Jueves, 28 Augusto 2008
We decided to go to town. I really wanted to go to the UEM to post my blog and to balance the check book/pay bills. Brent wanted to go to Madrid in order to register for the 10k on Sunday. It is the Nike Human Race, which is right through the center of Madrid.
Well, we programmed the address in Brent’s downloaded google maps on his Blackberry. It was much easier to follow than the straight google maps. That is, until we got into the center of Madrid. They have the street signs on the buildings at the second story level – very difficult to see via car. We were lost and fighting. So we programmed it into the Tomtom, which is the GPS voice command of Alfonso and Ana’s. This would tell us to turn right, great, except it is a one way street going the wrong way. Needless to say, we bought transportation passes until our permanent passes start working on the 1st, and the girls will receive theirs in another week.
We were able to get the Tomtom to get us to a parking garage. We exited the garage and walked through a FABULOUS array of homeless smelly people. This was an uplifting moment after pure tension in the car.
We went to one Corte de Ingles (the Dillards of Madrid) and walked around and asked about the Sports Department (Deportes). They didn’t have the register here, but he gave us directions for a 10 minute walk to the next Corte de Ingles. This guy spoke pretty good broken English to match my broken Spanish understanding.
We made it to the second Corte de Ingles, which was bigger than the first. I was able to ask what floor the sports department was. I would have been much more successful, had I said it correctly!!! They didn’t have the registration here either. Their English was non-existent, my Spanish comprehension is also non-existent. They did manage to map the way out through the metro.
On our way out, I saw uniforms. So we stopped and tried to find the uniforms for the girls. The lady was able to locate which ones the girls needed, but she didn’t have them. She did give me the numbers, so I could find them at another store on my own.
By now, I was ready to give up and go home. We stopped at a Cervesaria and took a nice time out. Then we ventured toward the Metro. We tried every card to purchase Metro passes. While we were figuring things out, we saw a dude jump over the rails and steal his way on the Metro. We got the card to work once and all four of us ran through – 3 of us stole and broke the law!!!! Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law!!! As my neighbor Elvio says, “We will just watch for you on the show Locked Up Abroad.
The Metro was fabulous. Brent and I had taken it during my last visit to Spain. We made it to the next Corte de Ingles. This was in the center of downtown Madrid. We have never been here before. This department store consisted of four high-rise departments stores linked together. We walked into the Corte De Ingles and asked what floor was Deporte. The guy talked about the other building, so we walked around and found another building. When we walked into this building, we immediately saw a green line painted on the floor with Deportes on it. We followed that green line forever. I can’t tell you where or how far, because I was too busy watching the floor – probably looking like an idiot (Like this never happens to me).
We made it successfully to the Sports Department and found the HUGE set up for the race. This is a 10k that has been throughout the world, Los Angles and New York in the US. We got our chips and our shirts, which have our actual number on it. I am in the 800K and Brent is in the 900K. I can’t help but smile, this is way cool!!!
After this we went to try and find the uniforms here. The guy worked very hard to help us, even though we were thoroughly lost in translation etc. We did find the girls’ faldas (skirts) and socks. I did bring white polos, much cheaper at Walmart and Target, than 50E per skirt. I therefore only bought one skirt per kid. I will just pray that they don’t spill &/ wash their skirts every night. The girls are both very excited about their pretty skirts. They are excited to wear them when they get home. I have a feeling that they will hate them after wearing them every weekday for four months.
I was very pleased with our adventure. We then had to take the Metro back to the car, no problem. We then just programmed our city into the Tomtom and Blackberry to go home at rush hour in Madrid, a city of 4 Million all out at the same time of the F’ing day!!!! Let’s just say that both of the F’ing machines got us to a street sign and a part of Madrid that I was familiar with from previous visits, and I had my mental GPS system take over and get us out the of F’ing city in a car.
When we got to the UEM to post my blog, the internet wouldn’t let us use BofA, it wouldn’t let us use Google, and my battery was dying. Let’s just say, I had a bit of a temper tantrum. A PMS woman in a foreign country who doesn’t quite have a grasp of the language, who can’t communicate with the outside world (friends and family at home) can only take so much!!! I posted the blog and left messages on answering phones then headed to the grocery store.
Brent made us fish for dinner. It was wonderful. He has been our Chef. He grilled it on the charcoal barbeque. This is in the pool house. Does this sound snooty or what?! We ate the excellent dinner around the dining room table and told stories. It was great. I had the girls laughing so hard when I was venting about how everyone talks so fast to me and I have no clue what they are saying. Brent’s like “Why did you say you understand?” Because I want to get the heck out of dodge, my unsuccessful “fight versus flight” reflexes.
