...halved by light and dark...

Name:
Location: Madrid, Spain

I love eating Golden Delicious apples with peanut butter. I shop too much, drive an old car, and save my Starbucks money for traveling. Disillusioned women writers are my inspiration, especially Sylvia Plath and Sara Teasdale. I adore used book stores and fleamarkets.

1.23.2008

Bus 625 to Monte Rozas

This is the bus I take back to my house from the Moncloa bus station at the edge of Madrid. This afternoon, I sat watching the buses go past: the 631 to Torrelodones, the 627 to Brunete, and the 656 to Pozuelo. I use that bus too, when I go to class.

I have classes at two different businesses, one in Pozuelo outside of Madrid, and one near the center of the city. In Pozuelo, we gather in a meeting room at the end of the hall, and the sun reflects off the windows into our eyes. We debate the topics they are working on (right now, a project called Public Eye), and they ask me to enunciate the pronunciation differences between ¨lunch,¨ ¨launch,¨ and ¨lounge.¨ They are a good class, Charo and Guillermo and Abraham, and ready to learn.

In Madrid, we find a room that is not being used by interviewers (they are an HR consulting company). The internal walls of the office are sheets of glass, and the decorations are minimal. We review and I try get a sense of where they are. They are learning the differences between adjectives and adverbs, and how to change one to another depending on the sentence.

Then the bus to my house, about half an hour away. I have no idea how many kilometers. Eric and Amy are leaving tomorrow, so I may run back to see them tonight or early tomorrow morning. Until then, I enjoy a warmly lit attic with a sloping roof, red armchairs, and many books. And at bedtime, a thick new don comforter! The joys in my life are small and many.

1.16.2008

Got a job!

Hooray and happiness!

The specifics: 16 hours a week, mostly in the afternoons, teaching English in a business language school. The boss and I are equally excited for me to work there, and there´s a good possibility for adding classes in the near future.

This more than makes up for the fact that Amy is not coming in today, as I had thought, but tomorrow. Good thing I like anticipation.

1.15.2008

More Sights

Obviously, I´m not working and have all day to wander the city. Consider this a continuation of the previous list.

5. Heels are definitely in (watch the sidewalk grates), as are rain boots. Tennis shoes, Berkinstocks, and fuzzy pink flipflops are out.
6. Just because a man is a smooth-talking tango dancer from Argentina doesn´t mean he´ll pay for your lunch.
7. If they want to, shopkeepers will treat you badly. I guess it´s retaliation for the way I speak their language.
8. People make out everywhere - sidewalk, bus, metro, even their car as they´re waiting for the light to change. Do not be surprised.
9. Rebajas = fabulous. Think Old Navy on a 50% off day, but with better clothes.
10. Do not ride the metro from Banco de España to Sol at 19.00. Or from Santo Domingo to Aguelles. In fact, wait until 21.00 or 22.00 when all decent people are at home eating dinner, and then ride the metro.

My life approached the sheer fabulous this afternoon. After reading and taking a siesta, I wandered to the kitchen, where the grandmother was cooking paella, a traditional Spanish dish of rice, vegetables, and meat (in this case, rabbit. But not one I had known personally). She loves Louis Armstrong, and we listened to him while we practiced each other´s languages. Her English is improving, and I like to think the same about my Spanish. The windows of the small, warmly-lit kitchen were foggy with the heat of cooking, and outside the clouds were letting down mists in tiny gusts. The dog slept on the wooden floor just outside the kitchen. We talked about jazz, dancing, Colorado, her education with Irish nuns in Seville, and the nature of saffron. Given a choice, I would do exactly the same thing tomorrow afternoon!

1.14.2008

Life in the Gran Via

My new favorite place in the world. Last night I browsed Rebajas, went to Mass, and listened to a good string quintet - all in the same little bit of street. Plaza de España is also good, but beware the old men who want to talk philosophy. Today I got up early by Spanish standards (10.00, a good 3 hours earlier than necessary) and came into the city. A job interview at 18.00, about 3 hours away, and all of the city to occupy me.

A word to the wise about dining: even if the bartender says the food you want is callo (sp?), don´t believe him - it´s only menudo.

1.12.2008

Second day?

I´m a little confused what day it is. I think it´s Saturday, which actually makes it the third day since I arrived. Here are some observations since arriving:

1. Spaniards look at your shoes before anything else
2. Little dogs abound, and the women put on lipstick to walk them in the park
3. Old ladies like good coats and heels
4. Some people will persist in talking to you, even when they know you don´t understand. And they don´t like to speak ¨mas despacio¨

Well, that´s about it. Shallow observations, yes. It´s all I got right now. Today I´m exploring the older part of town, looking for museums and strange sights. So far I´ve seen a lot of Rebaja, which means ¨huge sale after Christmas that lasts only until March.¨ I don´t yet know what tomorrow holds (one day at a time is all I can handle), but Monday hopefully holds a job interview or two. (!)

Adios!
Eva

1.10.2008

Arrived!

Safely, after several long flights. On the way to Copenhagen, I fell asleep just before they began serving breakfast. And on the way to Madrid, I woke at one point to find that the stewardess had left a sandwich for me on the empty tray table. Classy of me, I know, to sleep through lunch. I´ve gotten lost already, once in the Madrid airport and once on the metro, but have bested both. I have another job lead (the girl I´m staying with teaches English and her school is hiring), and hope tomorrow will be productive. After I sleep, that is. We´re off to prepare a multiple course meal in the Italian style (and it´s not even 10!).

1.06.2008

A New Year!

Only one resolution for 2008:

1. Move to Madrid


I think I might make it this year.