Life in Madrid - October 9th - 15th

Madrid, Spain 2015-2016

October 9th - 15th

This weekend was a long weekend for everyone in Madrid.  The lucky few people in the same teaching program as us who have Fridays off had a four-day weekend, but we were still happy with our three-day weekend!  

While we were waiting for our metro pass to arrive, we thought it would be nice to explore where we live, it's right in the centre anyway and there was no rush to visit other places when there is still so much to see within walking distance of where we live.

On Saturday I made the bold decision to sign up for a local artisan market.  It wasn't as successful as I had hoped, but it was a risk that was necessary to make.  I signed up and paid in advance for half a tent, but found out later there would be nothing else provided.  On the morning of the market, we lugged our heavy wooden kitchen table and two chairs down to the street in hopes of hailing a taxi.  We tried a couple different types of taxis but our tiny table just wouldn't quite fit.  We tried calling a van taxi but none were available.  We saw a couple of larger taxis and a random van pass on another street but we couldn't flag them on time.  We borrowed a tool from the hardware store to try and take the table apart, but it was not possible.  The options were wearing thin and by now I was running late (which doesn't really matter here anyway).  Eventually we went to the "dollar" store and I paid 25 euros for a small wooden fold up table.  By now I had paid 40 euros for half a tent and 25 euros for the table, and then the taxi fare to transport our little table and two chairs to the market (which we knew wasn't super far but didn't really know where exactly it was).  It turns out the market was about a 20 minute walk away.  We stayed from around 1pm-8pm but it was a busy area with a lot of people watching and things going on around us to keep us relatively entertained.  

There isn't really a market for sea glass jewelry in Spain I discovered.  In fact, I don't think anyone even knew what it was.  They thought it was rocks or something I think. Of course a couple of foreigners noticed and commented, but they were in Spain, they probably wanted a Spanish souvenir.  A couple of locals were friendly too, but with my baby table and limited display material, it didn't really catch their attention.  I'm glad I learned my lesson early and I am grateful the Canadian market responded well!  I can't regret trying and I will try to stay optimistic!

On Sunday we did some chores and then had a cafe con leche and went to a museum.  This museum explained some of Madrid's history.

Old photo of one of the most popular areas in the centre of the city

On Monday it was another relaxing and calm day.  We went to another museum near our apartment.  This museum displays furniture and pictures from the romantic era.  Since it was a public holiday, there was a short line outside and it was free of charge that day. 

 Later we had a beer on a terrace.  The terraces are usually full of people all weekend.  We want to enjoy that part of the Spanish culture now in case it gets too cold to sit outside soon.  Overall it was a really relaxing and enjoyable weekend and I am getting more excited about living here now that we have had a moment to smell the roses.

Settling into Madrid, Spain, part 2! 

Madrid, Spain 2015-2016

2nd week

I'm sure many of you have heard the pace of life can be different in Europe compared to North America.  So far I am getting the impression that it's true.

We had our first day of work on Thursday and met our other English Assistant co-workers and some of the Spanish teachers.  My school seems great, the teachers seem nice, my co-teachers and I all got along really well.  

Our schedule includes two 45 minute classes in the morning.  After we have a 30 minute break/ snack time.  The school provides the teachers a free snack which includes stuff like coffee/tea, fruit, yogurt, bread and maybe something else savoury or sweet.  This is a really nice treat!  After break we have another two 45 minute classes, a two hour lunch, then, finally, two 45 minute classes.  I also have Monday off each week!

I went into my classes on Friday and the students were apparently extra loud that day because it was Friday and they had a new assistant teacher.  I am glad I have taught before because I could relate to the teacher disciplining them to be quiet all the time.  I am excited because I think it will be interesting and educational seeing the differences between teaching the Korean kids vs. Spanish kids.  It will also be interesting to see how quickly they pick up English when they have a native language that is a lot more similar.  I also have to give props to the Korean kids who picked up English extremely well considering how different their language is.  It is normal for the kids here to give teachers big hugs so I am looking forward to that as well!

The school doesn't use a bell for when the time is up so I noticed that while everything ran relatively on time, the classes could start and end a couple minutes late and it wasn't a huge deal.  Also, the teachers could dress really casually.  Some of the Spanish teachers looked like they were going to yoga class right after school or wore jeans/leggings. Many of the teachers at my school are really young and hip too.  For me, I would feel a bit too strange wearing my leggings or yoga clothes to work, but it could be handy to have that clothing attire to do yoga for when I have my two hour lunch break!

