Volunteer Job!!!

 Had a meeting today with a woman by the name of Mary Baker. She is from the states but has lived in Madrid for 15 years!!! Her husband is Spanish and her children are bilingual. One was born in the states and the other here in Madrid. She works with the Internation Institute and is the director of the program called. "Lengua y Cultura de Norteamerica." 

 When I was looking for the building I passed it the first time, I was not expecting a really nice HUGE building, it was beautiful. I walked in met Mary she took me to the cafeteria in the next room where there were a bunch of American students there to volunteer or through the school. We sat and talked about the options. And she was really excited at how free and flexible I was. Here is what was planned:

* I start helping out after I return from my three week vacation with my boyfriend. 

* In October I will be helping with the Halloween haunted house/ carnival. They will want my help decorating as well as give me a budget and I will go buy different things for decorations.

* During the Holiday season they put on many different programs with the schools and do power point presentations. I will help out with those presentations.

* Monday nights they have something called " Kids Culture". I will help with English and reading, and playing games!

* And in October I meet with a English teacher at the school " Colegio Chamberi" and will start volunteering my time through out the week with her classes. 

I also received a email from the boy/girl scouts here and have don't know what will happen with that but they said they will see if they could use me anywhere.

So things are moving well, I am so happy I have lots of this figured out before I get going on my trip. I REALLY want to have a flamenco teacher by then but dont know why no one is getting back to me!  So still in the works!

Went to check out an apartment today...

5:30pm

Checked out an apartment in the area GOYA in Madrid. Its a VERY nice area. You have some lovely (expensive) shops, the famous El Corte Ingles (like a famous mall), a shopping center, palacio de desportes ( Sport' Palace), metros close by, parks, long shopping street, restaurants and bars. I LOVED the area and it is in walking distance of EVERYTHING!

So the roomies told me to come at 5:30pm to check out their apartment to see if I liked it. As well as they didn't say this, but they wanted to check me out as well to see if they would want me as a roomate. For at the end of the week they are going to pick who they would like to have as their new roomate. 

 So was on my way I was not as nervous heading to the apartment as I thought I would be.Granted back in the states I would have never gone alone to meet people I didnt know, let alone been able to follow a map to find it by myself. It sounds silly, maybe a little bit pathetic. But I just wouln't have allowed myself to be judged by others while was without a companion to take some of the heat off me. But I went alone and was amazed at how confident I was just ringing their bell, and entering a house of four spanish folk sizing me up.

 I wondered if they had some kind of expectations of what an "American girl from CALIFORNIA" might be like. Haha wonder if they expected me to come in wearing louis vuitton (how ever you spell it), and holding a gucci bag? or perhaps being loud and abnoxious, gracing them with my presents?...I am not saying this out of being a naive or paranoid American. I am saying this because pretty much all of the Europeans I have met during my time here have said " You are not like most Americans are you?" and I simply ask them " What are most americans like?" and they say " Loud, center of the world, RICH!"..haha I ask " How many Americans have you actually met, and how many of these Americans are what you have seen from Gossip Girl and the O.C". ... haha so maybe us Americans are not the ONLY "naive" ones out there?

 Anyways back on track... I entered and was graced by 2 kisses X 4 people on the cheek ( European custom, you get used to it), and was escorted to the first room which was the tiniest kitchen I had ever seen. Haha it was cute though, and on the stove was delicous Paella that they make EVERY sunday! Next was the bathroom quite small aswell especially for four people two of whom are FEMALES! hahah then it was the room where I would sleep. It was tiny and messy from the girl still staying there. But I liked it, plenty of room and the bed was a good size for me...SMALL AND SHORT! ... I dunno HOW the girl in it now slept, she was much taller? Anyways then to the Salon (living room)  it had two couches, coffee table, a shelf, and a eating table...and I can't remember but maybe a baby tv somewhere. Looking out from the Salon was the terrace above six floors looking out to the busy street and there were two tables which was covered in Paella that one of the guys was quickly sweeping on to the floor and smiled bashfully. hahah 

 It is a small place but I dont need a lot of room and the people were nice. Asking me all kinds of questions as ...HERE WE GO..." Have you seen any movie stars", " do you have a beach and BLONDE lifeguards?", " do you live in a mansion?", " is it true you really cant drink untill you are 21?"..etc.

Man the I love to see how much the Media plays a role in how people see other cultures. hahah 

 On my way out I said I liked everything, which I did they seemed nice. I think what my favorite part is, was that they didnt clean up the house to try and impress me. Everything was messy and packed with stuff that it was relaxing you could say. I didnt feel like I had to be neat (thank God because I am NOT), and just the laid-back atmosphere of it all showed me that these people would be fun to be around.

So I signed the list of TEN others awaiting a call from them to say they have been chosen. I dunno how much I got passed their test. I tried to be as charming as possible in a different language. And I think one guy and girl were buying it. But the other guy I dont believe he liked that I was learning spanish and couldnt speak very fast. But I dont want to read to much in to it. So I am just going to say it was a nice experience and whatever happens happens. 

I am just proud of myself for being so independent and doing something new.

A Lesson Learned.

DOMINGOS!!

 SUNDAYS!....I think the only thing that truly annoys me in Spain and most of Europe....Is SUNDAYS! The day of rest, ofcourse in the states a Sunday is get up go to church and relax. BUT things are still open. Usually Sundays for me I am running errands or getting things done or I have run out of food and need to supply for the week. 

NOPE IMPOSSIBLE! EVERYTHING IS CLOSED! It kinda makes Sunday a little depressing...

