Hey, folks--
At the risk of annoying anyone who is concerned about privacy issues, I thought it would be fun to learn a bit about what we all do in our "real lives." I'm happy to start...I'm a grad student in my very early 30s, working toward a Ph.D. in child development, and the proud mother of a 3.5-year-old. She keeps my research grounded in reality...a good thing for an academic type! She hasn't been to Spain yet, but I can't wait to take her.

And as most of you know, I introduced my husband to España in March. He was enthralled, so I think I will keep him (he was only on probation until he passed the "loves Spain" test). In my free time (Ha! With a 3-year-old? Not much of that!), I knit, read, and hang out on the Web (too much).

So that's me...anyone else want to share a bit of not-terribly-intrusive personal info?

I am a senior in college in Pennsylvania -- graduating in a little over a month -- and majoring in International Language/ Business and Philosophy. Spanish is my main language (could you have guessed? ) but I used to take French, German, and Italian, and I am taking Portuguese now. I am job hunting but it is hard because I don't know what I want to do except speak Spanish and get my foot in the door somewhere that might want to transfer me to Madrid! In my spare time I am soaking up the rest of college life, ie hanging out at the bar -- but months of PA barhopping could not compare to one night in Salamanca!

Oh, Majesty, I couldn't agree more!

And my husband's family is from PA...he was born in State College when his dad was in grad school, and his grandparents still live in Pottsville (cute little old coal town). I love visiting Pennsylvania!

I forgot to mention that I live in Minnesota, but am from Florida...and on days like today, I wish I could be back there!! Brr...it was SNOWING this morning!

I'm a Sophomore in college in Massachusetts. I'm a Spanish major, and I hope to double major in linguistics (at least minor at this point). I plan on teaching Spanish at the high school level when I graduate. I would also like to try working for some sort of company through which I could travel to Spain a lot. Don't know exactly yet, but I have plenty of time. In my spare time, I work, compulsively check my e-mail, work, check this site, work, hang out with friends, and of course work some more.

I'm a Senior (Senior citizen, that is) and retired. When I am not browsing MadridMan's board I am usually planning my next Europe trip. I visited Spain 3-times last year: twice with my better half (Madrileña) and once solo. The solo trip was as a result of being the successful bidder on a Lufthansa Internet auction for a Philadelphia-Bilbao R/T (total, incl. taxes, etc. $213 USD). So I look at the auctions too. Although we stopped in Sevilla in September '00. most of our Spain travel is to Cantabria or Galicia, partly because we share Celtic 'roots.'

Some trips have a religious theme (Santiago de Compostela for Año Júbilar Xacobeo in '99 and Santo Toribio (Potes, Cantabria) for Año Santo in '00).

I am graduating in a month with similar credentials and ambitions as Majesty. Basically, I just want to travel, speak Spanish and love what I do. Asking too much isn't it? I am also the mother of a beautiful two year old girl named Sophia and work part-time at a Spanish restaurant.

I was an elementary Spanish teacher for 3 years, and now I'm in grad school. I'll get my master's in public administration in May. Right now I work part-time for a latino advocacy nonprofit doing research and program evaluation. After graduation, who knows what I'll do?

In my spare time I'm been planning my next trip to Spain. My husband & I are going to Madrid & Sevilla for 10 days in October for his "loves Spain" test! (He's on probation as well).

I dedicate the rest of my free time to my shih tzu Ginger, who is undoubtably the cutest dog on the planet.

Ummm... I work (what do I do? It's a mysterrrry, but suffice to say I push papers all day long), but the message board is NEVER far from my thoughts or fingers. When I'm NOT editing/replying-to/posting messages on the message board I'm likely answering website related email like "Umm.. I'm going to Spain this summer. What are the Must-Sees and how long should I spend at each place?" or "I'm going to Spain this tomorrow. Are there any good hostels in Madrid?" or "I'm going to Madrid next month. Can you send me some information about it?" or "I'm doing a report on Madrid. Can you mail me some literature about it?" Okay... that's JUST the email (I think I answered about 25 Saturday night and Sunday).

Otherwise, I'm searching for new-to-the-web hostels to add, new radio stations in Spain to add, new and cool things about Madrid and Spain to add (by the way, Jeremy's Madrid Plaza Mayor LIVE cam (cam online 6pm-8am local time and all weekend) has just gone online!!), and thinking of potential new Spain-related websites to create (not that I have any spare time to make them right now, but have LOTS of plans and domain names to be used).

Other than those things above, I rarely watch TV, stay up too late and get up too early, travel whenever I can, and try to be as happy as possible while being many many MANY miles away from my sweet ladyfriend, passing the time until my next visit. And that's it!

