Un beso, Rachel
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
La huelga 29-S
Instead of joining the transportation strike today in Madrid and venture out to see the protest I decided to stick around my piso & hike a mountain (really just a very large hill) near my neighborhood. We had great weather today so I spent the day exploring, reading, and enjoying the sun. Here are a few of the pictures I took from my new favorite place to read:
Hasta _____
So the last few weeks in Madrid have proved to teach me more than how to conjugate my verbs correctly. In the last 17 days (which by the way, I amazed it has already been 17 days) I have learned how to speak with a lisp, cook a few decent meals, how to salsa, and the importance of deodorant – take care when choosing who you stand next to on a 10-minute train ride.
Last night I went out with my roommate to go dancing with a few of her friends. I think Spain might kill me – Spanish, cooking, and dancing; this is the trifecta of my nightmares. Though my conversational Spanish and cooking have been improving quickly, I think dancing could be (I’m still optimistic about this) a lost cause. After having dinner at her friend’s apartment I had my first Salsa lesson. One of the guys who living at the apartment was a pseudo Fabio from the heart of Brazil. My new Brazilian amigo insisted on teaching me the art of Salsa. Having no background in dance it was difficult to understand the concept as it was being explained in Spanish over the music. Salsa is a dance led by the man and to my surprise I was grateful to not have to lead. My first lesson taught me to keep my elbows close to my body, stand on my tip-toes, and let the man lead – and for the first time in my life I was content to have a guy make all of the decisions.
Un beso (or maybe I will start using hasta), Rachel
Monday, September 27, 2010
A singing bloke
After spending the vast majority of my college classes learning how to teach foreign language I was not surprised to learn at our two day orientation that the best way to teach grammar concepts, vocabulary, and the sort is through meaningful context. Initially I felt relieved finding out the methods I was expected to teach with by were aligned with what I had internalized the past few years in school.
As the day went on, however, I began to fear that my room for creativity in the classroom was shrinking with each speaker providing use with ‘helpful tips in the classroom’. To make it clear, my job here in Spain is not a full time teaching position. Instead, my presence in the classroom provides students with a genuine reference for the English language and corresponding culture. I will be working this next year alongside a full time teacher who, I assume, will choose the classroom’s direction.
At the end of our two-day orientation I had feelings of frustration as many of the speakers demonstrated ‘creative’ ways to incorporate music, art, and other content areas while teaching in the second language. Instead of demonstrating how to teach through a meaningful context, I felt as though we were being provided with numerous songs and games (a.k.a. ‘time fillers’) to use in the classroom.
I left orientation with a bitter taste in my mouth about the upcoming school year predicting that my time working here would be full of sing-alongs in British English - which, of course, is what auxiliaries could be required to speak. After some time, though, I realized that my outcome is heavily based on my outlook on the situation. I start teaching October 1st and am welcoming it with arms open as an optimistic educator with a background in foreign language methodology instead of a living (and singing) British English dictionary. But, on a brighter note, maybe there is a chance I could come back speaking Spanish with a British accent – talk about two birds with one stone!
Un beso, Rachel
As the day went on, however, I began to fear that my room for creativity in the classroom was shrinking with each speaker providing use with ‘helpful tips in the classroom’. To make it clear, my job here in Spain is not a full time teaching position. Instead, my presence in the classroom provides students with a genuine reference for the English language and corresponding culture. I will be working this next year alongside a full time teacher who, I assume, will choose the classroom’s direction.
At the end of our two-day orientation I had feelings of frustration as many of the speakers demonstrated ‘creative’ ways to incorporate music, art, and other content areas while teaching in the second language. Instead of demonstrating how to teach through a meaningful context, I felt as though we were being provided with numerous songs and games (a.k.a. ‘time fillers’) to use in the classroom.
I left orientation with a bitter taste in my mouth about the upcoming school year predicting that my time working here would be full of sing-alongs in British English - which, of course, is what auxiliaries could be required to speak. After some time, though, I realized that my outcome is heavily based on my outlook on the situation. I start teaching October 1st and am welcoming it with arms open as an optimistic educator with a background in foreign language methodology instead of a living (and singing) British English dictionary. But, on a brighter note, maybe there is a chance I could come back speaking Spanish with a British accent – talk about two birds with one stone!
