new year - new semester

Travel day

I arrived in Madrid around 8:30 a.m. welcomed by the nonchalant hurry of the European city. The journey there had many complications but nonetheless I had made it. Making my way to baggage claim I remembered I needed to send a text to my parents to let them know I arrived safe. But when I clicked the home button of my phone, a notification from the American Airlines app popped up annoyingly bold to notify me that one of my bags did not make it on to my flight and would be arriving on a later one. I tensed up and became utterly frustrated. After two previous flight cancelations out of Norfolk because of the weather, my third flight getting delayed and having to run from terminal F to terminal A to catch my connection in Pennsylvania I was exhausted by the inconveniences that kept coming my way.  I knew all of the following events were out of my control so I did the only thing I could do and walk up to the baggage claim-desk  and explained my situation.  The woman's mannerisms and tone of voice as she said, "your luggage is arriving soon," convinced me that it was most certainly not.  

After two and a half hours and a few more visits to the baggage claim desk,  I managed to get th lady to call downstairs to the unloading area for luggage.  Eventually, I got it. At that point I had been up for thirty two hours and my stomach was unbelievably aching for food and water so I was honestly beyond happy just because I knew food was only an half hour out of reach. 

I practically jumped in the first taxi I saw, rehearsed my address like I had did last semester, making sure to say certain syllables a certain way so that they could understand my very American accent.  

The rest of the day was a jet lagged blur. After situating my luggage in my room I called Elizabeth and met her for lunch at an amazing Thai restaurant.  I went to my student center after to receive the information I had missed since my change of flights made me miss orientation and got my classes in order. After stopping at the student center I had hit a wall so I took the metro home, unpacked, ate, got ready for bed, and seriously- passed out. 

The next morning...

the students in my gap year program and I met for churros and chocolate with our program leader, and walked over to our language school so the two new students could take their placement exams. The day was mostly full of starts and intros and later that day I had my first business class, an intro, but all together it was three hours long. Everyone was super cool and chill. The class was small and it was nice. Our teacher was also young so the class was engaging and more relaxed.  

Lydia and Elizabeth, the two girls in my gap year program, had already been there for two days  so they already got started on finding a gym (I kinda felt like last semester was my part of "eat" in the movie Eat, Pray, Love, so I was not allowing myself to do the same thing this semester... so gym memberships we got!).  I went with Elizabeth after class to the gym and purchased my membership.

 Already my second semester was so much more productive than the first, I had barely spent anytime at my host flat and by ignoring my jet lag I completed all the things I needed and wanted to do during my first whole day back.  That night Elizabeth and Lydia wanted me to meet all the people they had met at orientation, which I had sadly missed.  We made reservations at one of our favorite restaurants Sushita, had amazing sushi with a group of people from all over the United States and headed into the city after for drinks. Social drinking is culturally huge, and the age requirement is much lower than ours in the United States so the social scene is crowded with young people our age- A.K.A an an amazing way to meet new people. 

A jet lagged following Friday

I had nothing planned for the day except an art history class at the Prado Museum in the afternoon so I took advantage of the opportunity and slept in.  I was starting to hit a wall the day before from the lack of sleep and felt no shame in making up for it that morning.  When I finally  woke up I grabbed lunch with Elizabeth and made my way to the museum afterwards for class. It was a simple day, I took the metro home, took a shower, got ready and headed out to meet up with friends for dinner. 

My first rainy Saturday in Madrid

Once again, you guessed it, I slept in, woke up and grabbed food.  I met up with Lydia and we went to this really good Asian Fusion Bao Bar.  Lydia, Elizabeth and I were planning a day trip to a neighboring city, Toledo, so we propped up our computers, ate our Bao burgerish-sandwich things and looked up all the sights and restaurants that we're said to be "unmissable." I ran into some dope vintage stores on the way home and gladly stopped in all of them.  I found the best fitting pair of vintage Levi corduroy pants, patches for my jean jacket, some weird-but-cool sunglasses, and THE BEST overalls ever, they fit soooo well.  I always thought all overalls would fit  baggy and big on me but these fit perfect and I don't know how I found them... I have decided the gods were working in my favor that day.  I had dinner with my host family that night, and we only spoke in Spanish, it was good practice and I needed it, because my first Spanish class would be Monday.  We had a classic spanish dish- toast with olive oil, tomato sauce (but not the pasta sauce kind), different types of cheese, and prosciutto. It was delicious and simple. After dinner I laid out my outfit for Toledo, read, and fell right asleep.  

From the moment I had arrived in Madrid it felt like I had never left, I guess in hindsight it had really only been one month. It almost felt like I was coming back from a weekend trip of traveling like I frequently did the semester before. From the time I arrived at the Madrid airport I fell right into the ease of the European-Spanish city. I was content being back, I knew my way around and had so many ideas for the semester ahead of me. The first few days were excitingly overwhelming in the best way and truthfully helped me ignore my still lingering jet lag.  

There is so much to come, stay tuned, but for now go check out a few photos below!

A post about my Sunday in Toledo will be posted this week so keep a look out for that too. Until next time, as always...

XOXO, 

Lauren.