Piso

I thought I would be able to find an apartment in 4 days... turns out I was sorely mistaken!  My Spanish is not nearly what I thought it was.  In fact, I feel like it's worse a week into it than it was before I came.  Anyway, I couldn't get a hold of anyone on the phone or through email, so the day crept up on me that I had to be out of my hostal, and I had NOWHERE to go!  I sat in the lobby with my suitcases and my laptop on my lap thinking....what next?!?!?  (I think I even said a quick little prayer)  Then I remembered that I had looked at this attic room where these Americans from Portland Oregon (yes, I said Portland) were living.  It was dark, and gross, and I couldn't imagine living there (I think I even mentioned it in my earlier blog).  I asked them if I could stay with them a few days until I could find a proper room, and thankfully they said yes!  The night I get there, their Landlord comes and tells us he has a 3 bedroom apartment down the hall coming open!!! I can't believe it!  So, long story short, I'm living with two kids from Portland, Zack and Marissa!  More to come later, but it's a tiny little apartment, but it has 2 bathrooms and a little terrace that looks over a very Spanish street!  Pics to follow!

1st 4 days

It's been a whirlwind of a week here!  I got really sick the 2nd day and had to visit a "Centro Salud" to see a Dr.  I got an ear infection from flying.  But I'm happy to report that I got some antibiotics and I'm on the up!  Went to orientation and met 3 others from Portland Oregon!  It's a small world!  They wanted me to be their roommate, but the room they had was basically a crawl space.  You couldn't stand up in it.  I may not have super high standards, but I feel like it's ok require head room.  I'm going to look at a place tomorrow on a street called Fuencarral.  It's this amazing shopping street right in the middle of everything!  I hope it's as cute as the pictures.  The guy on the phone was super bossy and insisted that I be there at 11:30 on the DOT!  But that is one thing I'm figuring out...Spanish Folk are very DIRECT.  There are no niceties.

Haven't had any fantastic food experiences yet... but I know I will soon.  I ordered a salad with chicken, and it was iceburg lettuce swimming in thousand island dressing with ketchup drizzled over it.  I almost puked.

Puerta del Sol

Gran Via

Here are some pics of Gran Via and Puerta del Sol!  I need to get better at photography!  I'm still figuring out my camera!

ESTOY AQUI!!!!

I made it safe and sound!  The Metro in Madrid is BEAUTIFUL (compared to NYC, that is).  It has these crazy moving stairs called escalators!!  Which, after dragging my luggage around NYC's, was a big relief.  I've broken 2 of my 5 piece luggage set, and I left my iphone in a cab (but the cab driver actually brought it to my hostal!!!), and I'm so tired, I feel like I need a triple shot infused redbull.  But other than that, this place is amazing!  I've attached a picture of my luxurious view from my hostal room.

Other than that, not a lot to tell.  I did meet 2 girls on my flight from NYC who are in my program, and they are both going to be in my group for orientation.  So that's pretty cool!  I'll write more later (and include more interesting photos)

And please look past any typo's, my internet spellcheck is in spanish at the moment.