Un beso, Rachel
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Feliz cumpleaños
Last time I lived in Spain I spent most of my time with other Americans who were also studying abroad. I was very lucky to have met so many amazing friends participating in the same program as me but, consequently, my social life did not regularly include Spaniards. Living in Spain a second time has provided me with a great opportunity to immerse myself in authentic culture and, as they say, “do as the Romans (or Spaniards) do”.
This past weekend was my roommate’s birthday. María has known me a little over a week but nevertheless she invited me to join her and our other roommate, Leslie, for dinner to celebrate.
María had chosen a seafood restaurant near Plaza de España for dinner. Coming from Nebraska my knowledge of fish and the sort is limited (ask me about steak and I could tell you where on the cow the meat is from). At dinner I tried shellfish, oysters, and the best chorizo I have had in Spain – after we ‘mojamos’ (dip) the bread into the lemon sauce.
Assuming birthdays are somewhat universal I expected us to enjoy dinner and then offer to pay for at least a celebratory drink for María. Unlike in the U.S. where you are treated on your birthday, María insisted on paying for our entire meal (after all, “it’s what they do”). After dinner we strolled through the streets of Madrid to a neighboring café where we had a healthy after dinner drink and a café con leche.
I felt so welcomed being able to share such a wonderful Spanish conversation and meal with two great people I had just met by chance in Madrid. It’s certain that María was not the only one who was able to celebrate something this past Saturday.
Un beso, Rachel
This past weekend was my roommate’s birthday. María has known me a little over a week but nevertheless she invited me to join her and our other roommate, Leslie, for dinner to celebrate.
María had chosen a seafood restaurant near Plaza de España for dinner. Coming from Nebraska my knowledge of fish and the sort is limited (ask me about steak and I could tell you where on the cow the meat is from). At dinner I tried shellfish, oysters, and the best chorizo I have had in Spain – after we ‘mojamos’ (dip) the bread into the lemon sauce.
Assuming birthdays are somewhat universal I expected us to enjoy dinner and then offer to pay for at least a celebratory drink for María. Unlike in the U.S. where you are treated on your birthday, María insisted on paying for our entire meal (after all, “it’s what they do”). After dinner we strolled through the streets of Madrid to a neighboring café where we had a healthy after dinner drink and a café con leche.
I felt so welcomed being able to share such a wonderful Spanish conversation and meal with two great people I had just met by chance in Madrid. It’s certain that María was not the only one who was able to celebrate something this past Saturday.
Un beso, Rachel
Below is a picture of Leslie, María, and I at the restaurant where we had dinner. The owner insisted we take a photo behind the bar with our wine bottle (right) on display.
Disconnecting from the familiar
My move to Madrid was not something I planned lightly for before my departure. At home I foresaw myself becoming homesick during the holidays and transpiring events that I would be forced to miss because of the distance. In the last two weeks here I have had both filled days of endless activities and a few days of down time where I could move at a slower pace and recharge my batteries.
I have found myself asking myself more frequently than I expected what my family and friends would be doing at home while I was here in Madrid. My days pass full of new events and experiences. It is still a foreign idea to know that as I might be winding down my day the people closest to me are just beginning theirs. The time change (and a few moments of shaky internet) has made it difficult to communicate with family and friends the last week or so.
After consciously acknowledging my feelings of being disconnected I realize that longing for a comfortable conversation is only natural. I should miss the things I left at home: my family, friends, home, and a routine. I came to Spain looking for a break from a schedule that felt almost suffocating and now, as I am altering every aspect of my daily life, I realize that in my heart this is what I have longed for.
I know that my time here is forcing me to look at life through a new lense and for that I am continuously grateful. As a person who wants to work with students and people from cultures drastically different from my familiar I know this process will leave me in a better place to help them with their needs. Though Europe might be a lifestyle closest to the U.S.’s, the separation from what I know will give me insight into the barriers that many experience on a more drastic level. The two weeks here, thus far, have forced me to acknowledge that my time gone will not only improve my understanding of the world but also drastically change my understanding of myself.
Un beso, Rachel
I have found myself asking myself more frequently than I expected what my family and friends would be doing at home while I was here in Madrid. My days pass full of new events and experiences. It is still a foreign idea to know that as I might be winding down my day the people closest to me are just beginning theirs. The time change (and a few moments of shaky internet) has made it difficult to communicate with family and friends the last week or so.
