day uno:
i sit next to new friend Christopher on the plane. he is awesome and we drink Bailey´s and watch Flight of the Conchords together. the flight arrives around 9ish and i have no idea where Chantal (host mom) is, but eventually, thankfully, we are able to meet up and i am not lost forever in the abyss of the Madrid Barajas Airport. she is a French-Spanish woman and her 7 year old son, Félix, is with her. i meet Javier (the father), Chloé (age 11), and Victor (9) later. much more on them in another entry. we drive in their tiny car to their house in San Sebastián de los Reyes, about 30 minutes outside of Madrid and, incidentally, in the middle of nowhere. there is a sheep farm just off of our street. yes, sheep. the house is 3 stories tall, all the floors are marble, and my room is slightly reminiscent of a college dorm. the ceiling is slanted and, naturally, i hit my head several more times than i should have. the family leaves to go to some party in a nearby village that involves killing seven pigs, the last of which is done in with a bow and arrow. i am intrigued, but exhausted and not quite up for the bloodshed and 70+ people who will be there, so i elect to stay home and take in my new surroundings.
things learned today:
- Félix teaches me how to eat the nuts that have fallen from trees in the front yard
- there is the leg of some unidentified creature (lamb, i find out later) casually hanging out on the kitchen counter, which is totally normal in Spanish culture
- exhaustion and loneliness and fear and depression and culture shock and finding sweet encouraging notes your mother stuck in your suitcase will make you go through a momentary breakdown
i sit next to new friend Christopher on the plane. he is awesome and we drink Bailey´s and watch Flight of the Conchords together. the flight arrives around 9ish and i have no idea where Chantal (host mom) is, but eventually, thankfully, we are able to meet up and i am not lost forever in the abyss of the Madrid Barajas Airport. she is a French-Spanish woman and her 7 year old son, Félix, is with her. i meet Javier (the father), Chloé (age 11), and Victor (9) later. much more on them in another entry. we drive in their tiny car to their house in San Sebastián de los Reyes, about 30 minutes outside of Madrid and, incidentally, in the middle of nowhere. there is a sheep farm just off of our street. yes, sheep. the house is 3 stories tall, all the floors are marble, and my room is slightly reminiscent of a college dorm. the ceiling is slanted and, naturally, i hit my head several more times than i should have. the family leaves to go to some party in a nearby village that involves killing seven pigs, the last of which is done in with a bow and arrow. i am intrigued, but exhausted and not quite up for the bloodshed and 70+ people who will be there, so i elect to stay home and take in my new surroundings.
things learned today:
- Félix teaches me how to eat the nuts that have fallen from trees in the front yard
- there is the leg of some unidentified creature (lamb, i find out later) casually hanging out on the kitchen counter, which is totally normal in Spanish culture
- exhaustion and loneliness and fear and depression and culture shock and finding sweet encouraging notes your mother stuck in your suitcase will make you go through a momentary breakdown
the room
the house
the leg
the leg
day dos:
i venture outside and take a look around the neighborhood. La Granjilla, the subdivision, is a beautiful place with tree-lined streets, cobblestone sidewalks blanketed in moss, and ivy covered walls. there are mountains to the west; i can see them when i walk to the end of our street. i dont do much today except begin to realize, with both fear and exhiliration (that word keeps coming up again and again) that i am in Spain for the next 3 months. this is my new home.
things learned today:
- leek casserole is not that bad when youre hungry enough
- the leg of lamb that hangs out on the counter is actually delicious
- having to explain the English names for boy/girl body parts to young boys is ridiculously awkward (especially when their mother is present and urging you on insistently), but they will always think it is hilarious
- the Metro sounds like the most terrifying thing on the face of the Earth when it is not adequately explained
- leek casserole is not that bad when youre hungry enough
- the leg of lamb that hangs out on the counter is actually delicious
- having to explain the English names for boy/girl body parts to young boys is ridiculously awkward (especially when their mother is present and urging you on insistently), but they will always think it is hilarious
- the Metro sounds like the most terrifying thing on the face of the Earth when it is not adequately explained
the neighborhood
the view
day tres:
this was a milestone of a day if i may say so myself. i ventured alone into Madrid via bus and then Metro with no specific aim in mind other than to take in the city with eager eyes. i ended up in El Parque del Buen Retiro, an incredibly gigantic and equally beautiful park that was once only open to Spanish royalty. im not sure how exactly big it is, but i was there for almost 3 hours and didnt even cover half of it. however, i was walking in circles most of the time looking for El Palacio del Crystal so that might have had something to do with it. i had such an enjoyable afternoon en el parque. the weather was idyllic, and it was the perfect place to sit, read, write, rest, appreciate. i felt as though my soul was giving one long exhale of content. you can rent rowboats to take on the lake, and someone across the water was offering up a playful melody on a saxophone. the sun was soaking into my clothes, the mood was peaceful, and i was feeling generally poetic when all of the sudden a man walked to a tree not 10 feet away from me, dropped trou, and started peeing. i laughed about this for a long time afterwards.
