Going Overboard with Study Abroad

A year and a half ago I embarked on a journey that would change my life forever. I packed a large suitcase, said goodbye to my loved ones and set off to Europe for my required study abroad program. As the plane took off from O’Hare, I remember thinking, “Please God, let these next 10 weeks go by quickly so I can return to normal college life.” Well those few months did go by quickly and as I boarded the plane in Barajas returning to Chicago, I looked back thinking, “I wish I never had to leave Spain”.

some of my study abroad group in Rome- 2008

Spain wasn’t perfect. The culture has its flaws and I made my share of mistakes but overall, I knew that the Spanish way of life and I were destined to be together. So as I packed my suitcases, said goodbye to my loved one and took off from O’Hare on my return flight to Spain, all I asked was, “God, please let this moment last forever.”

Well when I arrived I knew that I had a lot of hard work in front of me but I also knew that I wanted to share my experiences, good and bad, with other American students. Therefore, a few weeks prior to my return to Spain, I contacted my university and told them of my plans. They put me in contact with the professor that would be leading the summer study abroad group in Toledo, and I offered him my assistance. I found out that the summer program would begin in late June for only 5-weeks, but I still eagerly awaited their arrival. I made plans to meet with them at their first group meeting; however, as chance would have it, I was called in to substitute some classes in Madrid just hours prior to the meeting. I sent my apologies and hoped for a second chance to meet them.

One night following, Dani and I decided to go to O’Brians (a local irish pub) to watch the USA vs. Brazil soccer game with another American he had met prior. As we walked in and did our introductions, I met Cory, one of the OU summer group students. He had heard from their professor about me, and I was glad to finally start offering my help. The same night, as we watched a heart-wrenching Brazil comeback in the late second half, I noticed an odd assortment of Chicago baseball caps. Feeling a little South Side Pride, I ventured over to say hello. Turns out there was another summer group from Northern Illinois University studying in Toledo. I told them my well rehearsed speech about studying here prior and loving it so much that I returned to teach English… blah blah blah.

A few minutes in, I started asking where exactly everyone was from in Illinois. I got a wide range of answers until I got to one guy, Kevin, sitting in the corner. He said he was from the South Suburbs; I said me too. He asked me where; I said Orland Park. Suddenly a shocked expression arose on his face and he said, “No way, I’m from Oak Forest!” I think within milliseconds my mouth dropped to the floor as I screamed, “Oh my God, I went to Oak Forest High School!” Both of us just stared at each other in amazement as we discovered that we both went to OFHS and he had graduated just one year after me. Sure enough in the days following when we became ‘Facebook Friends’ did I discover how many other friends we had in common. Writing this now, my body is covered in goose bumps. It’s moments like those that make you realize that the world isn’t as big as it seems. I also spent a long time talking to another one of the NIU guys, Dave. Like me, he was working on getting a European Union passport through dual citizenship. Even though his group had just arrived in Spain, he knew he wanted to come back in the future to live for some time. I told him about my struggles and any pieces of advice I could offer that he immediately absorbed. As I unwillingly left the bar for the night, I knew that I was in for one crazy summer with all these students.

the night I met a fellow Bengal

The next weekend, Dani, Ana, his roommates, other friends and I went to La Peraleda in celebration of Dani and Ana finishing their exams. While lounging around the table, I bumped into Cory and Matt (another American student). Luckily this time Cory came with more of the OU students that I was so excited to meet. We talked for awhile and I put in my two cents about what to watch out for and the best places for tapas. We walked around and danced as I got to know each of them. I could tell right away that this group had a much better connection than the group I had studied with some quarters before. I told them that if they ever needed anything, day or night to call me, and we made future plans to meet up another weekend.

With my insane work schedule and their busy travel plans, we all finally met up a couple weekends later. I invited them to my apartment to pregame before we returned to La Peraleda. This time, the rest of the OU group was there so I got to see how everyone interacted with one another. Though they all had different personalities, they complimented each other very well. We sat in my apartment for a bit, drank, snacked and watched a fire breakout in a nearby field; they asked me about my life here and back at OU. I shared some of my funniest stories and some of my scariest experiences, and I listened as they complained about some of the culture differences and reenacted some of their craziest moments here so far. That was probably the best part of the night for me because I saw in them the same expressions and emotions that I had experienced when I studied here. We caught a few cabs and spent the rest of the night exploring La Peraleda, drinking and dancing. For the first time in a long time, I remembered what it was like to be in college again.

