Working Girl (April/ May/ June)

These last few months seemed to fly by at times and others, drag on for an eternity. There were many different reasons that could explain this. First of all my academy has been in the middle of a big move. For the past 30 odd years we have been in the same building expanding over time. However, we’ve been expanding not only to different rooms but to different floors. So our main office has been on the 6th floor while majority of our classrooms were on the 2nd and 3rd floors. This made it frustrating especially trying to cart around the portable TVs up and down the crowded elevators and during the hot summer months when air circulation was a rare commodity in some corner rooms. But during this trimester, my academy administrators announced that we were moving to a brand new facility just down the block. All classrooms are located on one floor with WiFi and air conditioning in every room. But as rumors spread to the students, every other day we were cornered with questions about the timeline and how come other classes were chosen to start in the new place before theirs.  In the 3 month time span, only one of my classes, my one-session Friday night class, was moved into the new building.

Another reason for the apparent stunt in pace was the fact that I was going home to Chicago in July.  So towards the latter of the trimester, all I could think about was my friends and family back home.  However bad my desire to finish at the academy, my classes were quite enjoyable.

I had my morning intensive class as usual with a few new faces.  One that particularly stood out was a student named Borja.  He came into my class the first day with baggy shorts, a ripped tee 6 earrings in each ear and covered in tattoos.  It was big change from my gelled-hair, polo and loafer wearing Spanish students.  So I took a special interest in watching him develop his language skills over the month of June.  I asked my students on the first day of every class, ¨Why are you learning English?¨  I get the usual responses: to get a promotion, to travel, to find a better job... but Borja´s answer was the most unique and heart-felt response I have heard.  He said he was learning English so he could write music and poetry that everyone could understand.  For the next few weeks, Borja would stay after class a few minutes and show me some of the things he was writing so I could correct any mistakes and make sure everything made sense  Definitely one of the most intriguing experiences I´ve had here in Spain.   

I continued with my business classes in Tecnicas Reunidas as usual.  But as June passed, I knew that I would have to say goodbye to most of them.  The had been my students for the entire academic year and I had grown quite fond of the majority.  Unfortunately, teachers can only have 1 on 1 students for a maximum of 1 year.  I try not to dwell....

I continued with my 2 trimester classes and they went relatively smoothly.  I had the same group with Mer and Lorena from before which went relatively quickly as we added some new faces to the mix.  My other trimester class was also decent. No one with much personality but luckily, classes didn´t drag too much.  I had problems with 2 girls at the beginning.  They were best friends who sat in the corner talking only with eachother and at times, not paying attention to my class.  Then one day I caught one of the girls putting her fingers to her head shaped as a gun (the same gesture we use in the US to say, ¨Dear Lord I´m bored; someone please shoot me!¨)  Well I was less than thrilled about that so I called her out and said that if she didn´t like my class, she was free to leave at any time.  We didn´t have any more problems after that.

My last class was, as I mentioned before, a 2 1/2 hour Friday night class.  At first I was dreading this class.  2 1/2 HOURS!!!! But in the end, it turned out to be one of my favorite classes from the entire year.  It was all due to the wonderful students I had.  Each one had such a unique personality and they were all quite talkative.  That is, in my opinion, the best thing any teacher could ask for.  Majority of the time, I had to stop them from talking so we could actually learn some grammar.  They loved to debate which was great because the dynamic of the class.  We had one older lady while the other were mid 20s to early 30s; a good mixture of men and women; different cultures; and different professions.  Every class with them was a piece of tortilla española!

So overall, I finished my first academic year on a high note.  I just returned from my vacation back home which will be in another blog shortly! Thanks to all my amazing students and colleagues that made this past year, unforgetable!

Semana Santa 2010

Semana Santa or 'Holy Week' starts Spain's Spring Break around the time of Pascual or 'Easter'.  Obviously being in 'Catholic Spain', I had some very high expectations.  All week long from the end of March to the beginning of April.  I got a full week off of work which was nice as I was in need a descanso.  I had just come back from Vigo the weekend prior and was planning another trip to Salamanca in the week that followed, so I had a completely empty agenda for this week which was just what the doctor ordered.

I borrowed one of my colleague's Madrid tour books and started to scan through it one day.  I was amazed about how many things in Madrid I had never been to or even knew existed.  So I decided to utilize this time to check out what secrets were hiding in this massive city. 

