Finding Gael

I LOVE Gael Garcia Bernal. So much that I would have his babies...and I don't even know if I want babies. Noelle and I always say that the day we get into a huge fight is the day that we physically meet Gael and fight for his love. That is how much I love this guy.

When my family was here, Elaine and I stared and blatantly checked out this guy that was Gael-esque - dark hair, light eyes. And then it dawned on me that there are a ton of Gael-esque men here in Madrid. This is one of the many reasons why I love this city. Then I thought that while in Spain, I have to find Gael...or at least someone that looks like him. There are so many of them! One them has to want to be my boyfriend...ha!

Well, tonight I definitely found Gael...the real effing Gael!!! I almost died! I was leisurely walking down Cava Baja - the best street for hot people/celebrity watching - so I could meet Andrew in the Center. And who do I run into but freaking Gael Garcia Bernal. WTF!!! I mean, what are the odds??!!! Now I know people will say, "but Fran, you just said everyone there looks like him. How do you know it was really him?" Well, I just know. I'm obsessed with this guy. I would know if I saw him. Yes, I see Gael look-a-likes here all the time but I always know it's not him. This time I am sure.

I was walking on the narrow sidewalk and he and his friend were walking from the other direction. He was short, as I expected, but a bit taller than me. His hair was long but not short. His facial hair was a bit out of control but I think it was part of the disguise. He was wearing those dorky sunglasses he wears sometimes. As we got closer, he put his head down almost trying to hide himself (why would anyone hide from me???). After we passed each other, I looked back in disbelief and he and his friend walked into a bar. I totally wanted to go in the bar but I had to meet Andrew. Plus, I'm just not very good at celebrity stalking. I always get so starstruck that I panic and I never know what to do but run away.

Oh my god, he was hot!!! I wish someone was with me so I can go crazy about it with someone. I can definitely die happy now..

For those of you who don't know him - which is just a tragedy if you don't - here is a picture of him:

Me duele la cabeza

This is a phrase I usually say in Spanish class or after I've just had to think so much in Spanish that my head hurts. That's what it means, for you non-Spanish speakers like me, my head hurts or I have a headache or whatever.

But today it's not because of Spanish. I've just spent the last 6 hours trying to figure out my flight home, keeping in mind that I want it cheap and the least chances of me getting "caught". I told myself that today is for sure the day I have to buy my tickets. I've been following it for the past month and although the prices have decreased a bit, it is still super expensive and I just know it's not gonna get any better.

Thankfully, I decided to buy it after work. At school today I got to talking to one of my fellow teachers about the visa, or lack thereof, issue for us in the EU. Apparently, the 90 days allowed to American passport holders is valid to the entire EU, which is considered as one country. So even if used the "I traveled to different countries within the EU that's why I don't have any stamps" excuse, it's not gonna fly. I'm supposed to be in the EU only for 90 days! And to make it even worst, I'm supposed to not come back to the EU until 90 days after. 90 days in, 90 days out. So even if I went somewhere for a weekend where I could get a stamp, it still wouldn't work. A weekend ain't 90 days! It would help your cause if you have to bullshit your way at passport control, but not completely.

This is why they say ignorance is bliss. Of course now I'm freaking out! This is why I didn't research this crap in the first place. I knew I would freak out. Thankfully my friend didn't know the consequences of being caught and I prefer to keep it that way. And I'm already here. So it's kinda too late. If I get caught, I get caught. I gotta go home someday.

So I had to change my plans. My co-teacher said that I should avoid Germany because he's known some people who got questioned there. They are apparently more strict. So he recommended to just fly right out of Madrid. But direct flights from Madrid to Chicago are ridiculous. Only Iberia flies direct from Madrid to Chicago. And today it cost $7,000!!! I am not even shitting you! But he did give me the idea of flying somewhere in the east coast...more direct flights there from Madrid.

So since 6 this afternoon, I've been searching for what felt like thousands of alternatives. I looked up New York (my top choice so I could stay and hang out for a few days), Boston, Philly, and Atlanta (thanks to Kevin who reminded me of this not so little airport I always forget about). New York ended up being way to expensive. I cannot believe it now costs $300 to fly New York to Chicago. I've never paid more than $180 for that flight before! And I cannot believe that ATA is gone! I loved ATA! That's so sad! Now I know why they haven't updated me on my miles for a while. Today Ebs gave me a refresher on the current economic status in the US and I am so far removed that I had no idea it was that bad...I didn't even know about ATA. I knew there were problems, but man! God, I hate Bush and his stupid little people.