After consciously acknowledging my feelings of being disconnected I realize that longing for a comfortable conversation is only natural. I should miss the things I left at home: my family, friends, home, and a routine. I came to Spain looking for a break from a schedule that felt almost suffocating and now, as I am altering every aspect of my daily life, I realize that in my heart this is what I have longed for.
I know that my time here is forcing me to look at life through a new lense and for that I am continuously grateful. As a person who wants to work with students and people from cultures drastically different from my familiar I know this process will leave me in a better place to help them with their needs. Though Europe might be a lifestyle closest to the U.S.’s, the separation from what I know will give me insight into the barriers that many experience on a more drastic level. The two weeks here, thus far, have forced me to acknowledge that my time gone will not only improve my understanding of the world but also drastically change my understanding of myself.
Un beso, Rachel
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Move-in Day
Sunday, the 19th of September, was my last day without a home in Madrid! After this past week of walking miles of the city and enduring the metro for half of my days searching for a room I am finally able to move to my new home. I have been leaving all of my luggage besides my carry-on at Dani’s apartment while staying in the hotel this past week so after checking out I headed with Christina to Fuenlabrada to get our bags. Christina and I parted at Dani’s. She left for her new apartment in the city while I stayed the afternoon and enjoyed Emily and Dani’s company until Maria, one of my two roommates, was able to meet at the apartment.
Dani and Emily were more than hospitable in my 4 hours I spent at their place. I was at their apartment over the lunch hour and we decided to cook a meal before heading to my apartment. For anyone who knows me well you’re probably surprised when I say ‘we decided to cook’ – on the contrary, Emily decided she was hungry for tortilla española (a potato, egg, and onion dish I could eat every day) so she began to prep the ingredients. I, whose specialty is over-easy eggs in the States, felt an overwhelming urge to help because I, A, was a guest and, B, couldn’t resist learning how to make a traditional Spanish dish. I began peeling potatoes and was quickly corrected by Dani on how to use a potato peeler. Our meal turned out fabulous and I am sure I overate but I am proud to say I can hopefully cook tortilla española for anyone who has a craving for it upon my return.
After dinner, Dani drove Emily and I to my apartment in Santa Eugenia. I was very anxious about returning to the apartment and was hoping that with the crazy week I have had that the apartment was still as well of a fit as what I remembered. Maria, the teacher who owns the apartment, greeted us as warmly as the first time we had met – it was such a relief to finally feel as if I knew I was where I needed to be. Dani, Emily and I unloaded my overly packed suitcases (my advice, less really is more) and I was home! Emily and Dani left soon after as they had at least a 30 minute car ride back to Dani’s place. An important side note, without Emily and Dani’s help the last few days I am positive I would not have survived this week with an ounce of sanity. I am sure that my arrival, transportation of luggage, sanity and patience would have been minimal to non-exsistance without their help. A HUGE gracias is given to both of them for everything!
At the apartment I was given a tour of the apartment from Maria in almost all Spanish. I had her repeat herself in English with important matters like how to use the fryer, if that day ever comes, so I could avoid burning down the apartment. There is also another teacher here who is from the United States who is looking for an apartment back home – she has been in Spain for four years completing her Masters and teaching English. Her and I talked for a little bit in English but both agreed to speak in Spanish so that I can improve my speaking abilities as quickly as possible. I am starting to unpack and am overwhelmed with joy for how my time here is beginning and cannot wait to explore my neighborhood and begin familiarizing myself with my surroundings. Tomorrow morning I plan to grocery shop in the supermercado so I am sure stories will ensue.
Un beso, Rachel
Dani and Emily were more than hospitable in my 4 hours I spent at their place. I was at their apartment over the lunch hour and we decided to cook a meal before heading to my apartment. For anyone who knows me well you’re probably surprised when I say ‘we decided to cook’ – on the contrary, Emily decided she was hungry for tortilla española (a potato, egg, and onion dish I could eat every day) so she began to prep the ingredients. I, whose specialty is over-easy eggs in the States, felt an overwhelming urge to help because I, A, was a guest and, B, couldn’t resist learning how to make a traditional Spanish dish. I began peeling potatoes and was quickly corrected by Dani on how to use a potato peeler. Our meal turned out fabulous and I am sure I overate but I am proud to say I can hopefully cook tortilla española for anyone who has a craving for it upon my return.
