I just got back from a long weekend visiting my friend Jake is Brussels and man did we have a blast! When I first arrived, we grabbed a quick bite then headed downtown. He gave me a walking tour of Brussels’ best sights, the Gran Plaz, St. Catherine's cathedral, Mannekin- Pis (small iron figure of a boy who is…well...you know) and Jannekin-pis (similar figure of a girl). I guess the peeing boy became a symbol for the people of Brussels, and their “stick it to the man” attitude. Then during the feminist revolution, women demanded a statue of girl peeing be made as well. We walked through the main shopping district and around downtown some more, and then stopped in a bar to warm up and grab a beer.
We returned to Jakes house (which put my apartment in Madrid to shame) for dinner and to get ready for the night. That night we went out and tasted several more Belgium beers. I’m not sure what time we returned to Jake’s but we didn’t wake up until 1 pm. the next day. It was a great night out on the town. He friends were so much fun and all so sweet to a newcomer. We danced, saw some live music, and just had a blast. So after waking up so late on Saturday we hurried downtown to see some Christmas markets, do a little souvenir shopping, and grab lunch. For dessert we got a Belgian waffle- WOW! It was by far the best waffle I had ever experienced; warm, sweet, doughy, melt in your mouth, little taste of heaven!

That night we went to the plaza for a Christmas light show. I will put the video up on youtube ASAP. It was amazing! The lights on the tree, hanging around the plaza, and projected onto the cathedral went in time with the music. The finale of the show we saw was Queen’s Bohemian rhapsody; can’t get much better than that! After the show we went to a bar called Delirium that offered 2,000 (that’s right thousand) types of beer! I chose a blueberry something-or-another and was very pleased. That night was a more low-key, good conversation kind of night.

The last day Jake, several of his friends, and I went ice-skating and to the large Christmas market around St. Catherine’s Cathedral. It was just as fun to watch the really good skaters as the bad ones. I made it the whole time without falling, so I deemed it a success. We got some of the famous Belgian fries in cone at the market, a tomato basil quiche, and another waffle (not a diet weekend obviously). Later that night we went to an “American” bar named Fat Boys (ironic?) and watched the Packer game. It was such a fun weekend and so nice to see a friend from home.

Night of tapas turned dangerous!

Three of my best girlfriends and I just spent the last few hours going out for "canas y tapas" (beer and appetizers). We tried out three new places, one that I will defiantly return to. It was a great night filled with good conversation, good food, and good laughs.

My roommate Taryn and I were on our way home, casually waking down the street and a CRAZY LADY in front of us started shouting and swinging at two Spanish girls passing. So we are like, whoa "bruja" (witch) and walked quickly passed her only to be stuck at a red light. The Crazy rounds the corner and I am saying to Taryn "don't look, just don't look at her". She approached us from behind shouting some crazy Spanish and then SMACKS Taryn with force and rage in the back of the shoulder and then backhands me across the arm. She is shouting, "Cabron, que cabron, blah blah blah " as Tar and I stare at her with fear and anger in our eyes! We quickly run across the street and hustle into our safe apartment.

I know Eric would say, "well you should have just hit her back". But she was old, crazy, and only had two teeth left as it was! Oh the crazies in Madird; can't say that ever happened in De Pere!

George Lakoff

I went to a lecture by the famous cognitive linguist and outspoken opponent of George Bush this past Wednesday. Lakoff recently came out with a new book "Don’t think of an Elephant". He talked much more about politics than about linguistics that was for sure. I agreed with him on some issues but a few of his ideas were just a little too far out for me to be convinced, although I would be interested in reading more about them. He talked about the language used by republicans and what that relates to in out minds, ex. Tax relief. He also said that the idea that the United States was founded on ideas of reason from the enlightenment era was completely incorrect.
I also saw my linguistics professor at his lecture. Now that has got to look good!