But now I'm just rambling and ranting. I did finally decided on a flight that goes to Atlanta. It was ridiculously expensive - I think I've paid less for a trip to the Philippines and that's a long ass flight! - but it was the cheapest. Now I just gotta get my tickets from Atlanta to Chicago.

Like my good friend, Kevin, I had a to-do list for home that I wanted to post on my blog. But right now I'm just too annoyed and having complete buyer's remorse (this happens quite often when I buy something that can feed a small village for a week). But I know it's necessary. I need to go home. I want to go home. So I promise I will have a nicer post about my homecoming soon. One where I actually sound excited about it. But right now I keep seeing dollar signs and I want to vomit.

In conclusion, if anyone needs help with anything, let me know. My price is negotiable. I'm a hardworker, efficient, organized, good communication and management skills, etc. I can even clean your house!...I'm really good at cleaning bathrooms...

Oh shit, we in a crisis!

Spain has had some economic ups and downs the past several years. First, when the country switched to euros from pesetas, it suffered major inflation. Businesses got lazy and didn't convert the prices correctly. Por ejemplo, at the birth of the euro, approximately 1.7 pesetas equaled 1 euro. Because bars were so lazy, they decided that 1 euro = 1 peseta. So if a cup of coffee was 1 peseta pre-euro, people wound up paying 1 Euro per cup post-euro! This means that in reality they were paying 70 peseta cents more than before the currency change. All prices went up, while wages and salary stayed the same!

Despite all this, Spain's economy grew. It became one of the best in the EU. The construction industry, #1 in the country, increased. Everyone bought houses. Well, just like the American housing bubble, Spain's property bubble also recently burst. It doesn't help that the EU Economic chief increased the Euribor, which forces all the Spanish banks to also increase the interest of hipotecas, or mortgage. I believe the Euribor is equivalent to the U.S. federal funds rate. All other interest rates move according to this rate...I think (if only I remember more from my Econ classes!). And also, how sucky would it be to be the EU Economy guy??!!! I mean it sucks enough to be in charge of one country's economy, but to regulate multiple countries?! I would just kill myself...or be really happy to have that much power and wealth.

Anyway, because of the rising interest rates, everything has increased in price also. If people are struggling to pay their hipotecas, property owners are also force to raise rent. With higher rent, people cut back on buying the basics and luxuries, which then affect other industries. It has become one terrible snowball effect. As one of my bank students explained to me, high interest rates combined with high prices is never good!

And to make it worst, truck companies and their drivers have gone on a huelga, or a strike. Starting yesterday, they are protesting against rising gas prices. To make a bigger impact, not only are they not driving and not delivering necessary products, they are blocking major highways. People are going nuts! People are stuck in ridiculous traffic jams for hours (in the news today they showed a guy flicking off one of the demonstrators), and with no one delivering food and oil, people are panicking. Yesterday, just after a day of strike, many gas stations ran out gas. People are buying them out! All my students said I need to get myself to a supermarket before all the supplies run out and I have nothing to eat. Of course I don't do this. I'm lazy and I figure if I got no food, I lose weight...hahaha!

Regardless of the result of the huelga, this whole thing is a lose-lose situation. If the huelga succeeds and the government provides the truck companies with subsidies or lower gas tax, they still have to compensate for the loss revenue. So they will probably raise taxes on something else, most likely food. If the huelga fails and the drivers are forced to pay the ridiculous gas price, they also charge shops more; consequently, food and other products will also increase in price. And either way, wages will remain the same. We just screwed!

And there you go. That's your Econ lesson for the day! All this brings me back to my Econ classes - Sr. Bailey and her "priming the pump" and "stroking China" comments - and makes me wish I had paid more attention...this would all make so much more sense! This is all so interesting but I really could care less back then. I seriously wonder how I passed college. Last night I went out for tea with Fatou ad couldn't figure out a 2.50 Euro bill!!! Thankgod I abandoned the business route!

Disclaimer: My "facts" might not be 100% true. Everything I've talked about here I've learned from my students, both business and non-business ones. So if you want to learn more, do your own research!

Fiesta! Fiesta!

My party was a success - lots of food, booze, games and my new friends came!

