10. Being the foreigner
---- I stand out like none other here with my blondness and my 6-foot-threeability, not to mention I believe I sound like a Chinese kid that is studying in the states.
9. The crosswalk chirps
----When you walk past several of them going at the same time it sounds like 100 kids are playing laser tag around you
8. Not being able to access certain U.S. websites
----Hulu is down, I repeat, Hulu is down. Why can't some network syndicated shows simply be broadcasted everywhere on the Internet? Apparently America figured out how to get money out of other countries since American made cars aren't fashionable.
7. The Metro
---- For being self dubbed "the metro the rest of the world dreams of" (I'll take a picture and post it) it sure is slow. The metro takes almost as long to get to school as it takes me walking. Not to mention that everyday I get on the circle line the train breaks.
6. The beds
----I'm happy to have one, but this is the first bed I've been on which I can feel the springs.
5. The one cent euro
---- They are the devil. I'm positive I got one today, although I still have yet to encounter it. It is wiggling it's way into the corner of my bolsillo (sorry wallet) and will stay there for eternity. It'll stay there not because I don't know it's there (they always haunt you) but because I know it will never be of use. I should have told the cashier I just didn't want it. We both would have been better off.
4. Unfriendly Friendliness
---- The people seem kind of standoffish. There seems to be an attitude of 'you are a pain in my side' but maybe that comes with a big city. On the other hand, if you know a person, they are overly friendly and get upset if you don't say hi to them. Also, there are some people who have no concept of personal space.
3. Creepers
---- Spain is full of creepers. I don't know what it is, but this place is a breeding ground for the creeps. Every time we go out, it tends to go from party to rescue party when all the girls are getting danced on by 40 year old men.
2. Crazy one way streets with crazy rules
---- For some reason Spain (and perhaps to a greater extent Europe) is obsessed with traffic circles. I'm thrilled I'm not driving because it is the craziest system. People can walk into crosswalks and the drivers have to stop (I dont like testing this one). Certain intersections have stop lights, but because of the buildings, there are traffic cops directing everything. Also, almost every street is one way (That would make finding where you're going almost impossible without a gps). Back to the traffic circles, they are absolutely crazy. No lines, just a free for all swinging around from lane to lane. Thanks but no thanks. With all the crazy streets, and all the traffic circles/roundabouts, Madrid is one of the most difficult cities to navigate (not to mention all the buildings are so high and so repetitive that it is difficult to find where you are for a couple of blocks).
1. Not not having nothing else to hate
Top Ten things I love about Madrid:
10. The Metro
---- For all it's problems, most of the trains are amazing. And it is ridiculously clean.
9. The Big city with a small city feel
---- When you look at Madrid on a map and when you think of it, big city comes to mind. I'm not about to say it isn't, but it really isn't. I walk to school only about 2 miles and I cover almost the entire city (extreme over exaggeration). However, from my point in the city, almost everything is within walking distance (at least those things that you want to see). So in my mind, this city of 3 million people (an exact, verifiable by census value) is quite small.
8. La limpieza
---- The cleaning crew. These people are awesome. It's like there is a gigantic swarm of cleaner fish following your every move. Literally I can go a block before I see another cleaning crew sweeping up the sidewalks and removing trash from trash cans.
7. McDonalds
---- McDonalds here is like McDonalds in heaven. It isn't fast food anymore (and according to the prices it almost isn't), it is über food. Instead of the mac, the have el mac. Sounds the same, but it isn't, far from it. It is on chibatta bread and is like the best patty ever.
6. Marli
---- Having a person to help you with Spanish: good. Having a mom to help you get around town, feed you at random and makes your bed: awesome. Having a practically random person come into your room and tease you about your ropa interior: priceless.
5. Food In General
---- There are always new things to try. Today I went into a supermarket for the first time and had fun just looking at the different things. I wanted to get some food for snacks and when I got to the cookie aisle I was like OREOS! And then I realized that they were almost 3 euros, for like 400 g. Instead I did some more looking and found these awesome Spanish-cheapo brand cookies for 67 cents! Now that's what I call a cookie! This Saturday a couple of us are venturing to Segovia, so I do believe I'll try something new... cochinillo. The whole idea of it kinda grosses me out, but I'll keep you informed.
4. The Bocadillos
---- Especially from school. Wow. There is a picture on picasa of what I'm talking about (or there will be real). These things are huge from school. And only two euro! Granted they aren't the most delicious, but for the money? What a deal. Otherwise they are just real good, if not filling. Probably the best was from a place near the Real Madrid Stadium. mmmm. bocadillos.
3. Rebajas
---- The sales here are awesome. Most people would probably tell you the clothes are way too expensive, but they are much better for the price here. Target and Walmart have cheap clothes, but they are cheap in quality too. The clothes here are made well and are cheap. It's like shopping at a Kohl's where almost everything is stylish. Note the stylish and not awesome. The clothes are cool, but so far I have had problems finding exactly what I need. Also, after January the sales may be over, in which case the prices will be high. SHOES though are always the same price: cheap. And although you can find expensive shoes, I find no need to when the quality and quantities are so high.
2. The Views
---- Everything here is old. Real old, and it is so amazing to see everything from the past mixed with new things like cars and buildings. Plus, from school there are awesome views of the mountains in the distance. Did I mention that there are cool old buildings?
1. Siestas
---- Back in the states we don't have this word. Basically it means relax, don't do it, when you want to get to it, cause whatever you may think, you really don't want to. Also, it isn't about being a procrastinator as much as not doing what can wait until tomorrow. If it doesn't get done, who cares? we'll do it tomorrow.
P.S. I just emptied my wallet to find that infernal penny. You may have guessed correctly that I was making some of that stuff up about the penny and you are right. It was just drawn upon from other's experiences, however, when I emptied all the coins, there was no penny. I searched and what do you know, it had lodged itself in the corner of my wallet, ATTEMPTING to stay there for eternity. Now all the suspicions are confirmed.
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