My Observations about the People in Madrid

First thing I noticed was that many smoke especially young teenage and college age girls. They don't have tattoos. They don't chew gum and don't wear sunglasses. They don't have brand names plastered all over their clothing and purses like we do in the US. They drive tiny cars (makes the Toyota Prius look large) but expensive cars. There are lots of BMW, Mini Coopers, Mercedes, and Land Rovers. Their bigger cars like mini vans are really narrow and they have to be because the streets are very narrow with cars parked everywhere. We don't see many of the vans. We've only seen a couple trucks and they don't really look the same. They have back ends covered not open like we do in US.

They have the best transportation here with the underground metro system. I absolutely love it. It can literally take us anywhere in the city. It is very busy in the afternoon because everyone goes home for siestas. Then they go back to work after.

Food is mostly the same as the US, just different brands. There are a few things we couldn't find in the regular grocery store like peanut butter and Mac and Cheese. Don't worry though, we found an American store that sells each for about $9. Ouch!!! They don't use preservatives in their food here which is good. They love their breads, so do I. I have to stay away from the bakeries. I think most of the salads are oil and vinegar. I don't think they do dressings like Ranch.

The people here love little children and they give them lots of candy. My kids should love that aspect. I asked an American at church if her kids mind going to church where they don't understand the language. She said no because they always get large bags of chocolate even on Fast Sunday.

The people are super affectionate. They hug and kiss all over each other. The public displays of affection will take a little getting used to.

The people have been super friendly to us. A Puerto Rican guy that Mario is replacing says that the locals aren't friendly to him. We found that odd since they have been very friendly to us. But then Mario guessed that maybe it's because Mario is very light skinned like the people here. I guess there some prejudices towards Latinos here.

Spain, Here I Come

I'm so excited to be flying out to Spain today. Mario and I consider this our 20 year anniversary trip. We have lots to see and do so it won't be relaxing. But it should be lots of fun.

If I could just find a Spanish/English dictionary for the times Mario is in class and I'm out on my own. (I say that just to stress Mario and Eric out. I think they want me to just stay in the hotel room while Mario is being tutored.)

Not sure what to do with myself as I sit in the airport and on the airplane without four kids to keep under control. This really will be a vacation!

Hopefully I will be able to find Mario at the airport without too much trouble. This shall be interesting.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sophie and Spain Updates

I am losing track of all Sophie's vet visits.  We've been back at least twice since the last post.  They removed the drains last week but her stitches still hadn't healed.  So the vet asked us to leave her in the kennel for another week with her cone on.  I have bruises up and down my legs from her banging into me with that dumb cone.  It frightens Mario and the kids when they see all my bruises.  I am not sure why I'm the only one with bruises.  Hmmm.....must be because I am the one that takes care of her the majority of time.  Mario helps some and he doesn't bruise, so lucky him.  She goes back to the vet on Saturday to see if he can remove the stitches.  I was so upset last week at her appointment and how she wasn't healing.  I got a little emotional, (I know, not me, I am never emotional) and the vet must have noticed and didn't even charge me for the vet visit.  Today's visit was only $19.00.  I am sure glad to find this vet.  He's awesome!

After talking to the guy he's replacing in Spain, Mario decided that it was necessary (or at least a good idea) for me to fly out to Spain this month also for a week.  He had been granted a two week language immersion program there, so all I have to pay for is my flight over and my mom's flight to watch the kids.  I feel bad because she is missing my dad's birthday and also a RS activity that she was responsible for all the food.  She is very kind to help us out.  At first I wasn't really seeing the necessity of me going.  But then we started looking into different private schools (all at the US government's expense-thank you to all the tax payers out there who are funding $75,000 a year for my three kids' education)  and the different areas to live.  With a nice size housing allowance as well (again thanks to all the taxpayers) we have a lot to choose from.  Do we live in a 3,000 square foot apartment downtown with no pool but easy commute to Mario's work?  Or do we live in the suburbs and have a big house with our own pool and possible tennis and basketball courts?  Or do we live in the wealthy neighborhood in a smaller apartment but in an area that a lot of children that my kids go to school with live?  Erin doesn't like the idea of living in a wealthy community since we don't buy her expensive clothes. Unfortunately she'll be with all those kids in school anyway.  I've been corresponding with an English speaking Bishop's wife over there and she has been very helpful. If we live in the wealthy area, she will be in our ward.  That's temping since I know there will be at least a couple people I can speak to in English.  The Bishop teaches seminary in English to his own children before school and they said Erin could join in.  The rest of the kids apparently do it in Spanish during the week and on Saturdays.  The Bishop's family is German, but they speak Spanish, and Japanese as well as English.  I can't even imagine.  I'm struggling with the idea that I'm going to be able to learn Spanish while I am there. It seems so unimaginable.  I think Heavenly Father is prepping me for Spanish speaking missions with Mario.

I'm super excited about going to Spain in a couple weeks.  I have already made appointments to talk to the admissions people at two of the schools we are considering.  The first appointment is only 3 hours after I arrive.  Mario thinks that will be a mistake because I will be so exhausted from the plane trip.  But I feel we need to narrow down the school choice as quickly as possible so maybe that will help narrow down the house choice too.

The kids are all doing well in school.  Everyone seems to be content with their teachers.  Eric is extremely busy with volunteering at the hospital, shadowing the Bishop at his dental clinic, and working.  Erin joined cross country which made Mario and I very happy.  She loves it even when she has to run 3 miles in the mud.  We are happy for her.  Zach is still super excited about Spain and would like to attend a local Spanish school but Nate says no way.  He seems to be getting over the initial shock that we are moving overseas.  He gets excited to look at houses online.