Viernes, 23 de Enero

Right now, I’m sitting on my bed listening to the rain outside on the bustling streets…a perfect accompaniment for Bon Iver’s “Re: Stacks” on my computer. I have recently been obsessed with this song and listen to it on repeat again and again every chance that I get. I love the last line: “your love will be safe with me.”
Last night, we all met in La Plaza Mayor and headed to La Chupiteria. It was SO crowded in there and took forever to get served. We learned in intensivo today that when Spanish people go out they “poner el fondo” (pool their friend’s money together) and one person buys for everyone. This would have sped things up last night for sure. We’re learning. Next we headed to a bar called Camelot to dance. As it turned out though, the bar was filled with lots of older men…no me gustan mucho. Allison and I headed home early (knowing how disgusting I felt in intensivo on Wednesday morning). On the way home, we heard a man stumbling home, hacking all the way on a bocacalle (sidestreet) of Calle Toro...sad and gross. Next, a man who wasn’t speaking English or Spanish or any language at all stopped right in front of us and wouldn’t move or stop mumbling. Thankfully, dodging him proved easier than I thought it would be. We also ran into our new friends, Adam Martin and Brendon, who we met at Camelot, studying here from Wake Forest.
In intensivo today, we learned words and phrases to use in a bar or restaurant: how to order, pay, and what types of drinks are offered.
On my way home for siesta today, I stopped by MoviFone to add five euros to my phone. I went in and didn’t know what to do or where to stand. When it was my turn, I told the lady what I wanted. She took my number and I signed my name. After that, she said something I didn’t understand and I must have given her a stupid blank face, because she asked if I understood. She repeated it and I acted like I got it that time, but I was panicking a little. I acted like I was checking something on my phone and then slowly headed for the door, hoping that they would stop me if I was supposed to stay inside the store for something else. Phew! I got a text message about an hour later saying the money was added (which is over 20 euros…is this leftover from the last person?? Sweeeeeet.)
For siesta lunch today we had this cheesy tomato pasta with spiral noodles, then meat that tasted kind of like meatballs (with roasted red peppers), and bread and fruit. I slept before AND after lunchJ It’s been a lovely, lazy afternoon uploading pictures, journaling, reading. I was about to leave to buy a straightener (mine broke yesterday!) when Isa said I could use hers. WOO! I’m going to have to skimp big time on money…especially since I don’t even have a job lined up for this summer. Tonight, we’re taking it easy since we have to be at La Plaza GG at 7:30. SICK. I think Allison and I are going to the train station café after dinner. Hasta luego.