Wowzers.
I don't even really know how to start this, because I feel like I have so much word vomit in my head just ready to explode! It's only been 7 days and I already feel like I could write a novel. I'll try to keep it short so you actually read it :)
Well, I arrived 2 weeks before work starts (October 3)...
WAIT! I should probably explain WHY I'm in Madrid, because that's the first question people ask, and I'm not sure all of my acquaintances know fully...
I am working as an "auxiliar de conversación", basically a English language assistant, for the school year, which here, runs October through June. The Spanish government basically has a program where they bring in native English speakers from the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and England, to help with the English classes in their schools. It's kind of like a "grant,", so we earn untaxed money every month, the job includes health insurance, we only work 16 hours a week, and we get 3 day weekends every weekend (sweet deal i know). I still can't believe it's a thing. So I got my first choice for region, Madrid, and my school is outside the city center, but I wanted to live here because there's more going on, and Spain/Madrid have the most incredible public transportation system I have ever encountered!
That brings me to my next thing, that I was starting above. So I got here 2 weeks early, because the hardest thing about doing this is at first finding a piso (apartment) or an individual habitación (room) to live in. Everyone and their mother is trying to get an apartment right now. I met 3 fabulous girls on Facebook (shout out to Michelle, Shannon, and Blake!) and we had decided we were going to try and find a piso together. But, after a week or so of searching, and calling about ads that went up an hour ago and had already been rented out...we decided it would be easier for all of us to find our own rooms in places that were already established. So we did, and I got SO lucky.
I *happened* to be in my hostel, on Facebook, when I saw that *three minutes ago*, a fabulous Irish girl named Katie (shout out to you too girl!) posted about renting her room. Amazing location, bright, with a tiny terrace.... I just happened to be the second person to message here (of eventually about 50), and the first girl didn't want it....so it's mine!!! I gave money to reserve it yesterday, and I move in next week!!! (pics to come). I'm not spending time helping my friends (who I already love so much and we get along so well, despite just having talked on FB) find places! And we're doing it!! You have to be so incredible persistent and just call a million people. It is stressful. Once you have that, you can do all the other crazy paperwork things we have to do (another story).
I'm not going to write much more, because I have too much to say, i'll do another post in the next few days about what i like about Spanish culture in general. But, I am also doing private classes with people just to make some extra money since I barely am going to work. There is a site here where you can put info about yourself and make an ad; literally within 2 days of putting mine up I had 20+ individuals and families message me with interest! The demand for a native speaker is SO high here, and literally we can (and should, because no one does lower) 15-20 euros an HOUR. I did my first ones this week, and there are two girls 9 and 12, Andrea and Candela. Their parents just want me to spend an hour with each of them once a week, and talk and play, so they can practice!! It's such an amazing way to make money and so easy and rewarding.
I'm going to stop now....but more to come!
Besos,
Anna
