My first month in Madrid

Yep. Been here for one whole month. Pretty sure it feels like I only just landed a few days ago, but alright. Actually, it feels like the same rush of emotions I experience when I realise that my high school graduation wasn’t yesterday and that I’ve been in university for three years (going on four). Stop living in the past, Gel. Speaking of university though, I’ve ended up dropping Film Studies – I understood nada. Literally nada – and have resulted to picking up Accounting (joderrrr!). As if it didn’t completely suck enough two years ago at UTS, now I’m taking it in a foreign language – bueno. Rest assured though guys, this professor does speak english, thank goodness. Such a sweet, super chill, little old man with spectacles that I want. Generally, I’ve noticed that everyone here is super chilled out. All the time.

As great as their way of life is, a downside to being super chilled out is that their regulatory systems are chilled out as well. And by that I mean they have incredibly inefficient ways of doing things and getting tasks done. For instance, if you stay here for over six months you have to apply for residency. When I discussed this with the other girls around Spain who came from UTS, we came to the conclusion that the Spanish really have no protocol or set procedure for doing things. I feel like half of them have no idea what’s happening. One girl was told one thing, and the other was told something else – even though they live in the same city. Lo siento, no entiendo.  Being someone who loves order and organisation, I’m starting to struggle with this. But life goes on and I really have no option but to deal (so melodramatic). After a whole lot of drama with official documents, booking appointments and pushing deadlines, I think I’ve sorted out my residency issue and fingers crossed everything goes well so I don’t get deported! Yay! Although, if I do, I get to see you guys sooner so…

BUT THIS IS NOT A POST TO COMPLAIN (we all know I love to do that way too much), THIS IS A POST TO SAY DESPITE ALL THAT NONSENSICALNESS, I LOVE IT HERE AND I’M STARTING TO FEEL AT HOME. Cool.

One thing that I’ve downright been itchin’ to share with you guys is my home away from home. In casual conversation I’ve caught myself saying lines like, “When I get home”, “I left it at home”, “I’ll meet you back at home”, with absolutely no reference to my home back in Sydney. I’ve finally settled, I’ve started decorating, I’ve stopped waking up in my bed disorientated with my surroundings. All good signs, methinks. I still want to add a few things to make it a touch more ‘mine’ but I love it (also just quietly, when I was unpacking – which took a ridiculous amount of time – I realised just how much I brought with me.. woops).

What do you guys think?

Continuing on with the topic of ‘home’, I adore my roommates. We’re a multicultural bunch – two French gals, one British gal, two Italian gals and one Asian pretending to be Aussie. All speak Spanish. Well, except for one (me). Luckily we all get along really well and the dynamic is great. We really haven’t known each other long (four of them only arrived about a week ago) but it feels like we’ve been friends for months. Unfortunately one of the gals, Lise, is leaving at the end of this month because she’s been here since August last year but I’m certain that the friendship won’t end there (pls don’t leave me). Luckily, she’ll be home in Paris when I’ll be there – hellooooo connections! Word around town is that a German chica is already lined up to join our roomie clan oOooOoh.

Alright, that’s enough updates for one post, pero no te preocupes porque I do have a few things I want to share with you – all in time. I just genuinely wanted to say,

amigos, I pretty much have a routine.

I think I’ve found my groove.

Til next time,

Besos para ti xx