Mmm, hot

I really need to start getting my act together and start doing more cultural activities. I’ve been still getting settled, getting stuff for my room, organizing my life and I haven’t delved into the museums or monuments, all the cultural things that Madrid has to offer. I think I will start that quest tomorrow.

Monday, I had my “interview” for my internship. Interview is in quotes because it wasn’t really an interview so much as it was a time for me to sit with the woman who works in human resources and figure out a schedule. My resume had somehow got passed on to the Socialist Party. Originally I was told by the Middlebury coordinators that working directly for a political party is impossible, they don’t do internship, and it is not customary, especially for foreigners. Also the concept of an internship is lost on the Spaniards, why anyone would work without getting paid is beyond comprehension.

Anyway, I then decided that I would work for the cultural foundation of the Socialist Party, so basically an extension of the party but no so directly related to politics. I was kind of bummed because the politics nerd that I am wanted to be right in the action but I was still content that I could get anything close to politics. Then for some reason the foundation I was supposed to do the internship for couldn’t coordinate a schedule for me, but I simutaneously received even better news that in the process of trying to get my that internship my resume had been passed along to the actual Socialist Party (PSOE) and that they wanted me to do an internship working with the Secretary of International Relations. I was ecstatic because I would get to work directly for the party and in an area of interest. How perfect? I guess that corny saying when one door closes another door opens actually proved to be true.

I went for the “interview” and arrived at a large intimidating building, it was decked out in PSOE logos, and it was modern and pristine. I walked up to the security desk and asked for the person I was to see for the interview. The security guard asked me if I was sure that I had to see the person I was looking for. I nodded, he said, oh is this something personal (insinuating that I’d have no other business at the PSOE unless it was personal) and I said no it was for an interview. He asked me looking quite puzzled if I had spoken to Ms. Molina? I replied yes, I am here to see her, I have an appointment. I guess after a few more puzzled stares I finally convinced him and he let me proceed. I passed through a turnstile, and then walked through a melt detector and my bag traveled on a conveyor belt to inspect what was inside. Then I was directed to go to the fifth floor where Ms. Molina was waiting for me.

The “interview” was a joy, she basically just wanted to solidify that I was indeed who she had down on paper. She went down my resume, asking about my different experiences, interested in the type of work I had done etc. Then she asked when I was free to work and when could I start. We calculated that I’d work 17 hours a week (a big change from my 70-80 hours a week with Hillary), but is still a heck of a lot more than the amount of hours I’d be attending for a third class, because I get credit for this internship as a class so I am doing that instead of taking 3 classes at Getafe.

But I think this experience is priceless, I am so looking forward to understanding how politics functions in another country, the ins and outs. It is perfect timing with elections coming up in March. I am sure even if I am stuck photocopying being around these important people in the party will give me a lot of insight. I start this coming Monday, and I am working everyday in the morning except for Wednesday (obviously no weekend work because that is unheard of in Spain). I tried to get Fridays off to travel, but she says if I plan to go away, I can just work extra another day so I was glad to see that this would be flexible so I can spread my wings in Europe. Another perk of the internship is that she explained I’d be treated just as if I worked for the party (only I am working less hours she explained was the difference), I will have my own desk, my own desktop computer, my own official PSOE email and be just like everyone else. That felt exciting. I look forward to Monday, I think having this internship will finally force me to carpe diem and do more with my spare time. Because working 17 hours a week for the internship on top of 2 classes at Getafe and a grammar class at the Sede will be a ton. I am also working to get a part time job to teach English to earn some extra money on the side to travel. I am trying my hardest to be more appreciative about how hard my parents work by spending my own money.

I also had my first classes this week and more to come. I go to school in a suburb of Madrid, I take the metro to a hub for a plethora of trains. I then take that train to Getafe, which is just South of Madrid about 20 minutes on the train. The whole commute takes about 40 minutes to an hour. I actually enjoy having a commute to school, I guess I got so used to it from East Side Middle School traveling 1.5 hours to school and then to high school commuting 1 hour to Laguardia. I need to start bringing my iPod, I do like hearing Madrid life going on around me but I miss the solace in listening too a good playlist like I did everyday of middle school and high school.

My school is called Carlos III University, in Getafe where I am taking the Spanish Political System and then International Law & Human Development. The Spanish Political System seems like a good introductory course to Spanish politics which I think is important for me to know, the professor seemed kind, big class about 40 students, mixed with Spaniards and Erasmus students (Erasmus is the study abroad program for European students, giving them the chance to study in other European countries which is a fairly recent development).

Then International Law & Human Development was awesome, a fairly young professor who just was awesome. He said that he was not like a classical professor that lectures all the time but a lot of his class will be participation in the course. He said about 40-50% of a final grade will be the final exam and the rest is our participation in class, I was so glad to hear that. Because during orientation we were warned that our finals (one exam at the end of the semester, lasting about 2 hours with often only one question to which you must answer with all you’ve learned from the entire course, lots of pressure to say the least) and that the final normally would count for 85-100% of our final grade and that most of our professors would just lecture the entire 2 hours of class, we’d take notes and go, no discussion. Thus, Professor Oliva, my International Law & Human Develop is a saving grace.

Side note, so I forget if I posted about the details of my living situation but I will do it briefly. I live with this amazing couple in their 30s, they are what I hope JD and I are when we are married, they are just so fun and easy going and they love life. They are also like my pseudo parents because they give me advice on pretty much all that I do here. But the wife is from Italy, and is fluent in English, Italian, French and Spanish which is super cool and I am very jealous of her multilingualism. Her husband who I thought was from England is actually from New Zealand but I couldn’t tell the accent apart which I thought was so funny because it is a very different country, he speaks workable Spanish. I adore them though, they are so helpful and warm, and I seriously feel like I hit the jackpot with them. I just thought the New Zealand confusion was silly of me and I felt like sharing.

I’ll close with this, I was flipping through a study abroad magazine and I saw this factoid so I thought I’d share. 3,587 miles is the distance between Madrid and New York City, it is as if that factoid was placed there to remind me just how far I am from home and how hard it is. Like I’ve said before, it isn’t that I don’t love Madrid, it is just that I had it so good back home. I miss you all. Until next time.