The Mystery is Solved!

On the way to dinner last night, we entered the restaurant from a different door - and Lisa spotted this picture! 

The guy in the middle of the mural outside is the owner of El Rancho.  There were a number of pictures of him with various people, though I didn't see any I recognized.  Mystery solved!

Our cowboy skit went very well.  Pete picked Jaime out of the audience to be the sheriff, and he played right along with everything as though he knew what was coming next.  We were completely in stitches (ooh, look - an idiom!) the whole time.  There was also another skit called the Phobia Workshop which was also hilarious.  One of the guys took video of the cowboy skit, so I hope I can ask him to send me a copy.

We had a really fun table at dinner last night.  We had two Spaniards, Kate (from London) and me.   Though we had all signed up to play bingo after dinner, it seemed like every table was engrossed in conversation when 10:00 came around, and no one left to go to the game.  Eventually someone noticed that it was 10:30, so we all hustled down to the bar to find the program director waiting alone.  How can they complain, though, really?  We were doing what we are here for, after all!

Predictably, I lost at bingo, which they play differently here.  That's right, I am now a bi-cultural loser at bingo.  (I'm so proud.)  The game was to help the Spaniards with their number listening skills.  The same Alberto won both prizes, which we took as a lucky sign that he will find a job once the course is over (unemployment here is 24%).

Some of today's phrases are:

To make a killing    Still waters run deep.
To be a fan of          To nod off
To mix up               

At meals we have real conversations that just develop on their own.  At lunch today, we discussed gypsies, arranged marriages, polygamy, and curry among other things.  The Spaniards are making unbelieveable progress in being comfortable speaking up and expressing opinions (as well as telling jokes - badly, maybe, but they are trying).

                                           Dining room where we have lunch and dinner.

On Thursday, the Spaniards will each be giving a 10-minute presentation on a topic of their choosing.  They are now using their one-to-one time to practice or ask us what we think of their ideas, and how they could improve.  Today we had a 2-hour workshop with little exercises designed to make them more comfortable in speaking before a group (by starting with little groups of five).  We have assured them that this is the friendliest audience they are ever likely to have, because we all want them to do well, but I'm sure it must be terrifying.

Tonight there is some kind of comedy thing going on (what else?), and a sort of witches' incantation that is common in the Galicia part of northern Spain.  I'm looking forward to seeing both.

Rawhide!

For each section of the day we are given certain idioms and "phrasal verbs" to explain to the Spaniards.  It seems like a simple task, but think about explaining to someone foreign what it means "to be bored to tears" when they might not even know what you mean by "bored".  Some of the phrases we have had so far are:

To add fuel to the fire           To run out of         To write down          To be in one's birthday suit
To stand for                          To clear the air       To turn on
To come to terms with         To put back            Raining cats and dogs

I can't imagine how that last one would come up in a business situation, but who knows?  :-)
The phrases are good for conversation starters, at least, and it also makes you think, as an English speaking person, about how these phrases came to be, and how often we use them without really recognizing how they might be difficult for a foreigner to understand.  

One of the other Anglos is from northern Scotland.  It was a great relief to some of the Spaniards to find out that even the other English speakers have trouble understanding everything she says.  They don't all recognize the difference between a British and an American accent, either.

                 This mural is painted on the outside wall of one of the dining rooms.  No explanation, it's just there.  I'm pretty sure Fidel Castro, Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy, Evita Peron, Queen Elizabeth and Martin Luther King have not visited here.  And no one has figured out who the guy in the top middle is.

And then there is this one, right around the corner:

                         OK, so.....Prince Charles, right.  But why is he hinged in the middle?  Follow him where, exactly?  No idea.  No else seems to know, either.


Those of us in the "cowboy song" skit had a rehearsal right before lunch.  Turns out we are singing the "Rawhide" song (and Pete promised there would be no singing involved!).  One as-yet-unselected Spaniard will be the sheriff, and when he asks for deputies, we all get up and sing the song.  I'm not sure what the first part of the skit will involve, but we will see.

A group of us went to the store this morning and I stocked up on Coke Light to have in my little room fridge - I'm a happy girl now!  OK, off to one more one-to-one, then the debut of our cowboy song skit.  Haaa!  Rawhide!

Doing the Vaughantown Salsa

                                                             El Rancho de Aldeguela

This morning we left Madrid for Torrecaballeros, and our Vaughantown home away from home, El Rancho.   When we arrived our rooms were not yet ready, so we went straight to an orientation session, then a 3-course lunch (with wine).  The Vaughantown Salsa is what they call the process of making sure there is a mix of Spaniards and Anglos at each table.  Pete, the MC, demonstrated how one would salsa over to a table where you think you see an available seat, only to discover that there are too many Spaniards/Anglos and you have to salsa over to find another spot.  You don't really have to dance, but Pete did.