the OU summer study abroad group

The next few weeks went by quickly as my work got busier and busier. Before I knew it, it was the OU and NIU’s last week here in Toledo. I had tried to meet up again with the NIU group prior to their last week but couldn’t with both our crazy schedules. So when they invited me out on a Tuesday night, I went even though I had work early in the morning. We stopped at a few bars and went back to my place for after hours. We talked, drank and watched Kevin pass out. I saw the sun come up that morning and woke a few hours later to teach a full day’s worth of class, but it was worth it. That Thursday was the OU groups last night to Toledo. So once again, I met up with them, went to a few bars, met some other Americans and had an amazing night. Then I did it all over again on Friday for the NIU groups last night too.

some of the NIU summer abroad group

That week was one of the most tiring yet best weeks I’ve had in Spain. It made me realize a few things about myself; I am older and can’t party as hard as I used to in college, but in retrospect, I’m okay with that. I had my 4 years of keggers, late nights and bad decisions. However, I’m not in college anymore and I do have responsibilities. I also realized something that has been bothering me since I’ve been back in Spain. I don’t feel the same as I used to when I was here for study abroad. Those emotions of magic and mystery have now been replaced with feelings of routine and familiarity. It saddened me for a long time that Spain wasn’t the same for me anymore. But being with these study abroad programs, I realized why.

Spain is a magical place to be especially coming from America. The buildings and monuments are older than our entire country. The culture is rich and empowering. The people are unique and inspiring. You see this for the first time and you are mesmerized. However, these emotions themselves are fleeting. The reason why these emotions are so powerful is because you know that they will not last. You know that as soon as you board the return plane home, your adventure is over. So you spend your time basking in the majesty of the amazing things you experience because after you take that final exam and sip on that last café con leche, you return to normalcy. I know I did. So when I walked off that plane in Barajas for the second time, there were no angels singing from the heavens, no mirages of a Spanish paradise. I was no longer that foreigner looking in from the outside. I was on the inside looking out. Spain is now my life and my home.

People, especially Americans that I’ve talk to here always tell me how much they envy my life and how incredible it must be. I love my life here, there’s no denying it. I know that I made the best decision of my life to move here. However, the truth is that I’m the one that envies them. I envy the looks in their faces as they walk through Toledo for the first time. I envy their naïveté about the cultural differences. For them Spain is still a magical place to be and that’s how I wish it would have always remained for me. But it didn’t. I was sad when I realized this at first. I knew that I would never feel they way I did when I first arrived in Spain with the study abroad program. However, I know now that I have something even better than that; I have the opportunity to be apart of the magic. And I’m starting to think that that’s even better.
So to all my study abroad groups- past, present and future, all I can say is enjoy it; soak it all in and never miss an opportunity to experience something new. Because once you get back on that plane to go home, you are leaving not only Spain but the magic of your time here!

Corpus Christi in Toledo

The History:

Ok, so I stole the following info from http://www.spain.info.es/ and http://www.t-descubre.com/. Sorry, I was too lazy to do all the research and rewrite it myself. However, these are my personal photos and my experience at Corpus is in my own words after the ‘History’ portion.

Corpus Christi is Toledo’s most important festival and one of its oldest. Although its exact date of origin is unknown, the festivity of Corpus Christi, promoted by Sister Juliana de Mont-Cornillón and instituted by Pope Urban IV sometime in the 13th century, forms part of a time-honoured tradition in Toledo. Over the past eight centuries it has come to be considered as the most important and socially represented festival in the city of Toledo. Tradition, culture and religion at this time are all in perfect agreement.

Zocodover during Corpus Christi

The celebration falls on the Sunday of the ninth week after Easter Sunday, generally between the end of May and the beginning of June. Today, this solemn religious procession is celebrated on the day of the Corpus Christi and presided by the Archbishop of Toledo. The city’s historic streets, especially decorated for the occasion, provide the backdrop for this striking procession. Five weeks before the religious procession, fairy-lights, garlands, forges, stained glass windows and other traditional objects help to build the excitement of the festival. The day before the feast of Corpus Christi, the streets are also draped with rich tapestries from the 16th and 17th century hung from the windows and balconies. The city then becomes an extension of the Cathedral and the streets are like an outdoor temple.

side streets of Zocodover

The highlight of the precession is the Monstrance, a priceless work of craftsmanship in gold and silver dating from 1515 and weighing about 160 kilos. Corpus Christi is the only day in the year when the monumental and rich Monstrance, which is normally displayed in the Cathedral Museum, is taken out and paraded through the town.