I must admit that I slept in almost every day and put no urgency to accomplish much of anything.  I enduldged myself with long dinners and copias amounts of drink during this week with some of my friends.  However, I did get around to seeing some pretty awesome things.

One day, Craig, Irene, my amazing Italian roommate and I went for a long stroll around Parque Oeste and the Royal Palace.

Another day was spent at the Soralla Museum only minutes from where I live.

Yet another day was spent in the city that will forever have my heart... TOLEDO!

And the rest were spent cleaning, shopping and general walk-abouts in the centro.

  Me (left) and My Roommate Irene (right)

What I want this blog to be mostly about it the festivities revolving around Semana Santa in Madrid.

I really like this BLOG's review of Semana Santa in Spain... so check it out if you want more info!

One of my goals was to sit in on a Catholic mass in one of Madrid's hundreds of iglesias.  I got that opportunity during my stroll with Craig and Irene.  I intended on going to a small church near my apartment but when we were passing the Cathedral near the Royal Palace and I saw that there was a service going on at that moment, I thought... what the hell! (Sorry for the blasphemy!)

It was also my first time inside the Cathedral here in Madrid so it was quite the experience for me.  We stayed about 20 minutes as the crowds of people left no where to sit.  But I was really moved by the Latin service and choir.  I'm not a religious person by any means but it's still one of those cultural experiences that really have an impact on a person. 

The one event during Semana Santa I knew I couldn't miss was
'La Procession de Silencio'

view from inside the parade heading towards PUERTA DE SOL

It starts near Atocha and continues down towards Sol wraps around and continues back.  It would seem like any normal religion based- Easter parade with exception to some crazy outfits and suprising offerings of penance. Well, I'll let you see for yourself...

Hopefully, I don't have to explain that the outfits have absolutely NOTHING to do with the KKK!

The people are called Nazarenos; they wear these costumes as a way to demonstrate their penatence to heaven.  Every major city in Spain has a different group of Nazarenos that each have their own colored costumes and different ways to distinguish themselves from one another.  It is considered a great honor throughout Spain to become a Nazareno.

The second picture demonstates common people usually members of that group's particular church who want to ask for foregiveness for their sins through this walk of 'disgrace'.  They walk barefoot shackled with chains; the more chains, the more forgiveness you're asking for.  Nowadays, it is a more symbolic tradition. 

Well here are some more photos of the parade to help you get an idea of what a spectacle it was! Enjoy :)

El Capricho

Background:

Summary found: HERE!!!!

“Though very much unknown and out of the way, the garden of El Capricho (literally, a whim) is one of the most beautiful and attractive parks in the city.”

The 14-hectare garden, located in the area of Barajas district, dates back to 1784 when the Duke of Osuna, from one of the most illustrious and powerful of the city’s families, acquired the land for the specific purpose of giving expression to the family’s visionary and artistic values as well as to give the family a place to escape city life. The prime mover was the Duchess Lady María Josefa de la Soledad Alonso Pimentel. Thought to be among the most intelligent women of her time, and a patron to many artists, bull-fighters and intellectuals, she designed the garden bearing in mind a sort of artistic-nature retreat for the more illustrious figures of her day and which the most prestigious gardeners, artists and scene designers contributed in designing.

During the Civil War change came about, since what was once considered a place for leisure and strolling, became the Staff Headquarters of the Central Army. To this day, the garden shows the structural accommodations for a line of defense bunkers. At the end of the war, the property passed through a number of different hands, until it was bought by the Town Hall in 1974, followed by renovation works carried out several years later. After several periods of inactivity, this work as finally taken up again in 1999, and went on to win a Europa Nostra award in 2001.

Between Gardens

On the way to the estate, one passes a circular plaza which used to be the site of a bull-fighting ring and which later became the Paseo de los Duelistas, with two sculptures representing the distance separating two people about to engage in a duel unto death. A little further is the Plaza de los Emperadores, showing the busts of two Roman emperors along with the Exedra, which is a semi circular building in the classical style, and from which one then precedes into the Palace’s front gardens.

