tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60070931132947360172024-02-28T11:30:12.068+01:00Oh No She Madridn'tRebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-25898850167871383542018-02-25T17:42:00.001+01:002019-06-29T23:41:18.832+02:00Teaching Abroad Interview on Korbay DelayLast month I was contacted by Megan Haskin of <i><a href="http://www.korbaydelay.com/">Korbay Delay</a> </i>to be interviewed for her Teachers Abroad series.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxW7V5OrbnnBj5brxdBJY9843VRqyeeuCw0IevkOlwRikvWjwKKqyE13rMGZt9GwgwAqHXF5ETLbbSXmsjdWB2N4MxTHEdl_rojWNaEFhndMii-czvflETg7vXvIY_2UAsw8NL4uOyqDO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-25+at+10.32.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="772" height="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxW7V5OrbnnBj5brxdBJY9843VRqyeeuCw0IevkOlwRikvWjwKKqyE13rMGZt9GwgwAqHXF5ETLbbSXmsjdWB2N4MxTHEdl_rojWNaEFhndMii-czvflETg7vXvIY_2UAsw8NL4uOyqDO/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-02-25+at+10.32.30+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It gave me a chance to reflect on teaching/life experiences that happened between seven and four years ago (teaching in Madrid and teaching in South Korea), which both feel like different lifetimes now.<br />
<br />
<b>Update June 2019: </b>The interview is no longer live, so I'm going to post Megan's questions and my answers below:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. Tell us a bit about yourself - who you are, where you’re from, your teaching experience and where you previously taught. </b><br />
I grew up in Wisconsin and have lived in a variety of places since college, my most recent home base being Flagstaff, Arizona, where I’m serving on ACE’s conservation corps via AmeriCorps. I'm currently in the fifth month of my six-month term and don’t yet know where I’ll live/work next, but I’m continually guided by <a href="http://rebeccarosethering.com/about/values/">my values</a> (growth mindset, kindness, creativity, mindfulness, gratitude) and <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/p/personal-compass.html">my personal compass</a>.<br />
<br />
It’s been about a year and a half since I first got into watercolors and travel sketching, which I do alongside hobbies of art journaling, blogging, reading, snail mailing, solo slow traveling, and wander walking.
I first taught English abroad in Spain (2011-12) and then again in South Korea (2013-14). I’ve lived in France as well (2015-16) and have taught English to adults in my hometown as a volunteer at a local non-profit.<br />
<br />
<b>2. How is it that you ended up teaching in these countries?</b><br />
I studied abroad in Madrid my junior year of college and loved it. I actually chose the year-long program in Madrid for financial reasons, as tuition was about the same as a year in Madison, but luckily during the year Madrid grew to feel like a second home.<br />
<br />
While staying at a hostel in Valencia one weekend, I met some people who had studied abroad in my same program just a few years earlier, and who were at that time teaching English through Spain’s auxiliaries program (North American Language and Culture Assistants). I tucked that nugget of information away and applied on a whim the following year, two months before graduating from UW-Madison. I was moving forward with a Peace Corps nomination when I received an email that summer saying I’d been accepted to teach in Spain. I had three days to accept or deny the offer, and ultimately I chose to go back to Spain.<br />
<br />
While there, I discovered a few blogs of people from my university who were teaching English in Korea and read them regularly. That possibility entered my radar, but far away at the periphery. After that second year in Spain I returned to Wisconsin and worked for a year to pay back my student loans at a faster pace. That spring I applied to teach English in South Korea through GEPIK, and I moved there in the fall of 2013 to teach at an elementary school.<br />
<br />
<b>3. What do you love most about teaching and living there?</b><br />
