That Time of the Year

It's that time of year again. That time when people looking for summer teaching positions apply for jobs. And those looking for teaching positions for the next school year as well. This means that my last week has been full of applications, cover letters, resumes, reference letters, an interview, scheduling more interviews and all things a working soon to be non-working-but-wants-to-keep- working-in-a-foreign-country adult must do. Frequently. According to my national ID card, my visa expires May 31, the same day my job ends. This creates a special kind of issue, and applies a lot of pressure to my current situation. I am hoping to find a job at an English summer camp, ideally somewhere in Europe. I therefore would need a visa to do so, and would have to get it in Madrid. If I am chosen to work in Spain next year as well, I will need to be somewhere with a Spanish Embassy that is willing to process a visa for an American (last summer I had the problem where only the San Fransisco office would process my visa, because it was my 'local' embassy). Needless to say, this has led to a bit of frustration looking for positions, even just a short term summer position. It is more likely that an English citizen would be offered a job than myself, because there is no paperwork involved as they hold an EU passport.

This led to the idea that perhaps I could get a position outside the EU, ie Turkey. The responses to my emails, however, have been less comforting. Misspelled, grammatically incorrect response from places that supposedly teach English, asking only when I can start and can they have my picture, have left me thinking that maybe I won't be working there this summer (or if I was it doesn't really seem like it would be the kind of job where I could gain experience teaching English...). I am not giving up on the idea of searching, but am putting most of my effort into trying to find a place in the EU willing to help with a visa.

Work this week was really laid back, I did a lot of practice with the students on really basic points, and noticed that it is something I will have to do more. Yikes. The students continue to be incredibly wonderful, and incredibly Spanish (though I as I have been informed many times, Galician is the proper word). I have been continuing with my private lessons, doing a language exchange a couple of times a week, and looking forward to traveling again soon. Just a couple of weeks until I am in Budapest, and then a few more until I get to be with my parents in Spain and Ireland. I am itching for these trips to be here already.

Notable occurrences of this week:

1. I went to fill a RX that I have from the USA, but didn't have my RX with me. I went simply to ask how to get a RX faxed over, the pharmasist said: 'If you say you have a prescription, I believe you. How much do you want?' WHAT?!
2. I broke umbrella number 7 (though not really a 'favorite' of the week, it's worth noting)
3. The grocery store by my flat will no longer be closing for siestas, but they continue to stay closed on Sunday's
4. I found a place that actually serves food during the hours of bar hopping. It's in a woman's house, and she makes sandwiches at the pace of a snail, starting at 3am. Yum.

I am looking at another week just like the last, and that's perfect. Applying for jobs gives me a sense of completion and forces me to be proactive, two things that haven't happened often since moving to Spain. As illustrated by these photos.

 Me, Ángel, Giorgia, Francesca

Giorgia, Ángel, Francesca, Giuly

Goodnight Sun

If Margaret Wise Brown had written her famous children's book in Spain, the title would have been Goodnight Sun, or perhaps Good-morning Moon. Because that is how it works here. Going out means leaving at 2am, and getting home as the sun comes up, or later. Of all the differences in schedules between Spain and the United States (work, eating, school, store hours, etc), this one is the most difficult to grow accustomed to. Once out of the flat, it is normal to start in a bar. From the bar you move to a bar/club mix. Then to a club. Then breakfast. Then bed. It's so much fun, and so exhausting at the same time. I am certain that the siesta was born from this form of partying. Friday and Saturday night both found me out following this pattern. Saturday night the best thing that has ever happened to me going out anywhere happened in our favorite bar. They played Spice Girls. This meant that all the time spent choreographing dances at age 8 finally paid off. I would like to thank my parents for supporting my obsession, including giving me every Spice Girl memorabilia that Big Lots had for Christmas that year. I know it would've made you proud to see my moves last night ;)

 Francesca, Ángel and me in Forum (the bar that played Spice Girls)

Ángel and me with the penis of Santiago. Seriously, that's what everyone calls it.

 

The rest of my week was pretty normal. I went back to work, it rained, went to the gym, applied for a second year in Spain and bought a plane ticket. All the things that my life will ideally be full of this year. Work was great as always, I still adore the students and love having the chance to practice teaching and to see how practiced teachers do it. I am planning on doing a back-to-basics review with the students based on their short answers to questions about their holidays. Here are my favorite answers:

• What do you want to do this year?
• A girl and a good friends
• Pass old my subjects
• What did you receive? 
• I receivet under pants (this students vocab is incredibly limited, but he knows this word)

As you can see, it is necessary to review the basics. I also hope it will stop the question "Who did you do yesterday Tiffany?" and lead to the questions "What did you do yesterday Tiffany?" The rain this week made me a bit cranky again, as I have broken a handful of umbrellas during my months here (though most in the past month). I am looking forward to being rain free again sometime in the near future.

Toxo has found a new way to keep warm

I love my new gym, though find that the rules at gyms in Spain are different from those in the USA. For example, it is required to use a sweat towel, for sanitation, but there is nothing to clean the equipment with after working out. I paid for my membership and gave them my photo, but there is no check-in when I go, and it is always a different person working. It's a very interesting process. I applied for a second year in Spain to continue traveling, as it is absurdly easy to do so in Europe. This next month I will be going to Budapest, Hungary for a few days. I am looking forward to seeing the history and sights of Budapest, and getting to know yet another city.

I also found a few photos on a different camera from Kim's trip, these photos are from Vigo, the first day that Kim was here.

 Kim showing off her light packing skills

 Naked fishermen statue...

 Statue in the park

Swimmer in the park