The interior of the Monstrance, one of the most exquisite jewels of Christianity, was made with the first gold brought from America. A second exterior monstrance, made in silver and later bathed in gold, protects the first one. To this gold and silver, pearls and gems are affixed and it is in the design of a Gothic tower. The procession begins at midday: the bells of Toledo begin to peal, and the first to appear is a group of giants representing the different continents. On Habeas Sunday, the Monstrance which is the focal point of the Corpus Christi celebration, leaves the Cathedral protected by silent guards of old brotherhoods, knights, and guilds and is courted by the crowd that moves through the scented medieval streets. Then the procession itself leaves the cathedral, bearing the Monstrance and accompanied by the religious guilds in order of antiquity.

If you wish you can watch the proceedings from the seats arranged along the streets by paying in advance at the booth installed in the Zocodover square. You will also have the chance to see the beautiful interior courtyards inside the city’s mansions and stately homes, as these buildings open their doors to the public on the day of the Corpus. There is also a programme of events lasting a week which includes concerts, shows and sports competitions.

"A blackened ruin, lonely and forsaken,

Already wrapt in winding-sheets of sand,

So lies Toledo till the dead awaken,

A royal spoil of Time's resistless hand."
-ZORRILLA

My Personal Experience:

I had heard about Corpus Christi when I studied here awhile back. I came during the winter months, so I never really gave it much attention. Unfortunately, I have to say the same feelings arose for this past Corpus festival. I had arrived the week prior to Habeas Sunday. So naturally all my thoughts and energy were focused on setting up my new life here in Spain. Probably also the reason it has taken me almost 2 months to write this blog.

Dani, Ana, their roommates Mari and Mari-Carmen and I all met in front of Dani’s apartment to head to Zocodover late in the morning. I knew it was Corpus Christi, but I was more excited just to get out of my apartment and do something besides job searching and unpacking. The small group of us made our way to the Casco where all streets had been blocked off for the large amount of people that engulfed this small city.

I knew it was an important holiday here, but I had no idea how much pomp and circumstance went into it. Within minutes, I had my camera out taking pictures of every little detail. My second time around in Spain, I find myself looking more closely at the smaller things. Previously, I took pictures of the large monuments and enormous cathedrals. Now I find myself obsessed with the ancient stone work and ornamental details that I had overlooked before.
As we made our way through the crowd, we found a nice little intersection we took over to see the whole procession as it passed into Zoco. However, within half an hour, our little intersection had become overrun with people pushing their way through the crowds. I smiled because I was amused by little old ladies hitting each other with their purses and yelling at one another in Spanish on the most religious holiday in Toledo.

Dani and I @ Corpus

Well, as for most famous processions, it didn’t start on time and the crowds were starting to get on all of our group’s nerves. Therefore, Dani and I ventured off to see if the crowds were more sparse anywhere else. No such luck. We talked to the rest of the group and agreed to separate for a bit. So Dani and I returned to Zoco to sit for a bit and wait to the procession to begin. Once we started hearing the bells and clamor arising from within the winding streets, we stayed near a little café to watch the procession. It was beautiful. A bit too crowded to fully enjoy everything, but breathtaking none the less.

The Monstrance

I gazed as all the groups of people dressed in traditional and ceremonial clothes made their way through the crowds. Each group carried different religious icons and I wish I understood at the time. Only after researching the festival have I learned their significance. Finally the Monstrance made its way to the main square where everyone began to clap. I fervently took as many pictures from as many different angles as I possibly could. I must admit that I’m jealous of the Catholic religion on occasions like this. Wishing I understood the cultural and religious importance that it truly represented. But not being a Catholic nor very religious, once the procession ended and the ceremony began with the Archbishops speeches, I didn’t mind when Dani asked if we could leave. We met up with the group as we headed back down the hill from Zoco and then returned back to our normal hectic lives. But for a few moments, I was able to enjoy the wonderful culture of Spain and let my personal worries ease to the back of my mind. Hopefully next year’s Corpus will hold more significance for me and I can truly feel the momentous importance of this ancient festival.

Working Girl (July)

This new segment will be solely dedicated to my work experiences throughout each month.