Reunidas Turns 40

My study abroad program had its 40th anniversary this week. We had an official ceremony on Tuesday, and man, was it weird. It was so old-fashion traditional Spain. First of all, it was in the old University building in downtown Madrid and I don’t know what I was expecting but it sure wasn’t the grand ornate hall with gold leaf and intricate painted ceilings. It was more of an opera hall than any university room I had ever seen. Then to begin the ceremony a man dressed in black robes, with a three foot feather coming out of his hat and carrying a giant scepter led the directors of the facultades, (schools) dressed in what appeared to be shinny blue ponchos and white bow ties, up to the head table. Every time someone got to up to give a speech they had to be lead to the giant podium stand by the man in the scepter and then led back to their seats. At the end of the speeches he pounded his scepter on the ground and then came in the university brass band, followed by the woodwinds, and then a small symphony. The music was great but the whole ordeal was just so strange to me. Luckily it was followed by free food and wine, so not all bad.
Then the following night was all got treated to free tapas and drinks again at a nice restaurant. We had croqetas, tortilla Espanola, calamari, and octopus.

Cordoba

We went to Cordoba, Spain this past weekend with our study abroad program. It is a city in Andalusia (Southern Spain) that is known for it’s beautiful and obvious representation of both the Muslim reign, until the 13th century, and its Catholic history. Its famous Mezquita, was the worship center for the Muslims since the 9th century. It is a huge hall of hundreds of columns and double arches- that they picked up from the Roman ruins left in Spain. Then in the middle of this grand room the Catholics decided to build a gothic cathedral. They knocked out the central columns and ceiling and built their house of worship right inside that of the Muslims. The cross of cultures was so amazing to see- giant Muslim style arches with the Catholic saints painted on them.
Honestly though, I wonder why the Catholics bothered to save the Mezquita at all. They weren’t exactly known for their tolerance of other religions. Why wouldn’t they have destroyed it completely and built their cathedral where it was?
After the Mezquita we went to the house/castle of Fernando and Isabel and we got to stand in the room where Christopher Columbus presented his plan to go to the East by sailing West to the King and Queen. The gardens around the house were just fabulouse!
That night, my girls and I went to a Moroccan style tea-house and got to watch a free belly dancing show while sipping on sweet mint tea.
The next day we traveled a bit outside of the city to Madinat Al-zahra, an ancient Arab city that unfortunately today is mostly in ruins because of civil wars among Muslim tribes. It was still very impressive and so much fun to imagine how life would have been there a thousand years ago. It makes me excited to see the Alambra in Granada, which is a similar city to the one be saw, but completely intact.

Fresh Mozzarella

My Italian roommate, Gabriella, had her twin brother visit from Naples, the Italian city famous for its mozzarella. Gabriella would go on and on about the mozzarella from Napoli- "pero no entiendes tia, es en mejor, en serio, el mejor!" (the best, the best.) Well, her brother hadn't been here for more then 10 minutes when they called us to the kitchen to try the fresh mozz. It was amazing. I am not kidding you! I never new it could taste so sweet and milky. We ate it with a little fresh bread and tomato, awe man. No wonder Gabriella never eats the mozzarella from Spain. After growing up with that heavenly cheese nothing else will compare.
Gabriella has invited us, Taryn (my other American roommate) and I, to her house in April. I think we are all going and I cannot wait for more of that delicious cheese and some Italian pasta.

Cadiz

My roommate, Taryn, and I went to Cadiz for a wonderful get-away weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect, 75 and sunny. We rented bikes for a few hours the first day and rode around for a few hours. One side of the peninsula of Cadiz is a massive commercial port, not very pretty to look at, but very impressive. Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe on written record, founded by the Phoenicians, then the Greeks, then Romans ect. It was most famous in the 18th century because every product that came to Spain from America had to come through Cadiz. The other side of the peninsula consisted of miles of beautiful sandy beaches. We watched the sunset over the water that first night, so peaceful!

