Tired of being a Foriegner
 

Working abroad and can't go home for Christmas. :-( Also I am so sick of being a foriegner. The Spaniards are great people but I am missing my buddies from home. If anyone out there is working outside the US and can't go home for Christmas, please share ideas on what you would do in Madrid, Spain if you had 30 euros to your name and a ton of work to complete (so just forget the weekend stay in a hostal in Barcelona/Valenica idea, there is not enough money or time). I earn a Spanish salary not a luxurious UK or American salary but I still feel luck to have a salary no matter how small.

Assuming that you aren't working there already...<BR><BR>The American airbase at Torrejon used to have a big Christmas party and allowed expats to attend. I don't know if 9/11 changed their security practices but you might check it out-- it was a lot of fun during my year abroad in Spain... of course that was years ago. They even had peanut butter and fresh milk, which I was missing more than anything.<BR><BR>Other ideas-- check out the foreigners programs at the University of Madrid (Complutense). The UC system and Cal State systems had hundreds of undergrad and graduate students. Lots of other colleges send their students there as well.<BR><BR>Finally, check the US embassy-- they always have holiday programs and parties.<BR><BR>All free, all fun, and they could give you a nice reminder of home even if you can't get home for the holidays.

You are the best. Thank you. :-)

OK, I have absolutely nothing to add to this thread, except to say how could you not love a website that gives advice like this? I read &quot;me's&quot; post and thought, how sad, then immediately someone comes along with a couple of incredible answers. Where else in the world could you get advice like that for free? Now, I just hope it works out.

When the US still had their air base at Torrejon, we used to attend their parties too.<BR>Besides the Embassy (good source), check with the St. Louis University program at Ciudad Universitaria and also the Instituto Internacional on Miguel Angel 8 (my old school building) in the Chamberi district where many other jr. year abroad programs and the Middlebury M.A. program are located. Look closely at the bulletin boards there to see what they have going on during the holidays. Also be sure to check in (post this message) with the other foreign residents working in Madrid at the message boards of www.madridman.com and www.multimadrid.com They may even have some sort of holiday get together planned. Many posters there are in your same boat. You'll have more people there who can commiserate and maybe help more.