Friday was a fun day. We got ready and went to the UEM. The campus had people on it. It didn’t hurt that we were there during the day, versus late in the afternoon. The professors have accountability on Monday, so the campus was starting to come alive, all except the exercise building. I think these exercise people are stereotypical, in that would rather work out than work, and keep work to the last possible moment. We found a table, internet, electricity, bathrooms, and vending machines. We still weren’t able to get into secured sites, like Bofa. So I ended up paying my bills and balancing my checkbook using Brent’s Blackberry. Ultimately I had access to that the whole time. Did I mention that I can’t wait to get internet? We did finally get into Google, so I took care of the 80 messages. I had enough computer time, right when they were closing up the building.
We then went to the grocery store and did more than one meal shopping. I don’t think we are going to be able to do “Brent’s grocery shopping/meal planning” on a regular basis. We don’t have kitchen space, have too many people, and won’t have a car. I really don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal. You have to pass by the grocery store on the way to our house, and it is right up the street from the girls’ school. We will just have to invest in more of those long term environmentally friendly bags.
We unloaded the groceries and headed on foot, bus, train, and metro to pick up the ladies from the airport. By ladies, I mean Kelly and Chelsea. I have decided to call them “the ladies”, and my girls “the girls”, it will get too confusing otherwise. Kelly and Chelsea are two of the undergrads from ASU.
We were given strong advise from Alfonso to not take public transportation and to drive the car. After our experience the day before, we decided otherwise. I had my handy dandy notebook and wrote down all of the bus routes, train stops, and metro stops. I had my fancy Walmart $9 watch to time exactly how much time it took us to get from one point to another. We left the house at 5, and their flight got in at 7. It took us one hour and 40 minutes to get there. It was very easy and we got there before the plane landed. We had a good ratio, with all of us taking a bag. We also made sure that we bought 10 trips of transportation passes (bus, train, & metro).
Everything went perfect with only a few hiccups. First, Bryce left her fancy water bottle at the train station. Then when we were to get off of the train, everyone was taking their time and it took off with only me getting off. Everyone just took it to the next stop, changed trains, and we were back in motion. The last experience was that we took the 567 bus, but we took it going the wrong way. These were both “London Moments” with my sisters. Well the bus got to the end of its route and the guy told us to get out. I at least understood this amount of Spanish. It was time for his break and the bus going the other way would be here in about 10 minutes. It did and took us home. I think everyone was tired, but it only took us 20 more minutes with both of the mishaps.
Bryce was so excited to meet her twin Chelsea, who has long blond hair just like her. I swear my child didn’t stop to take a breath during those two hours of traveling home. We finally had to tell her to “zip it” for the rest of the evening. Brent laid out queso, pan, chorizo, jamon, salami, and beverages for the girls. I laid out the nutella, which was snatched up quickly by all of the females.
Sabado, 30 Augusto 2008
Today was a wonderful relaxing day with the girls and the ladies. The girls and I studied on the patio. The ladies slept in until 1:30. We all exercised and hung out.
At about 5, we took the ladies out to see Boadilla. We took them to tapas and we all tried everything. We drove them by the Universidad and then the grocery store. It is great, the ladies want to be included in their pictures, so Chelsea had Bryce take her picture.
We are now all reading, playing games, braiding hair etc. A nice quiet evening.
Lunes, 1 Septiembre 2008
Well, Sunday was one of the weirdest days of my European life. I am alive to reflect on it. An introduction to el tren/train, la carrera/race, la enferma/sick, las policias/police, y el murcielago/bat.
We had a wonderful morning. The ladies woke up in time for Brent to fix them dinner, before he and I left for downtown Madrid for the 10K Nike Human Race. We took the bus/train/metro to meet Alfonso, so we could hang with him before and after the race. There was no way either of us was going to run with him.
The number for the race was on your shirt, so everyone was wearing their shirts. It was awesome to see all of these red shirts on all of the subways etc. As Brent and I were walking to the train, I was mentioning to him how everyone is so observant. Everyone makes eye contact, checks to see what you are carrying, looking to see if you look suspicious. We passed by these two guys that looked kind of ratty. Brent said we really didn’t need to worry because we were dressed to run and we both could have taken them. So as we get into this train, the guys have apparently changed direction and run onto our train and totally frisk an older man wearing pants with tons of zipper pockets, a fishing vest with tons of zipper pockets, and a camera. The guys then say something (damn it for not speaking the language) and they were back off of the train. So your guess is as good as mine. Were they pick-pockets – mighty aggressive in front of a train full of people. Or were they undercover security checking for bombs etc. Either way, I was about to throw up due to shear nervousness. Then the train locks its doors and dies. So I’m nervous, in a locked train, with a ton of other people, without electricity – about to freak!!! They announce that the train is not good, kick all of us off, another train comes in 1 minuto and we are off again.
