Honeymoon Phase

Here's the deal... when you travel abroad and have to deal with the concept of culture shock there are a series of processes that you go through. Currently I am in "honeymoon" phase, a phase in which everything about Spain I love, the people, the food, the buildings, the lack of heat, the program, etc. At the same time adjusting to the lifestyle is definitely going to be an adventure. Our breakfast consists of a croissant, orange juice and coffee, lunch doesn't start until 2 pm and it is an entire 3 course meal, and dinner is usually around 9 pm and its a very light dinner. Madrilenos (people from Madrid) are known as night owls and usually the night doesn't end until the sunrise, and I'm not exactly sure that is going to work out with my love of sleep! Today we took a placement exam that determined what intensity our orientation grammar class is taught in, I'm in group B. I have no idea if that means more intense or less intense, it almost seems like they split the group in half regardless of ability. After the placement exam we had a brief over view of the program and at 13:00 we had our first class in Spanish Art History. I really enjoyed the professor so I hope I can get into his class that he teaches in conjunction with the Prado! Yesterday we took a bus tour of Madrid and ate lunch at a place Museo de Jamon (Ham Museum), however, we were served fish. The bus tour was really amazing, I just wish I could have capture everything I saw outside of a bus. Madrid is beautiful and the plaza are great oases away from the craziness of the city. Lunches are so filling and its no wonder its common to take an afternoon nap. I love siestas! After a very long siesta we all headed to a late dinner and a few us went to the local Irish bar to watch the Packer game, the lost, big surprise!;) Common fact: Irish bars in Spain are just like Irish bars in the US. I don't suggest them unless you want to speak English and see a lot of Americans, but I suppose if you're looking for a football game that is the place to be! After this I'm headed out to do some necessity shopping that will probably be far too expensive, silly exchange rates, pray for some good deals! Buenas noches!