Well today was another complete success. I left the hostel to go to school at 9:25 and got there right at 10. Classes were just as good as the first day. I love my professors. They are all really friendly and enthusiastic and smile all class long. I also really like my classmates, they are from all over the world. After class I hung out with my friend Sasha until Bree met up with us on campus. Then Bree and I ate at the cafeteria and then headed to metro station Avenida de America to look at an apartment, which we found really easily and was really nice, especially for 200 euros each. Each place we look at is another step up.
Speaking of steps up, our next stop after looking at that apartment was in Aravaca for an interview for an Au Pair job (basically a live in nanny). This Spanish family has been looking for a young American girl to live with them and help take care of and especially speak English to their children. We have been in contact with the father by email and when I asked if Bree and I could both stay he told us both to come for the interview. I had no idea their house would be SO NICE. It is quite possibly the nicest house I have ever stepped foot in. More importantly than the house, I absolutely love the children already! There is a precious four year old girl who is so so so sweet and cute cute cute! There is also a seven year old boy, a nine year old boy, and a twelve year old girl. The kids were a little shy around us, especially with their English, but they are all extremely sweet and I am so excited to spend time with them if it works out for us to get the job. I really really hope they decide to hire us. Things were looking very promising from the interview. He even said that having two of us is an unexpected benefit and told us that four hands are better than two. He still has an interview with another girl tomorrow, so please pray that if it's God's will we find favor! I think we have it. ;) I have had a good feeling about the family since they contacted me.
It would be such an unexpected blessing if this job works out. We would get free rent and food and even possibly get to travel with them to the south of Spain for Semana Santa. Bree and I were talking about how we just had such a strong feeling about coming to Spain even before having living arrangements figured out. Also about how we just haven't gotten the OK from God about any of the apartments we've looked at yet. It must be for a reason. I know God has a place prepared for us, even if it isn't with this family. I am just so excited to have such a good Father! I want to serve Him with my life wherever I end up, whatever the circumstance. I appreciate all the prayers so much. Please continue to pray that I will be able to make more time to spend in His presence, getting filled up and listening to His voice for direction. I want to be so sensitive to His voice so I don't miss a thing He brings my way. He has brought me here and I want to be faithful to fulfill His purpose for me here.
jueves, 31 de marzo de 2011
miércoles, 30 de marzo de 2011
Day 3
Today was a little less successful than the two previous days. First of all, we woke up late and I was half an hour late to my first class. Oops. Classes were really, really good though. So many interesting people from all over the world. We had lunch at the cafeteria with two of our new friends.
Then we went to the computer lab and continued the apartment search. I think we got a little overconfident with our coincidental successes (blessings!) from the past two days and went off apartment searching with very vague directions. We ended up riding the metro/walking ALL OVER Madrid. Eventually we found the apartment we had been looking for. The place is way nicer, 65 euros more each, but like I said, way nicer than the first one. We still have more apartments to check out plus an Au pair job to look into. We prayed that God would lead us to the right place, so I know He will. He's always so Faithful. :)
And the biggest win of the day is that someone left spaghetti with FREE written on it in the hostel fridge and Bree and I had the best meal we've had yet. :) Haha. Who knew dinner would be included in the hostel price? ;)
Love you all!
Then we went to the computer lab and continued the apartment search. I think we got a little overconfident with our coincidental successes (blessings!) from the past two days and went off apartment searching with very vague directions. We ended up riding the metro/walking ALL OVER Madrid. Eventually we found the apartment we had been looking for. The place is way nicer, 65 euros more each, but like I said, way nicer than the first one. We still have more apartments to check out plus an Au pair job to look into. We prayed that God would lead us to the right place, so I know He will. He's always so Faithful. :)
And the biggest win of the day is that someone left spaghetti with FREE written on it in the hostel fridge and Bree and I had the best meal we've had yet. :) Haha. Who knew dinner would be included in the hostel price? ;)
Love you all!
martes, 29 de marzo de 2011
God makes all things work!
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28
After finishing up day #2 in Madrid, it is so obvious to me that God really does work all things together for the good of those to who love Him. He keeps proving His faithfulness again and again. Things just keep falling into place right in front of me and Bree.
Our flights were great, no long layovers or delays. We arrived at the airport and instead of making us fill out a bunch of paperwork or interrogating us to let us into the country, the officials just stamped our passports and that's it! We exchanged some money into euros while we waited for our luggage and our suitcases were some of the first ones to come out. Then we headed through the door that said "Aduanas/Customs" and walked right through and ended up outside the airport! We were pretty confused by that. Then we found a long line of taxis outside waiting to take us to our destination. The taxi drove us right to Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
While on campus, we looked for the building we are supposed to register for classes in, dragging our suitcases with us. We had some fun adventures (one might including dragging our suitcases over a broken fence, up a hill, through some bushes and through some mud to come to the back of our correct building--we got some funny looks coming up from the bushes with our suitcases). Then we registered for classes and I found out I only have class on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which should leave me plenty of time to work on my thesis and still enjoy Spain!
Then we ate in the school cafeteria (Bocadillo de manchego y patatas bravas, Mmmm...) and headed to the metro station to find our hostel. At the metro station we found a photo booth that takes passport sized photos that we need for each of our classes, which was a nice surprise. We bought a 10 trip metro pass and easily found our way to the station nearest our hostel.