We find Alfonso and head to the race. We find bathrooms – let me just tell you that the boy’s pee pee bathroom is a fenced/visible area with standing X’s with containers in the center of the joints. So imagine four guys in each area of the X peeing into containers as people can watch you from the other side of the gate. It was very hard not to stay and watch!!! The boys that weren’t real men, had to wait for the token port-a-potties with the girls.
I believe that this was our first 10k. We had started to train for 10k’s but they kicked our butts – yesterday was the same. The farthest I have raced is 5 millas/miles. A 10k is about 6.2 millas. The music was awesome, the excitement of all of the people in red was amazing – I truly felt like one of the bulls running through town (about to die). Do you remember when I wrote about the 4 million people who live in Madrid? Well, 12,000 of them were running with us, the remainder lined the entire race to cheer – completely euphoric!!!! The race started in Parque Retiro at about 6600ft elevation. We got to run down to 6300ft at Kilo 3, then back up to 6500ft at Kilo 4. We ran through the city, the Plaza Del Sol (which was our favorite place from last time), and the Plaza Mayor. We then exited the Old Madrid and ran down to 5900ft in one kilo to Kilo 7. Then great until the end ALL UPHILL from Kilo 8 to 10 from 5800ft to 6200ft in 2 kilos at the end of a 10K race – CRAZY hard!!!
So after the race and a bit during, I started cramping – as only a novice runner can do. By the time I got home, I was gonna die and wanted to go lay down – because the nausea was starting. Alfonso drove us home, so of course we offered for him to come in and have a beer. This is about 11. I wanted to say my goodbyes and go to bed, when Kelly whispered to me that Chelsea had gone out to run 2 hours ago before dark and she wasn’t back yet – and Kelly was rightfully freaking – but hiding it from my children whom she was hanging out with. Well we got Alfonso taken care of and Brent and Kelly went to go find Chelsea. I put the girls to bed, and just before I went to bed, Brent and the ladies were back!!! So to bed I went before I saw any of them. They got home at about 12.
Monday morning at midnight - While I was resting, the doorbell at the front gate rang. I hear male voices for a long time, but can’t make out what’s going on. Then nothing. No Brent, no Chelsea, no Kelly. I start to panic and muster enough energy to go and check it out – it is about 1:00. Well, they were all on the veranda reflecting on the evening’s adventures. Apparently this wasn’t the first time Chelsea had gone for a run without an address, a map, or a clue. At least before she knew what hotel she was staying at and could speak the language. She apparently called her mom, to get Brent’s phone number. Her parents laughed at her – in a concerned way - more than freaked out. She managed to find the Boadilla security guards. They didn’t speak English and had to find a resident who did. Then the resident volunteered to drive her around to find her home. Brent and Kelly were driving into intersections and looking around for her. Chelsea saw them, and the car flagged Brent down. Well, anytime you contact the police, they need to file a report, so that is why the police (who spoke English) came to visit us at midnight. They wouldn’t talk to Chelsea at all, and only spoke with Brent – typical Espana. So then I excused everyone to bed, because the ladies and Brent had clases de espanol en la manana. I am now back in bed at 1:30.
I hear noises in our room in the middle of the night 4:30. I think that it is one of our girls coming to sleep on the bed in the closet. I am feeling better and decide to go check it out – no girl. I decide it is a good time to go eat cereal. I turn on the bathroom light – and there is a bat flying in our bedroom!!!!!! I of course wake up Brent to try and help – we looked like such idiots. I think that it is gone and decide I will risk going back to sleep and getting a rabies shot later. At 6:30 the bat re-emerged from his hiding place. I just kicked the window open with my foot and he flew out – why he couldn’t have done this earlier?!
Brent woke up at 8 and got ready for his first day of school. I took pictures of the Ladies and their backpacks – they both said that their mothers would love this. They have a week long introductory Spanish class at the UEM.
I went back to bed. Then the girls and I did chores and got ready for the day. Our first stop, Colegio Mirabal. We took the bus and arrived safely. The only thing is that my 10 trip bus pass works some of the time and not others – I think I’m only going to keep Euros – but you have to pay each time, no transfers. The girls should have their passes in another week.
