¡Things are looking up! I don´t think they were ever really looking down, but I was feeling very nervous about staying here with the family and how we would get along. The family I am living with has had many young women come stay with them over the years and so they are very much accustom to cultural differences and are very understanding. They like my tattoos and don´t mine me smoking cigarettes outside (two things I was very worried about). Also, Estrella (my student) is busy studying for exams until the 5th of June and so I am pretty much free to settle in and get to know life here until then. This is also perfect because I am leaving for Berlin this coming Saturday and will return on the 5th of June. In the meantime I can prepare my lesson plans and get to know Estrella´s level of English.
Last night Carmen, la madre, and I went to the theater with a couple from Argentina. The musical was a satire on a very famous opera here in Madrid. It was at a local theater here in the suburb of Rivas Vacia. The couple from Argentina were very nice. I understood them somewhat better than I understand Carmen because they do not speak with the Spanish lisp. I love the Spanish accent but it is tiring to listen to. I have to really listen intently to people when they speak, which is kind of a gift in itself, but it is difficult. I am constantly translating everything into English in my head. After a week or so of this I should start thinking in Spanish and (if I´m lucky) dreaming in spanish too. ¡Woo hoo! These are the most difficult days, the first few.
On our way home last night Carmen talked a lot about her friends and other immigrants to Spain and the difficulties they encounter. Apparently there are many immigrants in Spain, about half of the population actually. We talked about the economy some and about her now deceased husband. I asked Carmen where she worked and she kind of laughed. "Estoy la policia español." No way, for real?? I was totally in shock. She has worked for the Spanish police since 1970. She used to work in the field but now she works at a desk. This woman is totally amazing. I wish you all could see the relationship she has with her daughters (there are two others whom do not live here). Maybe because I come from a broken home it is more amazing to me. Carmen is a rock for her family. They are all so close. A piece of me is jealous. I am glad this is my family too if only for a month and a half. As we pulled into the drive I asked her if it were permissable to smoke in the garden. "Sí, espere no mariajuana?" No way, this lady just asked me totally seriously if I were going to smoke pot in her yard? No, I said "Solo tabac." I couldn´t stop laughing. I guess you had to be there, but it was pretty great.
I feel pretty silly taking pictures of everything here, but I will take some of the house soon. I am hoping I can go into the city sometime this evening. Carmen has given me a curfew of eleven because this is when the metros stop running. Also, I think she is nervous about letting me travel about alone. Hopefully I can show her that I am intelligent enough to do so.
I hope you all are well in the states wherever you may be reading this from. ¡Ciao for now amigos!
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