The Spanglish Adventures of Casey & Utkarsh

We Will Miss Spain...And Can't Wait to Get Home

As we countdown less than a week left on our Spanglish Adventure, we have created a quick list of what we will miss (and what we won't). 

We Will Miss...

• cafe con leche
• pan con tomate
• the Metro
• little kids dressed like dolls
• 10pm dinner hour
• the weather (except summer)
• well dressed people
• canas

We Will Not Miss...

• dudes with amplifiers on wheels playing the pan flute or singing cheesy spanish songs in the Metro cars
• weird ground beef, tons of oil and canned tuna on every salad and dish possible
• Spanish red tape and snobby rules
• lack of normal drugstores, milk that stays room temperature until you open it
• unforeseen nasal assaults of BO on the Metro and in restaurants
• SMOKE EVERYWHERE
• dog crap on the sidewalk
• pushy old ladies (this is especially true for Ut)
  
  

Our Madrid Miracle - Henry Thomas

Half Indian, Half Irish, All American, born in Spain on Bastille Day.

Henry Thomas made his way into the world on his own just hours before his scheduled eviction on July 14.  Once he decided to come, he came fast although faced the cord wrapped around his neck twice and had to be vaccum suctioned out.  His apperance upon delivery was definitely something that only a mother could love but he is absolutely perfect in every way.  And thankfully, better looking every day.  As I write this on his 5th day of life, I'd say he's the most beautiful thing in the whole world.

He's not the biggest baby - born 6.8 pounds and 19.7 inches.  But he more than makes up for size in lung strength.  Grandma Reidy arrived today to experience Henry's wails in person.  She explained that Casey's Grandma McCabe and Grandma Reidy said that these types of babies were "lively" or "full of life".  Yes, I would say we have learned quickly to walk the floors with our lively, full of life little man.

So, as our Spanglish Adventure draws to a close, we embark on a new adventure...parenthood.  We'll be sure to send postcards.

Eviction Notice

Dear Bambino Patel,

Its been nice having you on board for the past 41 weeks but you are past due on rent and its time for eviction.  We have a much better home for you ready on the outside.  You have 10 hours to make a run for the border naturally, otherwise, we are coming in to get you...

Your mom, dad and Aunt Beans look forward to meeting you tomorrow.  Hope you are ready! 

Sincerely,

The Management

Veranos de la Villa

So its supposed to be 106 here today.  Lovely.  It was only in the upper 90s yesterday and when Casey had to take 2 buses to her office, it was not pretty.  People seem to be scared of her as her belly enters the room about a minute before the rest of her.  Old ladies on the bus were begging her to sit down as soon as she got on the bus.  One guy even tried to give her his seat as she got up to get off the bus.  Its like everyone around her thinks the baby is going to make her tip over. 

However, last weekend, it was only in the mid-80s so we ventured out to Casa de Camp (a big park area on the outskirts of Madrid) to see West Side Story at an outdoor theater.  It was a very cool venue and we all had fun.  I can'tdo our trip justice so I'll let you read about it from our resident blogger, Jeanne Reidy.

http://www.europeanvibeblog.com/2009/06/30/veranos-de-la-cuidad/

She will kill me that I'm posting this here but she's such a good writer, she deserves a little audience.  If you want to keep up on all Jeannie's writings and musings (along with the other interns of the European Vibe magazine), add this to your favorites:  http://www.europeanvibeblog.com/

She's also available on European Vibe Twitter but I don't know how to do that so I just poke fun at the technology hoping that it will go away and I'll never need to learn how to do it.

P.S. This article was not written by Jeannie but is a funny read nonetheless on what Spaniards think of Americans.  After being here for almost a year, I have to say that I agree with a lot of this stuff.  Americans are nice people but do look like political and social goofs quite a bit from across the pond.  There is no comparison to the resources that we have in the USA...and the level at which we squander those resources.

http://www.europeanvibe.com/ev_magazine.asp?id_seccion=12&id_articulo_revista=360

RIP PYT

We are all very sad today to hear that Michael Jackson passed away.  Yes, we know he has had more than his fair share of "freaky" antics.  But no doubt, one of the most amazing entertainers to ever live.  I'm on a steady diet of MJ music all day today and I feel great...his music is amazing.  Then you add the dancing to the mix and he's just an unmatched talent. 

We have thrown out the idea of naming the baby Michael Jackson Patel but we aren't quite that level of fans. 