We found the office and I went to the reception area. Then found admittance – they exist in their system. Then we found the only person who spoke English and she was fabulous. We figured out where to buy the rest of the uniforms/via charge it to our school account (one for the summer, winter, swimming, and PE summer and PE winter. I only bought the sweater for winter, one swimming per girls and they are going to sweat in PE until it gets cold – still 500E altogether with the Corte de Ingles). They get a list every month of what books they need, and the parents either order them from the school or get them on their own. I am going to have the school take care of it and add it to my account. I asked for no religious studies, so the girls will have extra tutoring/study hall. I asked for no francis/aleman/ingles but espanol for their language, the Master of Language is going to figure it out. For Jocelyn, we asked that music be piano, so she will have piano 3 days a week in a group of four, eliminating one day of study hall. I also figured out the lunches. So I think I just spent a million dollars!!!!
We then headed into the main Boadilla to find a bank and run some errands. We did what we could and then tried to get the bus back. Not so successful. We waited for over an hour and missed our bus a few times. I think I have it figured out. The girls by then were completely gone (it didn’t help that they didn’t go to bed at the time Mom had asked them to the night before).
We all made it home successfully. Brent and the ladies looked shot. Kelly had the stomach thing I had, so it wasn’t the running. The girls did their model show – very proud of their new uniforms and very smart looking. We then had a nice relaxing no brainer early evening.
Jueves, 4 Septiembre 2008
Tuesday was a stay at home and wait for the internet installer. The girls and I did homework, chores, walked around the block, swam, and played a lot. Turns out that the installer didn’t come, because Boadilla Parque (our village/area) doesn’t have internet through the lines. Now we are left with trying to find our own router etc, or going to the UEM every other day and using theirs. The UEM option is a pain, because we can’t successfully get into all of the sites. We will wait and see.
Steve and Laurie, the grad students flew in that night. Their flight landed at 9, so we decided to take the car to get them, versus the transportation in case it closed down before we got home. It went fairly smoothly, but Brent and I both prefer the public transportation as a stress point.
Wednesday was a “let’s try the errand thing one more time.” The girls and I went to their school, where I tried to pay some of their tuition in cash. I was told I could do this, but I can only get so much cash out at a time. I figured I could visit them a few times a week in order to get my account settled. Again, couldn’t find anyone that could speak my broken Spanish or yet alone broken English. I did manage to find out that they will debit my account at Barclays, so I don’t have to carry around cash. We then went and exchanged Bryce’s swimsuit without any problem – huge relief.
Our next bus stop was to the center of Boadilla to pull out some more cash and deposit all of the cash that I had. Success. We then went and returned something at the farmacia. Again, success. The next bus stop was back to our grocery store to try and get the remainder of the school supplies, success, but I have to go back and return a duplicate – again. But I am getting better at this. It is tough with Brent and I both going to the store everyday, and not having cell phones to clue the other into what we are purchasing.
We decided that we would brave the bus system and go to the UEM – I wanted some internet time. We got there successfully. We even found the building that we were using before and got all situated. I have to say that I did look rather like a dork traveling through Boadilla’s transportation system with a suitcase on wheels. Let me tell you that this was a very manageable option that held everything, including my computer, Nintendo, books etc to keep all of us content. The only hook up was that we took the correct bus the wrong way home from the UEM. So we got off and went to the correct stop – to only wait for 30 minutes to have the same bus and driver then pick us up and take us home. Bryce had had enough at the bus stop. The girls have been real troopers, I have done as much as I can without reaching frustration level for any of us.
We beat everyone home, so we had to go swimming. It has been breezy and the pool was more than cold. I could only stick my feet in. I’m afraid that the cooler weather is coming. It should be okay, because the girls have indoor swimming at their school, and Brent and I are enrolled at the UEM fitness center, which also has an indoor pool.
Last night was our first evening as a family of 8. It was rather nice. We will have to sit down and have our roommate rules/Doc Alvar and the Knights of the Square Table – which the number of you that have lived with the Alvars understand only so clearly. We have to figure out laundry days (since there are 8 people’s clothes to wash and no dryer) and chores.
My life is becoming routine, I don’t have much to blog. Today is Thursday, and I plan on studying with the girls, then enjoying them as much as possible before they start school tomorrow.
We decided to go to town. I really wanted to go to the UEM to post my blog and to balance the check book/pay bills. Brent wanted to go to Madrid in order to register for the 10k on Sunday. It is the Nike Human Race, which is right through the center of Madrid.
