I hear where you're coming from

I skyped with my parents yesterday and we talked about what we did for Thanksgiving. Since I moved to New York eight years ago, I haven't had Thanksgiving with my family. I've had Friendsgiving in New York. Although this post is not about what I did for Thanksgiving, the story is relevant to what this post is about. My mom asked me if I remembered my first Thanksgiving in New York. I was 19 years old. My brother and a few friends were in town visiting me. We had dinner with Katie and Elliott Walker in Herald Towers on 34th Street. My mom said I called her asking how to make Mama's chicken and dressing a few hours before we were supposed to eat. I don't remember much about how the food turned out, but I do remember feeling so thankful to have good friends while adjusting to living in New York. And I find myself feeling that way now as I continue adapting to life in Madrid. 

Two weeks ago my friend Evan stopped in Madrid while traveling around Europe. He was in Barcelona before he flew to Madrid. He talked about staying in a hostel and all the cool people he met. We talked about how surprisingly easy it is to meet people while traveling. When Evan and I were at Mercado de San Miguel to get something to eat, we ran into Joanne, a girl he met in Barcelona who was also traveling around Europe! 

We spent the rest of the day together, seeing the Royal Palace,

the Cathedral

Sharing a mojito and tapas at El Tigre, having Tupperware to ourselves because it was Sunday night,

 eating chocolate con churros at San Gines Chocolateria

wandering around Retiro Park,

and seeing an exhibit at Reina Sofia.

And to top it all off, my friends Jarod and Liz from Norman, OK were on vacation in Madrid the same weekend! We had dinner at Public and drinks at their hotel bar. 

I remember feeling so torn when I first moved to New York. I felt like my heart was in two places at once. And now that I'm in Madrid I feel that my heart is in three places at once. It's easy to feel anonymous when in a new city. That's exciting and lonely all at the same time. It's exciting because you're outside your comfort zone and eager to have new experiences. And it's lonely because all the people who know you the most are always a phone call or text away, but making real time to talk can be tricky with the time difference and busy schedules. Don't get me wrong, I've made good friends here and found people that I feel superconnected to, but there will always be someone to miss. I'm also thankful for the small things, like Evan and I seeing Joanne at San Miguel. I mean, what are the odds that in a city of four million we happen to be at the same place at the same time! It's a reminder that "these eskimos might be much more than they seem" (This is Water by David Foster Wallace).

I started reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, per my friend Caroline's suggestion after seeing Hunger Games and discussing dystopian literature. I'm only a few pages in, but I can't put it down. 

"I know what you mean, we'd say. Or, a quaint expression you sometimes hear, still, from older people: I hear where you're coming from, as if the voice itself were a traveler, arriving from a distant place. Which it would be, which it is."

There's a certain slant of light

So November flew by. I'm struggling to keep my blog updated, but here are some highlights from the first few weeks of November. We had a harvest festival at school. All the students and teachers ate roasted chestnuts. I'm still not exactly sure what we were celebrating, but I can now say that I like roasted chestnuts. Here I am with Justin and Yolanda (and Joiner on the left, one of my favorite 3rd grade students.)

Carlos kindly played the bagpipes for us. And yes, he does play bagpipes in a band. We had a blast dancing around with the students.

 Right now my favorite way to study spanish is reading Harry Potter. My friend James let me borrow his copy of Sorcerer's Stone. I am learning some interesting vocabulary. 

Two weeks ago, I went to Toledo. It's an easy 22 minute train ride away from Madrid. Although the weather wasn't ideal, cold and rainy, I enjoyed my visit and hope to go back again when it's warmer. As soon as I started walking from the train station to the city, I met a Spanish couple who come to Toledo often. They were super helpful and told me where I should go and how to get there.

 I went to the Cathedral of Toledo and spent an hour or more there. Going to cathedrals can become common place when in Europe. I try not to force myself to feel anything special. In Toledo I was overwhelmed by the beauty and grace of the cathedral. I was reminded of Emily Dickinson's poem "There's a Certain Slant of Light"

There's a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons –
That oppresses, like the Heft
Of Cathedral Tunes –

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us –
We can find no scar,
But internal difference,
Where the Meanings, are –

None may teach it – Any –
'Tis the Seal Despair –
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the Air –

When it comes, the Landscape listens –
Shadows – hold their breath –
When it goes, 'tis like the Distance
On the look of Death –

 Toledo is the land of Cervantes, El Greco, 

 and marzipan. Although it's not my favorite dessert, the marzipan of Toledo is pretty good, especially when made by nuns. This picture is for my dad, since Forrest Gump is one of his favorite movies.

 Since Toledo is up on a hill, there are a lot of places to look out over the city. I still somehow managed not to take any very good pictures of the entire city.

All right, y'all. That's it for now. Soon I'll write about friends visiting Madrid and Thanksgiving in Malaga!