The Second Casa

Finally, after two nights at La fundación (the school) I have moved in with a host family. Well, it isn’t exactly a host family, it’s a host mother. The lady’s name is Maria Luisa, and she lives alone in this beautiful apartment next to the plaza. Her husband died 12 years ago, and she has 6 kids and 12 grandkids. Her father was a military man, so she has lived in places all over the world. I am her first foreign exchange student (many people have had SEVERAL). I would imagine she is about 60, but she loves to learn so she takes classes in anthropology and sociology at the local university. She’s pretty interesting so far. She is making me a tortilla (Spanish omelet) right now. This house is much better than the first…I have my own bathroom and my own balcony that over looks the streets of the city. My friend Katie lives around the corner, and the school and the bars are within walking distance. Still no internet, but atleast I live close enough to the school to use the wifi there.

I received the internship at the daily newspaper. While most internships here require that we work 8 hours a week, I do not have to work, but rather write weekly articles for the paper. I am not quite sure what the specifications are for the job…I find out next Wednesday.

While writing this, I am really struggling to write in English. It’s kind of weird because I keep writing things in Spanish and having to erase them. Tengo la mente Espanola…(I have the Spanish mindset) because I have to talk and think in Spanish all the time…unless I’m with my friends Erica or José (José is from Puerto Rico and Erica lives in Miami and is of Spanish and Cuban descent). Then I make them talk for me because they really know what they’re talking about.

I am going out again tonight…there is no reason I shouldn’t because I don’t have the internet or homework so there’s nothing I can do except write these journal entries. Supposedly there’s a drag queen party somewhere. I think I’ll bring my camera.

Tomorrow I am going to explore the city. Also, there is a public wireless network that I can see on my computer…but it is locked. Maybe tomorrow I can find the place and get the password, and then use the password from my room sometimes…we’ll see. No internet is tough…it means I can’t call dad or mike unless I am at the school, and even there the internet is shoddy.

Next weekend we are going to stay in Madrid. Or atleast that’s the plan.

Un beso,

Ellyn

Update: Since I don’t have internet, I wrote this yesterday and plan to send it later today at the fundación (the school). I am waiting for my friend Meghan to get here so we can go try and join a gym because at the rate we’re going with all this eating and drinking, I am going to gain about 50 pounds. This house is much better. I have a shower with HOT WATER instead of ice-cold water (except Lauren, it’s one of those shower heads that you had in Madrid, so it’s a little scary and hard to work at first) and she is a good cook. Last night she made me tortilla Espanola and it was delicious. It was like an omelet with onions and potatoes in it. And then (MY FAVORITE PART) she left a plate of bread and cheese out to nibble on. This morning she asked me if I wanted milk (I didn’t) but I asked for orange juice. She said she didn’t have it and would buy it. I thought she meant later, but apparently this is too good to be true. I went to brush my teeth and wash my face, and by the time I was done, she had gone down to the corner store and bought me orange juice. What a nice old lady.