Inside Student BlogsEight in the AfternoonMadrid, Fall 2012
Today I received un besito (“a little kiss”) from my Madrileñan host mamá, only it had to travel several thousand miles through the phone line to reach me. I’m still a whopping two weeks away from my arrival date, and the first time it hit me that my impending adventure is actually, really happening was during a pleasant introductory conversation with my host mom this morning. The realization resulted in a giddy fit of singing (in Spanish, obviously) and jumping around that would have been just a bit embarrassing had anyone other than my cat and dog seen it. Yes, I will in fact study abroad, as I’ve longed to ever since the ten-year-old travel-bug-bitten version of me learned that it is possible to go to school in another country. Gasp!
It seems I will have a wonderful and supportive host family. After just one half-hour conversation, which began with her insistence that I call her by her first name and ended with us exchanging phone-besitos and laughter, I already feel a kinship with my Spanish mother. Here’s hoping I have a similar connection with A, the other half of my host family.
My only trepidation so far: remember when I mentioned that I talked to my host mother this morning? Well, it was 11am SoCal time, to be precise, and therefore 8pm Madrid time. Normally I’d say 8pm is “in the evening” or “at night.” Apparently in Spain, 8pm is “eight in the afternoon.” I know the Spanish schedule famously stretches into the wee hours, but afternoon extending an hour later than my U.S. dinnertime? Um, challenge number one here, folks.
I can’t wait to meet my host family! Now, does anyone have a recommendation for good coffee in Madrid? I just obliterated my bedtime.
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