Charmartin

Most recent strange encounter: Spanish kids love to mix red wine with coca-cola. Whaaaaat? We had a party to meet our Spanish pen-pals from the university yesterday night and it was a little nervewracking to meet so many people all at once. I met my penpal that wrote back to me, and she was super nice. She studies English literature too! Although she is in her first year, so I said maybe I could help her, being that, you know, English is my first language. They all said our Spanish was much better than their English, although, they could be liars. Mentirosos. We went out last night for our first Madrid friday. It was pretty fun, but we're still figuring out the good places to go and also it was a little scary not knowing how we would get home because the metros close at 1:30. So a bunch of us actually left before the metro closed. The nice thing about London was that we all lived in one place. In Madrid we are scattered all over the city. This means, we cannot get ready to go out together and no one can help me pick out my clothes. Also, it means we kind of have to have a spot in mind to go so everyone can meet up. Also, we have to go home alone. I took the metro with my friend because we overlap for most of the way. Then when i stood up after she left, these boys starting talking to me in english. I was like "Jesus, is it that obvious that I'm an American?" and they said "Sí." Sigh.. These nice older Spanish helped point me in the right direction of my street and I got home fine. Actually, my host parents were just going to sleep at 2 a.m. So, the cool Spanish kids probably stay out much much later haha.
Oh oh also, the Prado was awesome.
Another strange encounter: we went out as a large group last night, and split up into two groups for people who wanted to eat a dinner and those that had already eaten and just wanted small tapas. Embarassingly enough we ended up at a place that served hamburgers, which the waiter thought was pretty funny. Americans eating cheeseburgers in Madrid. However- the hamburgesas were actually ham. It was the strangest thing.
Anyway, I think I'm going to explore the area where I live. Or keep chilling in my pajamas in the house. Either one.