Shoot. Forgot to do this blog thing. Here's until Spring Break

OKKKAAAYYYY SOOOO I definitely should have been more regular about updating this. However, I was not. So here is what I am going to do: I am going to make a few posts in a row with a few different topics and then try to actually do this weekly. Cool? Cool. Not like you really have a choice.

So I will dedicate this to what I have been up to while in Spain.

First, school:

In Madrid, I am attending a University called Universidad Complutense de Madrid which is the biggest school I have ever seen in my life. It has over 80,000 students and 26 "schools". Some famous alumni include the ex-King of Spain, the leader of one of the governing political parties (who was also a professor before entering politics), among many others. For some reason, the hallways are colder than it is outside but the classrooms are super hot which has to be the most illogical form of heating a building I have heard of. So I am taking 3 classes taught by professors from the university but filled only with Americans from various schools (although my program is the biggest there). This is called Reunidas and all classes are in Spanish. The format is more similar to what it would be like to take classes in the US but with Spanish professors. I am taking European Political Systems, Modern Latin American History, and Spain in Globalization.

Beyond that, I am taking two classes with the rest of the Spaniards at the school which is crazy because it's literally a professor teaching like she normally does without paying attention to the foreigners. There I am taking World Geography and Social Criticism.

tl;dr. Interesting observations:

• European education system is a lot more strict than in America. You pick your major once you get to school as a freshman and there's not really any going back. It is a set 4-year schedule with practically no variation. You don't get the "liberal arts" education of breadth that the US loves so much.
• Spanish professors always show up late to teach like 10-15 minutes after official start time but then if you walk in 1 minute after them they call you out in front of the entire class
• EVERYONE USES LOOSE LEAF GRAPH PAPER. It's horrible. I miss the smart, logical line paper of the US so much
• There is a lot of focus on reading done outside of the class. The professor gives everyone a bibliography of 30 or so books and sort of expects you to read them (I don't whoops)
• In Spanish classes, they rarely have a powerpoint or use a board or anything. They just sit at their desk and talk at you. And everyone takes notes on every word spoken.
• Attendance is mandatory
• All of the classes for a major are in one or two buildings. You're not walking all around campus to get to class

Next, my homestay:

For the first month while I was here I stayed with a lovely Spanish woman named Victoria and her live-in maid (for something like 40 years) Fermina. It was an incredible experience. They fed us for breakfast and dinner which was extremely delicious. I spoke to her in Spanish every day and was forced to practice speaking as much as possible which was a good challenge. Victoria is an elder woman so she spent a good chunk of her life living under Fransisco Franco, the Spanish dictator of the same breed (although not nearly as bad as) Mussolini and Hitler. But while both of these dictators were killed in WWII, Franco kept power until his death in Spain. Then after he died everyone in Spain was like "well, let's do this democracy thing now" without anyone putting up a fight. Anyway, even though he was a brutal dictator she says that she missed the time under Franco and supported what he did which is so interesting to hear someone say. Also, she has connections to Spain's Department of Defense and was able to secure a military escort for when her daughter went to the Central African Republic. 

Observations about culture in Spain:

• Everyone always wears shoes all of the time. Spaniards have like a foot phobia so you can't be barefoot or even in socks. and no, open toe sandals don't count.
• Also, everyone always wears pants even when it's warm.
• In fact, Spaniards are incredibly seasonal about their weather. It could be 80 degrees but if it is still mid-March, they will wear a down jacket because "it is still winter"
• They have what could essentially be considered 5 meals a day. First, breakfast is mostly like toast or a neopolitano (more on that later), then there's almuerzo (which sort of translates to lunch, but isn't what they consider their main midday meal) which clocks in around 11:30 or 12 if you are hungry, after is comida (which translates to food, but is their "lunch) which is an hour or two long event (occurs during siesta) where people meet up with their friends and really make a lot out of the experience, in the afternoon there is a "bocadillo" or snack, finally there is dinner which is smaller than lunch and usually means meeting up with more friends for tapas for another hour or two at around 9 PM. I'll talk about food later.
• Spaniards are always wearing pants. Unless they are participating in an athletic event, pants are the only clothing
• Another note on dress: Spaniards will dress pretty nice to go to school (when Americans will just put on whatever clothes), then when they go out they wear like a sweatshirt or a polo with a ridiculously large logo on it (when Americans will wear a sweater with a button down and khakis and girls the equivalent)

Okay, food.

Yes. Food in Spain and in all of Europe (except the British Isles) is one million times better than food in the United States. Like not even a question. I have eaten tapas every chance I can get and it is a lovely experience without question. My personal favorites are croquettes. Which are fried balls stuffed with potato, cheese, and a meat, usually ham. Speaking of ham, it is everywhere here and I love it. There are so many delicious ways to prepare it and serve it that I can't stop trying it. In addition, a common trend in Spain and throughout Europe is all you can eat, made to serve asian food and it is super delicious and pretty cheap (10-12 euros for like 15 small dishes). Also, there is a really good Mexican place called Tierra which I go to way too often.

Thoughts on food:

• Pretty much every place you go to get beers at night will serve you free tapas
• El Tigre is the best place for it because you get a cheap big beer with a huge plate full of tapas for only 5 euros
• Spaniards are suprisingly OBSESSED with bread. Like every meal will come with just a thing of bread and sandwiches are almost more bread than they are content. 
• Also, as some people may know Spaniards are also obsessed with olive oil. It's used in essentially every dish and everyone is stuck up about it.
• Neopolitanos are these little pastries filled with chocolate and the best breakfast ever
• There is a law in Spain where every restaurant is required to select a portion of their menu and serve it as a three+ course meal including desert and a drink for a good price (usually 10-12 euros). It is called a menu del dia and it is amazing
• Other great Spanish goods: paella, iberian ham, pork loin, spicy potatoes, empanadas, and churros with chocolate

Other comments on Madrid

• The metro system here is the best I have ever been to. It is incredibly cheap, super clean, wide train cars, constantly arriving at the station, always open until 1:30 AM, and trips to the airport are included in the cost of the monthly metro card (which is only 20 euros)
• Madrid is definitely the most business city in Spain.  Tons of different companies have headquarters here, there is a solid startup scene, and there are I think the only 4 skyscrapers in spain here. 
• Some great tourist attractions include some super pretty parks, the Prado Museum (Spain's national gallery), El Escorial (Spain's Versailles), a day trip to the mountains for hiking or skiing, the national palace, and another assortment of views parks and museums

That's all for now.

Spanish word of the day: asustar - to scare. This word brought to you by me getting scared by a beagle while running in the park.