The hostel that we stayed at was the best! We met so many amazing people from all around the world that all had such interesting stories. I met a man from Sweden that told me what my last name means (Nord=north, holm= little island). We also met musicians from Australia who were promoting their band this year in Berlin. A Canadian who films documentaries for the Food and Life networks (got his e-mail ;) And 3 Israeli brothers, really interesting to hear their point of view on political issues. We went out to a African style hooka bar all together and later watched a live band proforme. It was a great weekend and nice to get away from the husstle and busstle of Madrid.

Toledo

This past weekend two of my girlfriends, Emma and Taryn, and I went to Toledo for the day. Toledo is an ancient city just about an hour outside of Madrid. It was the capital of Spain during the rein of the Muslim kings until 1085 when it was conquered by the Catholics. The design and architecture of the city are still greatly influenced by it's Muslim history.
I think my favorite part of the day was simply walking though the steep cobble stone streets and getting out of the city. I like Madrid but a city of five and a half million people becomes overwhelming sometimes. We also went to the gothic cathedral, built between the XIII and XV century. There was a display of the crown jewels as well as a collection of Greco’s paintings in the cathedral museums. Greco lived in Toledo for most of his adult life. Unfortunately the Alcazar, Toledo’s fort and palace, was closed due to reconstruction. Luckily it is such and easy day trip that I will be able to return to the city when it reopens.
Toledo is also famose for it´s steel work and all the gift shops are packed with intersting knifes of all different sizes. I´m thinking souvenir for my good older brother.

My new Hair!!!

I passed a peluqeria (salon) on my way home from class yesterday and decided to chop my hair off. I told her give me the Victoria Beckhem. She cut about 7 inches off of the back. I love it! My hair feels so light an healthy.

Reina Sofia and Class

This past Sunday I went to el museo de la Reina Sofia, Madrid’s modern art museum. They have a great collection of the most famous modern Spanish artists like Miró, Dalí, and Picasso, the star of their collection being "la Guernica". The Guernica, for those who don’t know, is Picasso’s masterpiece, representing a small city that was totally destroyed by Hitler’s army at the beginning of the Spanish Civil war. Basically, Hitler needed to test his knew planes and train his new pilots and Franco let him bomb a small city in northern Spain to show off his powerful friends and discourage the republic. Not only were heavy bombs dropped on the city but the civilians were also machine gunned down as they were running away down the streets and in the fields. Picasso’s painting is filled with the horror and pain of the two hour massacre. And no mater how many books I have read that sing it’s praises or how many professors tell you it is gorgeous seeing it for the first time in person is an unforgettable experience. It takes your breath away. I stood in front of Guernica for 15 minutes with tears in my eyes. It is really a must-see for anyone visiting Madrid.

My classes started on Tuesday and are all going well. Some of my classes are will all American students and a professor from the University Compultense Madrid but others are just like a regular lecture hall in Madison, except everyone is Spanish. I am taking a history of America class (the Spanish part of America, not USA), two literature classes, linguistics, and yoga :).

My new apartment.

So I am all moved into my new apartment and I love it! My roommates are great. So far there are two Spanish girls, (one
who speaks English very well but doesn't with us unless we need to translate a specific word and another who doesn't speak
English very much at all) and an Italian girl. The Italian is hilarious and so full of live. She speaks Spanish pretty well but
always seems to add the Italian "tune" to it. We are still waiting on three other girls from somewhere in Europe. We had a
great time our first night hanging out together laughing, mixing up words and drinking wine.
The apartment is kind of old (especially thinking US standards) with tiled bathrooms and wooden floors. Our first couple days here the gas to heat the water wouldn't stay lit so we took several very cold showers/spongebaths. The increased body oder really made me feel one with the Spanish people. Now everything is working just like it should.
Friday night my American friends and I went out for tapas. For those who are unfamiliar with the tapas tradition it is when a
group of friends goes from bar to bar ordering a small appetizer or two and a round of drinks. Many places will just give you a free "tapa" with your drinks. supposedly this tradition began with Felipe VI because the flies were so bad he wanted a plate of something to put on top of his beer to keep the bugs out of it.
After the tapas my roommate and I ended up in a plaza where were saw a man doing a fire show and an all female brass band, I think they were French. There was also this crazy lady hang around the band playing her recorder. The strangest thing wasn't that he had a recorder it was that the instrument was attached to her 18 inch multicolored mullet dread lock. Mullets and dreads are so in right now in Madrid! Who knows maybe I will end up with one...