Well, we programmed the address in Brent’s downloaded google maps on his Blackberry. It was much easier to follow than the straight google maps. That is, until we got into the center of Madrid. They have the street signs on the buildings at the second story level – very difficult to see via car. We were lost and fighting. So we programmed it into the Tomtom, which is the GPS voice command of Alfonso and Ana’s. This would tell us to turn right, great, except it is a one way street going the wrong way. Needless to say, we bought transportation passes until our permanent passes start working on the 1st, and the girls will receive theirs in another week.
We were able to get the Tomtom to get us to a parking garage. We exited the garage and walked through a FABULOUS array of homeless smelly people. This was an uplifting moment after pure tension in the car.
We went to one Corte de Ingles (the Dillards of Madrid) and walked around and asked about the Sports Department (Deportes). They didn’t have the register here, but he gave us directions for a 10 minute walk to the next Corte de Ingles. This guy spoke pretty good broken English to match my broken Spanish understanding.
We made it to the second Corte de Ingles, which was bigger than the first. I was able to ask what floor the sports department was. I would have been much more successful, had I said it correctly!!! They didn’t have the registration here either. Their English was non-existent, my Spanish comprehension is also non-existent. They did manage to map the way out through the metro.
On our way out, I saw uniforms. So we stopped and tried to find the uniforms for the girls. The lady was able to locate which ones the girls needed, but she didn’t have them. She did give me the numbers, so I could find them at another store on my own.
By now, I was ready to give up and go home. We stopped at a Cervesaria and took a nice time out. Then we ventured toward the Metro. We tried every card to purchase Metro passes. While we were figuring things out, we saw a dude jump over the rails and steal his way on the Metro. We got the card to work once and all four of us ran through – 3 of us stole and broke the law!!!! Breaking the Law, Breaking the Law!!! As my neighbor Elvio says, “We will just watch for you on the show Locked Up Abroad.
The Metro was fabulous. Brent and I had taken it during my last visit to Spain. We made it to the next Corte de Ingles. This was in the center of downtown Madrid. We have never been here before. This department store consisted of four high-rise departments stores linked together. We walked into the Corte De Ingles and asked what floor was Deporte. The guy talked about the other building, so we walked around and found another building. When we walked into this building, we immediately saw a green line painted on the floor with Deportes on it. We followed that green line forever. I can’t tell you where or how far, because I was too busy watching the floor – probably looking like an idiot (Like this never happens to me).
We made it successfully to the Sports Department and found the HUGE set up for the race. This is a 10k that has been throughout the world, Los Angles and New York in the US. We got our chips and our shirts, which have our actual number on it. I am in the 800K and Brent is in the 900K. I can’t help but smile, this is way cool!!!
After this we went to try and find the uniforms here. The guy worked very hard to help us, even though we were thoroughly lost in translation etc. We did find the girls’ faldas (skirts) and socks. I did bring white polos, much cheaper at Walmart and Target, than 50E per skirt. I therefore only bought one skirt per kid. I will just pray that they don’t spill &/ wash their skirts every night. The girls are both very excited about their pretty skirts. They are excited to wear them when they get home. I have a feeling that they will hate them after wearing them every weekday for four months.
I was very pleased with our adventure. We then had to take the Metro back to the car, no problem. We then just programmed our city into the Tomtom and Blackberry to go home at rush hour in Madrid, a city of 4 Million all out at the same time of the F’ing day!!!! Let’s just say that both of the F’ing machines got us to a street sign and a part of Madrid that I was familiar with from previous visits, and I had my mental GPS system take over and get us out the of F’ing city in a car.
When we got to the UEM to post my blog, the internet wouldn’t let us use BofA, it wouldn’t let us use Google, and my battery was dying. Let’s just say, I had a bit of a temper tantrum. A PMS woman in a foreign country who doesn’t quite have a grasp of the language, who can’t communicate with the outside world (friends and family at home) can only take so much!!! I posted the blog and left messages on answering phones then headed to the grocery store.
Brent made us fish for dinner. It was wonderful. He has been our Chef. He grilled it on the charcoal barbeque. This is in the pool house. Does this sound snooty or what?! We ate the excellent dinner around the dining room table and told stories. It was great. I had the girls laughing so hard when I was venting about how everyone talks so fast to me and I have no clue what they are saying. Brent’s like “Why did you say you understand?” Because I want to get the heck out of dodge, my unsuccessful “fight versus flight” reflexes.