things learned today:
- the exact location of El Palacio del Crystal. also, the stacks of firewood inside are part of an art exhibit, and you will get in trouble if you are too close
- my Spanish is getting better but my English is quickly getting worse
- the Metro is one of my new favorite things and i dont ever want to drive a car again
- the way back home is a 20 minute walk along the side of a major highway and involves crawling under a fence (pictures to come at a later entry, dont worry)
-after 3 uncomfortable and somewhat awkward days in a strange city in a strange country with a strange family who speaks a strange language, a familiar voice will break you apart
the colonnade leading to the lake
El Palacio
grandeur
the lake and colonnade from the front
day cuatro:
the lake and colonnade from the front
day cuatro:
Katie called me the night before- hallelujah! so we made plans to meet up today. these plans failed because at this point i had no cellphone and our buses are often late and Madrid is a huge city. it was a huge disappointment, but by now i am rather enjoying this new independence and freedom to go around Madrid doing whatever i want. i decided to visit El Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple that was a gift to Spain (not quite sure how it got here, but regardless, i love it). its another gorgeous park ideal for people-watching, journaling, and enjoying life. i love watching the little old ladies here: they stroll around arm in arm with their friends wearing fancy fur coats, ambling about at their own pace like they own the city. its so funny. i met el profesor today, and we had our enlightening conversacion. later, i am supposed to meet up with Chantal at the kids´ school , but this proves to be impossible because she gives incredibly vague directions and the school has over 2,000 students enrolled. what a nightmare. i make the 20 minute walk of shame home in the dark and the freezing cold.
things learned today:
things learned today:
- ALWAYS take some kind of coat/jacket/body covering when you go out in Madrid- the mornings and evenings are ridiculously cold even if the day is perfect
- an MP3 player is a must for the Metro
- an MP3 player is a must for the Metro
- people in Madrid are incredibly helpful and kind when you need directions
- pondering the possible meanings and applications of "cutting the cord" is a worthwhile endeavor
Another view
day cinco:
FINALLY i am able to meet up with K&D. i love them and have missed them terribly and our reunion is awesome. i buy a cell phone, we have lunch and catch up, then we settle in at Dunkin Coffee for some Internet time. they play Justin Timberlake constantly there, which may be the main reason we go there so often. what a blessing to be with people who truly know and love me and have done life with me in America and now are doing life with me in Spain! i taught more this day than any other so far this week, and it went really well. Chloé and i watched High School Musical together as part of her English lesson. i never thought i would be so glad to see Zac Efrons girl face and ridiculous side bangs in my life. Chloé and i had a great time singing the songs and i am really enjoying getting to know her. more on each of the kids later.
things learned today:
- cauliflower mashed with cheese and ham tastes AWESOME and i am loving the food here
- Heath Ledger died?!?!
