Chugging along

Realizing that I never fulfilled the promise to post pictures. In the process right now of uploading everything I have to Facebook, but to really show you guys parts of my life here in Spain, I'm going to have to take the pictures, so I'll get on that as well. For those of you who are so inclined, a glance at recent photos with me tagged should give the run-down on what's been happening.

Life here in Spain is continuing well. My weeks are becoming variations on the same theme, but it's still very enjoyable. Last week was my first at my internship. The people there are awesome, even if the work side of it is starting slow. They haven't really gotten used to giving me work (or had the opportunity to plan for it) so a lot of my time there in the first few days was completely unproductive. They're going through some changes in personnel and what not and had a big deadline Wednesday when I was there so I think that things should start to improve. I do the typical intern things: enter data, archive, make sure that long excel spreadsheets are correct. Look forward to the day that I have a job that actually requires an education. But complain as I might, I really enjoy the conversations I have with my co-workers and the environment there, so it's all good.

My weeks are usually a big push to make it through Tuesday. I have a paper due every Tuesday for Economic Progress of Spain, and it always ends up that I'm doing it in the middle of the night Monday/Tuesday morning and then trying to finish it between classes. What a mess. This week, I at least had started the articles prior, but still haven't learned. On top of it all, our professor tells us weekly that our papers (everyone's in the class) are horrible and it pains him to read them. He, however, has never given us more constructive feedback than that nor has he returned our papers with comments. One of my American friends in the class was worried about the situation (the professor is unnecessarily rough sometimes, he told us that there are 3 kids in the class that he needs to talk with Thursday because they absolutely cannot write and should immediately drop the class... in week 5), so she decided to ask him about it, and for what he could remember, our papers were well done. Apparently in Spain, they never really teach students to write an essay. (Period). I still can't really fathom this fact, but they stress the importance of writing, and while Spanish students will out perform Americans in math/science in high school, they just really don't write. My professor was saying after class how thank god he sends his kids to British/American schools abroad so that they learn it well. It's interesting.

Last weekend was perhaps enjoyed a little too much (I ended up with a cold, which was only exasperated by getting 4:30 hours of sleep last night). We went out Thursday-Sunday, with Sunday being a special exception. Gran Vía, one of the main, central Madrid streets turns 100 this year, and they have therefore, in good Spanish fashion, decided to celebrate all year. They closed the street between two big plazas and had a stage with live music in both. We heard a bunch of local Madrid groups and then as it was sponsored by the top 40 radio station here, had a gigantic outdoor, under the rain dance-party. There were thousands of people and it was a lot of fun. Along with the White Party, it makes the 2nd street party that I've been to so far here in Madrid, and they've both been memorable.

Next Tuesday is a holiday. The Feast of Patron Saint Pillar. And since it falls on Tuesday, I get Monday off as well. Couldn't be more excited. Primarily because that means no econ paper and therefore the complete lack of hump day. I've been debating running off to see some Spanish city (Sevilla?), but am thinking that I might just hang around here. Perhaps a bit of hiking outside the city with a friend, a day exploring the Prado or La Reina Sofia (two big art museums), getting ahead on my reading for my literature class, and enjoying the weekend in Madrid like we always do.

Fall is starting to come to Madrid and I am just constantly thinking of Minnesota and Middlebury. Something about fall triggers a ton of memories for me. Suffice it to say that I miss you all lots, and while I'm doing my best to keep my mind centered here in Spain, a big part of my heart is back in the US of A.

I'm off to upload the pictures. I have virtually none of Madrid I'm just realizing, but my friends have done a good job of taking and posting them. Never put up Berlin or Amsterdam photos, so that'll happen now.

Besos.