I will give another example of the laid back culture.  On Friday, after work, we were going to the pick up our debit cards at the bank.  Daniel got a call that our landlord could sell us a dresser/wardrobe for our apartment (desperately needed).  He said he would come after 5pm to drop it off.  We came home instead of going to the bank because we didn't want to be late meeting him.  We carried on with our night, keeping in mind someone was going to be coming at anytime.  Around 8:30 we finally called to see if they were still coming.  They said yes, they were just packing the truck.  Around 12:30am I was struggling to keep my eyes open and they called to say they were on their way.  At 1:45am I woke up to hear the door open because they finally arrived with the wardrobe.  The boys unloaded the pieces and then one of them said he would be back on Sunday to actually put it together with his tools.  Phew, that was a long night.  We are starting to learn our lesson that you just have do continue doing your thing and not to wait around for others because when they say after 5, it could mean anytime after 5.  

On Saturday we toured around Retiro Park.  It is the one huge park in the city and it was very beautiful and the leaves were changing colours in the park! 

You can exercise while sitting on a bench

On Monday, our day off, we found a little side job reading a script for a company in a recording room for just under an hour.

Starting on Tuesday we were back at work but the children at my school were a little bit more calm this week since I wasn't just meeting for the first time.  Its nice when you start to get to know your way around. There are a ton a teachers and children I will be working with, but after this week, I am starting to get to know them a bit better.  One teacher at my school turns out to be a neighbour and she is around the same age as me.  We took the metro home together one day and she told me there is actually a large supermarket near our house (we have been going to the smaller express ones), so she will probably be a huge help!  Some of the teachers also have a UNO tournament going on at lunchtime which is fun!

My only complaint so far is getting used of a 9-5 schedule.  I know I really shouldn't be complaining at all, but I find that even though I am teaching the same amount of classes or less than Korea, waking up early for my one hour commute and knowing I have to wake up early the next day has been really draining me so far.  I hope I get used of it soon because there are a ton of interesting things to do here in Madrid! I think it is also a part of adjusting to a new environment, job and language at the same time.  I also will be taking 2.5 hours of Spanish classes twice a week, directly after work until 7pm so those days will be long but I am happy to have that opportunity. :)  I was extremely surprised to get into the upper intermediate class.

Settling into Madrid, Spain!

Madrid, Spain 2015-2016

1st week

Daniel and I have made ​​it to Madrid! :) :) I am not going to lie and say it has been glamorous so far. Since we spent the first four days on the hunt for somewhere to live, it was a bit hard to soak in all the beautiful architecture and the lively plazas full of people enjoying tapas and beer while we were temporarily homeless. We did of course have somewhere in the outside of town to sleep for a few nights but finding a more permanent home was the first priority.

The race to find an apartment was extra difficult when 90% of the places we called had already rented out the apartment, or we needed a co-signer, or it was completely unfurnished. And let me tell you, we called a lot of places.   

Examples of the for rent signs we were looking for

We ended up finding a place where the price was right and the location was great!  Only problem, it was mostly unfurnished and had only one small window. 

We agreed to take it wondering how long it would take us to find a bed to sleep on and knowing a trip to buy dishes etc would be mandatory.  

The gods were on our side this time. The next day we found a moving sale and were able to buy a mattress, table, chairs, bookshelf, kitchen supplies, drying rack etc. It was such a relief. Usually everyone is moving in at this time of year but one friendly Colombian man was moving out! We started to realize how many little things we would have been missing. We still have a lot we need to accumulate. Although we love what we do, it can be a bit frustrating sometimes trying to make our place comfortable while knowing we cannot keep many of the things we bought or accumulated over our relatively short period in that location.

Kitchen with an oven and everything!

Big orange couch

Some of the furniture we bought. We still need to put some pictures or posters on the wall

Drying rack which is our temporary closet .... hopefully we will have a better home for it all soon!

Our mattress with packing cubes as pillows for the first night, and another temporary closet, the shelves. We used two duvet covers we thought were two sheet sets, haha oops. The mosquitoes flying over our ears all night really added to the camping vibe we were feeling!  

Our apartment is internal, one at the back, so it doesn't have one of those amazing window balconies but it will be a lot quieter.  We can use the clothes line to dry stuff too! The retired couple next door already invited us over for a beer with cheese and bread while we were waiting to officially move in!   

Our street!

Front entrance into the building

Brie for as little as 1.15 Euro.  We were so excited we forgot to actually buy the cheese! :)

By now we have cell phones set up, bank account opened, wifi connected, groceries and some furniture bought (still no closet).  Everyday has involved some kind of appointment or administrative task but we have found time for a few relaxing cups of coffee and beers on the terraces (next on the list will be sangria). We have bought more stuff to cosy up our apartment and we start school tomorrow!