In Spain I love the sun, vibrant culture, friendly people, beautiful language, relaxed lifestyle, affordable wine, and rich history. As an atheist who had to hide my lack of belief for much of middle and high school, I like that Spanish people are more open about certain topics, religion being one of them. I like the proximity to Western Europe and the idea of working to live—rather than living to work. In 2014 I walked the Camino de Santiago across Spain, and every subsequent visit to Madrid feels like a homecoming. I also like that there are such distinct areas in the country—so much so that after two years living in Madrid and traveling around the country, I still have places I’ve yet to visit.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa-q9uVLkaoO_QZzlUuODKLFYQ-Cz52RIV0xsep3dx4Vuwn8xygXvkpNDvV8RLSku72b6x8NzWAkdXzYcQbSnkXp2JC8iGJbd5PHj40vGBIjd_8sVs7eaDnO3x0gGJWvEn6wlUYxia-NZ/s1600/Spain+2011-+Paella+made+by+a+friend%2527s+mother+in+a+small+town+near+Valencia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa-q9uVLkaoO_QZzlUuODKLFYQ-Cz52RIV0xsep3dx4Vuwn8xygXvkpNDvV8RLSku72b6x8NzWAkdXzYcQbSnkXp2JC8iGJbd5PHj40vGBIjd_8sVs7eaDnO3x0gGJWvEn6wlUYxia-NZ/s400/Spain+2011-+Paella+made+by+a+friend%2527s+mother+in+a+small+town+near+Valencia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In South Korea I most loved the delicious food, my adorable students, and the fantastic mountain views in all directions. Although it was a very challenging year for me, I enjoyed learning about a culture I’d been completely unfamiliar with before arriving. I also got to experience learning to read at age 24 when I learned to read Hangul, which was quite humbling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQRW4uJKakEL59TxCJA61-XfjcTivVv4F0j3PQSH3uVZqcwz2QMdnvq52mTg2SrFci17vUuFQpB4IKYzWvPi0yf6Uy45YYlenaLSFeQLAmLMvsEJPb-XniWRuFJ4IB13ck0PIvme5wjPA/s1600/Korea+2014-+With+my+Co-teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="960" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQRW4uJKakEL59TxCJA61-XfjcTivVv4F0j3PQSH3uVZqcwz2QMdnvq52mTg2SrFci17vUuFQpB4IKYzWvPi0yf6Uy45YYlenaLSFeQLAmLMvsEJPb-XniWRuFJ4IB13ck0PIvme5wjPA/s640/Korea+2014-+With+my+Co-teachers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>4. What is the most challenging aspect of teaching in this part of the world?</b><br />
In the program I taught through in Spain, it was challenging because I felt underused and powerless to change the outdated teaching methods at my particular schools. I taught at two vocational colleges where my upper-teen/adult students were required to take one or two years of English, but weren’t necessarily personally motivated. One of my co-teachers couldn’t hold a conversation in English and would give out irrelevant, boring translation exercises as classwork and homework. To keep myself sane, however, I taught several private lessons in the evenings and they were fulfilling for me. I could see my students' progress and had total control over designing and teaching each lesson. I also played on Madrid’s ultimate frisbee team Quijotes+Dulcineas during the year, which gifted me with friends, travel, and fun.<br />
<br />
In South Korea the most challenging aspects for me were the language barrier (and subsequent isolation) and cultural beliefs that differed from my own (i.e. collectivism, the social hierarchy, family pressures, demanding schooling, high presence of plastic surgery). I’ve written in more detail about <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/2014/12/miss-dont-miss-south-korea-pros-cons.html">what I will and won’t miss from South Korea in this post</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JMewwgVs_zfViDhCNbndv886uHFDDsT8MqIZrCdVxpWjEPK_TJX24204SHNKWMKSr24atR788ECHPEaiqEPL6pDPkMk0AXlM0uae2Xpy2MFvThUdRJkmf_n5rXtP8Yzbbicxf2t1kO-O/s1600/Korea+2014-+After+School+Class+%25281st_2nd+grade%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JMewwgVs_zfViDhCNbndv886uHFDDsT8MqIZrCdVxpWjEPK_TJX24204SHNKWMKSr24atR788ECHPEaiqEPL6pDPkMk0AXlM0uae2Xpy2MFvThUdRJkmf_n5rXtP8Yzbbicxf2t1kO-O/s640/Korea+2014-+After+School+Class+%25281st_2nd+grade%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>5. What advice would you give to someone wanting to teach in these places?</b><br />
If you want to teach in Spain, keep a hefty dose of patience in your front pocket at all times. Patience will be required for any bureaucratic business, but living in Spain is so worth those hassles. I have a collection of <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/p/auxiliares-de-conversacion.html">practical resources and how-to posts about teaching/living in Spain here</a>.<br />
<br />
If you want to teach in South Korea, I would check out the <a href="http://www.epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=56&menuNo=286">EPIK</a> and <a href="http://gepik-tek.weebly.com/">GEPIK</a> programs, though teaching in a private Hogwan is definitely an option as well. <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/p/korea.html">Here is where I have a huge batch of information about teaching English in South Korea</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP5gMknrhV4SHwP4rooxk8h3dfuumOMkQrsaxx6FagBsfgIyhZUDN0jluvMSCaJ_qxn5pIYWbAPwXRPdHHwBp4cyb2-41Dt7T4rhxtXhjjDe2ktcijnxi4sZ0El7QNigFuNriAA80ljeH/s1600/Korea+2014-+After+School+Class+%25281st_2nd+graders%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP5gMknrhV4SHwP4rooxk8h3dfuumOMkQrsaxx6FagBsfgIyhZUDN0jluvMSCaJ_qxn5pIYWbAPwXRPdHHwBp4cyb2-41Dt7T4rhxtXhjjDe2ktcijnxi4sZ0El7QNigFuNriAA80ljeH/s640/Korea+2014-+After+School+Class+%25281st_2nd+graders%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>6. What would you tell someone who is considering teaching and living abroad?</b><br />
