Old lady birthday

Hello readers,

since Paris, I have hit the ground running in Madrid! I picked up a bunch of new classes and am working aroudn the clock. This is not a bad thing I guess, because I can save money for my summer travels. One of my new students is at a very advanced level due to his one year exchange program that he did in Muncie, IN! Small world, right ?
Last weekend was absolutely beautiful, and some friends and I spent a day hiking in the casa de campo...a huge green space within Madrid's limits. It is very hilly so we could climb through the forests and things and get great views of the city. We also took a long a picnic. very fun!
This past week, I turned 23, and am feeling old, although my European friends tell me that this is a very young age to be working and assured me that I am still very young. I had a nice day, despite the rain (it always rains on my birthday!) and most of my students wished me happy birthday. I went out with some friends that night to celebrate. Since then, the celebration has continued. Thursday night, my friends cooked me a curry dinner, and last night the women I lived with when I first moved to Madrid invited me and a few mutual friends over for a paella feast and a birthday cake! It felt like a real birthday.
The weather is not so nice today, but we're hoping to go back out to casa de campo for round 2 of hiking fun!