The title of my post (if you can't tell) has to do with some frustrations, or should I just say, cultural differences, when it comes to teaching in Spain vs teaching in the US. In February, we have the choice of renewing our contract. My friends and family keep asking me if I'm going to stay another year and as of now, I don't think I could do it. I really don't like having such a random schedule and moving from 1st grade to 5th grade to 3rd grade and so on... hour after hour. I feel like I don't have as good of a relationship with the students as I would like. (I still don't know all of their names!) Then again, I know other Auxiliares in this program who are only with one grade level. It completely depends on the school to which you're assigned. But I know if I stay another year, my Spanish would improve immensely.
Don't get me wrong, I love Spain and the Spanish culture. Why else would I have been here three times already? You would think that by having a background in teaching would make this job easier, when instead it makes it more difficult and more frustrating.
It's frustrating being in a classroom when a teacher asks me to lead an activity, then he/she butts in while a child is trying to read something to the whole class and the teacher starts yelling, "Come on! Faster! Read it! What does it say?!" then just finished the sentence for them. I stand there in disbelief, wanting to yell back, JUST LET THE CHILD READ. But instead I have to keep calm and teach on.
I could go on and on about my frustrations, but most of them are already on this site: http://whatshouldwecallauxiliares.tumblr.com/
Take note: there are ELEVEN pages. After you view them all (or at least a few), you'll know what my life is currently like... to a T.
On a happier note... here are some more positive things happening in my life:
Alex and I forgot our lunches at school last week so we decided to eat in the lunchroom with some of the teachers. I don't know about you guys, but my school lunch wasn't always the greatest food. But to our surprise, the cooks prepare a special meal for the teachers every day. It's about 4 euros for each meal, but it is so so worth it. Last week, we walked in and there was a long table set up with nice plates and bowls (not your typical student trays). There was a big salad on the table, as well as pumpkin cream soup, fresh bread, and a broccoli/ham salad. I thought that was it, but then they started bringing out chicken fillets, two types of fish, tortilla patata, fruit, yogurt, etc. Every time they brought something new out to the table, Alex and I were like this:
Another happy note - I finally got paid this week! I know I said that in my last blog post, and technically, I did get paid last week. But I took my check to my bank account to deposit it and when I looked online it said it was "retained" until November 5th. Aka 5 days later! They also charged me a lovely commission fee on top of that. I found out later that I could have just gone to a different bank and cashed the check for free, then put the cash into my account and used it right away. Definitely not making that mistake again.
Last weekend, other than watching the entire 5th season of Breaking Bad (Horrible, I know), I went out on Friday with some other English teachers and I spent Saturday and Sunday at two different markets! On Friday, Grace and Alex and I met at the metro, then went to a different part of the city where some of Alex's friends were celebrating someone's birthday. Their apartment had a big terrace so we sat outside talking for a while and eventually we got on the subject of where everyone is from. Grace is from Illinois, so when she said that, a guy across the table said "I'm from Iowa so I'm somewhat close to you!" Then I got overly excited and asked where he was from in Iowa. As it turns out, he's from Davenport, he went to University of Iowa (such a shame), and after we played the "do you know" game, we discovered that he knew a few people that I went to high school with! What a small world. Then we all went out to "The Disco Bar" - such an original name - and enjoyed some free tapas.
On Saturday, Grace and I went to Madrid's Farmer's Market, which happens on the first Saturday of every month. All of the food for sale is made right here in Madrid and they had free samples at nearly every stand. We love those free samples. They had cheeses, olive oils, jams, cakes, fruits and veggies, olives, chips, beers and wines, etc. We brought our fancy cameras and took some pictures. Because I know how much you all love my pictures of food...
On Sunday, Grace and I met up again for yet another market. We went to the Rastro market again, the same market we went to last Sunday. We also decided to stand in the same ridiculously long (but worth it) line for the same tapas, ordered the exact same tapas, and we sat in the same park. Grace and I already have plans together for this coming Sunday... and believe it or not, it's NOT a repeat of the past two Sundays! We actually signed up with Madrid's hiking group and we're spending the day going on a 12 km hike up Monte Abantos, near Madrid. So we'll be hiking instead of eating!
