Whirlwind of a two week, nonstop, gogogo... : Weekend in Madrid with American friends, then day-trip to the north of Madrid to visit little "pueblos" (one of which is famous for having life-size dinosaur statues all over the town(?), and then my parents and sister came- (the real, biological ones). This week... I'm going to have to sleep. and sleep.

Thanksgiving was very un-thanksgiving-ish, but enjoyable nonetheless. My family and I went to a Rotary function where we had some "turkey" (hey, they tried) and some typical Spanish sides. And the next night, my family and I went to FLAMENCO dancing, which was wonderful- how can anyone move their feet so fast? And Saturday we did touristy things, we took a walking tour, went to the Royal palace, bought overpriced souvenirs, things like this.

And we ate Mexican food, Indian food- o how i've missed my spices.

And seven hours ago, the family left for Paris (don't get jealous, its just a layover), and then the USA. And now I go to school tomorrow, study for a poetry test and do math homework. How strange is this double life.

Andalusia. is. beautiful.

But not in the breathtaking-white-sand-white-beaches way. Its beautiful in the way that when you're walking along a narrow cobblestone street at night, you hear flamenco music and have to go flat against the wall to let the motorcycles pass. And that outside of the mesquitas and catedrales there are dancers and gypsies and accordion players.

And in the way that there are little "pueblos" in the mountains where all the houses are white and where the kids hang out in the abandoned castle (a real castle) on friday nights.

Basically, andalusia, where I went this past week with a school group, is wonderful. We went Sunday morning and arrived in SEVILLA where we met students from Northern Spain and Southern Spain. We explored the Giralda and did tourist-y things. Monday we spent in CADIZ, which has beautiful streets and good ice-cream (:

Tuesday was a hike in the mountains with churros and then to RONDA for shopping. Wednesday we went to MÁLAGA and did the museum route. Thursday we rode bikes high in the mountains in via verde and then had the afternoon to explore the castle in the little pueblo where I was living for the week. Later I played soccer and got the chance to ride a motorcycle. Which was AWESOME. Then Friday we set off for CÓRDOBA where we visited the mosque/cathedral and other places that they told us were very important and historic (but I can't seem to remember the names of...?). We ate at a buffet and walked around the beautiful, narrow streets with names like "street of the flowers" and "street of good health". Saturday we had mostly free- to shop, walk, explore, eat at burger king... things of this nature. We then left beautiful Andalusia.

Andalusia....

I HAVE POP-TARTS! and Duncan Hines home-style cream cheese frosting, and reese's peanut butter cups. Why? because there just happens to be a little market in Madrid called "Taste of America." The frosting is now hidden behind the books on my shelf with a little spoon. Shh, don't tell.

So comfort food: check.

Weekly dose of family bonding: check. (We went to another family birthday party and I played with transformers and barbie dolls with the host cousins. This week, no lighters)

Halloween: Check.

Someone asked me how halloween works in Spain. And here is how it is:

First you get lost looking for your friends in the wrong place. They call you and you tell them that you are near the "house of the youth" they tell you that you are in the wrong part of town. You find them after 30 minutes of searching and realize that you probably should have dressed up, because you look like a freak in jeans and a sweatshirt. So your friend gives you some wings and a witch hat and your on your way. You ride in the back of a van to get to a farm in the outskirts of your town. You pay 3 euros and your in. You talk to people from your class as you drink coca-cola. then you go into the 'passage of terror' which is possibly the most ridiculous and fantastically lame thing you've ever waited an hour for, in a pushing, angry croud of spanish teenagers. And then you listen to screamo music and pretend to like it. Then you go back in the van and listen to Britney Spears the whole way home. And you had a good time.

I missed the pumpkin picking, the carving, the candy and scarecrows, but Halloween here in Spain was definitely memorable. When would I ever have the opportunity to go to a farm party with screamo music and a 'passage of terror' in a barn in the U.S?

And God fix: check. Missionary church today.

Good week: check.

Going to Cadiz, Spain next week: check. I'll tell you all about it next blog (:

This weekend was fantastic, because i got to see the beauty of Madrid. Madrid is a wonderful city, but it is not particularly beautiful, that is, unless you go to the Sierra Mountains just to the north of the city and hike eight kilometers up to Peñalara Peak.

About 30 other Rotary exchange students and I spent Saturday hiking in the Peñalara Park, where we found snowy peaks and beautiful views of the city below. Nothing compares to eating jamón york on the highest point in all of the Madrid area.

Then today, I stayed with my exchange student friend, Eliza, who lives in Madrid, and went to the Rastro, which is the biggest (and best, or so they say) flea marked in all of Spain. It was huge and wonderful. I bought pins, old photographs or Holland and France, used stamps of Spain and bag-fulls of gummy-candy. I was tempted to buy a golden buddha that said SPAIN on it, just because it was ridiculous and would look great on my bed stand, but I ran out of funds and had to resist.

Madrid has a lot to offer, so if you are planning a trip to the city, don't forget that there's more to this wonderful capital than just "tapas" and the Prado (:

Assimilation is what its called. I'm beginning to think a little bit more like a Spaniard. I've found that for the most part, the values are different here. Sports, friends, tidiness, food and school are important. Whenever I asked what people did after school, they would tell me "we study." I figured this to mean that they go out with friends, go for a walk, play sports, go on the computer, and hang out with their families. After a month of school I finally have figured out what they mean: they mean that they study-- real, legitimate studying. I was surprised too.

I went to another family lunch this weekend and played with lighters with my four year old "cousin", which was probably a very bad idea, but it was fun, because there were about 20 different types and brands. Also we looked at photographs of weddings and trips and its interesting to think that while I was living my life, somewhere far away, this family was living their life, only I had no idea. So Saturday is family day.

And friday is hanging out with friends day. There are three options:

1. You go to the "forest" (Its okay, I don't understand this either)

2. You go into Madrid and shop at the "English Court".

3. You walk around Tres Cantos in a small group and go in and out of supermarkets and buy pringles and sunflower seeds.

I usually opt for option three, but they are all pretty fun.

And on Sundays you study and watch soccer and car-racing: Formula 1, on TV, then you eat a big lunch and sleep and rest for the long week ahead. And for me it now includes going to church, because I found a tiny, little community church that has an American pastor as well as "crazy-cake" and cookies after the service (Grandpa, you can breathe now)

And that is the typical weekend in Spain. I've experienced six weekends, and I'm beginning to catch the flow: school --> friends --> family --> rest.

It makes sense, right?

I turned 17 this week. And birthdays are pretty big in Spain. I was walking out of my apartment building on Wednesday morning to go to school and I heard some friends across the street singing Happy Birthday to me. And we had American brownies with milk. It was a good day.

Things I learned this week:

-Good restaurants are not open on Sunday nights. So don't expect to go to an exotic Indian restaurant because you'll end up eating lo mein at the chinese restaurant next door.

-There are a lot of missionary kids in Tres Cantos. Well, 6.

- Everyone has a personal Saint, and today is Saint Pilar's day. Which is my host mother's saint, and the Saint that watches over the Military.

-"International Music Concert" really means 30 people making animal noises and mimicking sirens, all at the same time.

-A three day weekend is called "a bridge" in translation.

- Age doesn't seem to matter that much in Spain. A 13 year old can be friends with a 19 year old, no problem.

And today is a national holiday in both Spain and the U.S. I like that.

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and thoughts!