Everything I did that was somewhat interesting you can find in my internship blog right here!
I will update about my wonderful beach get-a-way weekend later when I have time because I would like to add some photos as well :)
I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to their summer and had a great Father's Day <3
Life's Little Luxuries
#foreveryoung
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Weekend June 10-12
Friday - Finally met the woman behind my internship and the voice on skype. Jenna! We went to La Mucca, and she paid for the delicious wine. I'm going to try my best to describe it: red wine, not too strong, soft taste, but the after-taste is delicious: like a flower but not in a gross, "ew, I just ate a rose petal" kind of way. Here it is: 
This restaurant was in an area between Sol and closer towards Huertas, right by Plaza Santa Ana. Great location. So afterwards, my coworker and other intern and their friends were meeting in Sol by this bear, where many bar crawls begin. It was my first barcrawl AND it was in Madrid :) Vy joined and she even told she had a lot of fun. I loved being shown all of these cool new places to go to!
Saturday - Went to the zoo with my coworker and her Puerto Rican friends that attended a Forocio trip to Lisbon. Great group of kids and so much fun! We totally went randomly, we were just planning on hanging out ni a park reading, studying for finals, listening to music, and picnic-ing. The zoo is in the park Casa de Campo, which is enormous and you can see the theme park from there! I also found out there is a WB attractions park in Madrid! (I am so going.) Here you can see my zoo pictures. I hope to load a few videos from the dolphin show, which was fantastic by the way, and have them on Facebook. The zoo wore me out so much, that I stayed in the rest of the evening and went to bed relatively early for a weekend in Madrid.
Sunday - Went to el Rastro, the flea market that opens only on Sundays from 10:30-2:30 and got myself a Spanish leather shoulder purse! I needed a bigger and shoulder hanging purse for this trip. I brought just a small crossbody bag, but I definitely would like to carry around a water bottle or a book in my bag sometimes! Spanish leather is amazing, and it was one of my goals to get a leathergood before I leave Spain. The other goal is to purchase a Mallorica pearl something. They have the best Mallorcan pearls here, too! I bought both items when I went to Mallorca four years ago. Best purchases ever. After the Rastro, I made lunch, and layed out in the park for about 2.5 hours and got an amazing tan in that short amount of time! I had to go to the fountain to dip my feet in though, it was reaching mid-80's and clear skies, so that sun was strong! Not humid though! Can't wait to do more laying our by the fountain in el Parque del Oeste. When it gets breezy, the water mists over and it feels amazing. I love it, the park is going to be one of the biggest things I am going to miss about living here.
Today starts workweek numero tres!
This restaurant was in an area between Sol and closer towards Huertas, right by Plaza Santa Ana. Great location. So afterwards, my coworker and other intern and their friends were meeting in Sol by this bear, where many bar crawls begin. It was my first barcrawl AND it was in Madrid :) Vy joined and she even told she had a lot of fun. I loved being shown all of these cool new places to go to!
Saturday - Went to the zoo with my coworker and her Puerto Rican friends that attended a Forocio trip to Lisbon. Great group of kids and so much fun! We totally went randomly, we were just planning on hanging out ni a park reading, studying for finals, listening to music, and picnic-ing. The zoo is in the park Casa de Campo, which is enormous and you can see the theme park from there! I also found out there is a WB attractions park in Madrid! (I am so going.) Here you can see my zoo pictures. I hope to load a few videos from the dolphin show, which was fantastic by the way, and have them on Facebook. The zoo wore me out so much, that I stayed in the rest of the evening and went to bed relatively early for a weekend in Madrid.
Sunday - Went to el Rastro, the flea market that opens only on Sundays from 10:30-2:30 and got myself a Spanish leather shoulder purse! I needed a bigger and shoulder hanging purse for this trip. I brought just a small crossbody bag, but I definitely would like to carry around a water bottle or a book in my bag sometimes! Spanish leather is amazing, and it was one of my goals to get a leathergood before I leave Spain. The other goal is to purchase a Mallorica pearl something. They have the best Mallorcan pearls here, too! I bought both items when I went to Mallorca four years ago. Best purchases ever. After the Rastro, I made lunch, and layed out in the park for about 2.5 hours and got an amazing tan in that short amount of time! I had to go to the fountain to dip my feet in though, it was reaching mid-80's and clear skies, so that sun was strong! Not humid though! Can't wait to do more laying our by the fountain in el Parque del Oeste. When it gets breezy, the water mists over and it feels amazing. I love it, the park is going to be one of the biggest things I am going to miss about living here.