An update regarding the strikes in Madrid: Two weeks ago the schools were on strike, transportation always seems to be on strike, and this week it was the.... cleaners. Of all things, it had to be the city cleaners. Everywhere I went there was garbage everywhere! I'm anxious to see who will be on strike next week.
Happy weekend, everyone! I miss you all so much!
Here's a few super exciting countdowns...
18 days until my dad visits me in Madrid
43 days until I come home
47 days until Christmas
48 days until I'm in Colorado
52 days until I'm reunited with all of my Ames peeps
:)
Don't get me wrong, I love Spain and the Spanish culture. Why else would I have been here three times already? You would think that by having a background in teaching would make this job easier, when instead it makes it more difficult and more frustrating.
It's frustrating being in a classroom when a teacher asks me to lead an activity, then he/she butts in while a child is trying to read something to the whole class and the teacher starts yelling, "Come on! Faster! Read it! What does it say?!" then just finished the sentence for them. I stand there in disbelief, wanting to yell back, JUST LET THE CHILD READ. But instead I have to keep calm and teach on.
I could go on and on about my frustrations, but most of them are already on this site: http://whatshouldwecallauxiliares.tumblr.com/
Take note: there are ELEVEN pages. After you view them all (or at least a few), you'll know what my life is currently like... to a T.
On a happier note... here are some more positive things happening in my life:
Alex and I forgot our lunches at school last week so we decided to eat in the lunchroom with some of the teachers. I don't know about you guys, but my school lunch wasn't always the greatest food. But to our surprise, the cooks prepare a special meal for the teachers every day. It's about 4 euros for each meal, but it is so so worth it. Last week, we walked in and there was a long table set up with nice plates and bowls (not your typical student trays). There was a big salad on the table, as well as pumpkin cream soup, fresh bread, and a broccoli/ham salad. I thought that was it, but then they started bringing out chicken fillets, two types of fish, tortilla patata, fruit, yogurt, etc. Every time they brought something new out to the table, Alex and I were like this:
Another happy note - I finally got paid this week! I know I said that in my last blog post, and technically, I did get paid last week. But I took my check to my bank account to deposit it and when I looked online it said it was "retained" until November 5th. Aka 5 days later! They also charged me a lovely commission fee on top of that. I found out later that I could have just gone to a different bank and cashed the check for free, then put the cash into my account and used it right away. Definitely not making that mistake again.
 |
| Alex, Grace, and me at "The Disco Bar" |
On Saturday, Grace and I went to Madrid's Farmer's Market, which happens on the first Saturday of every month. All of the food for sale is made right here in Madrid and they had free samples at nearly every stand. We love those free samples. They had cheeses, olive oils, jams, cakes, fruits and veggies, olives, chips, beers and wines, etc. We brought our fancy cameras and took some pictures. Because I know how much you all love my pictures of food...
On Sunday, Grace and I met up again for yet another market. We went to the Rastro market again, the same market we went to last Sunday. We also decided to stand in the same ridiculously long (but worth it) line for the same tapas, ordered the exact same tapas, and we sat in the same park. Grace and I already have plans together for this coming Sunday... and believe it or not, it's NOT a repeat of the past two Sundays! We actually signed up with Madrid's hiking group and we're spending the day going on a 12 km hike up Monte Abantos, near Madrid. So we'll be hiking instead of eating!
An update regarding the strikes in Madrid: Two weeks ago the schools were on strike, transportation always seems to be on strike, and this week it was the.... cleaners. Of all things, it had to be the city cleaners. Everywhere I went there was garbage everywhere! I'm anxious to see who will be on strike next week.
Happy weekend, everyone! I miss you all so much!
Here's a few super exciting countdowns...
18 days until my dad visits me in Madrid
43 days until I come home
47 days until Christmas
48 days until I'm in Colorado
52 days until I'm reunited with all of my Ames peeps
:)
Singapore food presentation best in the world. Come teach here for a year -- or be a food photographer! Malaysia on Monday. 14 hours NYC-Tokyo then 7 more Tokyo to Singapore -- worth it. Will be interesting in 2 months when you have had time with your peeps. Love, trc
ReplyDeletethat website...#6: when someone doesn't have what's app....haha
ReplyDelete