Friday was a fun day. We got ready and went to the UEM. The campus had people on it. It didn’t hurt that we were there during the day, versus late in the afternoon. The professors have accountability on Monday, so the campus was starting to come alive, all except the exercise building. I think these exercise people are stereotypical, in that would rather work out than work, and keep work to the last possible moment. We found a table, internet, electricity, bathrooms, and vending machines. We still weren’t able to get into secured sites, like Bofa. So I ended up paying my bills and balancing my checkbook using Brent’s Blackberry. Ultimately I had access to that the whole time. Did I mention that I can’t wait to get internet? We did finally get into Google, so I took care of the 80 messages. I had enough computer time, right when they were closing up the building.
We then went to the grocery store and did more than one meal shopping. I don’t think we are going to be able to do “Brent’s grocery shopping/meal planning” on a regular basis. We don’t have kitchen space, have too many people, and won’t have a car. I really don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal. You have to pass by the grocery store on the way to our house, and it is right up the street from the girls’ school. We will just have to invest in more of those long term environmentally friendly bags.
We unloaded the groceries and headed on foot, bus, train, and metro to pick up the ladies from the airport. By ladies, I mean Kelly and Chelsea. I have decided to call them “the ladies”, and my girls “the girls”, it will get too confusing otherwise. Kelly and Chelsea are two of the undergrads from ASU.
We were given strong advise from Alfonso to not take public transportation and to drive the car. After our experience the day before, we decided otherwise. I had my handy dandy notebook and wrote down all of the bus routes, train stops, and metro stops. I had my fancy Walmart $9 watch to time exactly how much time it took us to get from one point to another. We left the house at 5, and their flight got in at 7. It took us one hour and 40 minutes to get there. It was very easy and we got there before the plane landed. We had a good ratio, with all of us taking a bag. We also made sure that we bought 10 trips of transportation passes (bus, train, & metro).
Everything went perfect with only a few hiccups. First, Bryce left her fancy water bottle at the train station. Then when we were to get off of the train, everyone was taking their time and it took off with only me getting off. Everyone just took it to the next stop, changed trains, and we were back in motion. The last experience was that we took the 567 bus, but we took it going the wrong way. These were both “London Moments” with my sisters. Well the bus got to the end of its route and the guy told us to get out. I at least understood this amount of Spanish. It was time for his break and the bus going the other way would be here in about 10 minutes. It did and took us home. I think everyone was tired, but it only took us 20 more minutes with both of the mishaps.
Bryce was so excited to meet her twin Chelsea, who has long blond hair just like her. I swear my child didn’t stop to take a breath during those two hours of traveling home. We finally had to tell her to “zip it” for the rest of the evening. Brent laid out queso, pan, chorizo, jamon, salami, and beverages for the girls. I laid out the nutella, which was snatched up quickly by all of the females.
Sabado, 30 Augusto 2008
Today was a wonderful relaxing day with the girls and the ladies. The girls and I studied on the patio. The ladies slept in until 1:30. We all exercised and hung out.
At about 5, we took the ladies out to see Boadilla. We took them to tapas and we all tried everything. We drove them by the Universidad and then the grocery store. It is great, the ladies want to be included in their pictures, so Chelsea had Bryce take her picture.
We are now all reading, playing games, braiding hair etc. A nice quiet evening.
Lunes, 1 Septiembre 2008
Well, Sunday was one of the weirdest days of my European life. I am alive to reflect on it. An introduction to el tren/train, la carrera/race, la enferma/sick, las policias/police, y el murcielago/bat.
We had a wonderful morning. The ladies woke up in time for Brent to fix them dinner, before he and I left for downtown Madrid for the 10K Nike Human Race. We took the bus/train/metro to meet Alfonso, so we could hang with him before and after the race. There was no way either of us was going to run with him.
The number for the race was on your shirt, so everyone was wearing their shirts. It was awesome to see all of these red shirts on all of the subways etc. As Brent and I were walking to the train, I was mentioning to him how everyone is so observant. Everyone makes eye contact, checks to see what you are carrying, looking to see if you look suspicious. We passed by these two guys that looked kind of ratty. Brent said we really didn’t need to worry because we were dressed to run and we both could have taken them. So as we get into this train, the guys have apparently changed direction and run onto our train and totally frisk an older man wearing pants with tons of zipper pockets, a fishing vest with tons of zipper pockets, and a camera. The guys then say something (damn it for not speaking the language) and they were back off of the train. So your guess is as good as mine. Were they pick-pockets – mighty aggressive in front of a train full of people. Or were they undercover security checking for bombs etc. Either way, I was about to throw up due to shear nervousness. Then the train locks its doors and dies. So I’m nervous, in a locked train, with a ton of other people, without electricity – about to freak!!! They announce that the train is not good, kick all of us off, another train comes in 1 minuto and we are off again.
