Brittany vs. Evil Ex-Roommate: The Saga

Shortly after moving to Madrid in September of 2009, I found an apartment just 5 minutes from my previous academy.  I wanted to live with a few Spaniards in order to practice Spanish more.  Being in a rush to move our of the previous place I was living, I took a room with 2 Spanish guys and a Swiss girl.  The roommates changed every few months as the Swiss girl returned home and other people moved in and out.  That is for the exception of one guy who we´ll refer to as El Diablo (aka ED). 

Well, we had our normal roommate drama within the house.  You know things like someone didn´t wash their dishes and who was the last person to buy papel higenico (toilet paper)... things like this.

I lived there until the end of June 2010 when I finally decided I wanted a change in scenery.  Plus, I went home to the US for all of July and didn´t really want to pay rent for a room I wasn´t going to be living in. 

I told my roommates at that time of my plans, including El Diablo and everything was fine.  I started packing up little things as I looked for a new apartment to move into that next August.  As May was coming to an end, I asked ED if he wanted to use my fianza (security deposit) to cover my last month of rent.  He said he´d prefer if I paid so he could collect my deposit by the end of the month.  I STUPIDLY agreed not thinking it was abnormal.

Make a loooooong story short, I never got my fianza back. He told me that another ex-roommate took it and after talking to that ex-roommate he said that indeed ED had it..... blah blah blah! So basically my money simply disappeared! To make matter worse (which I take complete blame for and still kick myself for til this day),  I never got a formal contract signed proving that I paid a deposit. I know I´m an IDIOT! So ED walked away with 400€ in his pocket.

After talking to the landlord and even a student who is a lawyer, I realized that there was nothing I could do.  Putting my tail between my legs, I moved out and went back to the US for the month trying to forget about this ordeal.  Well kind of.... for the first half of my vacation, I put comments on all the websites where ED was trying to rent my old room stating that nobody should rent from this apartment and warning people about what happened to me. 

Needless to say, I received some very disgruntled messages from El Diablo and also found out that he went to my work asking for my new address and trying to get in contact with my friends in order to find me.  Creepy Stuff!  I returned to Madrid in August to unpack into my new apartment and finish out the summer working.

Within my first week back to work, one of my administrators told me that someone was calling from the police station to get in contact with me. I asked if they left a number and but was told they didn´t.  The next day I received a call from a weird number while I was in class and afterwards listened to the voicemail.  It was from the COMISARÍA (police station) asking me to return the phone call.  Well, I was a little confused so the next day I walked sown to the station to talk with them in person and asked why they wanted to talk to me.  However, no one had heard of me or knew why I received these phone calls.  So I left convinced that it was my insane ex-roommate trying to scare me.  Well, the phone calls continued to my work so eventually I just got on the phone with my administrator next to me so I could figure out what was really going on.

Turns out it really was the COMISARÍA and I had to go down there again to talk to an officer.  They wouldn´t give me any other information over the phone but I had my suspicions that it had to do with ED; I just didn´t know why?  Few days later, I went to the station and talked to a very nice lady.  She explained that a claim had been brought against me... by guess who? EL DIABLO!  The officer must have sensed my suprise and aggravation.  He was reporting me to the cops???? He stole my money! What parallel universe was I living in?

She asked me before explaining what the charges were if ED had any reason to say I did something.  SO explained the whole fianza debacle even the part about my messages on the apartment websites.  SHe nodded and took notes, while also, keeping her patience as I was flustered and trying to get all this information out in Spanish.  After I said everything I could think of, she looked at me and asked, ¨Well, when you left the apartment, did you bring anything to your new place that wasn´t exactly yours?¨   It took me awhile to translate it and then I said in a state of shock at the accusation, ¨Wait, like did I steal anything?¨ She gave me a little smile and nodded.  Was she SERIOUS!? Oh, yes she was! ED went to the police and said that I stole a bunch of things from him including a Playstation (or Wii, don´t quite remember) and games and I never paid the last month of rent!  I mean what an A-HOLE!

Of course, I denied it.  And then got a little emotional as I realised the full extent of the situation.  She calmed me down and told me not to worry about anything... yeah, easier for her to say!

 I left after I signed the statement and right before asked the officer what would happen next.  She said she would have to call ED back in to get his full story and it probably wouldn´t go much further.  Worst case scenario, I would have to talk to a judge in the TRIBUNAL! Awesome, now I was really freaking out.  Was there a possibility I would have to pay this jerk more money? Even worse, was there a possibility that this situation could get me kicked out of the country? I had no idea´all I could do was wait for another phone call.