After dinner, Dani drove Emily and I to my apartment in Santa Eugenia. I was very anxious about returning to the apartment and was hoping that with the crazy week I have had that the apartment was still as well of a fit as what I remembered. Maria, the teacher who owns the apartment, greeted us as warmly as the first time we had met – it was such a relief to finally feel as if I knew I was where I needed to be. Dani, Emily and I unloaded my overly packed suitcases (my advice, less really is more) and I was home! Emily and Dani left soon after as they had at least a 30 minute car ride back to Dani’s place. An important side note, without Emily and Dani’s help the last few days I am positive I would not have survived this week with an ounce of sanity. I am sure that my arrival, transportation of luggage, sanity and patience would have been minimal to non-exsistance without their help. A HUGE gracias is given to both of them for everything!
At the apartment I was given a tour of the apartment from Maria in almost all Spanish. I had her repeat herself in English with important matters like how to use the fryer, if that day ever comes, so I could avoid burning down the apartment. There is also another teacher here who is from the United States who is looking for an apartment back home – she has been in Spain for four years completing her Masters and teaching English. Her and I talked for a little bit in English but both agreed to speak in Spanish so that I can improve my speaking abilities as quickly as possible. I am starting to unpack and am overwhelmed with joy for how my time here is beginning and cannot wait to explore my neighborhood and begin familiarizing myself with my surroundings. Tomorrow morning I plan to grocery shop in the supermercado so I am sure stories will ensue.
Un beso, Rachel
Saturday, September 18, 2010
La vida loca de Madrid
Exactly six days after my arrival in the city of Madrid I finally am able to find some time to reflect about the madness and excitement of my time so far in Spain! On September 12th I flew out of Omaha and shared tearful goodbyes with my family at Epply Airfield. I have been to Spain before to study in Toledo for two months in 2007 but this experience in Spain will last until at least June so I will be in Spain for at least 10 full months teaching English at a school in Getafe (just south of the City center).
Before I had left Omaha I was able to say goodbye to my wonderful friends a few days before my departure as well as catch up with a lot of friends throughout the summer to say our goodbyes. I am so grateful for all of the support that I have from my friends and family pushing me to follow my heart and live in Madrid. It is a scary thing to know that I will not be able to see most of these people for almost a year but I know that their support will not be hindered from the distance and for that I know I am blessed.
Our first night in Madrid was one of the more hectic days of traveling I have yet to experience but we are all alive and that is the most you can ask for! I flew from Omaha with a good friend from the University of Nebraska , Emily, who I have many classes with in the past few years and another girl from Nebraska, Christina, who I had met through networking.
The flights were nothing to complain about, especially considering they were international flights, and we arrived about an hour late to Madrid. From there Emily, my friend from the university, had her boyfriend (who is a Spaniard, I might add) meet us at the airport and generously allowed us to leave our luggage with him while Christina and I headed to a hostel so we could begin our apartment search in the city. I have stayed at my fair share of hostels but once we saw our room we decided it would be much safer to split a room in a hotel for a few nights while looking for a place to live. So from there, I have found myself in a great hotel in the center of the city that has made for a great haven after full days of apartment searching.
For anyone who has ever looked for an apartment in a city close to the size of Madrid I hope you can empathize with the process I have endured this last week. Needless to say my Spanish has already improved ten-fold from the apartment search and I am happy to admit that any fear of talking to native speakers has disappeared after almost 50 phone calls and apartment viewings!
I began my search early in the summer looking at pisos on various websites but had no real idea of what I was about to experience until my first day in the city. Though I have been to Madrid as a tourist I was not familiar with the different neighborhoods, or barrios, in the center. My first day was spent walking the streets looking for different pisos (apartments) for Christina and I had found online. The following days we did the same as well as walked around barrios and looked for advertisements (this process sounds simple but if anyone would like the extended story of what we endured, please, let me know). Christina and I found a few places with two bedrooms but nothing that was livable for either of us – some of the more AUDACIOUS choices included a woman and her baby in La Latina and a pug faced dog and his Bob Marley-ish owner in Sol.
By the grace of God I found a wonderful teacher renting rooms right outside of the city in a cute neighborhood that has all that Spain has to offer without the commotion of the City center. Maria, the owner of the apartment, is from Spain and teachers at a nearby school and currently is living with a coworker from Indiana who will be moving to a new apartment in a month or so. Maria speaks a little English (I assume learned from her current roommate) and between that and my Spanish we discussed the details of renting and what kind of person we were both looking for. I will be moving in tomorrow (Sunday) with Maria while Christina will be moving into a dorm like room in an international housing apartment closer to the center of the city where I am sure she will be a great fit. I am very excited to be living with a native Spanish speaker who seems very reliable in a bit quieter area of the city. I hope that living with Maria goes as smooth as I anticipate.