Saludos, MadridMan

[ 04-17-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

Hey, MM, when you say that what you do is a "mystery," I hope you only mean it's a mystery to US, not to YOU! (Though sometimes I think being a grad student is one of those jobs where even *I* don't know what I do all day--though pushing papers has a familiar ring to it--I teach an undergrad course that has 150 students in it, and each is writing about 7 papers this semester--yikes!).

I live in Shoreview, MN. Not too far from you taravb. I work for Daytons (soon to be re-named Marshall Fields) as an interior designer.

I love travel, reading about travel, returning with treasures from my travels, and re-creating the meals I've enjoyed on my travels.

We are leaving for our first trip to Spain on April 25. I love reading MM's board every morning with my coffee and I value all the information I've gathered here.

taravb, are you aware of any good Spanish restaurants in the Mpls/St. Paul area?

To add some personal info myself, I'm an engineer, born and raised in Madrid that left homeland to work "en esos mundos de Dios" and came back to the city center to live.

I see the travelling thing from the opposite point of view.

I don't know if its winter where you are but after the rainiest winter ever, easter has been sunny and warm....

Well, here's for me:

I live in San Francisco near the beach in a small apartment that "gracias a Dios" is under rent control. When I am not awaiting the next blackout, I work as a computer trainer for a large law firm of 600 attorneys. My challenge is to convince attorneys that someone can actually teach them something.

What I've been doing for the past 2 months differs greatly from what I normally do since I accidentally fell and severed my right quadricep tendon in February. So after surgery, I am recovering and working at home - no classroom teaching for me! I do lots of writing on the laptop and design training materials all day.

When I get back up to speed, I can't wait to get back into my normal routine: work out twice a day, go out to great restaurants, cook great dinners for my boyfriend (including Paella and Sopa de Ajo) and oh yeah - ballroom dancing!

Tomas

[ 04-17-2001: Message edited by: tomas ]

Hi, LindaB--
What did you think of that crazy snow yesterday?! Ugh! We lived in Fridley for a while before moving to south Mpls. My husband used to work in Arden Hills, too.

I have been to La Bodega, which is in Mpls on the corner of Lake and Lyndale (just south of Lake). It's a tapas bar/restaurant, with a pretty good selection of Spanish or Spanish-inspired foods. I'm not a wine-drinker, but my girlfriends always seem to happily polish off a few bottles of red. I like their sangría, too. Their calamares are quite good. They don't have ANY Spanish beers, for some reason.

There's also El Mesón, on Nicollet, I think--I haven't been there.

Maybe we can meet after your Spain trip. Actually, if you want, I can share lots of stuff from our trip there in March--I have guidebooks, Prado museum info, maps, etc. Let me know here or via regular e-mail if you would like any of that before you leave--my address is vanbrederode@yahoo.com.

Well I've worked for the past 13 years in the export industry. I am currently trying to get my major in Int'l Business but I started late and work full time so it's taking me awhile. I've lived all my life in Miami, Fl. where we are suppose to have a cold front come in tomorrow (it should go down to 60) . I will be taking my first trip to spain in 2.5 weeks along with my husband(his second) and my parents in law. I'm addicted to this board and check it out every chance I get.

Hi every-one

I'm 55 years young (its a "Baby Boomer" thing for those of you who aren't from that group of people) and am in love with Madrid and Spain. Which is something strange as Spain was "never" a country that was high on my "must see" agenda, until a very good friend of mine from Australia married a lovely Senorita from Madrid and has now settled there. We (my wife and I) attended their wedding in Madrid during our last European Trip.

I'm a General/Sales Manager of a Computer management organisation and I spend way toooo much time thinking and planning my (ours actually, as my wife has the same love affair with Spain as I do) trip to Spain, and a little bit of Europe as well.

Apart from work and trip planning I love my Grand-children, gardening and Basketball.

David

I wondered from Philadelphia area to Europe and on to Afghanistan,Pakistan & India for 6 years in the late 60's early 70's with one short stay in Spain in '72. Since then I have been a designer/merchandizer for ladies apparel in NYC and Pennsy., do lots of costuming,love art and music,travel annually to the Carib. and am finally returning to Spain for 2 weeks in June/July. The second week my 16 yr old daughter will participate in an International Soccer Tourn. in Palencia.

I'm a lawyer from Baltimore, Maryland. In college, I majored in Linguistics (Spanish and Russian, a combination that always got a lot of comments). Anyway, during law school, I somehow deviated from my plan to practice international law , and I don't actually do anything in my practice that uses the languages aside from the occasional client who doesn't speak much English. And I had more or less forgotten how much I adored Madrid when I visited about 10 years ago. I went back to Spain on vacation this winter and fell in love with the country again. I found MM's page when planning my trip and am now addicted. I have to check it everyday.