We’re coming up on the last week of July already. Still can’t believe how fast summer is going.
This month started my first actual work schedule with a regular class and steady private clients. So this meant that I had to travel to Madrid 5 days a week. I have to say that I couldn’t have asked for better students. My private clients were all decent. I had a few throughout the month that I saw for an hour or so 3 days a week. Then I had some that just came in for a particular purpose like a work-interview or traveling to the U.S. I picked up a few subbing classes and last minute clients for extra money. So all in all, it was a busy month of teaching.
For my first group class ever, I was given a Monday thru Friday, 5-7pm Elementary-level class. When I first saw my schedule, I have to admit I was terrified. Being a new teacher, I was comfortable teaching adults with a higher understanding of English. But now I would be in charge of 5 adults that knew little to nothing about the English language. So the weekend before hand, I grabbed all my grammar books and course materials and came up with lesson plans for my first week. I have to say that my first day was rough but after the first few days, I settled in nicely to the routine. I have probably the best class in the whole academy… no joke! I teach them what I need to but at the same time we laugh and joke around about everything. Each one has such a different personality. They range in ages from 20-45. Two work retail (Rosa #1 and Rosa #2), one is studying to be some sort of doctor (Elu), one is a university student visiting from Ecuador (Mery) and another is getting his doctorate in political science (Juan Carlos). Yet we sit there and talk about the difference between the words “slut” and “skank” and gossip about certain celebrities. They love to ask questions about my life in America and how I’m adjusting to Spain. Two even invited me to stay with them for a weekend to show me around their villages sometime later in the summer. I can’t express how lucky I was to get this class in the end. It made me realize how much I love teaching. I have only 2 classes left and I know I’m going to be so depressed to say goodbye to them. 3 of them are returning for August classes and they all requested that I be their teacher again. However, August is a relatively slow month at the academy, so I’m not sure what classes I’m going to get.

my Elementary classroom

I also finally received some responses to my carteles that I put up around Toledo for private English lessons. I had about 10 calls asking for my terms and rates over the month of July. A few weren’t willing to pay as much as I was charging (although according to other teachers I talk to, my rates are on the lower side of private lessons) But with the world economy right now, I understand how 15 euro/hour can be a bit high for some people. I had 2 men say that they wanted to receive lessons; however they never followed through. I did give private lessons to a very nice woman, Inma. She had a relatively high level of English but she had more of a confidence issue when using it. I worked with her out of my apartment for 2 hours on Saturdays. She also helped me through the most traumatic experience of my time here in Spain, which will be in another blog. Currently, she’s on vacation with her family, so hopefully in August, I will continue working with her.
The best job I took was these 2 siblings: Laura (14) and Manu (13). They are both high school students whose parents are extremely well off. Their parents are both lawyers and live a few miles out of Toledo in a very upscale ‘urbanizacion’. I traveled to their home 6 days a week for an average of 90 minutes a day for about 2 weeks. In that time, I made over 200 extra Euros. The main reason for a private tutor was that Laura is spending all of August living in London. So her mother wanted to make sure her English was up to par. Currently, the family is in Austurias on vacation. Come August, I will continue giving Manu private lessons a few days a week. Some days were better than others but towards the end, we became very close. We watched Adam Sandler movies like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore and another day we laid in their pool playing ‘Marco Polo’ for our entire session. They were really a fun pair to teach.

Between teaching Laura and Manu then traveling to Madrid to give my other classes, my only available time to private tutor was on weekends. So in the end, I had to turn down a few private lessons from people who wanted classes during the week. In August, like I said before, work at the academy will be slower, so I’ll probably be able to pick up a few more private clients here in Toledo. I’ll keep you posted in next month’s ‘Working Girl’ blog

Cultural Tricks of the Trade

Figured I'd start a segment about some of the big cultural differences between the United States and Spain... enjoy!

The water and lighting situation will get its own paragraph because it is quite important. First and foremost, when you leave a room, turn off the light! Even if you are coming back 30 seconds later, just turn off the light. I have a bad habit of this and I know my roommates are going to ride me. Never leave the hallway light on unless you’re in the hallway. Getting ready for the night, don’t leave both your bedroom and bathroom light on even if you’re walking back and forth getting dressed and doing your hair. If there’s still daylight, don’t even consider turning on a single light in the apartment unless there are absolutely no windows in that particular room. I’m not trying to make the Spanish seem anal but this is their culture so you have to respect it. Alright, now let’s explain the water debacle. First off, water heaters don’t really exist in most apartment buildings. The Spanish use propane tanks to heat their water. It’s literally a tank that’s usually in a kitchen cabinet that must be turned on and lit with a match when you want hot water or to use the oven. When you run out of gas, you put the empty tank outside your door with some money and the propane man will bring you a new one. (So the running joke here is not the milk man but the gas man) For this reason, showers are a unique trick one must learn. This is what I do. Standing outside the shower, I turn on the water and put my hair under the faucet/ shower head. Turn the water off and put shampoo in my hair. This is because at first the water is still cold but I don’t want to waste it. So as I lather in the shampoo, I step into the shower. By now some water should have warmed up; so I turn the water back on and rinse. Turn the water off and put in conditioner. Turn it on and rinse and then quickly wash my body. I haven’t found a water conservative way of shaving my legs yet but I’ll be sure so let you know. It sounds ridiculous but it saves so much money on propane and your water bill that you’ll learn to love it.

