so i finally got my luggage, thank goodness. some people still dont have thiers, and i feel incredibly bad for them. its really hard to be here and not have anything. as soon as i got my stuff, i dug out my pictures and stuff and put them on the walls. i just unpacked, and even though its nice to have all my stuff around and not have to dig through suitcases (or wear the same pants and borrowed shirts for three days straight), it still doesnt feel like home. im definitely homesick, probably particularly because the first few days were so incredibly stressful.
my classes are in the morning from 8:30 to 1, and its pretty much grammar for the whole time. its really intense. luckily it only goes for a month. then we have regular classes. its really hard to have a class that early, because it means i have to wake up about 6:30, and be on a metro for almost an hour, then walk about half a mile to the school. its been rough with the heat. its been incredibly hot. i really hope it cools down soon.
its kind of hard to live with such a big family. its really hard to sleep, because the girls all stay up late running around and being incredibly loud, and then in the afternoon, when its supposed to be siesta time where i could nap for almost 3 hours, they are still incredibly loud. its really frustrating, because i dont know what to do. i dont want to seem rude or anything, but im totally sleep deprived.
besides that...its not what i thought it would be. a lot of the metros and buses are closed for construction, which makes it very hard to get around. and having the enormous family is pretty stressful sometimes. im hoping to get into a routine, so i can start to enjoy myself more, but right now, all i can think about is how much more i like home than madrid.
i live really close to the royal palace and gardens, and plaza espana, which is pretty awesome, but its been too hot to try to wander around too much.
yesterday our group met in el plaza del sol for a tour, and julia, phil, rachel and i got there early and went to lunch. we split a jug of sangria, and it was really nice to just sit on the sidewalk eating, drinking, and laughing. it was the first time i felt relaxed in a very long time. i need to do more of that, because it unfortunately didnt last.
i hope it cools down soon, because as soon as it does, julia and i are going to wander all over the place, and finally see what this city is all about. until then its just too miserable.
let see...tomorrow we go to the prado museum, and on saturday we have a day trip to segovia which i am looking forward to. i like the idea of getting out of the city.
we have a lot of long weekends, so im hoping to travel a lot, which julia and whoever else, to portugal and other spanish cities nearby.
i guess thats all for now.
oh, i think i ate a pigs eye.
and i put some pictures up, online.
go to: flickr.com/photos/anniemb