Settling In - May 2016

I can't believe it's been a month since I've blogged. I'm so sorry!!! I need to get back on a regular schedule. The good news is that so much has been happening. And I just picked up my NIE - it's official I'm here for the year. Yippee!!!!  🎉😃🎊😆🍻😂

In my last post, I asked if anyone had questions. Thank you Suzy Kedzierski for coming through!! (I hope you don't mind me mentioning you 😊). Here are Suzy's questions and my answers: 

- So, did you decide to teach biz adults or younger students and what age are they? 
I decided to teach both. The majority of my students are adults working in companies and the companies sign up for the English lessons. The ages range from people in their 20's through their 60's.  I also have some teenage girls who I teach. One class is with a 13 year old who is studying to pass the Cambridge English First exam. She is a great student and very smart. She speaks English beautifully and I'm hopeful she'll pass. I have another class with one 13 year old and one 14 year old. They are both lovely. They're a bit lower level and it's more of a conversation class with no formal lessons. They are so funny and sweet!! Finally, I have a few one one-to-one classes with business professionals who are looking to improve their English. I'm really enjoying all of my students and my classes (more on that below).  

- Are you cooking or just eating out? 
I'm mostly eating out (not much changes in that department - no matter where I live 😃).  I do have my staple meals here that I eat at home; scrambled eggs (and yes I buy the Philadelphia cream cheese - it's my one American indulgence), cured meats and cheeses on delicious breads with tomato and avocado, and some pre-made meals (now that I actually have an oven).  

- How's it going with your roommate? 
Things are great with my roommate. She is so sweet!! She is a professional body builder, personal trainer and nutritionist. She works a lot - at a 9-5 job and she also has clients every day. Then she works out herself. The apartment is also great!! I love that I have my own bathroom and that we have a washing machine, microwave, oven and a full size fridge. It's the little things, right?!?

- Did you ever get the photos from your friend that you'd talked about? (Your pics were amazing.)
I did get some more photos this week. Thanks Ashley for sending them!! 

front row - waiting for the fire to start

after the fire

the statue made of flowers

the collection of flowers next to the statue made of flowers

fire, fire

a fallas

another fallas - this one for the kids

and another

this one i had ashley take specifically for my niece and nephew - corey and emily, if you're reading - hey!!!  can't wait to talk soon!!

- Do you watch any TV or is it just in Spanish? Are they reporting on that much?
I do watch some TV, mostly on my computer but not too much. I mostly watch while I'm eating. I've started watching The Good Wife.  Holy moly - what an amazing show!!!!!!! I need I start watching more TV in Spanish as they say that's a great way to learn.  

No, I have not been paying attention to the election coverage. They must be covering it here though as I have had many conversations with my students and friends about it. It is another reason why I'm happy to be here right now. Don't get me wrong, I'll vote via absentee ballot but I'll do my research as it gets closer. Also, I did vote in the primary.  

Teaching:
I can't believe how much I'm actually enjoying teaching! I really thought it would be a means to an end - a way to live in Spain and see the world. But I'm finding that I'm having such a good time in the classroom. It does help that I love my students so much!! I'm basically getting paid to have conversations with people - of course the conversations have a lesson behind them but it seems that they're enjoying themselves and hopefully learning something. And I have had some good feedback. We're coming up to the summer slowdown and my students seem sad that I won't be teaching them for a while. They are also making sure I coming back in the fall :-)

Nightlife:
I have been fortunate enough to have made some good friends out here which always makes for fun nights out. And it helps that it is so cheap to live in Madrid. For example, we went out last night and I had four pints (cerveza doble) and with every round they bring a free plate of tapas so I got dinner and drinks for only €10.  I've also been going to some networking events and MeetUps.  ________

fun in salamanca 

fun in segovia

more fun in segovia

st. patty's day 2016

Daryl also invited me to see the Flamin Groovies - a band from the 60's. It was a lot of fun!!! I'm so glad he invited me!  It was also really interesting to experience a concert in a bar out here. Apparently, the equipment wasn't working very well and the band members kept getting frustrated. Eventually, they just walked off the stage with no encore.  

Travel:
The other weekend, we went to Toledo. I had been there the last time we were in Spain but I wanted to see it again. It was just as amazing as I remember. We didn't plan too well so I want to go back and sign up for some waking tours. We did do the hop on/hop off bus but I want to see more. We did walk a lot of the city and we did a zip line across the river. See the video below - I was so worried about dropping my phone that I didn't pan around enough with the camera. And how funny - we ran into Erin and Matt. It was so good to see them - I'm looking forward to hanging with them again soon!!  

The end is funny - I scream then start laughing

We also went on a day trip to Salamanca and Ávila and had a lot of fun. The trip included two walking tours so we learned about both cities. We also tested the booze to see if it was as good there as it is in Madrid - it's amazing what we do in the name of science :-) 

the cathedral in Ávila

plaza major in Ávila

the gate to get into Ávila

lions around Ávila - the big joke is why are the butts hanging off the platform?

statue in Ávila 

music in the streets of Ávila 

bridge in salamanca

Doorway to old catherial - Salamanca

Doorway to the new catherial - salamanca.  in this doorway, the architect hid an astronaut and a monster in a  playboy pose eating ice cream.  can you find them?

here's a hint - can you see them?

if you still couldn't find them - here's the astronaut 

and the monster in the playboy pose eating ice cream.  sneaky architect.  Also, the story goes that after they realized what he did, they put him in jail.  they released him when they realized people were coming from all over to see the astronaut and the monster eating ice cream.  

panoramic of plaza major - salamanca

Spanish:
My Spanish is coming along - slowly but I'm trying. As they say, poco a poco (little by little or step by step). I'm really enjoying my classes and I'm trying to hang out with more Spanish people (yes, mostly boys) to practice - it's fun and educational :-). I'm now considering taking some more intensive classes in August and putting off traveling. I've also been thinking that my one year plan is quickly turning into a two year plan. I feel like I'm working so hard to learn the language that it seems so silly to not use it more.  

I promise to be better with posting more often! Please let me know what questions you have either by email or by commenting below. I love getting comments :-).