But I am sure those people who work in grocery stores, fashion stores, certain restaurants, pharmacies, etc.. LOVE sundays! So yes good for them...But I still need my things! haha

Oh well...I don't really disagree and I think those people deserve a break....it's just annoying when you need something and have to wait for the next day! hahah

Get done before Spain trip

 Thought I would inform you on my "To-do" list. Things I would like to have set up before my return to Madrid so I can enjoy the last week with my best friend Sean and not have to worry about running around and stuff!

Miranda's " Get Done" List

1. Find a volunteer job. Something that I can be practicing Spanish and take up some time! COMPLETED!

 - Found a job! I am going to be working with "Kids Club" its an organization that helps put on programs for spanish children here. It also involves sharing with children the American culture because the Children of this club are with one american parent and one spanish parent. So I think this would be really cool. I have a meeting Monday morning at 10am for coffee to discuss my jobs and what I would like to do!

2. Get an apartment for less then 150 euros a month!

 - I have three apartments that are getting back to me. I hope that today and tomorrow I can pick the one best suited for me. IN PROGRESS

3. Find a Flamenco dance teacher to teach me a solo.

 - I would like to dance with a recommended studio called AMORE DE DIOS. But they have yet to return any emails.  But I met a women who dances with them so I texted and emailed her about giving me the times of when the studio opens so that perhaps I can bring my friend Isa and she and I could talk to the studio. And I also asked her if perhaps she had a contact of a teacher I could just talk to. IN PROGRESS

 - The other option is if I do not receive anything from that studio, the studio that I take weekly classes from says that I can get a privates there. 50 euros for the first class and then 40 euros there after. We knew it was going to be pricey which was the reason we were looking for a different apartment for me. So that the other money can go to dance classes. IN PROGRESS

4. Perhaps I can pick up an under the table job. 

 - baby sitting or cleaning a house. I have NO work visa but many people here work under the counter. I see many signs for people looking for the same thing. So I was thinking of making a sign and putting mine out there....all you can do is try right? IN PROGRESS

5. Diet Blog

 - I would like to lose 15 pounds while I am here. I should have started back in April but I just wasn't thinking and having to much fun and diets or weight watching is NEVER fun. But I think perhaps if I start a blog and I see other people read it it will encourage me to stay on track. 

 I am going to call it 15lbs by Christmas! I am 130lbs now maybe a lil less and would like to be 115lbs. To match my drivers license ahaha....IN PROGRESS

How I got here...

 Sooo... I am VERY bad with keeping diaries ...I never stick with them or they get lost. Then when I find them I wrip out the pages to start over haha...So I will jsut give this a try! :)

 Moved to Barcelona, Spain in April. Had been wanting to study abroad for such a long time and wanted to go to Spain in hopes of perhaps getting some of the language down.

So after working hard with my family an opportunity came and I took it. I spent three months in Barcelona at a language school and living in the student apartments. In that time I was able to get a beginning foundation of Spanish and meet some students from all over! I am now proud to say I have friends all over the World!

After my three months were up my Sister came from the states to stay with me for 6 weeks and we were going to travel. We did the trains with the Eurail which was a success. I showed her a little bit of Barcelona, not enough though! Then after that we headed to Paris where we stayed with two of my friends who I met in Barca. It was a blast we were the for Bastille's Day and saw the whole Eiffel tower light up and have a show. It was pretty amazing! Aswell as classics like the Notre Dame and the Louve with Mona Lisa.

 After this we headed for another friend's in London and enjoyed the crapy weather, although at times we DID get some sun. But the weather is SO bi-polar there that you always have an outfit that can be changed easily, added or subtracted. 

Then my Sister and I were on our own in Italy. We went to Venice ( My FAVORITE place), Florence ( Had the best Hostal stay), and Rome ( Saw the coolest monuments).

Then after my Sis left to the states I went to Madrid and moved in with a host family. Which was a disaster to begin with. She was an elderly woman who right when I entered to door said she was all about rules and handed me about 30 of them! haha And weird things as, do not brush ur hair in ur room, do not sleep with make up on, do not go in the fridge at night, dont eat or drink in ur room NOT EVEN WATER, etc. And the meals that we paid for were always salads because they were easy to make and were made for babies. Many of the times she was taking advantage of the students living with her. Anyways long story short I was moved in with a nice family a woman and her son who ahve been very good and generous to me. 

 Living with them has been an adventure of its own. The woman talks SUPER fast more faster normal talking spaniards haha. So I have learned to try and catch the words as the come as fast as possible. 3 Weeks now and it is MUCH easier. The son is a good kid, likes to do his own thing and he is nice to talk to. My living conditions are nice to especially compared to my last home. I took over the room where the woman;s eldest daughter used to live. And the bed is comfortable, I have internet access, a desk, a dresser, a closet, tv, and space to just put my things. It is a much better sourounding and I am allowed to drink water and brush my hair in my room. hahaha

My best friend in the whole wide world is coming to see me in four days and counting. Together him and I are going to check out Valencia, Sevilla, and Granada. I am very excited and happy that I am doing it with him.

At the moment I have been getting things together for my return. I will have another two months here in Madrid and then be on my way home. I have a feeling that it will go by fast and im hoping it does because as much as I love living in Europe. I really miss my family and would like to be with them for christmas. 

Sooo ....here is my first entry I hope people read this and give me their advice about living away from home a completly different country. If it is something everyone should be able to have a chance to do or if it could be by passed. I would never take back this trip I have learned SO MUCH! :)

Love,

Miranda