Yes, here is is August and I am finally getting around to posting the journal I kept on my trip. I have edited a bit but for the most part these are the entries I wrote each night I was in Madrid. I miss Spain very much.

I was taking classes at Elemadrid in the attempt to improve my Spanish. One of my goals is to finally, FINALLY become fluent in the language.

June 7, 2008,

I’m sitting in Newark International Airport for an 8 hour, yes 8 hour layover. Internet connection costs money and being the cheapskate I am I have elected not to connect. Sigh.

I had a sandwich from an “Italian” place and shared a table with a friendly talkative computer geek who was flying to the UK for business. It was a nice break in the time. It’s now 6:26 p.m. My flight takes off at 10 p.m.

June 9, 2008

I did not write yesterday. They plane was delayed over an hour at Newark due to thunderstorms. We were already on the plane when they announced that. But we arrived in Madrid around 12:15 p.m. After getting my passport stamped and getting my suitcase I found an ATM so I could have some euros to pay for a taxi into the city. The taxi driver was friendly and I even carried on a little conversation with him. Crazy Americana. There was a bit of a problem getting hold of the landlady for the apartment where I am staying but I finally found her. The apartment is tiny but clean. There is an itsy bitsy balcony which overlooks the patios of the ground floor apartments and the pool. It doesn't look like I'll have much of a chance of ever using the pool as the temperature for these two days has not gotten out of the 50’s and this morning I awoke to the sound of rain. I walked through the wet chilly streets of Madrid this morning in a t-shirt and capris. Crazy Americana.

School is okay. There are only two of us in my classes. They other guy is a businessman from Finland. I think he said his company makes snowmobiles. He’s nice enough but will not be someone I can hang out with. It may be a long 3 weeks but I’ll survive.

June 10, 2008

The classes went better today. Most of the jet lag fog had lifted and I understood a lot more. Because I am in a higher level class and because there are only two of us this year is more challenging. And that is a good thing.

After classes I started walking back to the apartment when the sky opened up and rain came, heavier and heavier until I finally ducked into the next metro station and took the train two stops. I went “home” and made myself some lunch and did my homework. I returned to school around 3:30 for a conference on Religion in Spain. It was taught by Javier who is excellent. After the conference I walked toward the apartment with no idea what I was really going to do. I ran into my classmate Teo. We talked, in Spanish of course, and walked. Then we parted and I went to the bookstore of Corte Ingles with the thought of looking for a book on the History of Spain. I found a few but after seeing their size I decided to wait until I get back to the states and order one. Then I went to the main Corte Ingles in search of a Post Office supposedly exists there. Instead I found their upscale Supermercado and a small natural foods section. I bought some food. But I still can’t find the post office.

Now I’m back in the apartment. It feels good to get away from the crowds of people. There’s only so much mob scene I can take before I near meltdown. Now I’m gorging myself on crackers and goat cheese. Time to find the fruit and vegetables.

There’s a threatened strike by truckers here because of the high price of gas. It has caused a rush on the supermarkets and gas stations out of fear that there will be a short supply.

June 11, 2008

It was another rough conversation class. I do pretty well in grammar, it’s the speaking and understanding that comes slow. Sure, I can put together a sentence but the person to whom I am speaking will fall asleep before I figure out the vocabulary, select the right verb and conjugate it in the proper tense, remember to make nouns and their adjectives agree in number and gender and make sure I am using the right object pronouns in the right place. I guess that’s why I’m here. To my credit I have become a bit bolder than last year. I bought some tweezers today in a small pharmacy/health shop. We won’t mention how much they cost. I bought my dinner at Maoz this evening (I couldn’t face any more goat cheese, I OD’d last night) and ordered in español. And it’s only the third day. I was into the second week last year before I would open my mouth in public.

The young woman who is my grammar teacher is Arantxa, she was one of my teachers last year. She is very good. My conversation teacher is Maria. She’s very nice, animated and helpful. She’s marrying an American and is very excited.