Today starts workweek numero tres!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Feeling the Routine
So today marks the end of the second week of my internship. I feel the routine already: get up around 9:15, get out the door around 10, maybe bring a snack for work, leave work around 2 for lunch usually at the apaprtment (because I am trying to save money), nap, get my tan on and read at the park, then feed myself again and usually hang in the apartment or go out for the night. It is totally an odd schedule, but I honestly don't mind it. Just wish there was pool or beach nearby...
So as much as I don't mind hanging out by myself, this whole missing IU student, Lauren Spierer is really freaking me out. I am really saddened that it has been one week since she's been missing and that there haven't been any major tips. Her physical stature is the same as me, and it's definitely scary. I know I am far away from Bloomington, but I wish I was there to help because this is really crazy to comprehend. This also puts things in perspective for me, when I walk home from the library really late when I'm at Pitt, or from a late class, I should probably be carrying around something in case something does happen. I am always vigilant, but there are a lot of wackos out there, even in college towns.
I feel incredibly safe in Madrid, and I don't read about missing people very often in the papers, to be honest, I have yet to come across a murder or missing persons article in the paper or online. Of course, I will be careful.
So as much as I don't mind hanging out by myself, this whole missing IU student, Lauren Spierer is really freaking me out. I am really saddened that it has been one week since she's been missing and that there haven't been any major tips. Her physical stature is the same as me, and it's definitely scary. I know I am far away from Bloomington, but I wish I was there to help because this is really crazy to comprehend. This also puts things in perspective for me, when I walk home from the library really late when I'm at Pitt, or from a late class, I should probably be carrying around something in case something does happen. I am always vigilant, but there are a lot of wackos out there, even in college towns.
I feel incredibly safe in Madrid, and I don't read about missing people very often in the papers, to be honest, I have yet to come across a murder or missing persons article in the paper or online. Of course, I will be careful.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, Tuesday June 6, 7
I have realized how writing this blog has made me start to enjoy writing (kind of). If you know me, you'd know how much I hate it. Anyway, wondering about my intern? you know where to go to read up on that, because that is terribly boring to write to be honest. I have quite a few ideas for a"rant/bitch blog." I think I am kind of funny, in a dry way, so the way that I rant, I am sure you might think it entertaining if anything. I will think about it, I just don't want to bug anybody with anymore venting than I usually do.
Vent for Monday: Traveler's Checks. Bad idea.
Vent for Tuesday: Dirty people. Annoying people.
Vent for Monday: Traveler's Checks. Bad idea.
Vent for Tuesday: Dirty people. Annoying people.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Weekend! June 3-5
Worked, the usual. Here is where you can read all about my internship specifically. http://undergradinternabroad.blogspot.com/
First thing I did that night was go have a drink with my friend I made at the language school because she as leaving for Barcelona then back to Switzerland :( Her name is Sarah and she is very cool! After saying goodbye and having her first milk chocolate montadito, we took one last picture together and then I headed out toward Nuevos Ministerios. I was going to one of my flatmate's bosses' shows our at a club in Madrid called Tartufo. It was really awesome, because a) got in for free b) most of the Pitt kids went c) Pretty nice club. Snazzy, and not cheap looking. d)RAVE music! [I have been getting a little sick of regualr club music where all the creepy guys try and grind with ya, ew. Anyway, stayed up till about 5:30 am (includes a shower and packing), reason I mention that is because
...I went to Toledo for the weekend and I took the expensive middle of the day AVE train. It was an awesome weekend. I got to hand out with my aunt's best friend and her family. She is the sweetest woman ever. Her husband is awesome, too; he kept offering me food, drink, and tv. She also has two sons, one a year older than me and one about my brother's age. I haven't seen them since I was like about 9 or 10 years old! Basically, it was a great "home-feel" and I definitely will be visiting again for that homey feel :) Ended up taking the last train back to Madrid on Sunday only because all of my electronics died and I didn't bring my chargers. Here are some pictures of my weekend!
Nighttime walk through Toledo.
Toledo at Twilight.
Sarah and Me after 100 Montaditos.
