El piso, la noche en blanco, y mas

So, it's been a while since the last update, but it's been pretty busy around here lately. It's exciting getting moved into my new home for the next 10 months, and finally feeling a little bit more settled and independent. The roommates are all very very friendly, and I think we'll all get along very well this year. It's much different living here, because everyone including myself is constantly on the move in this enormous city and seldom at home for long periods of time. The two Spaniards are named Alfonso and Arun, the German guys Dominick and Morritz, and then there is Maren from Illinois, but has lived in Argentina for a few years, and Emma from Madison. Everyone has their own very distinct personality which makes things interesting. Alfonso is very outgoing, has lots of energy, but is either working or doing other things much of the time. Arun is a bit hard to read... he's working overtime right now so he works like 12 hours a day. He's a bit odd sometimes but he has promised to teach me everything he knows about football and has lent me a huge book to learn about all the players and teams. Maren is a bit quiet, but starting to come out of her shell a bit more, when she isn't talking to her boyfriend on Skype... which is what she's usually doing. I think that's about to change soon though when she gets busy with classes and things. She speaks very well, and I thought she was Spanish the first time I met her. Morritz is a bit reserved and never wants to speak Spanish, which makes it a bit weird in the house, as that's definitely all we speak here. He's very nice and laid back, and nice to have around. Dominick is really really fun, and I went out with him on Friday with some of his Italian friends from class. Got to know two of them really well, Jessica and Alessia, from towns close to Florence and Venice, and we went out last night together.

Speaking of last night, it was the second or third time Madrid has hosted "La Noche en Blanco". It comes from a phrase to "pasar la noche en blanco" which roughly translates to having day blend into night and night back into day, and everything feel like a half-dream, half-reality. "To pass the night in white". Picture millions, literally millions, of people in the streets from 9 pm until sunrise. All the museums stay open, concerts in the plazas, exhibitions of all kinds. I saw people between the ages of 5 and 70 out on the streets at four o'clock in the morning.
Definitely a one of a kind experience.


Today was the first time I think we have all been here at the apartment together, and it was really nice to sit around the kitchen and have lunch, talk, and organize our lives here. Wea also talked about little things like fridge space, cleaning schedules, etc, about which I think we're all on the same page. Our apartment will definitely stay very clean this year, which is a lovely change, and a necessary one with 7 people sharing a shower and relatively small communal areas. After having doubts a few days ago about whether or not I had made the right choice in living here, I feel really good about it today. I think it's exactly what I wanted.

Homesickness comes and goes, but it's definitely been getting better the last few days. I went running in the park Friday afternoon and found that to be a perfect escape from the bustling big city. Had cafe con leche yesterday with Jen and Julie at a cafe that I'm starting to frequent. Got some studying done, but as always, conversation and enjoying Madrid seems to be the priority. Just little things like being able to walk into a store and ask for something I need or talking to the bus driver about where I need to get off without having to think too hard or get all worked up is a huge relief. I'm still not adjusted to the fast pace at which Spaniards speak, and definitely have difficulties understanding at times, but I feel like it's slowly getting better.

Anyways, that's all for now. Arun wants me to watch a football game with him as he's screaming "Valencia!, Valencia!, Valencia!" all through the apartment as his team has finally scored. Ah, that reminds me, when I got home at 5:30 this morning, I saw that the Badger-Iowa game was in the 4th quarter. I was absolutely THRILLED to watch the live written descriptions of what was happening in the game as we battled it out in the final minutes. If there is one thing I miss more than anything, it is spending Saturday afternoons at Camp Randall. What I'd give to sing Sweet Caroline or Swingtown with my fellow Badgers as PJ Hill carries us to victory... Oh, but mom and dad, I miss you too...