Monday
A new intern, Carolyn, started today in the economic section. Clark (the other intern) and I had a lot to show her with our huge lead of one and two days respectively, but she got a hang of things pretty rapidly. After work we were all going to go somewhere to hang out but Clark left early, so Carolyn and I walked to a nearby restaurant in Chueca. We found out along the way that Chueca is a very famous gay district, and that reputation was confirmed by the numerous rainbow flags and the bar whose interior was all hot pink. We went to a market, El Mercado de San Anton (Market of Saint Anthony) which was a three-floor building full of somewhat upscale restaurants and such. We tried a bit of the local fare which was excellent and affordable, then each headed home.Tuesday
Ah, Tuesday. Tuesday was full of stuff. I went in to work but after a few hours I had to go down to the embassy parking lot to get a ride to the Ukrainian embassy so that I could go, alone, to represent the US at the Ukrainian National Day celebration. I met my driver at the car, we exchanged names (his was Fernando), and as we started to drive away we got to talking entirely in Spanish which I found myself disturbingly confident and capable with. I don't know if he was speaking especially slowly or easily but I had unusually little trouble making good conversation. Maybe, I thought, I had broken through a wall.Arriving at the Ukrainian Embassy, I found it to be quite small - maybe the size of an average US house, but it was walled-in and in the courtyard were several dozen people. They were, for the most part, old people in suits and dresses and military uniforms, and after handing my invitation to the guard I walked through the greeting line, shook hands with the ambassador and others, and made my way to the festivities.
I stopped by the drink table and got a glass of wine and found a few of the hors d'oeuvres to be absolutely delectable - little cheesy bready things, strange permutations of fish or ham or cheeses, and eventually some (presumably) Ukrainian sausagey things.
I made my way around, talked with someone from the Andorran Embassy in Spanish, then kept my ear open for English and found someone else from the US embassy. I stuck around him for a while to calm myself amidst the crowds of important people before then meandering on to find someone else to talk to. I found one, a representative from the Spanish Nuclear Regulation Council, and we had a fairly sciencey chat in English and Spanish about all sorts of things and how he, like I, didn't really know what to do at this sort of event.
After talking to him for a while and exchanging cards, I moved on, chatted for a while with the Ambassador from Algeria, and then heard someone else speaking English in a flawless American accent. I asked him where he was from and he informed me that he was the Ambassador of Latvia. I proceeded to tell him that he had a flawless American accent and he guffawed, slapped me on the back and said "GOTCHA! IT'S CANADIAN!" I wasn't really sure how to respond to being slapped on the back by any Ambassador, much less one from Latvia, but I managed a nervous chuckle and we had a good chat.
After that I took my leave and headed back to the car and had another chat with Fernando about the city and weather and where to go in Spain. Everyone, Fernando included, suggests Barcelona; I guess I have to go.
I went back to the embassy and finished my day at work, then went out to a local cafe with the other interns and some other people from the Political/Economic department.
The evening brought us to the US Ambassador's residence for a reception. We chatted around for a while, had some *very* nice food (I apologize, people of Ukraine, but unfortunately your reception was outdone). There was all manner of berry-infused cheese, little anchovy-wrapped fancy things, plates piled with local hams, things resembling fancy cheez-its stuck together with cream/parmesan cheese, gazpacho, glorified tater-tots (which Clark ate every time they came around, probably about 15 of them), and a few other things, all superb. We talked, we mingled a little, and then we left for the evening.
Wednesday
Honestly, not much happened on Wednesday. I think I can safely say that it has been my least interesting day so far. I went to work, passed by El Corte Ingles on my way home, made some dinner and hung out around here.Thursday
Thursday was a little disappointing. I was supposed to meet my roommate Dominika and her friends at Plaza del Sol at 7:30, but I left work later than I thought, got home, was about to take a shower, then glanced at my phone and saw that the time was 7:20. I dashed away as quickly as I could, got turned around in the Metro, and, not arriving at the meeting point until 8:00 I decided to head straight to the restaurant of destination, 100 Montaditos (yes, again). However, I didn't see them there. I headed back to the plaza and asked if there was another 100M anywhere nearby, and was pointed to yet another, which I found and also found it did not contain my friends I was supposed to meet. I went back to the other to check if they had maybe arrived late, but it was to no avail, and defeated and dejected I returned home.Friday Day
Friday Day brought nothing special at work except that I started writing a speech for the Deputy Chief of Mission (the guy just below the ambassador) that he is slated to deliver next Saturday for a Columbus Day/Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
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