The art of landscaping in El Capricho is displayed in three different styles of classical gardenscapes: the ‘parterre’ or French garden, English landscaping and the Italian giardino. Facing the western approach to the palace is the ‘parterre’ whose hedges look as if they had been directly embroidered on the earth. In the lower part is the Italian giardino in the oldest part of the estate in which hedges alternate with tree-shaded corners, where one can soak up winter sun, or take cover from the heat in the shade of the branches. Nearby is the labyrinth which is expressly designed for playful hiding or amorous frolicking, is a laurel grove set as per the original wishes of the Duchess herself. Finally, there is the rest of the park, which is a typical English landscaped garden, echoing the natural forms of nature, most inviting for a stroll and finding a quiet corner. There are many love trees, elms, almond trees, Holm oaks and lilac bushes, which contribute their colours in springtime.

As for the palace itself, only the walls are left from the original building, rising three floors and finished off at each corner with towers. The inside has been remodeled, and houses the offices for the park services, but it also has kept some reflections of the past, as the Ministry of Culture would have it. So there is a grand ballroom, dining salons, a 6000 volume library, as well as the alcoves and chambers of the family members. As great patrons of the arts, the private quarters of the family were each decorated with some of the best art work of their day. In fact some of Goya’s best work, such as El columpio (The Swing), Las cuatro estaciones (The Four Seasons), La merienda campestre and La pradera de San Isidro (The Field of San Isidro) were commissioned for this palace.

Not far from the palace is the temple of Bacchus, which is a classical style garden structure with an oval floor base, surrounded by twelve Ionic columns and set on a rise, making it a romantic view from other parts of the garden.

Los caprichos

Besides the gardens the estate holds a number of decorative structures that are both temporary and unusual and which make the whole place into a sort of theme park. For playful exertion there is both an adult and children’s play area comprising a small fort that even has canons and a moat, and from which departs the stream watering most of the garden area. The Casa de la Vieja (Old Woman’s House) brings back the typical lifestyle of simple folk. There is also a hermit’s dwelling in ruins, and in which once lived an actual hermit who used to startle lost passerby. These are the ‘caprichos’ built to recall the lives of the more humble classes.

Water is present throughout the walk. A sinuous stream goes makes its way across the property, deep enough for row boats and in fact, uniting the games area and the lake with the Dance Casino, which can be reached by a small wharf called the Casa de Cañas. Decorated with mirrors and a large fresco, the casino is the work of Martin Lopez Aguado, and the top floor as well as the terrace were meant for holding grand parties, which gave the guests all the prestige that they believed themselves to have.

My Experience:

I had never heard of El Capricho gardens as it is not one of the ‘main’ tourist attractions of Madrid. Which I have to say, made this experience so much better. It truly is a small piece of heaven hidden behind grouped apartment buildings, surrounded by an eye-sore of a vine-covered metal link fence.

Well, my first experience with El Capricho was on a whim with one of my good friends, Craig in early-March. The first signs of spring had yet to show themselves as we headed on the 45 minute metro ride near Barajas Airport. I figured it would be nice to get out of the house for a little bit to see what Craig was explaining would be ‘well worth’ my time. When I first entered the gates my first thought was of absolute shock in the vast size of the place. One would not guess how massive this ‘garden’ is from behind the fence. Craig laughed at my jaw-dropped expression as we started down the dirt path. We spent a good two hours waling along the winding paths as I giddily took photos like a tourist. All I could think was, ‘Wow, this place is going to be absolutely breathtaking in a few months when spring really does arrive!”

I was right. In May, Dani was planning on visiting me in the ‘Centro’ for a nice Sunday of catch-up. I cooked us lunch and debated about the rest of our day as I stared at the gloomy gray sky threatening my ‘surprise’. But, figuring it was now or never, Dani and I hopped on the metro back towards El Capricho which had stolen my heart only weeks before. I told Dani that we were going to one of my favorite places in Madrid and that he would hopefully fall in love with it like I did. As we walked around the outskirts, I saw the same look of doubt on his face that I had with Craig. Oh, little did we know!

Luckily, the rain stayed away long with any other crowds that were scared away by the looming clouds. Within minutes, Dani looked at me and said, “Thank you for showing me this! I really needed a place like this right now.” I smiled happily as I new that this was a day neither of us was going to forget. We strolled around like mischievous kids thorough the secret trails of trees and abandoned structures of the ground. We had photo shoots at every opportunity taking advantage of the breath-taking landscape. Plus, it gave Dani and I time to talk about everything from our past adventuras to summer plans to relationships to the silly things that make our friendship so amazing.

