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

I love the Consulate.

2004-12-01T19:34:00.000+01:00

Actually, I'm just being sarcastic. If I have to go to the Consulate one more time...! Yesterday, I received a phone call from the Spanish Consulate. A lady named Loli was the one on the phone and the one who was expediting my student visa. She was asking me if it was just a mistake, or, was I really going to stay for "360 days" as was marked on my application. I was trying not to laugh when I heard her say this, because, I just wrote it in for the hell of it. As of today, I still don't know if I'm actually going for two semesters or not (about a year). The university in Madrid contacted me because they needed me to write a formal letter giving reasons to why I would like to study with them for two different academic years (Fall '04 & Spring '05 = one academic year, Spring '05 & Fall '05 = two different academic years). So, I went to the Office of International Exchange (OIS) department at FIU to get this letter out to them ASAP.

This is just random, but, on the application for the student visa, there is a question (¿Cuáles son sus medios de transporte?) that I did not understand. I put "avión," I'm assuming it meant "how are you getting to Spain?" I could be wrong, lol.

Anyway, back to the visa. Being unsure of my length of time in Madrid, I told Loli that I would be staying there for "360 days." She told me that if I needed to stay in Spain for that long, I would need to submit a report of "good behavior" from the local police department. Ahhhh. I told her that I already submitted the police report the FIRST time I went to the consulate. She said she didn't have it on her records... so, I checked mine and I had it with me. It had the consulate's seal stamped on it, so that means they actually saw it. Why they didn't stay with it? Who knows, but I'm guessing it was just to make me drive to BFE again. I asked her if I could fax it over, and she said "no, it has to be an original copy, and must be sealed in an envelope labeled 'Certificación de Penales, Loli - Visados'" Damn bureaucrats. So, I made a day trip to the consulate.

I finally got to the consulate and was too busy talking on the phone to notice that I had to pay the meter. I went to Publix to buy an envelope, they only came in extra-large or bundled. Grrr... so, I went to the nearby post office. I took one of the Global Mail envelopes (no, I did not pay for it... it's free!) and stuck the damn police report in, labeled it, and sealed it. I got into the consulate building, gave the "Cuban" guy the envelope and then left. There were a bunch of Spanish nuns there (like five, this sort of freaked me out... don't know why).
When I came out of the building, I realized that I didn't pay the meter. So, I hauled ass to my truck after having to wait to cross LeJeune Road, and... to my surprise...
No parking ticket! I got away with about 30 minutes of free parking in Coral Gables.

Also, yesterday I called Salvador, my friend from Valencia. He didn't pick up, and coincidentally, he called me later on when I got out of class. He gave me his friend's email so that he could hook me up with a place to stay while in Madrid. He told me that he lives in "las afueras" of Madrid... so, I'm thinking very rural or maybe suburban... I'd prefer central, but, whatever. The name of the municipality is called "San Sebastián de Los Reyes" which is in Alcobendas... about 16 kilometers from central Madrid. And, from what I saw, the connection to UAM on Cercanías was great... only two stops, very close. I'm very grateful for the email Salva gave me... I hope everything works out well.

By the way, Pop thought that I was leaving on the 18th of December, LOL.
Oh yeah, as far as my Spanish goes... I hope it gets better while I'm in Spain, 'cause I've noticed that it's been degrading, for some reason, while I was talking to some friends the other day... maybe it was because I had been drinking? Who knows.

One month, 18 days to go!

Yet another update!

2004-11-27T20:13:00.000+01:00

I am trying to look for a place to stay when I get to Madrid. Unfortunately, I have had a very difficult time renting at a dorm. The dorms at the UAM (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), the University where I will be going, are really expensive. They run for about $450 a month for a small room with some furniture, a kitchen, and a bathroom... without gas, water, and electricity included in the monthly rent. So, that's about $500+ a month! I spoke to my friend Salvador who goes to FIU as an exchange student from Valencia in Spain, and he said that $400 a month is crazy! So, just imagine $500. So I went ahead and took his advice about getting to Madrid, staying in a hostel, and then looking for a "piso" to rent. I've tried looking on the Segunda Mano to see if I find anything, and I have. I've found many great habitaciones for excellent prices... but, since I won't be leaving until the 18th of January (on Iberia Airlines), most of the people who are renting need me to move in ASAP. So, I guess when I get there I will have to check out the Segunda Mano.

By the way, the dorms at the UAM charged me €160 (see below: Euro) for the application fee. That means that I had to wire money to them in dollars in the amount of about $212 and then there was a service charge of $40... things were already getting pretty expensive... and this was just the application fee. It turns out that the actual application fee was per semester (80 × 2 = 160), so I emailed them and they told me that they could not return the application fee because the deadline has been met. Ok, so I'm screwed now... but then I checked, and since I paid for two semesters, obviously I could have not met the deadline for the other semester I paid for... so I told them this, about two weeks ago, and they still haven't replied. Damn thieves lol. So, when I get to Madrid I'll just have to resolve this in person.