The daily schedule in Spain definitely takes some getting used to. It took me the majority of the time studying abroad to get the schedule down. This time has been a bit easier but because I live independently, I tend to mix a little bit of the American lifestyle with the Spanish. On days that I don’t work early, I get up around 10-11am. I usually eat a very small breakfast consisting of a bowl of cereal, a piece of fruit or some type of muffin. I shower, clean and run some errands. Around 2:30-3pm, I eat lunch. Lunch here is a very large meal: equal to that of America’s dinner. Here I tend to vary that because I am still a ham and cheese sandwich type of girl. Then comes siesta time. If I don’t work at all, I’ll go back to sleep till about 6pm. If I teach in the evening, this is when I usually hop on my bus to Madrid and take a nap on there. It’s not that I’m lazy or really need a nap; it’s just what you do. Every store and business closes down from about 2-5pm.

So there is nothing to do but nap. I spend majority of my evenings at work till about 9pm and then I take the bus back to Toledo; I’ll get home around 11pm. Again, if I don’t work, I’ll clean, take a long walk, catch up on some blogging, emails or watch a movie. Either way, around 10 or 11ish I cook dinner. If I work all day, I usually prepare some food earlier and keep it in the fridge so I can just heat it up. 9-10:30pm is the usual dinner time in Spain. It would seem extremely unhealthy, but honestly it works out quite well. Dinner is still a big meal but not as big as lunch. More of your heavy carb foods like pasta are eaten at lunch. Dinner is usually your meat and veggies meal. Midnight to 1am is my typical bedtime. If it’s the weekend, the earliest time you can hit the bars is midnight. That’s pushing it but because dinner is eaten to late, you also need time to get ready. The average time to be in bed on the weekends is 4-5am. This is probably why the siesta is so important. If you go to a sit-down/ lounge type area, with every drink, you get a tapa (a free small portion of food)… not at the discotecas ‘dance clubs’ though.

Another issue I want to share is Spain’s policy of public displays of affection. This is one culture difference that no matter how many years I live in Spain, I will never become adjusted. Here it doesn’t matter if your 16 or 60; if you’re in the mood for a make out session, you have the freedom to stop and have one wherever and whenever you like. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been sitting by a couple on the bus or metro when they begin swallowing each others faces. I never realized how ‘prude’ I was until I came to Spain. The people here have no inhibitions when it comes to their libidos. You can be in the middle of a crowded room making out with whoever you want. I realized that every time I see these awkward displays I always have the same disgusted look on my face like “Get a room already.” It is more common for younger couples: late teens to late twenties but you’ll see your occasional old person sucking face with someone who looks like your grandmother. It never ceases to amaze me. So let me share some of my experiences:
I was sitting on the bus going to work in Madrid when this couple comes and sits in the row right in front of me. Of course, there were like 5 consecutive open rows behind but they had to sit by me. Not 10 minutes into the 45 minute bus ride do they start going at it like rabid dogs. I mean tongues, hands and sound effects… the whole shebang. If they were any closer to me, I would have been able to feel their breath on my face. I was dumbfounded; I had no idea what to do. Awkwardly move to another row or endure the rest of the trip with this hormonal uprising. (I reluctantly stayed and kept my eyes locked on my paperwork sitting in my lap)
Here’s another example. Walking into the bus station a few weeks ago, there’s this couple standing at the top of the stairwell going at it and blocking all the people trying to get to the buses. It’s not like it’s a small bus station with nowhere to stand; there are multiple sitting areas with probably 50 chairs.
So I guess this is why it bothers me so much. It’s not their display of affection just the manner in which they decide to show it. Go to an unpopulated corner or at least limit your activity until you get to a private place. But no, the Spanish will start whenever the mood strikes them: next to old people at a bus stop, in front of small children at a park, in the crowded streets of Madrid surrounded by hundreds of people.

Well I can guarantee that there will be more cultural differences that I will explain, but these are just a few to help you understand. Enjoy and I’ll keep you posted from Espana!

Todo Sobre... Junio

It’s hard to believe but I’m quickly approaching the 2-month mark since my arrival here in Spain. I can’t even begin to explain what a hectic 7 weeks I have had. My journey to get this far has taken me through some very bumpy paths to say the least. June held the hardest times for me. Now I can say that I wish I had waited a few more weeks to move to Spain. I definitely came at an awkward time for both work and my friends.
Well let me begin by explaining my work situation so far. As I stated in one of my previous blogs, I did find a job within my first week. That was probably the best thing that came out of June. I researched some places before I left the US and sent my resume to an English academy in Madrid. They told me that when I arrived in Spain, to come into their office to meet face to face. Well Dani and I handed out a few other resumes and then stopped at this academy. They pulled up my file and gave me an interview right then and there. I spoke with 2 of the directors: Jerry and Jeff. They showed interest and asked me to come back to do a mock lesson later in the week. I did and they offered me a position on their staff. That was a big load off my shoulders.


