The first days of Classes

The fun has ended…for the four days of the week that we have class. Monday I have a pretty full schedule, but the rest of the week is not looking too bad. Today I was supposed to begin my internship, but the editor in chief of the newspaper where I am working (La Tribuna Diaria) had to cover some important noticias (news) at the courts. I am meeting with him tomorrow and I am super excited because interns are supposed to work 8 hours a week, but I have the only special case. I do not have to work 8 hours a week because my work is “en casa” (at home). I get to write my articles from home or the school or wherever I want. I don’t have to even write weekly articles and I get to write about whatever I want. My articles are going to published in the Sunday newspaper. I can send you all the link to the Tribuna later…you can try to read them, but they are going to be in Spanish. Even though he wasn’t there today, I went to the newsroom anyway and got to see them film the Spanish anchors doing the news. ‘Twas pretty neat.

Internet update: The lady I live with has WiFi, but she is 65 years old and her daughter set it up so she doesn’t know how to work it. I wrote her daughter a letter asking the questions I need answered (my host mother is going to visit her daughter this weekend when I go to Madrid) so hopefully the problem can be solved. Otherwise, I got this plan for 7 euro on my cell phone where I can call the U.S. after 8 pm for 15 cents a minute. Still kind of expensive, but atleast while I am traveling I can check in with you all for a little bit.

We have found a new place that we like to frequent. It is called Rincón de Boveda, which means corner bar/cafeteria. The owner is named Pablo and he always gives us free things: pastries, tapas, and when we ask for the check, we always get free shots. Oh yeah, and a bottle of wine costs 6 euro.

Since my friends, Katie and Conor, and I live in the center of the city (and pretty much everyone lives a 20 minute bus ride away) we have been trying to explore the city little every night. Even though Katie has been here the whole year, we keep discovering new rincónes (corners) with super neat things. I have discovered more tiny cafés and bars on these windy streets than I can imagine. I even found a shop that serves free café (coffee) between the hours for 5-7 pm, which is good for me because I am going through coffee withdrawals. I told my host mom that I like to drink coffee in the mornings, and she bought me instant decaffeinated coffee. It is suffice to say, I don’t think I will be drinking that any time soon.

We were supposed to go to the Real Madrid soccer game this weekend, but it turns out it starts far to late on Sunday night. Instead we are going to go the largest street market in Madrid.

I promise to put up photos after this weekend.

Miss and love you all,
Ellyn