First thing I did that night was go have a drink with my friend I made at the language school because she as leaving for Barcelona then back to Switzerland :( Her name is Sarah and she is very cool! After saying goodbye and having her first milk chocolate montadito, we took one last picture together and then I headed out toward Nuevos Ministerios. I was going to one of my flatmate's bosses' shows our at a club in Madrid called Tartufo. It was really awesome, because a) got in for free b) most of the Pitt kids went c) Pretty nice club. Snazzy, and not cheap looking. d)RAVE music! [I have been getting a little sick of regualr club music where all the creepy guys try and grind with ya, ew. Anyway, stayed up till about 5:30 am (includes a shower and packing), reason I mention that is because
...I went to Toledo for the weekend and I took the expensive middle of the day AVE train. It was an awesome weekend. I got to hand out with my aunt's best friend and her family. She is the sweetest woman ever. Her husband is awesome, too; he kept offering me food, drink, and tv. She also has two sons, one a year older than me and one about my brother's age. I haven't seen them since I was like about 9 or 10 years old! Basically, it was a great "home-feel" and I definitely will be visiting again for that homey feel :) Ended up taking the last train back to Madrid on Sunday only because all of my electronics died and I didn't bring my chargers. Here are some pictures of my weekend!
Nighttime walk through Toledo.
Toledo at Twilight.
Sarah and Me after 100 Montaditos.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mid-week Report
Monday- First day of my internship. It was more like an orientation kind of day. I stayed for about two hours. To know more about what goes on specifically to the internship, check my Marketing Internship blog! So that day was just a weird day.
Tuesday- Regular work day. 10ish - 2ish. My coworkers are awesome, and the bosses mostly work from home and stop once in a while. There wasn´t really anythign specific for me to do so I asked a ton of questions about how they market themselves, what sources do they use, where they are (like what sites such a as facebook, google, their own websites, etc.), and sort of started brainstorming about what kind of project I can do to help them better get their name out. I was able to be admin of their facebook page which is cool small step into something that I could work with. Basically, it was just a day of reseaching and brainstorming at work.
In the evening, Mike, the faculty trip advisor for the past 2 weeks, stopped by the apartment to say goodbye to us because he was leaving the next morning for the US. Jenna, the lady who found all of our internships will be replacing him in approximately 8 days. We have had a lot of great trips with Mike and he was definitely an awesome advisor to have for this trip. He knew nothing of Spanish and accepted it. At least he tried to learn the basics!
Wednesday- Researched my own trips for a bit while at work, but then really got down to business as to what I can do. One of the ladies gave me a ton of suggestions and I will writing more about them in my Marketing blog. You can see this isn´t like the internships the other students have: they are given all fo these projects to do and are very busy but definitely love what they are doing to help their companies (most are marketing related). Originally, I felt bad about my job, but it had been only 3 days and I know there was some work coming my way, but I wasn´t sre what it really entailed. As Mike said to me the day he stopped by, the fact that I am taking initiative to make a project relative ot marketing for this company is definitely a great thing. I am trying to get something out of this and not just sitting around accepting what I am given (or lack thereof).
So Wednesday nights, my company hosts "Fiesta de Cambio" at a bar/small club in Sol. It is marketed towards past participants of their many trips, so they can gather again and hang out and even bring in new customers who see 'Forocio' written on their nametags, the 'Forocio girls' one of which I open in the mornings, and people liek me talking abotu the fantastic trips we have! (I felt like I was soliciting at a nightclub/one of those club promoters to bring in people in the first place.) Once again, I will explain more in detail about the 'Fiesta'. In all, it was very fun and engaging. Open bar 10:30-12:30, girls free, guys 5€ who can resist that?!
-Oh last thing, as I was walking through Puerta de Sol to get to the club around 10:30, I heard someone say my name who I passed on the sidewalk and it was 3 people I knew back from Pitt! Mike, Lucy, and Ashley. We a got a picture together, but really we could have been anywhere in the world, but it was still a very cool moment! They were on their last night from their multi-week European trek and they ended back in Madrid. I am sure they enjoyed their adventures!
-So Vy and I caught the last metro back to the apartment and as we got the apartment door, we coudln't open it. Someone had locked the top lock, which I had no idea there was key for it and how to even do that with two keys in the door at the same time. whatever. So to no avail after some knocks and calls to our flatmates, we heard the neighbors chatting (they speak english) and we asked if we could go through their backdoor do we could knock on the bedroom windows of our apartment. The neighbors were totally schwasted and Christina gave us a mic and headset for skyping, and some other random stuff because she was packing to leave the next day. So weird. Anyway, Sam basically died in her sleep that night and wouldn't wake up, so I flashed my handy dandy 19€ cellphone built-in flashlight and knocked on the guys' windows. They really did not want to get up and let us in, but trust me, it was not like I really wanted to fall into the apartment through a window. Yea, fall. The chair was further away frmo under the window where it usually is and I fell and have quite the bruising and scratch from it. So I pushed it closer for Vy. Ouch.
Thursday- At work, did some stuff for them such as research schools in Barcelona, mostly English speaking, so I could send them emails about our trips to Pamplona, which is coming up. I am a little upset in the stomach/spinning head from the open bar...and so bought a Napolitana de Chocolate from La Mallorquina (one of the oldest and best bakeries in Spain! and it's next door).