RIP Michael - hope Bubbles is there to great you at the pearly gates.

Before you ask...

I'm letting everyone know here that I went to the doctor today and there is no sign that the bambino is planning to come anytime soon.  And yes, I am "slightly" annoyed.  Let me clarify:

1.  I am grateful that the baby appears totally healthy and is currently estimated at about 6 lbs.

2.  I know that bambino is technically not due for 3 more weeks. 

3.  I have no idea how long they will let me sit in this huge, hot, ugly and uncomfortable state telling me that I need to walk around more and eat less, before they induce.  TRUST ME, no one wants to know this information more than I do.

4.  Yes, its hotter here than at home and I know everyone is jealous.  I am the one person on the planet who would prefer to be in Chicago during the cool, early part of the summer (well, entire summer to be honest).   

5.  I know that in the great scheme of things, the baby's health is most important and that no one stays pregnant forever and I should be happy to be able to get some sleep now and all that crap.  I know.  I know.  I know.

6.  I still want it out.  Now.

7.  I'm sorry for the rant.  I know I'm very lucky to be able to experience this precious, ribcage-kicking, irritable-from-everything, swollen time. 

Finally, if you want to help me, please just pray, chant, raindance, send vibes, voo doo, or whatever for a safe and speedy delivery of this kid.  Thanks.

Casey

Rockin Rascafria for Ut's Birthday

It was above 100 degrees here this weekend so we headed to the mountains for the weekend to celebrate Ut's birthday.  We drove to a little town called Rascafria about an hour away and stayed at a hotel in an old monastery.  We had a few bumps along the road as the clutch on our first rental car decided to give out on an uphill two-lane mountain road at a very inconvienent curve.  After a ride in the tow truck, a stop at a local highway restaurant and a long taxi ride to the airport, we were able to get another car eventually and salvage part of our first day.  ThankGod our Beanorita was here to speak to Hertz on the phone in Spanish during a very stressful few minutes.

We spent the next couple days eating, taking in the gorgeous views, swimming in the refreshing (cold)hotel pool and sleeping as much as possible.  Bambino is t-minus 3 weeks to go.  Which is really quite a long way to go for Casey as every moment feels like a battle these days.  Not terribly uncomfortable, just over this whole "sharing of her body with another human" thing.

  

Frijole Esta Aqui!

BEANS IS HERE!!!!  She has left the Marta and Mercedes Benz family home and moved in to Club Hermosilla for the summer.  She is happy to be out of her coffin and hopefully happy with her new roomies - even the fat one.  She will be interning at Euro Vibe magazine and tutoring some very lucky little children over the course of the next 10 weeks.  Now that we have secured the Beanorita, we are now just waiting for the arrival of the permanent visitor...bambino.  5 weeks to go.

Visit from the Ropers

John and Erin left this morning after they "came and knocked on our door" for the weekend.  After their whirlwind tour of London, Pairs, Bordeaux (plus a bunch of French castles) and Barcelona, we weren't sure we could entertain them with plain old Madrid.  But luckily the weather cooperated here for the most part and we were able to enchant them with the good life - Madrileno style.  Tapas, sangria, cervezas, a little Prado, topped off with some Spanish guitar in a little Reagle Beagle bar carved out under Plaza Mayor.  

It was great to see them and catch up on all the NYC stories.  We were sad to see them go but happy to have survived our four-month visitor parade.  Thanks to everyone who made the trip this year to see us, we hope you enjoyed it!

Hot and Sneezy Madrid

We have been experiencing our first spring in Madrid.  Let's just say that the weather that has been so nice through the colder parts of the year is now showing its alternate side.  Its been up into the 80s over the past week and is due to hit the low 90s for a few days this week.  Yes, it is May and there is no access to water for hours from here.  This Chicago gal is not quite ready for the heat and is missing Lake Michigan like crazy.  I broke down and turned on the AC in our bedroom last night.

On top of the heat, the warm spring has introduced us to the Madrid allergy season.  I've never experienced such a long and painful pollen season.  The air is very dry and it actually hurts your nose to be outside for too long.  Casey is doing OK with the pollen, Ut is a wreck.

So we are suffering through our hot and sneezy spring with buckets of kleenex and fearing the real heat of July and August.  This summer, when you get to the beach at home or feel a nice cool breeze in the afternoon, pray for us here in Madrid that we have not melted away!