I've been getting to know the subway system, or "Metro Madrid" for a while now... and I finally know how to get around Madrid. I know it will be very different once I'm actually there, though. I've included a picture below of what the actual subway lines look like.

I will also have to take something called "Cercanías Renfe" because the Metro doesn't stop exactly where my university is located. It's not that bad, since I'm in the university, I will only have to pay about €46,50 every three months with unlimited uses per day... contrary to what a normal person would pay: €64,35 a month, with only two uses per day. So... it's an awesome deal! I've included a map of the Cercanías below.

Many other things have been going on, it's just that I haven't been updating. I'll be sure to update with everything that happens.

the Euro:

Metro Madrid:

Cercanías Renfe:

Almost There...

2004-11-27T01:40:00.000+01:00

It's almost time to leave. I have about 52 days, 1.264 hours, 75.897 minutes, or 4.553.830 seconds until I leave to Madrid on the 18th of January 2005.

Today I went to the Spanish Consulate in Coral Gables so that I could turn in the final form for the Student Visa. I went there on Wednesday early in the morning and fought traffic for hours. When I finally got there, the man tells me that they cannot see people for Student Visas on Wednesdays. He told me that it's better just to send the documents by mail and receive them by mail ($14 each-way at the Student's expense). I was very disappointed at this. So I went to the post office and made copies of the things I had forgotten (Proof of Insurance, Itinerary, etc.) and then went back to the consulate to see if I could just give him the envelope with everything instead of dropping it in the mail and having to pay the $14 postage. I spoke to him and he let me inside the office to get everything done in there. This goes to show how talking to people helps get you places. I assume that the man was Cuban because he had a very strong Cuban accent and not even close to a Spanish one. He was probably aware of the fact that I have a Cuban accent and may be the reason why he let me in... with the number 13. When I got inside, there were other students and people waiting as well... the highest number I saw was 17... why he gave me 13 and not 18... who knows? Maybe because I'm "Cuban."

After waiting about 4 hours, I spoke to the lady about the student visa, handed her everything I had to... then she asks "where is the original for the Health Forms?" I told her that the copy is all they asked for and that I don't think it makes a difference whether or not I had the original. She insisted that the original is needed for the visa process. So, I had to get my stuff, and leave. I was pretty pissed off at the fact that I had to go all the way back to the Consulate another day, and that Thanksgiving was tomorrow (so they will be closed). I think the lady realized that I was a bit upset so she told me that I could come back without getting a number and all I would have to do is drop off the documents and go home. So I did this, and now I'm very happy that the process has begun... considering that I will be leaving in less than two months. My school's website is kind of useless... and I've had horrible luck finding a place to stay and people with whom I could meet up. I'm going to be arriving in Madrid and staying in a hostel until I find a place to stay.

Today I'm sick, I think I'm catching the flu :(.

I'm a bit scared about my entire trip to Spain... I mean, it is a different culture, different country, and different everything! I just hope everything goes well.

I will keep updated on everything.
Hasta Luego.

The Spanish Flag

194 days, 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 10 seconds

2004-06-20T23:36:00.000+02:00

Ever since I started high school I have wanted to live abroad. I've wanted to go to another country and just experience what it's like to live in its people's shoes.
My first real trip abroad was to Italy. I was absolutely mesmerized by the people and the culture. Although, I went as a tourist, I still felt as if someday I must leave my hometown and experience something else, somewhere else.

194 days, 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 10 seconds. The exact time as of right now until the time that I'm supposed to leave to Spain to study abroad for one year. I've said it before, that I will leave and go study abroad, but this time it's for real. I am going to go and nothing is going to stop me. I figured it would cost a lot of money... I am going to take out a loan. But, I thought to myself, "it's expensive, of course, but when will you ever have the opportunity to do this? 'you have the rest of your life to pay off loans, and if you wait any longer, the opportunity will pass you by.' Yeah, exactly."

My appointment to see the International Studies advisor is coming this week. She'll probably give me all the costs and everything and let me know exactly what to expect. I really feel that nothing is going to stop me this time, even though I have some things in my mind telling me that it's not so great leaving my family and friends behind, and that I will be alone. But, I am trying to put those guilty feelings behind me. If I think that way, I will never get anywhere, neither anywhere in life, for that matter.

I hope that I can use this Blog to post my thoughts about the trip and update myself on everything that is going on. I am going to try and also post in it while I'm actually over there.