We find Alfonso and head to the race. We find bathrooms – let me just tell you that the boy’s pee pee bathroom is a fenced/visible area with standing X’s with containers in the center of the joints. So imagine four guys in each area of the X peeing into containers as people can watch you from the other side of the gate. It was very hard not to stay and watch!!! The boys that weren’t real men, had to wait for the token port-a-potties with the girls.
I believe that this was our first 10k. We had started to train for 10k’s but they kicked our butts – yesterday was the same. The farthest I have raced is 5 millas/miles. A 10k is about 6.2 millas. The music was awesome, the excitement of all of the people in red was amazing – I truly felt like one of the bulls running through town (about to die). Do you remember when I wrote about the 4 million people who live in Madrid? Well, 12,000 of them were running with us, the remainder lined the entire race to cheer – completely euphoric!!!! The race started in Parque Retiro at about 6600ft elevation. We got to run down to 6300ft at Kilo 3, then back up to 6500ft at Kilo 4. We ran through the city, the Plaza Del Sol (which was our favorite place from last time), and the Plaza Mayor. We then exited the Old Madrid and ran down to 5900ft in one kilo to Kilo 7. Then great until the end ALL UPHILL from Kilo 8 to 10 from 5800ft to 6200ft in 2 kilos at the end of a 10K race – CRAZY hard!!!
So after the race and a bit during, I started cramping – as only a novice runner can do. By the time I got home, I was gonna die and wanted to go lay down – because the nausea was starting. Alfonso drove us home, so of course we offered for him to come in and have a beer. This is about 11. I wanted to say my goodbyes and go to bed, when Kelly whispered to me that Chelsea had gone out to run 2 hours ago before dark and she wasn’t back yet – and Kelly was rightfully freaking – but hiding it from my children whom she was hanging out with. Well we got Alfonso taken care of and Brent and Kelly went to go find Chelsea. I put the girls to bed, and just before I went to bed, Brent and the ladies were back!!! So to bed I went before I saw any of them. They got home at about 12.
Monday morning at midnight - While I was resting, the doorbell at the front gate rang. I hear male voices for a long time, but can’t make out what’s going on. Then nothing. No Brent, no Chelsea, no Kelly. I start to panic and muster enough energy to go and check it out – it is about 1:00. Well, they were all on the veranda reflecting on the evening’s adventures. Apparently this wasn’t the first time Chelsea had gone for a run without an address, a map, or a clue. At least before she knew what hotel she was staying at and could speak the language. She apparently called her mom, to get Brent’s phone number. Her parents laughed at her – in a concerned way - more than freaked out. She managed to find the Boadilla security guards. They didn’t speak English and had to find a resident who did. Then the resident volunteered to drive her around to find her home. Brent and Kelly were driving into intersections and looking around for her. Chelsea saw them, and the car flagged Brent down. Well, anytime you contact the police, they need to file a report, so that is why the police (who spoke English) came to visit us at midnight. They wouldn’t talk to Chelsea at all, and only spoke with Brent – typical Espana. So then I excused everyone to bed, because the ladies and Brent had clases de espanol en la manana. I am now back in bed at 1:30.
I hear noises in our room in the middle of the night 4:30. I think that it is one of our girls coming to sleep on the bed in the closet. I am feeling better and decide to go check it out – no girl. I decide it is a good time to go eat cereal. I turn on the bathroom light – and there is a bat flying in our bedroom!!!!!! I of course wake up Brent to try and help – we looked like such idiots. I think that it is gone and decide I will risk going back to sleep and getting a rabies shot later. At 6:30 the bat re-emerged from his hiding place. I just kicked the window open with my foot and he flew out – why he couldn’t have done this earlier?!
Brent woke up at 8 and got ready for his first day of school. I took pictures of the Ladies and their backpacks – they both said that their mothers would love this. They have a week long introductory Spanish class at the UEM.
I went back to bed. Then the girls and I did chores and got ready for the day. Our first stop, Colegio Mirabal. We took the bus and arrived safely. The only thing is that my 10 trip bus pass works some of the time and not others – I think I’m only going to keep Euros – but you have to pay each time, no transfers. The girls should have their passes in another week.
