Sunday, August 28, 2011

I may have a small panic attack...

I just googled the map of the metro system in Madrid.




On a positive note, at least I'm not color-blind.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

ETD: September 18

Holy shmokes, guys! It's really happening!!

Pick up visa - check
Book flight - check
Book hostel - check
Email my schools - check
Fight with the bank about extending the expiration dates on my debit and credit cards - check
Meet Yasar at the bank who is helping to fix everything - check
Things are looking pretty good!

So, the next couple of weeks will be filled with packing and researching pretty much anything and everything on life in Madrid - where to live, how to rent an apartment, what to do there, where to visit, what to bring, what not to bring, what I'll be teaching, what I'll need to teach, etc.

YAY!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

¡A España me voy!

Holy smokes! I'm outta here again!!

Back in March, I applied to a program in Spain called "North American Language and Culture Assistants". It's a program run by the Spanish government, and they employ over 2000 people from North America (and I think Australia and New Zealand too) to teach English and "North American culture" in Spanish public schools. I applied super late and ended up being 5000-something on the waitlist, so I figured there would be no way I could get in. Buuuuut, on July 31 I got my placement saying I would be teaching at two schools in Madrid!! Woo!!


















They are both secondary schools with students ages 12-18ish (so I've been told). Points A and B below are my placements. They're kind of far apart but that's okay because I'm planning on living somewhere in the middle. Annnd no worries, there is public transportation to both!




















I'm still waiting on my visa (blah!), so I haven't booked a flight yet. I also haven't started looking for a place to live yet because I don't know when I'll be getting there. Because I don't have my visa. Hmm. I have an orientation in Madrid at the end of September, so the plan is to stay in a hostel before/during orientation and hopefully meet future roomies to find an apartment with! (In the off-chance that whoever is reading this knows someone in Madrid who would like a friendly Michiganian girl to live with them, let me know! :) )

So, yay! I'm super duper excited to be going to Spain and I can't wait to get over there! I'm just crossing my fingers in hopes that my visa will get processed quickly!

¡¡ESTOY TAN EMOCIONADA!!