You know you've been an exchange student in Madrid when.....

I've been thinking to write this all year. The following are just a few things to describe the changes and growth that is acheived in so little time.

1). You navigate the metro like it's your house. You don't need a map, and you know exactly how many minutes it takes to get from Point A to Point B. Standing at the wrong end of the train could easily cost you ten minutes, which will later make you miss your bus. And if you do end up late, you must blame it on something other than the transportation, as everyone knows this doesn't fail- unless there's a strike or slightest bit of snow.

The rythm of the stations' stairs-escalators-stairs is too familiar, and you recognize people despite Madrid's population of over 3 million.

Any wait for more than seven minutes is ridiculous. The people who can't open the metro doors are obvious tourists, as well of those who stand on the left side of escalators. You walk the escalators, as riding it would be insane and take too much time.

Even though you might not see the name of the station, you can recognize where you are at by how many songs have gone by on your iPod, or the amount of people that are on the metro at the time.

You know the metro hours, and the frequency depending on the time of day. Percise timing is important, especially holidays.

2). The idea of getting lost is as real as a fiction book. With common sense, you can never get lost. Between the bus and metro system- getting lost is only for the directionally challenged tourist. There are night buses, and you know the metro hours. If you happen to get stuck at a connection when it closes, you simply find a bus.

And you actually know how the bus system works.

Even more, your sense of navigation skyrockets- as you unknowingly learn how to recognize how to get back from where you came from.

3). You have never taken a Madrid taxi. This would just simply be ridiculous. Not only are they much more expensive than a bus ticket or metro, but you know that the drivers will go in cirlces, and the longest way possible to your destination. Why would you ever need a taxi anyhow? If it's close, you walk.

4). You know the streets backwards and forwards. Not only do the hidden street signs make you stronger, you know how to walk from stop to stop above ground- as the little handout maps are 'fit to page' and don't show the true above ground map. It is very important to learn as walking from one stop to another could be quicker than taking the metro.

5). You know where someone's going before they get there. And not just the tourists.The kids with the backpacks are college students going to the the nearest university, the adults with their backpacks-on-backwards are the 'afraid to get robbed' but probably don't have anything valuable anyways, guys carrying plastic bags are going to a 'botellon' (drinking gathering in the park), the sketchy looking type with the big bags are street vendors, the foreign language speakers are tourists going to Sol/Retiro/Gran Via, the 'average' Spanish person is going to the nearest connection/bus stop to go to work, even if it is already 9AM... and more. You even recognize people taking the same scheduled route day after day.

6). You start to hate 'British English'. You darn well know that all English speakers can understand other English speakers, and even if you say things a bit different, it's still English. There are no different languages in the same one. Even with that said, you refuse spell or talk with such a strange English vocabulary.

7). Walking miles and miles in a day is completely normal. You don't think twice about it and don't even consider it a workout. And you know which shoes to wear...

8). You know and see street performers more than your next door neighbor. Where they are, when, and how all their fancy tricks that make them look like 'they're sitting down in the air' work.

9). You had never paid to use a bathroom. McDonald's is free. And usually clean. I think that's enough said...

10). You know where to go when 'everything is closed.' The stores, restaurants, etc. Except...whenever you need to go to the pharmacy. That happens to always be a Sunday. And it's superrrr difficult to find one open on a Sunday.

11). You've never paid for wifi. You simply just go to the "Wifi Gratis" stands. It's no wonder why they put "free" in Spanish.

12). You are surprised when talking to other people from around Spain how hard it is for them to find a Starbuck's. Like, what are they talking about? There are Starbuck's everywhere!...

13). You go through money like candy. You just keep telling yourself over and over it's ok that you are spending so much money- as the touristy places have taken over. And the phone monopoly... Which is very true.....

14). You have been pickpocketed or know more than one person who has been. .....yeahhhhh. We'll just be a bit more careful next time.

15). All your friends live in an apartment. You have started to get used to the fact that kids don't hang out at home- they meet up in the city somewhere at a plaza, park, or some type of other place.

And you know meeting at Retiro Park is a mistake, unless you precisely specify exactly where.

16). Your communication revolves around 'toque wars' and you get to be quite good at them. Even as a receiver, you learn to be ready on command. (This is leaving a one-ring missed call, costing the dialer no money since the call never connected.)

17). You count the number of times you have ridden in a car on one hand. Probably none of your friends have a car, and cars are only used for long day trips or transporting things you can't with public transportation.

18). When going somewhere, you have gotten over the embaressment of asking for directions. People don't like to admit that they don't know where something is, and will point you in any random direction. By asking one person per block, you can sort out the locals vs. the locos.

And you know they best people to ask are the ones walking a dog. For they are the ones who live nearby...

19). You know your street safety. Not only do you know to watch out for theives- windows (REMEMBER!: unwanted items go out the window!) trees, short sidewalk barrier/poles, mopeds, bicycles, tourists (like a human pole) and dog droppings pose a dangerous threat as well. And when the stone sidewalks are the slightest bit wet, you might as well be walking on ice.

20). You never forget your keys. This could lock you out of your apartment complex, building, and house with missing this crucial item.

21). Talking to random strangers is everyday fun. You never know how small the world really is. And on another note, you have had practice making up 'where you're from' stories, because if you aren't from California, Florida, or New York, you are big dissapointment and leave people very confused as to where else you could possibly live.

22). You use 'the towers' as a compass. North, south, east, west, and the distance you are from the city. Very useful.

23). You see the "El Corte Ingles" sign in your dreams. If El Corte Ingles doesn't have it- Spain doesn't have it. But we all know this place is pricy...

24). You fall asleep to the sounds of cars, sirens, fireworks, yelling, mopeds, and music from the streets. You consider this completely normal, have no problem falling asleep, and actually enjoy it. Silence is boring.

25). You don't get offended if someone honks at you. This is an on-going noise throughout the city and you know not to take it too personal. Jay-walking is part of everyday life.

26). Speed limits don't exist. Well, they do by law. But as long as you're going slower than the person next to you, you're fine. Wait, did we just pass a speed limit sign? I guess we'll never know. We were going too fast....

27). You know buses own the streets. They will actually run you over unlike the cars. And they come out of nowhere...

28). You know adventure is mandantory in life. It may be fun, difficult, easy, or coincidental. But adventure is mandantory. It is not an option. In Madrid, you're always on some wild goose chase.

29). You know life is a chain of spontanious and random events.  One of the biggest lessons learned in Madrid. You can't plan life- it just happens. Your schedule, activities, thoughts, actions, it's all unplanned. So stop trying to plan your life. It's impossible. Just sit back, and enjoy.

And finally, you know you've been an exchange student in Madrid when you stubbornly refuse to say you are a tourist, or 'just studying.' It's more than that. It's home.

...And 'troncos' are not tree trunks.

more soon,

-mb