- walking everywhere all the time + the wonderment of being in Spain + jet lag = exhausted body but racing mind that makes it impossible to sleep at night
- 5 days of only trying to speak Spanish means broken English with strange accents
- you can see someone get pickpocketed before your very eyes and still not be exactly sure of what you saw
- you can see someone get pickpocketed before your very eyes and still not be exactly sure of what you saw
- if you hang around in the Metro long enough you will get to hear whatever kind of music you want becuase of the variety of musicians there- violin, accordian, tribal drumming, pop, accoustic... did i mention that i LOVE the Metro?
accordian man on the Metro
thanks for the Internet and regular dose of Justin, Dunkin Coffee
thanks for the Internet and regular dose of Justin, Dunkin Coffee
day seis:
another beautiful day in Spain. the weather this week has truly been perfect. i really do love it here- i wake up whenever i choose and then take a bus to one of the liveliest and most culturally rich cities in the world? is this really my life?? thank You, Jesus. today i felt very convicted about being swept away in all the adventure and romance of this new life in Spain and forgetting to love my host family like Christ. however, there were so many random opportunities to share the love and grace of Christ today i was stunned and grateful at how easily the Lord the moves when He chooses. Félix and i talked about the sunset and who made it: "God," he said. "Yes, and Jesus," i added. "No," he retorted, "Jesus wasnt there when the world was made." i tried to explain a little more, but seeing as how Félix can sometimes be a terror and i didnt feel like debating the theology of the Trinity with a 7 year old, that conversation was over. but Chloé asked me randomly what i believe about religion and that led to a short conversation before dinner. i am praying fervently for more opportunities to share the Gospel, only occasionally in words.
things learned today:
- fresh bread is delivered daily to the house and hung on the outside gate
- nudity (on tv, in advertisements, in super raunchy magazine stands on the streets) is not a big deal here
- academics:Spain as beauty pageants:America. the kids are studying and going to school NONSTOP
- in Spain it is rude to sit at the dinner table and not eat with both hands in plain sight
- this is not my adventure, but merely a story written long ago that i was invited to play a small part in
señoritas after lunch in front of D´s orange vespa
day siete (today):
today was really just a laid back day of figuring out budgets (Denise, you are a monetary and mathematical genius), setting routines, and eating delicious toast and coffee in the cutest cafe for 2 euros. things are starting to become more familiar, but still, every now and then we just start grinning like idiots at each other, and we all know what it means without speaking: "Seriously?? Are we really in Spain?"
i love it here.
i love it.
i.love.it.
i. l.o.v.e. i.t.
get it?
things learned today:
- ugh. i dont have very much money.
- ugh. bus and Metro tickets are expensive and February needs to get here so i can use an abono pass (unlimited monthly ticket for all forms of transportation)
- Mom will be here next weekend!!
- the Del Prado and Reína Sofia (world-famous art museums) are free on Sundays from 9-2
- Madrid (especially the Cibeles, Castellana, Gran Víá area) is breathtaking at night
the symbol of Madrid- the bear and the madroño (strawberry tree)
notice how i am in complete anti-pickpocket mode with my purse and not at all in fun-touristy-picture taking mode. oh well.
Katie and i getting lost somewhere by Sol
beautiful Madrid
its 4AM here. good night... morning. i love you.
4 comments:
I most certainly need to see the gardens and the park when I come back. They look beautiful. Crazy to think that if I'd have stayed, I would have only just now been in the air over the Atlantic.
Great pics. that building near the lake is beautiful.
can i explain how much il ove this entry? i think it's because your experiences are so similar to mine (because after all, i do live in NEW spain -hehe)
- your metro sounds more fun and less dangerous than mine
- i love your anti-pickpocketing mode because i myself have it too
- i saw a homeless guy get robbed and that was so surprising i just stood there, so i know what you mean
- the nights seem to be really cold without that good ol texas humidity to keep us sweating after the sun goes down
- don't you just love looking at the horizon to see mountains?
- haha i know what you mean about the english getting worse and being in goofy accents, i almost prefer spanish now bc otherwise it's embarrassing
- are yalls keyboards different?
enjoy this romantic stage of culture shock but don't be surprised when you start noticing the frustrating stuff. reading a book right now that i really recommend "cross cultural connections" by duane elmer and it's a helpful cultural how-to and why book. remember the differences aren't necessarily right or wrong, they're just different. don't forget to stop and observe and ask questions when you have confianza with your family, you come as a learner not a teacher (think about Jesus adapting to His new culture for 30 years before teaching!)
the best missionaries are the flexible ones so let yourself be stretched. and with the love of Christ, travel well, enjoy the journey, and come home safely.
boo I miss you!
but I'm so glad you left. :D
Did you know that Spain is the second most mountainus? country in Europe?
but, it's not as bumpy as my heart without you!
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