[ 04-19-2001: Message edited by: jmcarr ]

I'm a retired mechanical design engineer. Not by choice, but due to health reasons. I live in Illinois, but my heart is split between northern Wisconsin & Spain. (I believe the grass is really greener on the other side of the fence.)

Since my forced retirement, I have dabbled in writing both on and off the internet, including a newsletter that actually was subscribed to by over 100,000 people, and have been working at three different manuscripts for six years. With any luck at all, one will be finished by September. The one that I hope will reach the best seller ranks, and make me rich beyond my wildest imagination

Listen - If you're going to dream, dream big!

Wolf

I am a figure skater, a student (somewhat) - I always like to learn, and I work in corporate development for an entertainment firm.

when I'm not on this site, I like to go to the movies, eat out at 5 star restaurants, and my golly TRAVEL!!! I ride bikes in the summer and go sailing or kayaking whenever the weather permits.

I don't cook a lot, but I love a good home cooked meal. Well, that's enough about me...roses.

p.s. And Wolfgang, you're right! If you're going to dream, dream big!!! - There's no other way.

[ 04-26-2001: Message edited by: roses ]

[ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: roses ]

I work here in Barcelona as a DBA with www.starmedia.com and also attend school for art restoration.

Next year I'll be heading to Madrid to attend the master's program in restoration at the University of Alcalá, and then a much desired career change out of the internet biz.

Hey Asterault. If you do't mind, could I email you privately? I am interested in art restauration and you are the first person I have "met" that is actually doing it! I just have a few questions...

I work and live in Boulder and Denver consulting for a coffee company. I moved here to go to the Naropa institute (Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poets) about five years ago and fell in love with the mountains. I love to wander and consider my first upcoming trip to Spain a pilgrimage. I'm glad to have found this kind resource prior to departure. :p

Hi everybody, I don´t use to write in this great BBS, but sometimes it is good time to remind that I am still alive. I am Rafael Corrales, a Madrid lover and born in Madrid.
I am finishing my studies as Computing Systems Administrator and I work since two years in a nice company called Instrumentación y Componentes as computer technic. I invite everybody to Madrid, this city is always special, but maybe there are too much "work in men", Madrid looks like a groullere cheese ;-)
MSX Power Replay, my club

I moved from Minnesota in 1994 to teach HS Spanish...after our little one entered our life, I changed careers for financial reasons (so mom could stay home!)...and have been left to dream about the next trip to Spain (and how I'm going to swing the vacation time) as my secondary vocation. Incidentally, that next trip will be a 15-day affair in April 2002 which will include a 500 mile bike trek along the Camino francés from Valcarlos (in between St.Jean pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles...home of our family) to Compostela. I'll be making the pilgrimage for a myriad of reasons, and look forward to boring...er...sharing the details with you then!

We are active members in the Chino Basque Club, where my wife is a member of the Gauden Bat dance group. My suegra's side of the family is 100% Basco, which is A-OK with me! Anyone in the SoCal area who would like to visit for the club's monthly luncheons and periodic festivals, drop me an e-mail!

I look to re-enter the teaching world eventually, but until they pay teachers what they are truly worth to the community, (and hopefully do away with those unions that reward mediocrity with tenure), I'm 'stuck' earning on behalf of my family in an alternate career .

WOW! What diversity on this board
I am a stay-at-home Mom with TWO boys (3-years old and 7 months, Daniel and Julien) My husband Roberto was born and raised in Madrid, where we lived for a little over a year and where I became addicted to helping people try to find work in Spain teaching English...

I write travel articles about Madrid(in English) for an online travel company based in Barcelona and I also do freelance travel writing for other magazines like "Transitions Abroad." I am still hoping for a MUCH BIGGER writing opportunity to come my way though before callilng myself a "pro!"

I live very close to Philadelphia but always keep one foot on a US AIR plane heading to Spain!

*** And yeah, MM...what is it that you DO???? Don't keep us guessing!

[ 04-30-2001: Message edited by: Tracy Moral ]

Si, Nicole you can email me.

Ciao

hi all - i'm living in London right now managing an interactive (web, itv, wireless) team within a global ad agency. much as i love the money and the city... setting up a business in madrid seems so much more attractive.

so. on friday I quit and in August I will be living in central Madrid, hoepfully with a good business plan, some investment and a suntan. at the very least i'll be pulling pints in an irish bar.

matt

I'm a senior undergraduate student hoping to finish college soon with degrees in English and computer science (please don't ask me how I will combine those) and hopefully find a job soon.

I fell in love with Spanish language in junior high school. A high-school trip to Madrid did it for me. Now, I am obsessed. I want to go on a tour of Spain soon and meet lots of Spanish friends.