Buenos días todos,
I’ve been in Madrid for less than 4 days, but I’m already starting to feel like a Madrilreño in some ways. The culture here is similar in some ways, and quite different in others from the United States. I suppose I should back up a little bit.
I landed Thursday morning around 9:30 am local time. I was very fortunate to have an empty seat next to me for my flight over the Atlantic and I was able to sleep during the flight. Thursday was spent settling into my apartment, meeting my 8 flatmates (Adi, Bennett, Dan, Dani, Harry, Henry, Rick, and Steven), and exploring a little around my barrio (neighborhood). On Friday we had a program-wide orientation, where I learned a few key facts:
- We do not have the most students of any flat – there is one apartment of 15 girls.
- Spanish Oranges are delicious and in season right now, and thus has begun a quest to find a local market with fresh fruit.
- I have good roommates, we all get along and they don’t make the questionable lifestyle choices some students seem to be planning on.
I also learned all about the program rules as well as the opportunities for trips and more. There is so much to look forward to including:
- Day Trip to Segovia
- Day Trip to Toledo
- Weekend Trip to Seville
- Royal Palace tour
- Spanish Cooking classes
There is so much to be excited for I don’t even know what to focus on! Next week I will register for classes on Wednesday, but they don’t start until a week from Monday. That should give me time to fully settle into the Spanish schedule, which is quite different. Here, they get up a little later and eat a light breakfast (the classic example is coffee and a couple pieces of toast with jam). Lunch is not until around 2:00 pm, but it is usually the largest meal of the day. Traditionally, it is two courses followed by a desert or coffee. Following lunch is the siesta, during which most shops are closed. People take leisurely strolls, nap, or sit and talk. Dinner won’t be until at least 9:00, and also can last for a long time. Spanish nightlife starts correspondingly late, 11:00 pm at the earliest, more often midnight.
Sunday, I went to church at la Iglesia en Suanzes. Although the service was in Spanish, there were a couple of Spanish versions of familiar songs, and I found I could understand about half the sermon. It probably didn’t help my comprehension that I was fighting the jetlag-induced urge to nod off. The service was not exactly like any I have ever been to, but the people were very friendly and welcoming. Later on, I got coffee with one of the elders, Enric, who talked with me about the culture and theology of the church. We also branched out into Spanish culture, and I received a crash course on the geopolitical history of Spain’s major languages and regions. The conversation was about two hours long. If that seems surprising, it wasn’t to Enric, it is very typical for the Spanish. Everything they do is social: eating, drinking, dancing, etc. Meals are long, loud, and unhurried. No one seems to have a tight schedule of events booked back to back to back.
Though I could certainly go on for pages about everything that has happened, it’s time for me to get to bed before tomorrow’s academic orientation. So I will wrap up with a few prayer requests. I am having a wonderful time here so far, and starting to settle in.
Prayers
- Praise God for bringing me here safely and even more easily than I hoped.
- Praise God for the church I went to today. It is good to be in the house of the Lord, no matter where the building is located.
- Pray that God will open doors for sharing the gospel with my roommates. Although I invited them to church, none took me up on it. It seems I am the only actively religious one among us.
- Pray that the class selection process will go smoothly and I will be able to sign up for the classes I need.