I Go to Seek a Great Perhaps…
16 Nov 2012 2 Comments
Hello everyone!
I just received an email from ExpatsBlog saying that my blog has been nominated for the Expat Blog Awards 2012. It would be awesome if you, my wonderful readers, could go to my nomination link HERE and leave me a comment/review. Thanks so much everyone!! ¡Son los mejores lectores del mundo!
15 Nov 2012 1 Comment
I went on a field trip with my 1st and 2nd ESO students to the ice rink in Majadahonda. The kids were awesome at helping me skate around the rink and were constantly arguing over whose turn it was to hold my hand 🙂
See if you’re able to spot me among my kiddies in the picture! Hint: I’m wearing a green jacket.
02 Nov 2012 Leave a comment
I’ve been busy at the school and I’m currently in Paris for the long weekend!! I’ll be back soon with lots of updates 🙂
¡Hablamos Luego!
14 Oct 2012 12 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: españa, expat life, living abroad, spain, USA
I’ve been here in Madrid for a month and a half now and I think that’s plenty of time to realize certain things you miss from back home. Here is my list:
1.
Chipotle. I would give anything to be able to have a carnitas bowl with some guac.
2. Punctuality. It is very well-known here that Spaniards aren’t the best at being punctual. If a Spaniard tells you that they’ll meet you at a restaurant around 2 for lunch…expect them at 3. That’s just the way things are around here. I’m very big on being punctual, so this is a bit of an adjustment for me.
3. 
Eating Times. I miss having lunch at noon and dinner around 6. This whole lunch at 2 or 3 and then dinner around 9 (and that’s early) is rough for me.
4. Stores, restaurants, and banks being open the entire working day. I can’t get use to places closing here for the siesta. And banks closing at 2:30? What is up with that? Most people work here until around 4 or 5, so when do they have time to go to the bank? Thankfully, my bank is open late on Thursdays, so I know that’s the only day I can go to the bank.
5.
American TV. I really miss watching my TV shows as they air live. I enjoy things like sitting down on Thursdays at 9 to watch the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Also, it’s very easy to get spoiled here since all of my friends have seen the episode before me. I have to be super cautious while browsing facebook in the morning so I don’t get spoiled.
6. Movies. Most films here get released much later than in the US and you have to really hunt for a place that will play them in English. I can’t deal with dubbed movies. It is not the same. I’m dying to see Perks of Being a Wallflower and there isn’t even a mention of when it’s going to be released here in Spain. Just to give you an idea of how much later movies come out here: Magic Mike came out over the summer in the USA and it just came out last weekend here.
7.
American sports. I love the Yankees and I love the Steelers. Not being to watch a lot of the games/having to watch them by streaming them on my laptop is no fun. My Yankees are the in the playoffs right now and I’m generally sleeping when the games are being played 😦
8. Target and Kohl’s. Those are my two go-to stores in the US and they don’t have them here. I miss them so much…it’s really kinda pathetic. OH and I miss Bath&Body Works. I mainly miss the wall plug-ins/candles. I keep getting emails from them talking about candle sales for fall and they make me sad.
9. 
Kraft Mac and Cheese. I know that I can find it in places like Taste of America, but it’s ridiculously expensive! I miss being able to get a bulk pack at Costco for cheap. And there is no mac and cheese as good as the blue box.
10. Family (including dog) and Friends. This goes without saying. My family and friends are, by far, what I miss the most here in Spain. And the time difference can make it difficult to call/skype/facetime people. This is my current background on my laptop:
I miss my doggy 😦
Now, I will say that there are also many things that I prefer about Spain and wish we had in the US. However, that’s for a different post.
What things do you all find you miss from home while abroad?
10 Oct 2012 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: being sick abroad, españa, expat life, spain
First let me say that I love, love, LOVE my new school! It’s been such a wonderful change to actually look forward to going into work. Plus, I get along great with the 3 teachers that I’m working with. The kids at this school are fantastic and since I’m working with the older groups, I’ve found that I’ve had an easier time getting them to talk with me and building a good rapport (I knew my knowledge of Justin Bieber and One Direction would pay off one day!). It’s nice to finally be enjoying what I came here to do 🙂
Of course, when one thing starts to go well, another starts to go wrong…only a few days after starting at my new school, I got sick. It started Saturday evening and proceeded to get worse on Sunday. I had a fever/chills and a horribly congested nose. I spent most of Sunday lounging around the house and drinking water. I called the school Monday morning and told them that I couldn’t come in because I had a fever. Monday was spent very similar to Sunday. I pretty much looked like this:
I decided that I didn’t want to miss another day of work and headed into the school on Tuesday. Major mistake. I woke up feeling better and thought I would be able to get through the day fine…wrong. I ended up with a fever once again and completely exhausted with a very sore throat from talking to my classes. My teacher even told me that I shouldn’t have come in at all and that I needed to rest. When I got home, I called my insurance company and they told me to go to urgent care at my neighboring town since that what the closest hospital to me. Luckily, my Spain mommy (as I like to call her) called my insurance company and was able to get them to bring the doctor to me. I’m definitely not use to having a health plan that covers house calls from a doctor…but I love it! The doctor arrived about an hour later and told me that I had some type of bacterial infection in my throat and prescribed me some antibiotics and gave me a doctor’s note to excuse me from school for the rest of this week. Oh and I didn’t have to pay a single penny for the doctor’s visit. Afterwards, my Spain mommy drove me to the pharmacy so I could get my prescription, which only cost me about 8€ . Have I mentioned that I live with the greatest family here in Spain? I would probably have been living off of lipton soup if I lived by myself, but I was able to have delicious homemade soup instead 🙂 Plus, it’s been really nice to have the kiddies around me because they can always make me laugh, which is a great thing when you’re feeling sick and mopey.
Well, I think I’m going to have my first nap of the day. I’ll keep you all posted. Oh and since I have free time these next few days, I’m going to finish up the posts I promised weeks ago about Segovia, Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo.
¡Hablamos Luego!
02 Sep 2012 6 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: abroad, auxiliares, auxiliares de conversacion, BEDA, expat, travel
I’ve been here in Madrid since yesterday. I forced myself to stay awake until midnight and then slept until 11 today, so not too bad with the time adjustment.
I’ll write a little more later about the flight and my day yesterday. Right now I’m about to get ready to head to the mall with my sister and brother in law so I can get a few things I need.
I’ll update again soon!! ¡Saludos y abrazos!
26 Jun 2012 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: puerto rico, vacation
I’m leaving in a few hours to head to the airport to begin my annual Puerto Rico vacation. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update during the time that I’m there so I’m giving you all a heads up that the blog may be a little abandoned. I’ll update as soon as I return, however.
Oh and I did finally make a decision regarding the two families that I was torn between to be their au pair. It was tough, but, in the end it came down to which family I felt I had the greatest connection with. I’ll keep you all posted with that as well once I come back 🙂