So for the remaining hour-ish of work I hope to work on their facebook for a little bit. Maybe later, once I get back and relax for a bit at the apartment, I will try and be way more productive with the project brainstorming. P.S. I sent my aunt an email with a brief description of my dilema and she gave me a lot of great ways/questions to answer in order to start creating a marketing project. She's awesome and a genius when it come to business, especially in marketing!
Tuesday- Regular work day. 10ish - 2ish. My coworkers are awesome, and the bosses mostly work from home and stop once in a while. There wasn´t really anythign specific for me to do so I asked a ton of questions about how they market themselves, what sources do they use, where they are (like what sites such a as facebook, google, their own websites, etc.), and sort of started brainstorming about what kind of project I can do to help them better get their name out. I was able to be admin of their facebook page which is cool small step into something that I could work with. Basically, it was just a day of reseaching and brainstorming at work.
In the evening, Mike, the faculty trip advisor for the past 2 weeks, stopped by the apartment to say goodbye to us because he was leaving the next morning for the US. Jenna, the lady who found all of our internships will be replacing him in approximately 8 days. We have had a lot of great trips with Mike and he was definitely an awesome advisor to have for this trip. He knew nothing of Spanish and accepted it. At least he tried to learn the basics!
Wednesday- Researched my own trips for a bit while at work, but then really got down to business as to what I can do. One of the ladies gave me a ton of suggestions and I will writing more about them in my Marketing blog. You can see this isn´t like the internships the other students have: they are given all fo these projects to do and are very busy but definitely love what they are doing to help their companies (most are marketing related). Originally, I felt bad about my job, but it had been only 3 days and I know there was some work coming my way, but I wasn´t sre what it really entailed. As Mike said to me the day he stopped by, the fact that I am taking initiative to make a project relative ot marketing for this company is definitely a great thing. I am trying to get something out of this and not just sitting around accepting what I am given (or lack thereof).
So Wednesday nights, my company hosts "Fiesta de Cambio" at a bar/small club in Sol. It is marketed towards past participants of their many trips, so they can gather again and hang out and even bring in new customers who see 'Forocio' written on their nametags, the 'Forocio girls' one of which I open in the mornings, and people liek me talking abotu the fantastic trips we have! (I felt like I was soliciting at a nightclub/one of those club promoters to bring in people in the first place.) Once again, I will explain more in detail about the 'Fiesta'. In all, it was very fun and engaging. Open bar 10:30-12:30, girls free, guys 5€ who can resist that?!
-Oh last thing, as I was walking through Puerta de Sol to get to the club around 10:30, I heard someone say my name who I passed on the sidewalk and it was 3 people I knew back from Pitt! Mike, Lucy, and Ashley. We a got a picture together, but really we could have been anywhere in the world, but it was still a very cool moment! They were on their last night from their multi-week European trek and they ended back in Madrid. I am sure they enjoyed their adventures!
-So Vy and I caught the last metro back to the apartment and as we got the apartment door, we coudln't open it. Someone had locked the top lock, which I had no idea there was key for it and how to even do that with two keys in the door at the same time. whatever. So to no avail after some knocks and calls to our flatmates, we heard the neighbors chatting (they speak english) and we asked if we could go through their backdoor do we could knock on the bedroom windows of our apartment. The neighbors were totally schwasted and Christina gave us a mic and headset for skyping, and some other random stuff because she was packing to leave the next day. So weird. Anyway, Sam basically died in her sleep that night and wouldn't wake up, so I flashed my handy dandy 19€ cellphone built-in flashlight and knocked on the guys' windows. They really did not want to get up and let us in, but trust me, it was not like I really wanted to fall into the apartment through a window. Yea, fall. The chair was further away frmo under the window where it usually is and I fell and have quite the bruising and scratch from it. So I pushed it closer for Vy. Ouch.
Thursday- At work, did some stuff for them such as research schools in Barcelona, mostly English speaking, so I could send them emails about our trips to Pamplona, which is coming up. I am a little upset in the stomach/spinning head from the open bar...and so bought a Napolitana de Chocolate from La Mallorquina (one of the oldest and best bakeries in Spain! and it's next door).
So for the remaining hour-ish of work I hope to work on their facebook for a little bit. Maybe later, once I get back and relax for a bit at the apartment, I will try and be way more productive with the project brainstorming. P.S. I sent my aunt an email with a brief description of my dilema and she gave me a lot of great ways/questions to answer in order to start creating a marketing project. She's awesome and a genius when it come to business, especially in marketing!
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