Internet in Mc'D / Stairs / Drinks en casa

Internet in Mc’D: You’ve got  your laptop/ netbook.. and you would like to get online. The easiest way - go to Mc’Donald (or other place with the stick Wi-Fi on its door e.g. Starbucks ). In Mc’D you might but you do not have to buy something, in Starbucks – yes. Moreover, what is good in Mc’D, you can omit the long queue.. by ordering and paying by card through the Machine “Don’t wait”! The queue is usually very short, action – fast: you choose, you pay, you get your receipt, still you wait a bit (a bit!) to get your order. You have a seat, have a cofé and have an internet!

However, do not ask Spanish people:  “ Donde está Mc’Donald?” as I did J They might think:  “ Ee hombre..” “Come on man, you came to Spain! the country of one of the best world cuisine – and you’re asking for Mc’Donald? “ – I want only Wi-Fi Señor J and charge a bit my laptop J  - no way… in Mc’D they have NO or only 2 plugs (in 2-floor! Mc)- which do not work during the weekends! – too many people I think. 

Stairs: Madrid metro is really nice, well organized, very modern trains.. (and there is no “The gap between the train and the platform” J (London ;D) However, there are many stairs.. and only in some places there are moving sairways… So if you have got a heavy suitcase, a handbag, a purse and a laptop.. travelling from one station to another involves lots of gym exercises.  Nonetheless, always there is a man who will offer his help.  ¡Gracias!

Drink en casa: At the end of an exhausting day.. you decide to stay at home. Pub, bar, cervesería -  mañana! You’d better buy cerveza before 10 p.m., later they do not sell it. Maybe in some places , in some of ‘Alimentation’ – simply: grocery store: food, drinks, sweets.

Weather / Words / Hands&bags / Hostels

Weather:  It seems very  hot here.. 26 -28 degrees! Isn’t it? J Especially for me J Now in Poland we have this so called “golden Polish autumn” – quite warm and pleasant.. and for Spanish people it is more or less the same… For me it is summer heat/ hit! J Nevertheless, you do not feel this, as there is wind blowing blissfully on you... Moreover, anytime, anywhere  (even in the middle of Plaza Mayor or other Plazas - squares)  you can find a building, a monument, a tree that give some shade ;) 

Words: Do you want to learn some Spanish words? You want this or not, you will ;) The language around you is only Spanish! No language diversity J On the streets, in buses, in metro… all people talk in Spanish. Hence, it is easy to memorize some words, phrases – at least one a day for sure.  Then, it is advisable to remember the context and write it down..  might be needed one day J Anyway, learn words in a given situation, by their context.. as I did (not) J -Here’s  the story:

I drink a lot of water, here you must do it. It’s almost obligatory J  On the very first day my mentor told me, the tap water in Madrid is absolutely delicious! Because of the Sierra (mountains) around Madrid, the city has a really good water system. You can simply fill your container with AGUA DE GRIFO few times, you do not have to spend money to buy 5 bottles a day.. “agua de grifo”.. What’s more, you can ask for it in each pub, bar, club, restaurant, café, cafetería, taberna, tabernita, cervesería ;)

Today I am walking in the big street.. looking around, just cherishing the day…  and no water.. no shop to buy it… but tens of pubs, bars, cervezerías.. etc. but I wouldn’t like to drink cerveza alone.. and I will not spend an arm and leg on water in bar when I know it’s for FREE! But how was it “agua de..agua de..”  - OK, I can go for a coffee – but I am thirsty! Fortunately, the sink was just behind the bar so I took a cup of coffee and  “THIS (pointing to the sink) agua, por favor”

Hands and bags: Because of  that ‘semi’ heat, it is a good idea to have moist tissues in your bag. Your hands will get sweat quickly from clicking and holding your camera. Just keep in mind: hygiene.

When it comes to bags, rucksacks and cameras.. be always careful with them when you enter the crowd in metro, on the street or even when sitting at the table in café garden.  Personally, I haven’t had such bad experience, yet it is the thing that every person here – even a gentleman in metro station – will tell you. Keep your bag close to/ in front of you.  It’s not the case of crime danger, but pickpocketing.

Hostels:  Nowadays the well-known service “Couch surfing” seems the best option to get shelter! Not only it’s for free but you can meet really friendly people and start a new friendship! I do recommend it! Nevertheless, in case you failed to find such place, there are still cheap accommodation opportunities: youth hostels!  I stayed in one for 2 nights, 21.33 E/night (breakfast) – (Albergue juvenile, 21, Mejía Lequercia, Madrid http://www.ajmadrid.es/el_albergue.aspx)

 This is what you gain by staying in youth hostel:

• it’s situated in the very centre of Madrid;
• you can meet really nice people, in the room, kitchen, internet room;
• every day they organize FreeTours (people from different hostels) – a 3hour walk with a local guide – young, funny person - tour in English.. absolutely perfect occasion to see the city, meet other ‘tourists, make friendships; 
• during the weekends the same organizer (hostel team) arrange the event like “going out for tapas” J the whole group visits 3 places and taste local tapas J

First impressions

The Flight

First impressions: The flight from Warsaw – to Madrid Barajas takes exactly 3 hours..(But they say we had strong wind:)  Pretty well, I had time to read some parts of the guidebook J (Not that I read slowly but that one I have is really informative = thick;) Before that day, there was no time for that.. packing, thinking what to take, which things to leave and which to put aside to be sent by mail as soon as I will have my address J

The views over the window – Spanish soil - amazing…  brown, red, plain soil… some green spots.. water basins, meandering river.. 

Welcome to Spain!                       ¡Bienvenimos en España!

First night /day

Spanish bedclothes: 1 long (1,5m!) pillow and 2 bed sheets! One of them has some decorative strip at the bottom and it serves as a duvet J. Sometimes it’s of the same colour / pattern as the pillow sheet, so that it’s easy to distinguish bed sheet and “duvet sheet “ J Other way, nooo.

Morning: What time is the sunrise in Poland/ England? Hands up! Normally it’s around 6 / 7 and the sunrays come to your room making you blind and you already know IT IS MORNING! TIME TO GET UP/MOVE AS(soon as you can) J But here noooo… 8.30 A.M. the sky is still redish/pinkish... The sun is not there! Do you want to get up earlier than  9? Set your alarm clock!

What is more, all buildings/ windows have WINDOW SHATTERS which protect Spanish people from too much sun during the day... and these are closed for night making the room you’re sleeping in dark all the time, even if you wake up at midday! (but you can control it, the string to pull is on your side) J

Intro

¡Hola!

I am starting my 8 month-long internship as a Comenius Assistant of English teacher (Auxiliary) in Secondary School: Instituto de Education Secundaria in San Sebastian de los Reyes (18 km from Madrid) :D As a result  a new period in my life has just begun..

So I ‘ve decided to write down the most important things from these days, my impressions,  observations, comparisons, hints or pieces of advice that might be helpful for future Assistants/ Auxiliaries or for those who just consider visiting Madrid ;) If you think you’re out of these two groups anyway, I will make you be in the second team J

Why am I writing in English ? As simple as that, I dream about worldwide  career  of a writer J But let’s say it is more international mean of communication.. ;) (Really honestly, it will make more good than harm)

Btw. It’s not a diary/ notebook, so anytime you can read a passage.

Enjoy!

Magdalena