Weekend in Madrid!

Hola!
Well this weekend was a fun one! Friday started off with class, but then I spent the night in with my senora and roommates! Friday was very very windy.. I was well rested on Saturday and was very happy that I was able to talk to my mom and dad over skype. After talking to them, my friends and I met up at the Reina Sofia museum of art. It was really amazing.. and free which was even more amazing.. Saturday night consisted of the best dinner we have had yet (it was sorta like hamburger helper.. but much better) then out to a Mexican cantina for a night cab with some friends. I didn't stay out late because early on Sunday morning my roommates and friends went to the Rastro. the Rastro is a spanish market that literally has everything. I can't wait for Courtney to come visit so I can take her there! my favorite purchase at the Rastro was my purple pee coat, which makes me look very european! During the day I made travel plans for the coming weekend as well as worked on homework. Sunday night however I went to the Real Madrid Game! It was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced! Although we were at the top of the stands it was super cool. We had a perfect view and were kept warm by the HUGE heaters that were above us. I definitely will be attending another one of their games! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Feel free to email me at kharri53@slu.edu

(the first picture is me and some of my friends that went to the game.. notice my cool new real madrid scarf.. the second picture is of the stadium! we were really high up!)

Hello!!
I am halfway through the week and it has been GREAT! My classes are going well and so are things with my senora! We keep getting amazing food.. even things that I like. The only new thing going on is that I started my piano class today. It is an individual lesson for 30 min a week. I think the teacher was not prepared for how bad I was ha ha. I don't remember how to read music. Hopefully by the end of the semester I will be much better. Tomorrow I am going into Sol (an area that is great for walking around, shopping, going out, pretty much the most hopping place in Madrid) with my friend Manuel just to walk around because we get out of class much earlier that any of our friends! I hope all is well with everyone! Miss you! Love you!

My first week in Spain!

So far I have been here for a week and I could not be happier! My senora (host mom) Mirta is so sweet and a great cook. Her son Niko is very nice but kinda sky around the girls. The first 2 days in Spain were filled with orientation activities that the school set up. I would say that the school was pretty unorganized and orientation was sorta a waste. The first day of class was Wednesday! All my classes are going well so far, but then again I have only been in class for 2 days! I am following my nursing core requirements and taking developmental psycology, physiology, theology, and some electives. On friday my roommate Liz and some friends went down to Sol, which seems to be the heart of Madrid! There are great places to get tapas, sangeria, churros, and chocolate! Sol is busy during the day because of the great shopping, and then at night is filled with people going to clubs. I haven't really explored the night life here due to jetlag, but I do know that Spanish people do not sleep. It is normal for them to stay out till 6am! My host brother Niko is only 17 and he stays out later than I think I ever have.
Saturday I went to Segovia, which is only an hour bus ride away. It was fun to explore a place I havent been before, but was nothing to special. The main places/attractions in Segovia are the aquaducts, castle (that walt disney tried to replicate), and the cathedral. On Saturday night my other roommate Beth (who was here last semester and is a grad student) asked me if I wanted to go out with her and meet some of her local friends. I had such a great time! They all wanted to practice their english so they would speak english to me, and I would practice my spanish and speak spanish to them.

Today a group of SLU students went to Toledo. On my previous trip to Spain I went to Toledo but only for a day. (Dad this is where I got you the sword) It was frezzing, but very beautiful! We had a great lunch at a small place, then went to get churros con chocalate. They are amazing! I am about to start working on some homework before we eat dinner at 9:30! We eat so late here. It's very strange! Well I love and miss you all! Have a great end of the weekend!