words to follow soon

Sometimes a nap is the only thing that seems like the right thing to do. After an extremely frustrating day at school, besides the fact that I spent more time commuting back and forth from Madrid to Getafe today than I actually spent there, the only thing I could do productively was sleep.

But now refreshed from my siesta, I can recap on the past few days. My free moleskine stickers like to remind me the importance of writing.

“We stayed at home to write, to consolidate our outstretched lives.” –Sylvia Plath

And rather thank wandering Madrid now in the first sunny day after a bout of dismal weather, I find myself here at my computer and quite content to be here. Its not that I’ve been extraordinarily busy, but everything over here takes extra effort. So now I need to decompress- rather recompress- my experiences to make room for more.

So, I’ve now completed over a full week of school over here. Other that the frustrating way they conduct scheduling over here (everything is turned in on paper and there is no course catalogue with all the times and locations of classes), my change of Spanish language classes further confusing my schedule (I’m moving up from Upper Advanced to Superior!)- I’m rather pleased with my classes. This change means that I’ll be in class 4 days a week now. I suppose I can handle that…

Last weekend instead of following all the other American students down to Cadiz, I decided to stick around in Madrid with Emelia, her friend Laurel in from France, and Adriana. And when they all returned to school yesterday sick, I was even more pleased with my decision. Weekends mean free admission to the museums I vowed last time I was here that I would fully explore. In the Prado I stopped by to say “hello” to my favorite Goya paintng and Velazques’ “las Meninas,” and in the Reina Sofia I paid my respects to Guernica. Its amazing how familiar things, be them painting, donuts, or music can make me feel so great.


Speaking of familiar music, the two concerts were great this weekend. We Are Scientists was a fun dance party at my new favorite venue in Madrid- the Moby Dick. Its like Bottom of the Hill with a whaler-theme. While standing around with a couple of other EAP kids waiting for the show to start, I caught the eye of the guy at the merch table who hailed me over. “Why is it that you can speak English?” And thus began my conversation with Shawn the guitar tech temporarily holding down the merch-booth-fort. I was his translator.


After the show, I figured I’d see if my translator status could get me a free pin, but alas, Shawn was busy being a guitar tech (and was a very busy guitar tech during the concert. look how hard he's working in the bottom left-hand corner). I however did get recieve a free gin and tonic from the bar tender and 3 pins for the price of one from the band-then working the merch table- by virtue of calling them pins and not badges. Again, speaking English led to the inevitable “where are you from” question. This conversation led to discovering that the lead singer and bassist used to live in Berkeley. We played the local game- talking about Zachary’s Pizza, 333 Rich Street, and our mutual dislike of Haas kids. Then I started to feel awkward about standing alone at the merch table and left. Had I waited another few minutes before leaving I could have confirmed what club the band was going to (Shawn had mentioned earlier). I met Emelia, Laurel, and Anh at a club that supposedly played Britpop/Indie/NewWave/80’s music. That really meant 80’s and the occasion Franz or Bloc Party song, but a good time was had and there was no cover. The dj didn’t even play a single Blur song?!



My concert experience on Saturday night, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and Dr. Dog, wasn’t quite as exciting as the first. Although, it was the last show on the tour and Dr. Dog went as crazy as they had at the Architecture in Helsinki show.

If the Moby Dick is BOTH, the Sala Heineken is the Great American Music Hall were it to have a sleek lounge area filled with green lights and brushed metal accents all over the walls. It was a weird crowd- half American hipsters students and half Spanish 20 and 30 somethings singing along with the indecipherable lyrics of CYHSY! I was all alone and started to realize it as the concert came to an end. And then to help my disposition, I lost a 2 euro coin that decided to jump ship from my wallet and there was no paper in the bathroom!


The night was saved by our favorite waiter at our Mexican restaurant where we've become reglars. As per usual, we were given many free margaritas and free quesadillas. Poor Felipe is going to know every California in Madrid by the time we bring all of our friends by the restaurant. I left Adriana and her flatmate Lisa to meet Anh in Chueca to check out a new bar. The bar, Luke Soy Tu Padre (Luke I am Your Father for those who don’t speak Spanish), had a great ambiance and played great music. We danced a lot and then took to running home through the snow-covered streets. It was such an odd sensation. My feet were numb from the slush seeping in through the holes in my converse as I dodged costumed people and puddles of slush. The snow looked amazing floating down into the tiny cobblestone streets. The only way I know how to describe the way I felt running through the streets is europe. Don't ask me what that mean, just accept it.



And there you have 860 words on recent events. Sorry its so heavy on concert details- but you know how I get about my music.

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unhappy feet




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a great alternative to spanish food
(i'm getting sick of ham, cheese, and potatoes all the time)