Episode 9: December!

Hola!

I think it is time for a new blog about my life here in Madrid! While people in the Netherlands were busy with the celebration of “Sinterklaas” during the first half of December, I was not bored either. With four exams, some presentations and some final reports to do, it was a period of studying. However, I had enough time to do great things too of course! For example, the 2^nd of December I really liked: first two friends came to my place to eat paella, then we went to a party at a friend-of-a-friend’s place, after which we partied in Club Moondance. Other fun activities were: having dinner at tapas restaurant Lateral, visiting the Christmas markets, going to lounge bars, visiting the zoo of Madrid, eating ice creams at Llao Llao and watching “El Clásico” (Real Madrid – Barcelona) with flat mates.

During the second half of December, I started to realize things were coming to an end: making exams, saying goodbye to people who already went home before Christmas, and of course: Christmas and New Year’s Eve. About the exams I cannot tell a lot: I have the feeling I passed them all, but I don’t know any grades so far.

Saying goodbye is of course not the best part, but it has a positive side too. When people realize their good time in Madrid is almost over, they start to enjoy even more, and I join them! That’s why we: ordered that too big ice-cream at Llao Llao, organized a last Mexican dinner with our “Club of 6”, went to Starbucks more often, had a great Christmas dinner with my team, had a nice birthday party, went to different Christmas markets and partied once again all together at Star Studio. However, one of the most beautiful experiences was the “Inauguración de Navidad”: an amazing light- and firework show on the Palacio de Cibeles (see foto). It might sound strange, but it felt like a symbolic end of our Erasmus time!

And then, finally, I was together with my family again! My parents and sister visited me during Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which I enjoyed a lot!!! Of course I showed them the hotspots, but very ‘usual’ things too, like my room and how I walk to the supermarket. I saw new things too since we went inside the Palacio Real, El Escorial (a big monastery) and the stadium of Atlético Madrid. Furthermore, we celebrated New Year’s Eve like real Spaniards. The idea is that at 12 o’clock you eat a grape on each clock stroke, because that will bring you luck. We tried our best: we have eaten 12 grapes at 12 o’clock, near Puerta del Sol, and drank champagne. Okay, that we were not sure whether it was 12 o’clock, that one of the grapes fell in my jacket (of course I have eaten this one too), and that we used some more time than was allowed: I don’t care. It was an unforgettable moment and we enjoyed it a lot. That’s what it is all about!

Well, the upcoming 11 days are my last days in Madrid. I will do a lot of things for the last time. I will have 2 new flat mates too and I need to write some papers etc. Again, I will not be bored. Oh, and Epiphany is a big celebration here in Madrid, so I will check that out too of course!

Dear readers, my next and last blog will follow in a week or so!

Adios!