Having no real teaching experience, I trained for two weeks and shadowed other teachers. But by the last week of June, I was substituting classes and giving private lessons. I took a few more interviews with other academies, but I felt comfortable at the academy I had first been hired at. The salary is okay but the teacher support and resources are by far the best I’ve seen. Plus, the rest of the teachers there are great. The teaching staff is mostly Americans (the US, Puerto Rico and Canada) with a mix of South Americans and Australians. So everyone brings something different to the academy from accents to teaching techniques to life experiences in general. But even with our completely different backgrounds we all have something in common: we were crazy enough to just pick up and leave our homes and move to Spain. Some made pit-stops in other cities and countries but we all ended up in Spain for a reason… because there’s no other place like it. The teachers at the academy are by far my biggest comfort especially when I get homesick or am dealing with culture shock. The first few weeks were harder just trying to fit in and learn the ropes, but after over a month, I already feel like part of the group.

Of course, this all seems amazing but there are definitely some drawbacks. The biggest is by far the commute to work. It takes me 3 hours or more in commuting every day. 50 minutes on the bus from Toledo and another 30-45 minutes on the metro to the academy then do it all again to get back home. Plus it costs me an arm and a leg to travel. Currently, I pay 50 euro a week to travel to work. Doesn’t seem like a lot but when I was training and giving 1 private lesson a day, it was costing me money in the end. So for the month of June, I spent 150 euro in traveling to earn 100 euro. Once I get my residency papers, I can get card called the Carnet Joven, which allows adults under 26 to travel for half price. So my expenses will drop to about 30 euro a week. The directors continually ask me if I plan to move to Madrid. I can’t say that the idea isn’t tempting. However, my rent will double and my apartment will be a third of the size. I have more friends in Madrid now and I won’t waste the time commuting. But I absolutely love Toledo. Every time I’m on the bus and I see the view of Toledo as we approach, I stop breathing. This city made me fall in love with Spain, its people and its culture.

I can’t imagine being as happy living anywhere else. However, even Dani and his sister Ana are most likely moving closer to Madrid because that’s where their work will be. I have another month to think about this so for now, I’m going to leave it alone.

I put up new flyers around Toledo for private English lessons. I didn’t have any luck in June but finally received some work in July which I will discuss in the next blog.

The middle of June was the hardest for me because I wasn’t working, my money was going quickly and Dani was studying for his teaching exam. So I spent a lot of days alone walking the streets. I’m not trying to sound pitiful but when your fantasy becomes reality, you discover how hard reality can be. You realize that the world doesn’t stop just because your world has been turned upside-down. Those few weeks definitely tested my strength and my desire to stay in the country. There was no one to blame and nothing that could have been done much differently. Looking back, it wasn’t all that bad, just boring and a bit lonesome. I think the worst part was having so much time to think. Think about what mistakes I had already made and all the things that could go wrong. For about 2 weeks I woke up every day in a state of panic (no worries, I’m writing this now with a smile on my face because I overcame it). I just want anyone who is thinking of doing this to understand the reality of it. It sounds romantic to just leave your home and move abroad to live by your own means. But the reality is that every day is a struggle and you have to find strength in the little things. During the hard times, the little things are what help you survive. For me it’s hearing a song that I used to dance to at Bourbon Street on Ladies Night or skyping with my siblings and hearing about how many goals they scored in their soccer game and about their 8th grade graduation. Even Facebook messages from my family and friends saying how much they missed me but how supportive they are of my decision to move to Spain helped me get through every day.

my sister Windsor and brother Liam

Dani left at the end of June to return to his pueblo for the rest of the summer. He told me before I left the US of his plans, but I guess I just never really imagined what it would be like without him a block away. I was dependent on him for my first weeks here that I couldn’t imagine surviving without him. But at the same time, work at the academy picked up considerably so it was almost like I didn’t have time to sulk. I literally woke up one day and realized how much I could do by myself. My Spanish comes back more and more every day. Not using it for a year took its toll but now I can do the everyday things without any trouble. Dani took me around and taught me the local places to shop and the most economic ways of doing things. So now I’m finally adjusted to life here. Culture shock wasn’t bad at all. I still have little things that bug me and my usual blonde moments but other than that, I am finally completed settled and have a daily routine.
I can’t lie when I say that these past weeks have been the most difficult weeks of my life. But I’ve learned so much about myself throughout this experience. We need hard times and difficult decisions in order to enjoy the good times that come our way. And from what I can tell, I am due for some of the best times of my life!