Fiesta day was very busy for me. It is not easy throwing a party in Spain. I first sent an invitation through e-vite and no one responded except the Americans, Sara and Andrew, and Juan. I really wanted to bring evite to the Spanish world, but I don't think they really got it. During the day, I went to three different grocery stores just to get exactly what I needed. I'm so anal and there is never just one store here that has everything I want. Not having a car makes it difficult too - another reason why I had to do so many trips to the store. Dragging all that beer uphill was not fun! By the way, beer is not sold by cases, but by individual cans. Although it was cheap (I stuck with the local Mahou), it's still strange concept to me to buy them by cans, just like how I can never get over the fact that you buy milk and soda in the same manner.

Because I had a ton of beer (by a ton I mean 24 - everyone preferred hard liquor...yuck!) and very little fridge, I also had to go to the Chino store to find a cooler, preferably made of styrofoam. I knew this would be quite a challenge since they're not really into disposable stuff here. Finally, I settled for a mini trash can with a sealed cover to use as a cooler. Through all this, I still managed to clean the house and visit Juan at the Feria del Libro (it felt like I was at the Taste of Chicago, except they were selling books, not greasy fatty food). I think that was the most productive day I've ever had.

An hour before the 9PM party, I started cooking. There were lots of food, maybe more than I needed (I'm so my mother's daughter!). My food theme was a mix of Spanish tapas and American apps. So I had some croquetas, an array of meat and cheese - jamon, chorizo, salchichas - with bread, and Sara's boyfriend made tortilla Española (my fave!). For the American part, I made taco salad and chicken nuggets with honey mustard on the side. For dessert, I got TWO cakes! One was from Andrew and another from the roomies, whose surprise I ruined when I caught them buying it at the store. God, I love cakes!

After eating and chatting, I decided to introduce the world of drinking games to the Spaniards...and to Andrew and Sara, who apparently didn't know how to play Fuck the Dealer (What????). The game didn't go as well as I had hoped. Let's just say these guys are not familiar with the idea of chugging. . They insisted on taking individual drinks instead of continuously chugging and counting the number of gulps. I looked like such an alcoholic chugging away beer and getting excited when I had to drink ten. In the end, we only played one round and no one got fucked. Although some enjoyed it and were amused bye the whole "drinking game" concept, they all seem to prefer drinking at their own pace and not getting completely wasted. Que pena!!! We all switched to playing Catchphrase, which was another disaster at first. How many Spaniards would know Bill Moyers or Dennis Miller??!! Eventually, people ignored the rules and it became very fun, and people gradually got drunker.

Around 1:30, we finally moved on to a discoteca. My new friend, Fatou, suggested Pacha. I believe it's a chain because there's one in Ibiza and even one in NYC. It's very popular and big and attracts many pijos (the trendy, rich or pretend rich, young people). I like to compare them to a Chicago chach but with more style, class and definitely more hot. Now if they could only rid of that cocky attitude, they'd be perfect. Pacha was awesome! So many hot men and one of the floors had semi hip hop music. For once, I didn't have to put up with stupid house music. It wasn't the greatest music but it was good enough for booty dancing. It's been awhile since I heard Cris Cros or Montell Jordan's This Is How We Do It. Loved it!!!

By the time we arrived home, it was already 7 AM and the sun was already rising. My feet were tired and gross (5 hours in heels sucks!). And in true late night/drunken/birthday fashion, Iñaki and I stuffed our face with some leftover tortilla (god, they were good!). The sun was completely out by the time I actually went to bed.

My first birthday celebration in Spain was awesome and I loved every minute of it. I'm so ready to celebrate more of them here!

Below are some pics. Please ignore my nastiness. I didn't put on my party dress until right before we went out...then my camera got retarded on me! Boo!!

Fiesta de Cumpleaños

A month of celebrations

There were a lot of reasons to celebrate in May. For one, Madrid had a ton of holidays: Labor day, Dos de Mayo, San Isidro, etc. It was one holiday after another, which means long weekends for me. Two, I had visitors to keep me company, feed me and make me travel, which is always awesome. And three, I had my birthday and I reached my 6 month mark here in Spain.

Now I usually don't care for my birthday. Yes I will celebrate it by going to dinner or get drunk or whatever. But the whole time you will usually find me bitching about how old I am getting. This year, I've decided to stop. As sucky as it is to be three years away from 30 (no offense to the 30 year old and above crowd...hehehe), it's really not that big a deal. Right, 30 year old and above folks??? So I'm a year older, but I like to think I'm also a little bit wiser...ha! Entonces, I've decided to embrace my oldness and have a party. Tomorrow, I am going to have a very belated birthday party full of tapas and alcohol. I am super excited about it, but I do wish all of you can be here to celebrate it with me. I will make sure to blog about the festivities. It should be an interesting night.