We found the office and I went to the reception area. Then found admittance – they exist in their system. Then we found the only person who spoke English and she was fabulous. We figured out where to buy the rest of the uniforms/via charge it to our school account (one for the summer, winter, swimming, and PE summer and PE winter. I only bought the sweater for winter, one swimming per girls and they are going to sweat in PE until it gets cold – still 500E altogether with the Corte de Ingles). They get a list every month of what books they need, and the parents either order them from the school or get them on their own. I am going to have the school take care of it and add it to my account. I asked for no religious studies, so the girls will have extra tutoring/study hall. I asked for no francis/aleman/ingles but espanol for their language, the Master of Language is going to figure it out. For Jocelyn, we asked that music be piano, so she will have piano 3 days a week in a group of four, eliminating one day of study hall. I also figured out the lunches. So I think I just spent a million dollars!!!!
We then headed into the main Boadilla to find a bank and run some errands. We did what we could and then tried to get the bus back. Not so successful. We waited for over an hour and missed our bus a few times. I think I have it figured out. The girls by then were completely gone (it didn’t help that they didn’t go to bed at the time Mom had asked them to the night before).
We all made it home successfully. Brent and the ladies looked shot. Kelly had the stomach thing I had, so it wasn’t the running. The girls did their model show – very proud of their new uniforms and very smart looking. We then had a nice relaxing no brainer early evening.
Jueves, 4 Septiembre 2008
Tuesday was a stay at home and wait for the internet installer. The girls and I did homework, chores, walked around the block, swam, and played a lot. Turns out that the installer didn’t come, because Boadilla Parque (our village/area) doesn’t have internet through the lines. Now we are left with trying to find our own router etc, or going to the UEM every other day and using theirs. The UEM option is a pain, because we can’t successfully get into all of the sites. We will wait and see.
Steve and Laurie, the grad students flew in that night. Their flight landed at 9, so we decided to take the car to get them, versus the transportation in case it closed down before we got home. It went fairly smoothly, but Brent and I both prefer the public transportation as a stress point.
Wednesday was a “let’s try the errand thing one more time.” The girls and I went to their school, where I tried to pay some of their tuition in cash. I was told I could do this, but I can only get so much cash out at a time. I figured I could visit them a few times a week in order to get my account settled. Again, couldn’t find anyone that could speak my broken Spanish or yet alone broken English. I did manage to find out that they will debit my account at Barclays, so I don’t have to carry around cash. We then went and exchanged Bryce’s swimsuit without any problem – huge relief.
Our next bus stop was to the center of Boadilla to pull out some more cash and deposit all of the cash that I had. Success. We then went and returned something at the farmacia. Again, success. The next bus stop was back to our grocery store to try and get the remainder of the school supplies, success, but I have to go back and return a duplicate – again. But I am getting better at this. It is tough with Brent and I both going to the store everyday, and not having cell phones to clue the other into what we are purchasing.
We decided that we would brave the bus system and go to the UEM – I wanted some internet time. We got there successfully. We even found the building that we were using before and got all situated. I have to say that I did look rather like a dork traveling through Boadilla’s transportation system with a suitcase on wheels. Let me tell you that this was a very manageable option that held everything, including my computer, Nintendo, books etc to keep all of us content. The only hook up was that we took the correct bus the wrong way home from the UEM. So we got off and went to the correct stop – to only wait for 30 minutes to have the same bus and driver then pick us up and take us home. Bryce had had enough at the bus stop. The girls have been real troopers, I have done as much as I can without reaching frustration level for any of us.
We beat everyone home, so we had to go swimming. It has been breezy and the pool was more than cold. I could only stick my feet in. I’m afraid that the cooler weather is coming. It should be okay, because the girls have indoor swimming at their school, and Brent and I are enrolled at the UEM fitness center, which also has an indoor pool.
Last night was our first evening as a family of 8. It was rather nice. We will have to sit down and have our roommate rules/Doc Alvar and the Knights of the Square Table – which the number of you that have lived with the Alvars understand only so clearly. We have to figure out laundry days (since there are 8 people’s clothes to wash and no dryer) and chores.
My life is becoming routine, I don’t have much to blog. Today is Thursday, and I plan on studying with the girls, then enjoying them as much as possible before they start school tomorrow.
1 comment:
Very fun to read about your travels! I can only imagine the two of you in PJs chasing a bat - nice :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARA!!! We are thinking of you as we have a raining day with Tropical Storm Hanna.
Love and hugs to you all!
xoxoxo
Caroline, Tom, Elliot and Liam
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