The Search for the Perfect Apartment...

Well all things considered, I feel I was lucky on the hunt for my first apartment in Spain. If you are young and just looking for something affordable, you’re best option is to walk around the busier parts of town and look for flyers that people have put up looking for roommates. Usually they are students or young professionals that have an extra room that needs to be filled. I came at the beginning at the summer, so I had a few choices of apartments because many students return to their villages after school ends. Even more rooms become available towards the end of summer. This is because many landlords, after the school year ends in June, will not rent out the apartment for the summer because it is harder to find tenants. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across an apartment where at least 2 of the roommates are staying for the summer so they need to fill the other rooms that have become available.

I knew starting off the search of some conditions I had. I couldn’t afford more than 200 euro a month for an apartment, I wanted to be closer to Dani since he was the only soul I knew in the country, and it had to be within range of public transportation. I didn’t know where I was working at the time I was searching for my current apartment. After my summer lease ends, this will be another factor I must consider for my next apartment.

Within the apartments themselves, there are things that must be considered. Coming from the U.S, I’ve been spoiled with certain amenities that are not commonly found in Spain. Apartments should have a washing machine but dryers are almost non-existent. If you find a dishwasher and an oven, consider yourself very lucky.

Most student apartments will come furnished by the landlords. It won’t be the most stylish or comfortable, but it’s definitely livable. Many landlords will even provide bed sheets and dishware. Air-conditioning is an added bonus; so don’t be disappointed when you don’t find it, especially in older apartments. Ask about the heating situation even if you’re looking in the dead of summer. Fall and winter nights can get very cold so you want to make sure windows are well insulated or there’s at least some heating system in every room. Internet is pretty much a no-go. If you’re lucky, there will be some unsecured WIFI connection that you can steal from someplace. Depending on how long you want to live in one apartment, you can look into setting up your own internet with the local cable company. However, if you’re living with students or young professionals, they most likely won’t help pay for it. From what I’ve seen, the Spanish are quite conservative with their spending habits especially when it comes to their living expenses. They can most likely get internet from their school, work or local library, so why spend the extra money? I’m currently adapting to this method of thinking, and I feel it will be quite beneficial in the long run. However, my Facebook and Skype addiction is already rearing its ugly head.

When you want to look at an apartment you’ve found, call first and make an appointment. If possible, have a native speaker of that country’s language go with you to check them out. They tend to know what to look for, what questions to ask and can get a feel for the roommates personalities that you may miss. This way you know that you’re getting all the correct information and there’s been no language barrier. Also, be careful of how you present yourself especially as an American. It may not be information you want to give out right away over the phone, but it should be mentioned when you first look at the apartment. The first apartment I looked at was run by an older couple. The old man looked at me and asked “Aleman?” (Are you German?) When I replied, “No, Americana,” he humpf-ed and walked away from me. Try not to be offended, it comes with the territory. After seeing the apartment, it is best to tell them that you will think about it because you’re looking at other apartments, and you’ll call with you’re decision soon. This may help you get some extra perks from the landlord but not always. Also, even if you go with another apartment, it is polite and expected to call or at least text someone from the other apartments to say ‘thank you but I choose another one.’

With apartment hunting in Spain, it’s okay to have standards as long as they are realistic. I liked the first apartment I looked at; however it was on the 5th floor and no elevator. Even for Spain, this was a bit extreme. I couldn’t fathom doing those stairs everyday especially with groceries and whatnot. Another apartment I looked at was with 3 male roommates. I walked in and all 3 men looked at me like they haven’t seen a woman in 6 months. The place was dirty (even though you can tell they attempted to tidy up) and it was not suitable for another male let alone a female. So I learned to give and take on some things. If I didn’t find the apartment I ended up choosing, I would have to sacrifice some things like climbing a ridiculous amount of stairs. On the other hand, I wouldn’t sacrifice my well being by choosing a place that would be like living in a zoo during mating season.

front entrance to my complex

the shared courtyard

my living room

The apartment I choose was the last apartment I looked at. It was a block away from Dani and two blocks from Reconquista (the main road for public transportation). It’s a newer complex with a gated entry way that leads to a courtyard that all 4 buildings share. I live on the 3rd floor and it has an elevator. The apartment has a nice sized living room with a balcony that has an amazing view of the Casco (Ancient part of the city). It has a great kitchen with a dishwasher and oven.

my room

My room is by far the best part: the master bedroom with a queen-sized bed, personal bathroom attached and my own balcony. There’s another small bed in the room that I’m suppose to share with someone else, but for the time being, I have it all to myself. So for now, I have 2 closets, a dresser, a desk, and a television. Most amazing part is that I only pay 175 Euro/ month and then electricity is separate. I live with 2 Spanish female students. We get along quite well and they are extremely patient with my lack of language skills. Overall, I feel like I lucked out with this apartment. I don’t have any access to internet but with Dani so close, I just walk over to his place. Immediately, I felt at home here, and it was exactly what I needed to keep me motivated for the journey ahead of me.

