Well, after a long wait, I finally got here. Can´t beat 80 degrees and sunny! Then, I realized how much work my spanish needs. I´m ok when I plan out what I am going to say in my head. The train kind of derails after that. The problem is when I am asked an unexpected question or have no frame of reference for what is being said. When that happens, I carefully pretend to consider what is being said and then respond "no se." Maybe after a while I will actually be able to answer the questions.

The second thing I realized is that the madrid nightlife seems to be exactly what it was rumored to be. I was able to stumble out of the bar at 4am and watched as hundreds of people hopped to the next bar or club. I had to fight off a bunch of people just to get a cab home. Thankfully that girl had a glass jaw...