After all of the commotion and pressure to find a home the last few days I was finally able to enjoy the city of Madrid today! Christina and I met for lunch with an amazingly quick girl from Witchita, Kansas who is starting her second year teaching in the city and her friend from, Christian, from Chile who was in town. After a satisfying lunch we went to Parque del Retiro and spent the afternoon enjoying the wonderful fall weather by taking a rowing boat out on the lake and sitting in the park. It was so great to relax and enjoy great company after this hectic week. I hope to have more good news with the next posts to follow and cannot wait to be settled so I can begin enjoying Spain and my adventure teaching in Madrid!
Un beso, Rachel
Before I had left Omaha I was able to say goodbye to my wonderful friends a few days before my departure as well as catch up with a lot of friends throughout the summer to say our goodbyes. I am so grateful for all of the support that I have from my friends and family pushing me to follow my heart and live in Madrid. It is a scary thing to know that I will not be able to see most of these people for almost a year but I know that their support will not be hindered from the distance and for that I know I am blessed.
Our first night in Madrid was one of the more hectic days of traveling I have yet to experience but we are all alive and that is the most you can ask for! I flew from Omaha with a good friend from the University of Nebraska , Emily, who I have many classes with in the past few years and another girl from Nebraska, Christina, who I had met through networking.
The flights were nothing to complain about, especially considering they were international flights, and we arrived about an hour late to Madrid. From there Emily, my friend from the university, had her boyfriend (who is a Spaniard, I might add) meet us at the airport and generously allowed us to leave our luggage with him while Christina and I headed to a hostel so we could begin our apartment search in the city. I have stayed at my fair share of hostels but once we saw our room we decided it would be much safer to split a room in a hotel for a few nights while looking for a place to live. So from there, I have found myself in a great hotel in the center of the city that has made for a great haven after full days of apartment searching.
For anyone who has ever looked for an apartment in a city close to the size of Madrid I hope you can empathize with the process I have endured this last week. Needless to say my Spanish has already improved ten-fold from the apartment search and I am happy to admit that any fear of talking to native speakers has disappeared after almost 50 phone calls and apartment viewings!
I began my search early in the summer looking at pisos on various websites but had no real idea of what I was about to experience until my first day in the city. Though I have been to Madrid as a tourist I was not familiar with the different neighborhoods, or barrios, in the center. My first day was spent walking the streets looking for different pisos (apartments) for Christina and I had found online. The following days we did the same as well as walked around barrios and looked for advertisements (this process sounds simple but if anyone would like the extended story of what we endured, please, let me know). Christina and I found a few places with two bedrooms but nothing that was livable for either of us – some of the more AUDACIOUS choices included a woman and her baby in La Latina and a pug faced dog and his Bob Marley-ish owner in Sol.
By the grace of God I found a wonderful teacher renting rooms right outside of the city in a cute neighborhood that has all that Spain has to offer without the commotion of the City center. Maria, the owner of the apartment, is from Spain and teachers at a nearby school and currently is living with a coworker from Indiana who will be moving to a new apartment in a month or so. Maria speaks a little English (I assume learned from her current roommate) and between that and my Spanish we discussed the details of renting and what kind of person we were both looking for. I will be moving in tomorrow (Sunday) with Maria while Christina will be moving into a dorm like room in an international housing apartment closer to the center of the city where I am sure she will be a great fit. I am very excited to be living with a native Spanish speaker who seems very reliable in a bit quieter area of the city. I hope that living with Maria goes as smooth as I anticipate.
After all of the commotion and pressure to find a home the last few days I was finally able to enjoy the city of Madrid today! Christina and I met for lunch with an amazingly quick girl from Witchita, Kansas who is starting her second year teaching in the city and her friend from, Christian, from Chile who was in town. After a satisfying lunch we went to Parque del Retiro and spent the afternoon enjoying the wonderful fall weather by taking a rowing boat out on the lake and sitting in the park. It was so great to relax and enjoy great company after this hectic week. I hope to have more good news with the next posts to follow and cannot wait to be settled so I can begin enjoying Spain and my adventure teaching in Madrid!
Un beso, Rachel
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