Study Abroad Swag

Bus 133 Callao-Mirasierras

I’ve gotta lotta bus problems.

So, as a means of transport between home and school, the bus has on a whole been a god-send.

However lately it’s been a barrel of monkeys trying to make it on and off of there alive. I am going to give you a LIST of the shit that happens when you’re a bus rider in madrid.

• First, there is one bus driver who looks like/acts like/is the bus driver from the simpsons. Kristen insists that we take his bus every Thursday and Friday morning. He listens exclusively to Journey on the drive.
• I was feeling really lucky when I got a seat on the way home from school one day (i usually have to stand bc it’s so packed) until 3 of the most RANK smelling gypsies hopped on board and instead of standing in the “standing section” they stood right next to me with their armpits in my face as they held onto the overhead bars. I was so preoccupied by their smell that i didn’t realize the ringleader had been caressing my shoulder (probably stealing my identity and putting a curse on me)
• Another American and I hopped on board the bus and stood next to a lady wiht a walker (someone really shouldve offered her a seat) when the lady made some grunting noises we looked over at her to see that her leg had a fresh cut on it where pieces of tissue and fat were protruding out and bleeding a little. At the same time she noticed it as well- and her cure was to get a tissue and RIP IT OUT OF HER OWN LEG. It happened so fast, i didnt have time to look away, and with a crazy grunt the woman had basically torn her own body apart. The girl with me looked like she might faint and I felt nauseous. I tried not to look back, but of course I did, and what I saw was her leg gushing a WATERFALL of blood. All over the bus. And she kept touching it and then touching the rails and yelling something about “sangre” Old people aren’t inherently gross, but damn that grandma was disgusting
• The buses here have no mercy and regularly slam the doors in faces of dying babies. So when we saw that our 8 oclock bus was about to pull away (there was no way i was waiting until fucking 8:10 for the next one ) Kristen and I sprinted like hell to get to it. But a passerby was in Kristen’s way, so they did that weird “who is gonna move where” dance until kristen picked a side- unfortunately the lady picked the same side and Kristen full body tackles this woman, screams “lo siento,” and gloriously runs onto the bus just in time. We were still 10 minutes late to class.

I will be thankful when I can just walk to class again like a normal human being. Until then let’s hope the fucking public transport in this country doesn’t kill me.

One of the few serious things I will ever have to say.

This semester has been amazing and fun and difficult and scary and CRAZY.

I appreciate my time in Madrid and the opportunities I have had/continue to have. 

But I want to take this post to acknowledge Jesse Vallera. He is a student on our program who suffered a very serious medical condition while here, and is now back in the United States recovering. 

Jesse is an amazing guy. Incredibly intelligent. Extremely nice. Completely sincere.

 I have been incredibly preoccupied with what happened to Jesse and so I thought I would offer this as my condolences and expression of gratitude for him being such a fantastic guy.

I hope for a full and fast recovery for Jesse, until then Madrid will await his return. <3

Had to give my oral presentation today.

biggest sweat stains of my life. Public speakin is my thing, but only when i speak the native speak.

But i definitely got an A for being foreign and nervous