Settling In...

So it’s been a long first week. I’m sitting at Alcazar, Toledo’s library, taking advantage of the free WiFi and trying to remember everything that has happened over the past 8 days. I guess Ill start at my arrival. I had a relatively easy flight: a 2-hour flight to Philly, an hour layover, an hour delay, and a 7 ½ hour flight to Madrid. I pulled an all-nighter the night before thinking I would sleep then whole plane ride. Mmm, not so much! I slept the way to Philly but just couldn’t manage to sleep more than 2 hours during the flight to Spain. I don’t know if it was the excitement, the paralyzing fear or the amazing assortment on free movies American Airlines offered. Well needless to say when I arrived in Madrid, they only thing I was looking forward to was siesta time. I have imagined myself walking off the plane for over a year now in the same outfit I saw Scarlett Johansson wearing in the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona. So, I run to the bathroom and throw on my distressed jeans, a simple button down cotton shirt, authentic Converse shoes and killer aviators, and I strut like no ones business down to security. I grab my luggage and go find Dani waiting for me in the other side.

Luckily, having gone through the whole traveling with large suitcases on public transportation last year, I knew what to expect. I brought 2 suitcases, a duffle carry-on and my laptop case as my personal item. It was the same amount as I brought the last time, however I didn’t have a strapping young Spaniard to help my carry everything. Plus I’ll be here for much longer than I was before. So if you’re considering living or traveling abroad for an extensive amount of time, picture what you can carry up and down subway stairs and lug around the streets by yourself. Though Europe has amazing and inexpensive transportation, most haven’t discovered the beauty of elevators or even escalators.
Dani and I spent the rest of the day chatting it up and siesta-ing in his car while waiting in a local village for his sister Ana to get done with work so we could all drive back to Toledo. It was a relatively simple day; no parades or angels singing from the heavens like I had imagined it. But it was probably just the jet-lag. I slept the majority of the day and the next trying to my Spanish legs back under me. Dani and his roommates graciously agreed to put me up for a few days while I looked at apartments. Well a few days turned into a week. Not by my choice but by waiting for a stubborn landlord who couldn’t make himself available for me to sign the lease. I’ll go into apartment hunting in more detail in another blog.
The job hunt has been difficult in some aspects and easier in others. I figured until I found a position at an actual school or academy, I would private tutor in my apartment or in the student’s homes. I made up some cartels (flyers) in Spanish before I left the U.S. and posted about 20 of them in a certain part of town. I created a special email address just for tutoring. It’s a better idea than your personal email so you can keep your work separate, seem more professional and not give out too much personal info to the public. I purposely didn’t add a cell number to the flyers for 2 reasons: I didn’t have a cell until I got to Toledo and I was scared of people calling me because my Spanish isn’t what it used to be. However, after a week, I have yet to receive an email. After discussing my concerns to Dani, he told me it was because there was no cell number. The only people that have emails or even use computers are students or business professionals. A housewife looking for an English tutor for her 10 year old son isn’t going to go through the hassle of finding a computer and creating an email just to contact a tutor. I had to get over my fears of speaking Spanish. I do know enough to get by. So after I got my Spanish cell phone, I manually wrote my number on every flyer. Hopefully after I put up more flyers this weekend, I’ll get some calls for private English lessons. This part I expected to be the easy but it turned out to be the opposite. Dani and I went to Madrid on Monday so I could bring my CV (resume) to some English academies. I handed out 4, a relatively small amount but managed to get 1 interview on the spot and a call back for an interview next week. Amazing. I’ll go into more of job hunting and doing interviews in another blog as well.
After a full week here, I’ve already had plenty of ups and downs. Lots of “I may not be able to make it” thoughts but even more “Yes, this is where I’m meant to be” moments. So after my first week, I’m starting to feel at home already. I moved into my first real apartment which is incredible and, as a little sneak peak into a future blog, I already have a teaching position starting on Monday. To end this blog, I’d like to thank Dani and his roommates for giving up so much this past week to accommodate me. Especially Dani: giving up his bedroom, risking the flu, and parting with hours and hours of studying time to help me start my life in Spain. I owe you more than you can imagine Papi!

“The key to happiness is having dreams… the key to success is making dreams come true.”