May 17th was my 6 month anniversary here in Spain. Although this is really no big deal, I am pretty proud of it. I think this is the longest I've ever been away from home, from family and friends. I remember being away for four months to study in Rome and never wanting to go home. Most probably didn't notice how bitter I was when I came back from that semester abroad (Why couldn't I just be rich and be able to pay for a whole year's worth of constant traveling and not studying??!), but I was pretty upset about it. And now, five years later, I am super excited to go home. Not that I am unhappy here, but this is what happens when you turn 27 - you appreciate and miss your friends and family more. That and I just really want to have some Mexican food. I definitely love it here and still plan on staying for a while, but you can't help but long for home when you get to be as old as I am...ha!

So yes, I still have a long way to go - lots of Spanish to learn, lots of Spanish men to meet (I've given up on Spanish girl friends), lots of growing up to do (which I don't think will ever happen) - but I think I'm in a good place now. At least, I haven't had any real bad bouts of homesickness for a while. Hopefully, it will just keep getting better...

P.S. Eurocup starts tomorrow. My party is going to be a birthday/6th month/futbol celebration. Vamos España!!!!

I heart Madrid

It's 1 AM and I have an early class tomorrow - or today - but I just had to blog about my night. To most people, this is going to sound stupid, but for me it was just wonderful. I'm in such a happy place right now that I just have to write about it. I went to a photography exhibit with my new friend, Guillermo. I met him through Juan, who gave him my number so we can have an intercambio. I've met with him a couple times and today he invited me to this exhibit. First of all, the exhibit was in this awesome awesome building. I can't really describe it but it was beautiful. I wish I had my camera. The event was like a preview - the exhibit isn't actually open until tomorrow - and I felt very cool (ha!). I've never been to such a fancy event like that. At first I felt a bit intimidated (I mean, I am far from being an artist or art critic), but it ended up being really fun. Everyone was very nice and there were no pretentious people.

I met more people there through Guillermo and it was so great. We went to a bar for some drinks after and just talked about anything and everything. They were all so nice. For the first time here, I felt like I was part of a group, like I fit in. And I loved listening to them speak Spanish! I may not have talked much but I was still able to follow the conversation. Two of them were also foreigners and just hearing them speak Spanish makes me want to be like them so badly. It just makes me want to stay here longer and try really hard to become fluent. I can't wait till I reach that point where I can actually contribute to a serious conversation in Spanish.

I really hope I can keep in touch with them. But I probably just jinxed myself and won't see them ever again [sigh]. I will try to be optimistic...

...or maybe I'll just stalk them...

...I wonder if they have Facebook....

How I almost got beaten up by gypsies

Yup, I almost got my ass kicked. I was on the train when I noticed a girl trying to steal from some unsuspecting tourist. I quietly (mistake #1) told her to stop. Usually these ladronas, or thieves, run away the minute they get caught by going to the other side of the train or get off the train if it's still not running. Well, by the time I saw her do it, the train was already moving (mistake #2). So of course, me, the tattler, and the bitches, were stuck in the train together...awwwkwwwaaard. So they started mocking me with racial slurs about Chinese people. I'm assuming that's what they were doing since they were making mocking gestures by pulling their eyes to make it small. So I defended myself the only way I know how: rolling my eyes and giving them evil looks with lots of attitude.

I wish it ended there, but unfortunately the victim and her family of tourists got off before me. Once they got off the train, I lost the only protection I had. So the ladronas began to surround me and asked me what I saw. I told them I saw her hand in the woman's bag. They kept talking and inside I was panicking so I stopped trying to understand. Thereafter, I told them no entiendo and they kept talking to me, and I'm pretty sure they were threats. The only Spanish response I could think of at that moment was, "es muy mal", or it's very bad. What I really wanted to say was, I understand why you bitches feel the need to resort to this, but you are terrible people for preying on these poor tourist. Go get a job like everyone else!

Thankfully, they got off before my stop. They left me with, "si no quieres un problema, no hablas nada otra vez". Translation: If you don't want any problems, don't say anything ever again. I stood there with my heart palpitating rapidly. I did my best to look tough on the outside, but in the inside I was crying and wishing I was a kick ass Asian that has a blackbelt in martial arts. I've decided I needed to learn how to defend myself in Spanish. But then again, I can barely defend myself in English, let alone in a language I barely know.

So that's my gypsy story for the year. I'm glad I almost got killed for trying to do good. No more petty good samaritan acts from me...unless I become Wonder Woman. God that would be awesome!