Today we went to el Rastro again. I bought two pairs of earrings for only 3 euro a piece and a huge patchwork bag for only 2
euro. After walking around those streets for a couple of hours we grabbed some quick bocadillos (sandwiches on baguettes). I got the calamari bocadillo which was a giant sandwich filled with lightly breaded and friend calamari- yum yum. A little
lettuce and tomato would have made it better but the Spanish aren't big on condiments. If you get a ham bocadillo than that
is what you get- ham and bread.

Segovia

Yesterday we went to Segovia. It was absolutly amazing. The city has so much history and so much character, not to mention great tapas and cheap souveniers.
The most impresive thing was the Roman aqueduct still standing after 2,000 years without mortar or quickcreat. I wish my brother Eric would have been able to see it and the tools they used to build it because i'm sure he would have been in awe. The aqueduct is massive and long. It was built to bring water up to Segovia which was built on a moutain surrounded by a river for protection. They captured the water coming off of an opposing mountain and lead it to the ancient city. They even had the water covered to protect it from impurities (bird poop). There is no water in it anymore. I guess a few years ago they experimented and tried getting it to work again but the water leaked and they were afraid of erosion so they stopped that.
There were also multiple churches, a giant cathedral, and a castle built for Fernando y Isabel de Castilla y Leon. "Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando"- this was a statement of equal power between Fernando y Isabel, although Isabel had much more land and riches. The castle suffered a very damaging fire so most of the rooms had to be restored.

Look at the pictures and captions here, http://wisc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2281687&l=4f082&id=8628715. My operating system is too old for Picassa. I'm looking into updating. Mom make sure Eric sees them.

My first week

My first week in Madrid has been so busy. We started our 3-week intensive course on Tuesday. It is an hour of history and politics, an hour of art, and then two hours of grammar and composition. The three professors are wonderful and pretty easy to understand. The class is a lot of work though and on top of that we have been in charge of searching for a place to live in this giant city.
I lucked out with my apartment. I got a great price in an ideal location, and I found it only after 2 days of searching. Some people in my program are still dealing with rude landlords and hole-in-the-wall smelly apartments. My apartment in on the Plaza de San Bernardo, an area not only popular for students but also families. I live with 7 other girls, one American, 2 Spainards, anitalian and then other Europeans whom I haven´t met yet and our landlord wasn´t sure where they were from. I am actually sharing a room with the American, Tayrn, a girl from Madison. The best part about our room has to be the view. Two glass french doors open up to over look the plaza and it´s two huge fountains. It´s beautiful.
Other than class and apartment hunting I have been trying to get to some of the traditional tourist areas such as El Parque de Retiro, El Rastro (a massive flea market that streaches for miles), and the fresh food markets. The night life is amazing. Today I got home at 7:14 am from my night out on the town.
Well, I am off to run some erronds and go to a cafe with some friends. I will write more soon.

Hola a todos!

Hello Family and Friends!

As you all know I will soon embark on my newest journey. August 29, I depart from Chicago landing in Madrid, Spain on the 30th. I chose to do the group flight so hopefully I will already have made some friends by the time I step off the plain.

My first few weeks I will be living in los residantes estudiantes (dorms) while I search the giant city for a place to live. Ideally, I would like to find an apartment relatively near campus with a mix of Spanish students and other European exchange students, maybe an American just for good measure. Also during this time I will be taking a three-week crash course on Spanish language and culture so that we foolish American students don't break some culture taboos and piss everyone off. I will be also be granted 3 credits for this first class :)

I'd like to use this blog as a convenient way for family and friends to get a hold of me as well as for posting my latest pictures and updates on my travels.

I love and will miss you all during my year abroad, feel free to come and visit!

Adios,
Madeline