Besos, besos, y mas besos!

Everyone here loves to kiss! Its funny cause when I meet people, I am programed to reach out my hand, which here is pretty rude. When you meet someone, you kiss twice, once on each cheek. I actually really like it, but I keep forgetting! Today I went to el centro again and it was a beautiful day. I saw lots of awesome, grandiose palaces and buildings, I ate at a place called Museo de Jamon, which means ham museum. Ill be sure to take my parents there when they come--you guys will love it! And, for Meredith and Dad, I took a picture of my sandwich and the first beer that I have bought...it was pretty cool. I was pretty excited, but I felt really strange sitting there at the bar and taking pictures of my food. (thats how much I love ya, mere!) A lot of the new pics are from La Palacio Real, which is where the king of Spain used to live. And I heard two people speaking English, so I asked where they were from, and one was from Belgium, and the other London! They were only staying in Madrid for a couple of days, but I did talk to them! 

So tonight I started my internship, and I have never, really, never, felt so enlivened!! I LOVE talking in Spanish! And I do not know why this is, but in LA I have always disliked working with homeless people. And, since I decided to come to Europe while some of my friends are braving Uganda, I decided that I would do the thing that is hardest for me. What I feel most uncomfortable with. But tonight was awesome! I loved it! The people were great, I did have some trouble understanding them but most of the time it was alright. They were hilarious, cracking jokes all the time, and I even kissed them on the cheeks! I would never have done that in LA. I dont know why, I feel like I should feel more uncomfortable here, but I love it. We brought thermoses of coffee, chicken broth (warm), and juice and then had cookies and crackers, and there are different routes, and we went on our route, and the girl I was with, Isabel, knew a lot of the people, and we just sat on the street and talked with them. It was awesome. We did get some looks from other people, but I think that they were more of surprise. 

The people were so great too! They love that I came all the way from Seattle to come and work--it actually says a lot about their program and purpose. They asked me tons of questions about Clinton and Obama, and they asked me to just say words in general in English. It was so funny!

So yea, I love it here. Don't tell my mom, but I could live here forever! It is fast paced, but not rushed. Does that make sense? People just move quicker here, but its not a nervous-quicker. I swear, even the escalators move quicker here. But I love that they stop everything to eat. I have not seen one person with a coffee cup in their hand outside... cause when they drink coffee, they sit and enjoy it with friends. Its not like our lives where we do everything on-the-go. There are no drive-thrus!!!! And I love Spanish, I love speaking it, and love everything about this place! And yes, I miss home, and my mom's cooking, and all my friends and family, but I have been blessed and privileged beyond belief here. 

Te amo mucho! (love you much!) 

Kelly