Over the course of the next six days, we will have a series of one-on-one conversations with Spaniards, we will have telephone sessions, conference calls, and group activities.  Today we have done a couple of activities to get to know each other a bit.  After our lunch at 2:00 pm, and our siesta, we reconvened at 6:00 pm (from now on it will be 5 :00 pm) for a group activity involving some familiar mixer-type games, like finding someone in the group with a tattoo, or someone who speaks more than 3 languages, or has an unusual hobby.  This particular game served a second purpose in ferreting out special skills or talents that the MC can use during the week for the entertainment portions of our program.  I have been selected to take part in a little skit tomorrow involving some sort of cowboy song, but I'm told I don't have to sing.  I have to say four words, but I haven't been told my line.  My rehearsal time is 1:00-2:00 tomorrow, right before lunch.

Our second activity this evening was the two truths and a lie game, where you make three statements about yourself and the others have to figure out which one is the lie.  I have the distinction of being the only one in our group of five to fool everyone with my lie.  They all believed I was lying when I said I had eaten barbecued beaver - but it is actually true. The lie was that I was born in Germany.  The first one-on-one sessions are taking place right now, but because there are more Anglos than Spaniards, some of us have a free time hour.  Dinner is at 9:00 pm.  And so will go our days:  breakfast at 9:00, whatever tasks you are assigned until lunch at 2:00, siesta until 5:00, group activities and entertainment until dinner at 9:00.

One view of my room, with its dark wood beams, sitting area, desk and a door that opens onto.....

                                                                 ....this view.

The food is excellent.  We have a choice of two first courses, two main courses, and three desserts, plus coffee or tea.  If it gets old having 3-course meals every time, you can request a salad or something lighter.  There is no smoking anywhere except outside, which makes me wonder why I found this is in my room:

                                               a No Smoking sign....and an ashtray.

Three of the Spaniards are named Alberto, two of the Anglos are named John, and two are named Eugene and we have two Sues.  We are trying to make a couple of the Albertos be something else, but so far they are resisting.  So, just like in grade school, we have Alberto L, Alberto A, and Alberto R.  I don't remember which is which, but if I just say, "Alberto" they will all turn around and then I can just point. 

Time to get back to the lounge so we can be told which restaurant we are eating at tonight (there are a number of them on the property)!

I Heart Madrid

I am in love - with Madrid.

I went out this morning (after oversleeping) to look for breakfast.  In the same building as the hotel, but around the corner, is a Starbucks, and next to that is a VIPS.  VIPS has a restaurant part, but they also have a little convenience store, gifts, and a big section with sandwiches, salads, fruit, yogurt - in short, anything you might want to buy and take to the park to eat.  There was a little band playing right outside, so I bought a tray of fruit and ate it while sitting at the outside tables at Starbucks, listening to the music.  I got the stink-eye from an employee who came out to sweep, but I just ignored it.  I could have just explained that I don't like Starbucks, I only like their tables by the palm trees in the sun with live music, but she didn't say anything to me.  I guess that's good because I don't know how to say all of that in Spanish.

Today was my day for geocaching in Madrid.  I usually start a day on vacation with some plan for what I want to accomplish, and I sort of had one, but almost immediately I scrapped it in favor of just wandering around (plus some geocaching).  I found four caches, but I also found a demonstration taking place in front of city hall.  The people were chanting and blowing whistles, and they blocked the street for a bit, then moved on, still chanting (but they moved over so the cars could go by).  I continued on with my wandering, then headed back toward the hotel, thinking I would pop into VIPS for one of those yummy-looking sandwiches for lunch.  Guess who I saw in front of the doors of the hotel - the little parade of protestors!  By the time I had bought lunch, though, they had dispersed.

                                                         Plaza de Cibeles, city hall.

Tonight was the tapas reception at Vaughan.  It turns out that the person who first told me about the Vaughantown program (from the Rick Steves website) will be at this week, too!  About half of the Anglos have never done this before, and the others are repeaters, some multiple times.  At the end of the reception, they gave us a chance to ask questions about the location, and I asked if there was a place to get Diet Coke, and one of other guys applauded.  Turns out he was early-retired from Coke after 30 years.  One of Monday's activities is bingo, which I am famous for NEVER being able to win - and I said as much to the group.  The Coke guy said, "That's OK, I'll buy you a Diet Coke if you don't".

There will only be 7 Spaniards this week, and 14 or 15 of us.  So the program is going to arrange it so that we can go, in groups of four, into Segovia to see the aqueduct and such for a couple of hours. There are some geocaches near the aqueduct, too, so maybe I can find a home for the Tardis key travel bug I am carrying, you never know!  Everyone seems very nice - about half are American, and the rest are from the UK.  My cab driver coming back to the hotel said that he is "the only English speaking cab driver in all of Madrid", so if I want to know anything, just ask.  :)  I didn't ask, but he told me anyway, about all of the buildings along the way.  It was very nice of him, but I had just taken a bus tour past the same buildings yesterday, and walked to many of them today, too.  He lived in the US for 15 years, in NY and FL. 

I already know I haven't had enough of Madrid.  I'm going to have to come back.  For one thing, the McDonald's at home doesn't have as cool a dollar menu as Spain's uno x uno menu.  Gazpacho?  Camembert bites?

Hola, Madrid!