As the minutes passed and we finally admitted that we had walked almost every inch of El Capricho, we set back off to the metro in absolute bliss. It had been one of the best days either of us had had in quite a long time.

Some Much Needed AMERICANA!

I must admit that I gorge myself on jamon and tortilla espanola like any person living in Spain.  However, once in a while, my American side really gets the best of me.  The past few weeks, as I've been planning my summer trip back to the States and daydreaming about all the fantastic things I'm going to do (and EAT), I realized that I had the biggest hankering for a large, juicy, overloaded HAMBURGER!  Not the crappy hamburgers you get at Foster's Hollywood and VIPS.... but a close to home, authentic burger.  So this past weekend I decided I had waited long enough!

My best amigo Dani was going to be stopping by my apartment for a relaxing Sunday together, so I thought what a better excuse to spoil myself.... by making it seem like I was spoiling him :)

I bought all the things I needed 2 days before hand (Yes, I was this excited about them!).  As I waited for him to arrive, I took everything out and placed it all around my counter and counted the minutes till I could begin putting everything together.

Dani arrived as I made him guess what our American feast would be.  After everything from tacos to chilli to lasagna... I anxiously yelled, "Seriously??? Dani, I'm American... what do you think I'm going to cook!??"

He smiled as he exclaimed, "Ohhh, HAMBURGERS!!!"

Ready to start, I sent Dani to my room to play on my computer and I began.  30 looong minutes later, I was ready to reveal my masterpieces.

We're talking lots of beef, bacon, grilled onions, cheddar and blue cheeses, plus a tomato for our veggie intake!

Dani entered the room with a look of shock and starvation.  We both stared at them as we tried figuring out how to possibly start eating them.  But we managed with messy faces and gooey fingers to lick as Dani would pause every 3 bites to let choke out a "Viva America"!

A Welcomed Surprise

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It represents time spent with the family and friends, the arrival of Spring and the ability to eat delicious treats guilt free. So this year, I was a little sad to be so far away from home. However, that all changed one day last week. I woke up and opened my bedroom door to walk to the bathroom when I stubbed my toe and nearly tripped over an object in front of my door. I cursed my roommates under my breath for not paying attention where they put their things when I looked at the object. It was a package. I picked it up and saw my name written on the side. Someone had sent me a package!!!
After a quick bathroom trip, I ran back to my room full of excitement. I examined the box as if it had come from outer space. It was from my best friend Ray. He had been telling me for almost a year that he would send me things from back home. Every time I talked to him he said, “Yes, I’ll send you something soon.” I knew he eventually would but I never rushed him because I knew how expensive shipping things abroad could be. And I was right; this box cost him $50 to send. I bet he wasn’t expecting that.

Anyways, I felt like it was a box of American heaven. PEANUT BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, GUM, GLAMOUR MAGAZINE (in English), SPICES, and most importantly….

CRYSTAL LIGHT!!!!

Ray also sent me an envelope full of our favorite pictures together and a 2-page note of his random ramblings.  I sat in bed reading and re-reading the letter with tears rolling down my face. Yes, I was that big of a girl in that moment.
This came at the right time for me. It gave me a piece of home and made me remember how blessed I am to have such amazing friends.

My friend Meg sent me a similar box around my birthday last fall and again my friend Chris sent me a small Christmas box of goodies. It’s the small things that make me miss home but luckily, I have the love and support from my friends and family to keep me going. Shout out to all of my friends that remind me daily of how lucky I am!!! Love you and miss you all <3

Weekend in Switzerland// Un Finde en Suiza

One of the great things about living in a shared apartment is the different roommates you may encounter. This couldn’t be truer in my case. For about 3 months, I lived with this adorable Swiss girl named Vanessa. A bit of a tomboy with an odd obsession with monkeys, I knew we would get along well from day one. Her father being English, she was fluent which made it nice to speak to someone apart from my other 2 Spanish roommates. She was here for a short time to study Spanish. I was sad to see her go so soon but it came with an upside; she said I could come visit here whenever I wanted. All I had to do was pay for my plane ticket. Within 6 weeks of her departure, I took her up on her offer.


