Spain Update #1 August 27, 2008
Posted by Luke in Uncategorized.trackback
I’m back in Spain now. The weather is typically Spanish, not a cloud to be seen, hot days, hot nights and so far it has been like I never left.
H is here now and we’ve found an apartment that we move into on Sunday or Monday (whichever takes our fancy). It’s situated in Malasaña, party central and has a lovely terraza and two bedrooms. Anyone heading my way take note of this… we do have a spare bedroom (which could be leased out for a small fee or beer).
I’m refusing work at the moment, although I’m discovering that I prefer work to holidays. As much as I moan and groan about working, breaks from work tend to drag. It’s hard to continuously fill the day with inexpensive things to do.
I’ve decided to start work again around the 8th September, which will hopefully guarantee enough dinero for October. Spanish classes are going to start back up next week and I aim to improve more this year. More focus. More focus. More focus.
Right now, we’re staying at a friends on the outskirts of Madrid. It’s hugely generous for her to tolerate our (or more precisely, my) presence for this long. It’s been a good way to ease H into Spanish life. Her Spanish is worse than mine, although I am sure that she will quickly be better at it than me. My aptitude for languages that I thought once existed seems to have buried, been sunk or just plain disappeared. Or maybe I just don’t work hard enough anymore.
I’m going to send my resumé around tomorrow. I’ve already got two companies I could work for (be exploited by) but I think it’s more in my interest to look around again. Just to see what’s out there. Sometimes I wish I’d taken a small town last year, but then I doubt that I would have met the people I know here already.
That’s all I’ve got for now.
Luke, your blog is getting really slack. Is the Spanish way of life getting to you? Or just have you forgotten about the rest of the world aka your family and friends?
Hope you will come again …some day .. to my country ( think yours is great too ) .I like your point of view of my compatriots …
Adiós of a spaniard
Hola Pablo,
Estoy en España en este momento, en Madrid. Lo siento por mi malo español. Estoy aprendiendo, pero yo hablo en Ingles todo el tiempo. Pero gracias para tu ‘comment’. Quizas, si tu estás en Madrid, podriamos tomar una cerveza o cafe.
Salud,
Luke
Hi Luke,
First of all, I’d like to state that you are the man. I have been looking all over the internet for someone that has actually had experience with Canterbury, and I finally found you. I’ve been reading many blog entries, particularly those from when you first arrived in Spain and now, and I was wondering what you thought of that school. I am thinking about doing ESL in Spain and have heard mixed reviews about them.
Congratulations on your job with Hot English. Dude, you inspire me. I hope you continue to have a great time.
Vince
Wow. Thanks.
Ok. The Canterbury entry is a little misleading in hindsight.. because I was supposed to go there, but never did in the end. A long story. However, I do know one of the owners. He’s a nice enough guy – and they’re a reasonable academy to work for from what I hear. Their hourly pay has improved recently. I don’t work for Hot English either anymore, having moved on to better things with the American Language Academy. If you are thinking of doing your TEFL here, there are plenty of different companies and I would probably recommend going through one that will actually give you a CELTA. CELTA opens doors every where, even if it is more expensive. But just jump in and do it. Spain is fantastic.
Luke
Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it.
I’ll be reading your blog.
Vince