We left Atlanta about an hour late, after waiting in line on the runway forrreverrrr.  My seat was completely fabulous.  With my feet completely stretched out I could reach the wall in front of me.  My seatmate and I quickly decided that we could use our carryon bags as footrests during the flight, and with the increased recline of the EconomyComfort seats, it was actually pretty comfortable. 

On arrival in Madrid, I found the shuttle service desk easily.  The van held seven passengers, so I was in the front with the driver.  Not good.  I'm not the bravest driver in city traffic, but this guy was obviously used to it and drove like a maniac.  He didn't speak any English so we couldn't chat, which left me free to gasp silently whenever we came thisclose to another car - or  a motorcycle.  The fact that the windshield had a huge crack in it right in front of me didn't really add to my comfort level, either.  I tried to concentrate on the buildings around me, but I had to close my eyes a lot.  And I am pretty sure that I must have whimpered audibly at least once.

The Westin Palace is stunning - there is no other word for it.  My room was ready when I got here at 11 or so, so I headed straight for a shower.  One small problem:  they had inspected my bag at some point and replaced the wimpy nylon wire tie I was using - instead of a lock - with a much more robust one.  I could not find anything in my belongings that was strong enough to break it, so the only clothes I had to change into were my "emergency" t-shirt and underwear from my carryon bag.  Well, that's OK, I'll just put my wallet and stuff in my daybag....wait....the daybag is in the suitcase, too. And so is my jacket. So I went out to find scissors, and take my first look at Madrid, wearing yoga pants, a t-shirt, and blue hoodie, carrying my money, hotel key card, and phone in the little gold wristlet from my Fast Flats.  Charming.

I got a little bit confused looking for a department store where I was told I could buy a SIM card for my phone, and I asked a young woman if she knew where it was.  Not only did she know, she was going there herself, so we walked together.  She has been traveling through Central and South America for the past seven months and is on her way home to England to surprise her family for her sister's birthday (it was cheaper for her to come through Madrid than to go straight to London).  That's one thing about traveling alone - you get into conversations with all kinds of people you wouldn't have met if you were traveling in a group.

                                 Puerta del Sol - and El Corte Ingles.  How could I miss that?

I now am the proud owner of a pair of nail scissors, and I am on my way back to the phone store (because I didn't have my passport with which to purchase the SIM) looking much more appropriately dressed.  My knee says it will be an early night for me, so maybe I will find something for dinner while I'm out, too.

                                                               Plaza Mayor

On my way!

Just before leaving Bloomington this morning I got an email from Vaughantown.  All is well, everything confirmed.  Apparently there was some kind of mixup with sending out the last newsletter.  The website was back up yesterday, too.

We got to Atlanta 20 minutes early, which was great because if I had to listen to the guy behind me for 20 more minutes I might have been in airport jail now instead of the Delta Sky Club.  He must not fly a lot - everything astonished him and he exclaimed loudly about it.  And he wanted to engage the flight attendant in conversation about all the things he couldn't eat or drink anymore (including, but not limited to, caffeine, wine, beer, regular pop, steak, beer, candy, salt...oh, and did I mention beer?).  Just out of curiosity, though, what kind of wine did they have on his ongoing flight?  He couldn't have it, of course, he just wondered....

I have to admit that this Sky Club thing is verrrrry nice.  For one thing, most of the drinks (alcoholic and non) are free, there is a big munchies bar with things like cheese and apples and crackers and pretzels, lots of plug-ins for people using computers, and - OMG! - a nap room, dimly lit, with little star lights overhead and recliners!  I want to get a picture of it, but this guy keeps staring at me, so I will wait till he leaves.  It might have been the fact that I was wandering around like a slack-jawed yokel that got his attention.  This place is huge,with lots of variety in seating choices (watch the planes?, watch TV?, read in a quiet area? use the business center?) and I couldn't decide where to sit - plus, I wanted to see everything.  The check-in lady told me to go take a look at their newly remodeled private shower rooms, and they are beautiful!  I will definitely be making a stop there on my way back!  I am going to be absolutely spoiled after this.  :-)

                                                         The nap room

May Day, May Day!

No, I'm not in danger, it really is May Day!  And in almost exactly 48 hours I will be sitting on a plane headed from Atlanta to Madrid.  Once tax season was over, it seemed like the trip just rushed up on me.  I haven't felt my usual level of rushiness and stress this time,though, and it dawned on me that this is the first international trip I have made where I haven't had to squeeze preparations in between days of work (plus or minus overtime).  What a difference!

There might be one small snag looming, though.  I haven't received the final newsletter from the Vaughantown program, and when I went online to see if there was any news, the website was down. (cue dramatic music:  dah-dah-DAHHHH)  I emailed the contact person, and got back an autoresponse that she is out of the office until ... May 3. (more dramatic music:  duh da, duh da, duhhhhh)  There is probably nothing wrong, but I might not know for sure until I arrive in Madrid.  I won't be stranded, but I might have to suddenly make alternate plans.  I can do that!  (OK, so maybe that title does have a slight double meaning.)