I left Madrid early one Friday afternoon in February. I must confess that I knew little to nothing about Switzerland and never thought about travelling there before I met Vanessa. Therefore, I flew into Geneva with little expectations and no game plan for that weekend. Vanessa met me at the airport and drove us back to her gorgeous home in the hills of a little town about an hour outside Geneva. Along the way, we talked about the usual catch-up topics and then what she recommended me to see while I was there. Unfortunately, that part of Switzerland wasn’t blessed with great weather at that time of year. So a lot of our possible activities depended on what Mother Nature had in store for us.

It was already late evening by the time we arrived to Vanessa’s home. I was greeted by her parents with welcoming arms and slippers for my feet. We sat around and chatted about Spain and our own culture’s before eating dinner. Her mother had prepared one of Switzerland’s typical meals, called raclette. There’s a little bit of everything from cheese, to raw veggies, to cold cuts and boiled potatoes. We put all the ingredients on our plates and prepared our individual slabs for the heater. It was simple, filling and delicious. Her father kept conversation flowing easily like the red wine he served. I took an instant liking to Vanessa’s parents. They were obviously well-off but extremely down-to-earth and the most caring family I have seen to date.

Vanessa and I retired upstairs after dinner to relax and prepare our big day. I left early on Sunday so Saturday would be the only time I had to really see any sites. She said we could start with a local tour of the Alps and the lake because they were right our outside her door before heading into Montreux to see other things. Being pitch black as we drove up, I didn’t really understand to what extent she meant ‘right outside her door.’ Well, morning came after a long peaceful sleep in V’s sister’s room. I got out of bed, stretching as I walked to the window where I was met by this:

Well, GOODMORNING to you too!

She really was kidding when she said that The Alps were right outside! I knew I was in for one memorable day. I hurried up and showered before V woke up, excited to start the day. As I finished getting ready, Vanessa came and got me for breakfast. I followed her down that stairs when suddenly my feet flew out from under me and I tumbled down the remaining steps almost taking an antique vase with me. If you haven’t figured out, I’m not the most graceful of people. Vanessa and her mother ran to my rescue and I mortifyingly giggled to hide the extreme pain my rear-end was in. Then her mother asked, “Where are the slippers I gave you?” Looking at my bare-feet and back at her, my embarrassment on multiplied… not the way I wanted my morning to start! Haha I quietly ate my cereal as Vanessa talked to her dad about things we should do. Sadly, a heavy fog had set low on the Alps so a trip into them was pointless. With several ideas in hand, Vanessa and I set out for our daily adventure.

The Castle of Chillon

Me and the Alps (left) and Freddy Mercury Statue (right)

We started at The Château de Chillon and parked near Lake Leman to take some photos as we continued into Montreux. Here we stopped to walk along the lake to see some of the monuments and artwork and stop in little shops to get my necessary tourist items. It was a modern city where all 3 Swiss cultures (German, French and Italian) could be found. Vanessa explained that one of the most famous Jazz Festivals took place here in the summer and it is the favorite destination for many celebrities for its quiet, clean and very up-scale atmosphere.

Then we continued to another large nearby city heading towards Geneva called Lausanne. This was probably my favorite city that I say in my quick trip to Switzerland. It was very clean yet had an old-European feel which I love. There were cute antique stores and unique boutiques on every corner. Bakeries and ‘chocolaterias’ filled the small streets with overwhelming and tantalizing odors. My favorite sight had to be the Nestle Restaurant located on the lake. I actually never stepped foot inside the restaurant but it still grabbed my attention because of another aspect…

Yes, that is a giant fork built into Lake Leman!

Lausanne is also the home (for many decades) to Charlie Chapman. So paying homage to American cinema, I had to take a picture.

We walked around a bit more into some small shops before heading to Lausanne’s shopping center. I was in desperate need for something that I cannot buy in Spain… BRAS! Sorry guys, but this was vital. Spanish women aren’t really endowed in that area so finding anything above a ‘32C’ in Madrid (besides specialty stores that charge 90 euro or Granny-style over-the-shoulder, boulder holders) is near to impossible. Therefore, I brought extra money in hopes of finding something more my style in Switzerland. I was in luck at this mall’s H&M. So let this be a lesson to any woman wanting to live abroad: do your research on these things before you leave!

