Well, it looks like my computer only wanted to let me post that one picture that one time. Ill keep working on it though, so don't worry!
Things have been going really fast lately. We have been here a month! Its crazy. On friday we met up with two guys who were exchange students from Madrid at K my freshman year, Carlos and Guillermo. Both were my lab TAs. We went to Guillermo's house, which is off Plaza Mayor, and just hung around for a couple hours. Then at about 3 am we went out to a discoteca to meet up with Carlos. The discoteca was wierd, its called Vendetta, and is really small and smokey. It was too crowded to dance and too loud to talk. I ended up leaving about 5 in the morning, because my eyes were on fire from all the smoke, plus I was totally exhausted. But it was really nice to see Carlos! He is going to be going to the same school as us, so hopefully I will see him around more.
The next night was "white night" in Madrid, where all the museums and bars are open all night, and live bands play in the street. I didnt stay very long though, becuase I was totally exhausted, and we were waking up early on Sunday to go to El Rastro, the humongous flea market near my house. The flea market was AWESOME. I really want to take my dad when my parents come, I think he would love it. It was wierd all the American stuff they had, though, right down to some Confederate flags...and they had a ton of stuff that said things in English, but didnt make sense at all. Thats really common here, lots of people wear shirts that say things in english that make absolutely no sense. My favorite thus far: "I love PMS staff!" I mean, what is that??
Later Sunday we went to a bullfight, which I was pretty nervous about, but wanted to go to to try to get a better understanding of it, plus its such a huge part of the culture. Everyone either loves it or hates it, and I wanted to be able to form a real opinion. Well! I definitely did that! I HATED it. Everyone talks about it being gorious and honorable and how its quick for the bull, and they live great lives up till then and blah blah blah. But its not that at all. The poor thing comes out wounded, and then assistants run it tired and stab it with spears before the Matador even comes out to "fight" it. And the way they do that is pathetic, they make it run at them, and then they duck behind a protective wall. So, basically, they weaken it down by torturing it, and THEN fight it. And it ends when the bull literally gives up and lays down, and then they stab it in the brain, and the one I saw definitely suffered, it was not a quick death. Maybe its less gruesome if the matador is better, but still. I don't see honor in torturing and weakening an animal to the brink of death before the big strong fighter even comes out to conquer it. It also seems hypocritical, because the bull is worshipped here as strong and the symbol of Spain, but then they torture and kill it, for sport. That seems like the opposite of respect. Plus, it doesn't matter that the bull lived a great life until then, because its not going to remember that in its last moments! Its going to be preoccupied with the seven spears stuck in its back.
ANYWAYS. sorry about that.
Our first month of classes are over as of today! We have only had grammar until now, and we had our finals for that. We go to Andalucia tomorrow for a long weekend, then we start actual classes on Tuesday.
Sarah and I have been planning our trips, and I cant wait for them! We are going to Germany and to France, both for about 4 days, to visit other people on study abroad, including Erin in Strasbourg.
Well, I gotta run to dinner.
Hasta luego!