From the metro station we walked straight to the hostel and checked in. The place is pretty nice and we have met lots of great people, not bad for 12 euros a night. We walked down Fuencarral street which had lots of little shops and restaurants. Then we bought a frozen pizza after refusing to pay the prices we saw at the restaurants and brought it back to the hostel to cook it.
We piddled around on the internet for a few hours while we waited until it was late enough to go to sleep. Then we went to bed around 10pm and slept until about 10am.
We got up this morning and looked up directions to a few places we wanted to see on our way to go check out the apartment I had been emailing the owner about. We were looking for Campo del moro, a park and we ended up coming across el Palacio Real (the royal palace) and Catedral de la Almudena (the adjacent cathedral) which are two of the must see tourist attractions in Madrid. A nice Spanish lady also gave us the rundown on the royal family, the president, a brief history since Franco, and the news that Prince William is getting married on April 29.
Then we continued strolling along and came across the metro station we needed, where we also found some churros con chocolate and a mall. We got on the metro and took it to Lucero, where our potential future apartment is. Google maps was faithful again and led us directly to the apartment. The lady who lives there showed us the place, which is small but nice. The lady is extremely sweet. Her name is Mia and I guess her to be in her 60s. She seems like she would be happy to have Bree and I as roommates.
Then we walked around the Lucero area to get a feel for the place and we found a Residencia de Mayores (a home of the elderly) and a Catholic mass going on, so we went in. Then we got back on the metro and decided to get off at a different station that we knew to also be close to our hostel. We walked in a direction that we weren't sure was correct and found out it was wrong, so we turned back down a different street and ended up right by our hostel. We pretty much have the whole city figured out by now. We bought some lunch meat and bread and "made" dinner.
Pretty successful first two days if you ask me. Now it's time for bed so I can get up for my first day of classes tomorrow. Thanks for all the prayers!
After finishing up day #2 in Madrid, it is so obvious to me that God really does work all things together for the good of those to who love Him. He keeps proving His faithfulness again and again. Things just keep falling into place right in front of me and Bree.
Our flights were great, no long layovers or delays. We arrived at the airport and instead of making us fill out a bunch of paperwork or interrogating us to let us into the country, the officials just stamped our passports and that's it! We exchanged some money into euros while we waited for our luggage and our suitcases were some of the first ones to come out. Then we headed through the door that said "Aduanas/Customs" and walked right through and ended up outside the airport! We were pretty confused by that. Then we found a long line of taxis outside waiting to take us to our destination. The taxi drove us right to Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
While on campus, we looked for the building we are supposed to register for classes in, dragging our suitcases with us. We had some fun adventures (one might including dragging our suitcases over a broken fence, up a hill, through some bushes and through some mud to come to the back of our correct building--we got some funny looks coming up from the bushes with our suitcases). Then we registered for classes and I found out I only have class on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which should leave me plenty of time to work on my thesis and still enjoy Spain!
Then we ate in the school cafeteria (Bocadillo de manchego y patatas bravas, Mmmm...) and headed to the metro station to find our hostel. At the metro station we found a photo booth that takes passport sized photos that we need for each of our classes, which was a nice surprise. We bought a 10 trip metro pass and easily found our way to the station nearest our hostel.
From the metro station we walked straight to the hostel and checked in. The place is pretty nice and we have met lots of great people, not bad for 12 euros a night. We walked down Fuencarral street which had lots of little shops and restaurants. Then we bought a frozen pizza after refusing to pay the prices we saw at the restaurants and brought it back to the hostel to cook it.
We piddled around on the internet for a few hours while we waited until it was late enough to go to sleep. Then we went to bed around 10pm and slept until about 10am.
We got up this morning and looked up directions to a few places we wanted to see on our way to go check out the apartment I had been emailing the owner about. We were looking for Campo del moro, a park and we ended up coming across el Palacio Real (the royal palace) and Catedral de la Almudena (the adjacent cathedral) which are two of the must see tourist attractions in Madrid. A nice Spanish lady also gave us the rundown on the royal family, the president, a brief history since Franco, and the news that Prince William is getting married on April 29.
Then we continued strolling along and came across the metro station we needed, where we also found some churros con chocolate and a mall. We got on the metro and took it to Lucero, where our potential future apartment is. Google maps was faithful again and led us directly to the apartment. The lady who lives there showed us the place, which is small but nice. The lady is extremely sweet. Her name is Mia and I guess her to be in her 60s. She seems like she would be happy to have Bree and I as roommates.
Then we walked around the Lucero area to get a feel for the place and we found a Residencia de Mayores (a home of the elderly) and a Catholic mass going on, so we went in. Then we got back on the metro and decided to get off at a different station that we knew to also be close to our hostel. We walked in a direction that we weren't sure was correct and found out it was wrong, so we turned back down a different street and ended up right by our hostel. We pretty much have the whole city figured out by now. We bought some lunch meat and bread and "made" dinner.
Pretty successful first two days if you ask me. Now it's time for bed so I can get up for my first day of classes tomorrow. Thanks for all the prayers!
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