Continuing, I stopped at a supermarket to pick up my fill in cheese and chocolate for myself and for colleagues back in Madrid. Then we headed into Geneva for the World Olympics Museum. This was pretty badass; I’m not going to lie. At the time, it was only days prior to the Winter Games and the first year of the museum. It contained articles and memorabilia from the Olympics in the ancient times to the earlier part of the 20th century and today. I’m pretty big on national pride (USA and now Spain with a little of the Queen’s English mixed in as well) so it was inspiring to see so many things from these countries and the evolution of the Games itself. The museum itself was impressively laid out with 3 levels. The lowest level being a library full of books and documents about past Olympics. The main level was the gift shop, ancient Greek Olympic artifacts and the best: every Olympic torch to date. The upper level contained memorabilia dedicated to the museum from an athlete from every country for every sport. The walls were paneled with a brief history and highlights from the Olympic Games starting from the 20th century. There was also a side exhibition of native artwork dedicated to the 2010 Winter Olympics hosted in Vancouver.

Vanessa and I closed down the museum and headed back to her house to drop our goodies off and go to dinner. She had made a reservation at her and her boyfriend’s favorite fondue restaurant in Lausanne. I had fondue only once in my life before that day and it was with Vanessa in our apartment in Madrid. But she claimed at the time that it was 100x better in Switzerland so I had very high expectations for the coming meal. We arrived to the quaint little restaurant where we were met but 2 very nice, hippi-esque waitresses that sat us in a corner table. I let Vanessa do the ordering as this was clearly her area of expertise. We started off with a simple salad to get out ‘veggie’ intake of the meal before we were brought a huge meat platter with gherkins and onions. After consuming half a cow, Vanessa reminded me that the best was yet to come: The Fondue. Suddenly, harmonious music begins to blare from some hidden speakers as a huge smile creeps along Vanessa’s face. I look at her with a confused look as she meets my glance and says, “It’s our national anthem. They play it here whenever anyone orders fondue.” To stunned to comment, I quickly took out my camera as our waitresses stomp out of the back with the kettle of fondue and the Swiss flag in hand. It was all too good to be true! Vanessa clapped and quickly told the waitresses to let me pose with the flag as other customers clapped at my obvious display of ‘foreign-ness’. A little rosy-cheeked, I reached for my dipping fork and a chunk of bread, attempting to remember how V had taught me some months prior. The next 30 minutes were spent sipping warm tea (nothing but warm beverages should be consumed because they keep the cheese from solidifying too quickly in your stomach. Safety first people!) and consuming as much bread and melted cheese that I could stand. Vanessa carefully scraped out the last remaining crust of dried cheese at the bottom of the kettle as I tried to figure out who could roll me out of the restaurant before I exploded.

MEAT!!!!

I left there content with life and ready for a long nap. However, Vanessa had other plans as we drove back to Montreux to have a few drinks with some of her former students. They were 2 cute girls but I definitely felt a bit too old for the crowd so I wasn’t disappointed when drinks ended quickly. We drove the girls back to their boarding school up in the Alps (yes, you read that correctly) and continued our journey up the side of the mountain. It was an experience I’ll never forget. The winding roads surrounded my icy rocks had me praying for dear life but the view over looking the cities below were breath-taking. Vanessa and I parked at a ridge and sat looking over the edge for a few minutes as I took in the sites and wished I could share that moment with everyone I knew. I tried to take pictures but they came no where to doing it justice so I won’t even dignify them by adding some here.

We drove back to her house rocking out to some electro-rap mixes as I took in the last sites of the countryside. We finished the night by watching a movie in Spanish and eating some of her mother’s home-made berry ice cream. I went to bed extremely satisfied with everything I had experienced this trip. It was new and exciting but also very relaxing at the same time. I woke up morning and took the train with Vanessa back to Geneva to the airport. Her mother packed us a delicious lunch of lamb stew and couscous that we ate while I watched the Alps disappear into the city. I caught my plane back to Madrid refreshed and exhilarated by this weekend trip. I guess it pays off to not have high expectations because when it actually is one of the best trips you have taken to date, you know it will be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. So this blog is dedicated to the lovely French-Swiss people especially Vanessa and her lovely family. Thank you roomie for your hospitality and friendship!

