Objectively, I’ve always known that I was living the dream here in Madrid. My 4-day, 16-hour per week job is about as low-stress as it gets. On my short walk home from the metro to my apartment, I can pick up a bottle of wine, a fresh-baked baguette and a wedge of fabulous cheese without spending over 4 euros. I feasibly could visit a new country every single weekend should I so desire, and generally do travel 2 or 3 times per month. I spend 24/7 in the best possible classroom for learning a new language. I get to meet interesting people from all over the world.
Spain
Andalucía Part 3: Arcos, Cádiz and Seville
For the final segment of our two-week Andalucía tour, we visited another small mountain town before returning to the coast — this time to Cádiz on the Costa de Luz — and finally wrapped up our trip in famed Seville.
Andalucía Part 2: Málaga to Ronda
The next phase of our two weeks in Andalucía took us down to the Mediterranea Sea on the Costa del Sol, then up into region’s mountainous heart. We explored a new city, spent some quality time with the sea, and got our first taste of the romanticism of small town Spain that exists off the beaten tourist path.
Andalucía Part 1: Granada
The first new Spanish phrase I learned in the first day of our Andalucía trip? Hasta donde alcanza la vista: as far as the eye can see.
We were cruising through the hilly countryside just north of Jaen, en route from Madrid to Granada, and I simply couldn’t wrap my head around how many olive trees covered the surrounding lands. From horizon to horizon — literally as far as the eye could see, nothing but olive trees.
Three Months in Madrid: Looking behind, looking ahead
December 23 was a notable day for a couple of reasons.
For one thing, it’s the first day of our 2+ week Christmas vacation and the beginning of our travels around Andalucía.
For another, it marks exactly 3 months since we arrived in Spain.
This Auxiliar Life: Teaching English in Spain
To be honest, we didn’t think too much about teaching before we signed contracts to do it for nine months in Spain.
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Day Trips from Madrid: Toledo and Patones
Our first month in Madrid, as I mentioned in my last post, was a little rough. While I tried to be as realistic as possible with my expectations, there’s really no way to know what it’s going to feel like to leave everything and everyone you love behind until you do it. Not having a place to live doesn’t help; nor does a rapidly diminishing bank account, or the reality of looking like a fool every time you attempt to speak to any other person for any reason.
Spain: One month in Madrid.
Hola chicos!
Today is October 26th, which means we’ve been here in Spain for just over a month.
The past four weeks have been incredibly exciting and also mind-numbingly mundane at the same time. Sure, we are starting our lives over in a whole new city, country, continent and culture — which is thrilling! But the day to day reality of what that looks like is: finding an apartment. Obtaining a transport card. Opening a bank account. Applying for a residency card. Choosing a cell phone plan. Setting up WiFi. Purchasing a trash can. Doing a month’s worth of laundry. Etc.
I will go into more detail about some of those little adventures in future posts, because I found it really helpful to read about other people’s experiences before we arrived. But for now, I’ll start with a general overview of what we’ve been doing and observing and feeling.
find me in the air 