STAY TUNED FOR THE THRILLING CONCLUSION.....

Mercado de San Miguel

As my time continues to wind down here in Madrid (less than 5 months to go), I realized I should tell all of you some of my favorite places to go in the city.  A list of Must-Sees/ Eats in Madrid.

This one should be at the top of almost everyone's list: El Mercado de San Miguel (Saint Michael's Market, if you want a literal translation but it's easy enough to pronounce in Spanish so no use changing it)

I was first introduced to this place 2 Christmas' ago by my good friend Michelle.  She and her students were having a tapas/ holiday party there and she asked if I wanted to tag along.  I had no plans so I agreed figuring it would just be like a big bar or something.  It was anything but.... 

That night,in general, was probably in my top 20 nights in  Spain and a large part of it was my first experience in El Mercado de San Miguel.  Subsenquently, I've spent quite a bit of time in this magical place over the next year and a half.  Friends and I celebrated Valentines Day there, I've brought all my friends and family who have visited me to take part in at least a glass of wine and cheese platter. This is also one of my favorite romantice spots for a first date. 

The food in gourmet and delicious.  The wine flows with a sense of elegance and sophistication without a huge dent in your wallet.  It's a fantastic escape to the tourturous Madrid summer heat.  However, one would need to get there early or without being in a hurry, as it can be quite difficult to find a table especially for larger groups of people.

If you're in Madrid for a short time, I would recommend El Mercado for a quick glass of wine and small tapas before heading to dinner somewhere else in the center.  Or for a relaxing dessert break after a long lunch.  They have one of the best assortments of chocolates and small pastries that I've seen in Madrid.

It's located near Plaza Mayor, one of the biggest tour spots in the city.  However, it's hidden behind some of the side streets off the Plaza so a tourist that wasnt well informed probably wouldn't come across it by accident.

To sum it up, El Mercado de San Miguel is a MUST SEE here in Madrid and one of the places I will truly miss when I'm gone!

LA CRISIS hits home... and my wallet

So for 2 years all my students talk about LA CRISIS... the economic crisis that has swept the world.  I talked about the hard times in the US but more from the view of an outsider as I haven't felt the economic hardships of this troubled time for awhile.  I listened with a sense of pity and understanding as countless students told me about how hard it was to find work throughout Spain.  Almost every new class I start, I go around and ask them to share basic information about themselves and at least 3 of my 7 students say "Well, I'm unemployed at the moment hoping that learning English will help me get a better job!" Now similar phrases have been lost on me as the crisis has become more of a symbol of.... (as bad as it sounds) more work for English teachers. 

However, today I was hit with a fist full of reality. 

As some of you may or may not know, since October I've been working partly at the US Embassy here in Madrid.  I can't say much for 'matters of national securtiy' hahaha but no, seriously I can't.  It's a pretty sweet gig.  Only 6 hours a week but relatively easy money.  I've been teaching a lot of their maintanence and housekeeping staff along with chauffers and general Spanish office workers.  Classes were enjoyable.  I've gotten to meet a lot of Americans here in Madrid which is also nice.  Best part... full blown AMERICAN STORE downstairs with non-inflated prices!!!!! So since October I've been able to gorge myself on all those goodies I've been missing from back home.

And then the bad news.....

In the middle of my classes yesterday, my students walks in and looks at me suprised.  He said, 'Oh, I wasn't sure if you were actually going to be here!"   I looked at him with a smile and said, "Why wouldn't I be here.  It's class time."

With a sad face he quietly said, "Oh, you haven't heard yet!"

He goes on to explain in a mixture of English and Spanish that the US government sent in a huge budget cut to the Embassy in Madrid.  And the first thing to go.... ENGLISH CLASSES! Along with that, they're cutting several staff jobs in the residence and extreme power cuts where they can.

I was stunned as this was the first time I was hearing this. I asked when the classes were scheduled to end.  My student replied, "As far as I know, immediately!"  I couldn't believe it.  Surely they had a fixed contract with my agency till at least the end of the trimester??? I mean, RIGHT?

After all my classes, the story had been corroberated by 2 other students and 3 more non-students.  As I left the Embassy refusing to believe that was the last time I'd see my students, I called my agency to demand an explanation.  Apparently, they had yet to receive the memo either... but my colleague that also works for the Embassy informed me just minutes ago that it was true.  I am no longer employeed at the US Embassy. 

But how could this happen.  As told some of my other students and Spanish friends and they simply can't believe that a goverment like the UNITED STATES could be that hard up for money as to cancel a few English classes.  But it's true.... it's the first time in over 2 years that I have felt the sting of the economic crisis. 

Well, crap!