Working Girl (Jan/Feb/Mar)

January started a new year and a new semester for all teachers. Having stayed in Madrid doing pretty much nothing for 2 weeks, I was actually excited to get back to work. January would be a rather short month as we didn’t start until the 7th. Picking up my schedule, I realized that this semester would actually be probably one of the best schedules I’ve had since I started at ALA in June. Luckily, over the next 12 weeks of the trimester, my schedule changed very little.


I start the majority of my days with my regular 10 am intensive. In January, 2 of my 6 students were returning from the previous semester but I was also excited to get to know some new faces. It was a pre-intermediate level class but after the first week I knew that I had my work cut out for me. Within this class I had students that had varying strengths and weaknesses. Where one student lacked in grammar, the others excelled and where another had excellent listening comprehension, the others needed things repeated 3 or 4 times. This caused for a lot of wasted time that unfortunately, couldn’t be avoided.

My most memorable student was Conchi. A cute little girl in her early 20s that when she first entered my class was so incredibly nervous, she wasn’t capable of putting 2 English words together without blushing and stuttering to a stop. It became my personal mission to break her out of her shell by the end of the month. She came to me after class by the second week and asked if she could have extra review homework to help her build confidence while speaking. Every other day, I slipped her modal and adverb worksheets and websites for her to build listening comprehension. By the end of the month Conchi was speaking full sentences (not always grammatically correct but with definite improvement in her confidence).

Another one of my favorites is Santiago. Being from Extremadura, I quickly took a liking to him for his accent being that’s where my favorite Spaniard, Dani hails. He had been with the academy several months with other teachers but I frequently saw him walking the halls. I was excited on the first day to discover he would now be one of my students. However, he was with me for only a month as he was bumped to a higher level in after. But I see him often and he always comes up and says how much he misses my classes. Although unprofessional, you can’t help but develop the occasional innocent crush!

I also started 2 new back-to-back trimester classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. This was a schedule change that at first I loathed to no end. With these new classes, I would be working from 8:30 in the morning to 9:30 at night with a ridiculous 4 hour break in the afternoon. But after the first week, I knew that I would grow to love these classes and this schedule. My first trimester class is a pre-intermediate group of 6 women that have been together for the past year with several different teachers. They are all a bit older ranging from 30 to probably about 45 years old. At first I wasn’t so keen about having 6 lower level, very opinionated-- women. However, over the weeks we have grown to appreciate and respect one another. Each one brings a dynamic aspect to the class. Ana Maria is the smarty-pants and over-talker. Estefania is the slightly quiet, slower fashionista. Elena is the very successful business woman who constantly gets interrupted by important phone calls. Ana Isabel is the timid one until she can talk about her belly dancing classes. Finally, there is Concepcion who is the motherly, sarcastic type which keeps the others in check. We can talk about some slightly inappropriate themes in class without making anyone feel uncomfortable. Plus, they eagerly complete any task I set in front of them. They are probably my favorite class this trimester thus far.

My other trimester class begins right after the other. This one is an intermediate group of hodgepodge students that change every few weeks. I’ve had 2 steady students: Mer and Cristina that are very serious and hard-working. Lorena started a few weeks later but I must admit that she quickly became someone I admired. She is probably the hardest-working student I’ve had to date. After every class, she walks upstairs with me, asking me a few extra grammar doubts then takes an array of books and DVDs in English to study before our next class. She really is a rarity in this country. Throughout the other weeks, students have been added or sat in for a recuperation which really upsets the rhythm at times. Plus, being so late, most of my energy has diminished by the end of the class. So this is unfortunately the class where I walk in solely to teach what I have to and leave. I have built a bond with the continuing students that I’ve had since the beginning of the trimester but still not as much as previous classes in other trimesters.

The rest of my classes include my one-on-one TR executives and 1-hour TR group classes in the afternoons. Both of which are easy money with very little preparation needed. My TR group classes start at 1:30 and last till 2:30. Because it’s the key lunch time for my students, I have irregular attendance which can make it difficult to mark their progress. But there is a great mix of ages and personalities to make every class interesting and dynamic.

My new trimester classes start in about another week. I’m hoping for little change as I have become to adore my schedule. But after 3 months, I doubt I could get as lucky this time around. Fingers Crossed!