Go for it! Even in my most challenging year abroad, I learned and grew so much—I wouldn't trade it for anything. My years teaching and living abroad have had such a profound impact on who I am today, and they continue to shape my life.<br />
<br />
If you have any questions or need some encouragement, email me! I love encouraging others and providing information that makes living abroad more accessible.<br />
<br />
And here's where you can read more:<br />
<br />
<b>Current blog:</b> <a href="http://www.rebeccarosethering.com/blog">Rebecca Rose Thering</a><br />
<b>Spain blog:</b> <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/">Oh No She Madridn't</a><br />
<b>Korea blog:</b> <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/">Rebe With a Clause</a> (This blog spans ages 23-28—including a year in France—so it's not a "Korea blog," but that's where you can read extensively about my year there.)Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-5165685729042716182017-02-01T14:42:00.001+01:002017-02-01T14:42:35.201+01:00Refugees Welcome in Madrid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While walking to Malasaña yesterday after <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2017/02/museo-arte-publico-en-madrid.html" target="_blank">coming from <i>Paseo de Castllana</i></a>, I noticed this fantastic "Refugees Welcome" sign on the <a href="http://www.centrocentro.org/centro/home" target="_blank"><i>CentroCentro</i> building</a> in <i>Plaza de Cibeles.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGJ4bIJgBd_K0X-kJTNEkbZSVDMm7bSlEu0i7gGRa-pCXsPjmQX4ddwumgFoCSbxALbf9ubJO8eS9Jn5UF8HML0ppIZXgrFaELeFgr3Pj-nul5ncD-Sov8KFsZmNPVIC2USP64GSHPvkd/s1600/DSC09996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGJ4bIJgBd_K0X-kJTNEkbZSVDMm7bSlEu0i7gGRa-pCXsPjmQX4ddwumgFoCSbxALbf9ubJO8eS9Jn5UF8HML0ppIZXgrFaELeFgr3Pj-nul5ncD-Sov8KFsZmNPVIC2USP64GSHPvkd/s640/DSC09996.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBEUG95GuBPR64ksCDmiOsHodPVzdhEpTJX0Qfke3RW2o06vrknv_-qDBPlSWXCKr0fRRXgAg68xxZ3ypM9N8nnaKtgxQ5LP_P_kG-6Ysb5QYtvf_RbqscsljObKVx6yJfgo8h38Qr-r4/s1600/DSC09995+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBEUG95GuBPR64ksCDmiOsHodPVzdhEpTJX0Qfke3RW2o06vrknv_-qDBPlSWXCKr0fRRXgAg68xxZ3ypM9N8nnaKtgxQ5LP_P_kG-6Ysb5QYtvf_RbqscsljObKVx6yJfgo8h38Qr-r4/s640/DSC09995+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I wasn't sure how long it had been there, but it was a very welcome, hopeful sight after the first week of Trump's presidency.<br />
<br />
I shared the above photo on Twitter, and Matthew Laffer quickly responded, showing me it had at least been there since this past summer:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/RebeWithaClause">@RebeWithaClause</a> here's my photo from this past summer. Enjoy and safe travels. <a href="https://t.co/iJx5E5fsyS">pic.twitter.com/iJx5E5fsyS</a></div>
— Matthew Laffer (@matthewlaffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewlaffer/status/826646523710693376">1 février 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-43481970972623177732017-02-01T13:40:00.001+01:002017-02-01T13:40:45.980+01:00Museo Arte Público en MadridYesterday I walked to the <b><i>Museo Arte Público en Madrid</i></b> from Pueblo Nuevo—yet another Madrid "site" I had yet to see!<br />
<br />
There was much nostalgia on the way there, as I walked past an old English student's apartment (Pablo) and then near my very first apartment from 2009, just behind the <i>Plaza de Toros.</i> From there, I continued to pass many other spots I'd almost forgotten about.<br />
<br />
The tiny plaza with water spurting out of the ground, where I withdrew my rent from Santander when the ATM closest to my apartment was out of order. The first doctor's office I ever went to here, when I had a bad cold and lost my voice for several days. The apartment where I had the quickest haircut of my life in 2012, no thanks to multiple gushing recommendations on the auxiliares FB page, and then disappointingly handed over 20 euros.<br />
<br />
And then I ended up at the free outdoor public art museum—a new place now added to my Madrid repetoir.<br />
<br />
If you're coming from <i>c/ Juan Bravo</i>, as you get closer to <i>Paseo de la Castellana</i> you'll want to look for these stairs and go down, underneath the overpass. That's where the sculptures and statues are.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBHw6ik10Ni1akgkYDCEUQ6_FFN98v9Z6nikusPkl0qg6fI1hc9LRSxSoJ3kM7PLxSwx90oeXDpa82MUobKedOwWB2jDA4heXULhANnBJqAvLXB6j_XrOphEJ2-7d5A1ojQEv67n_KYDU/s1600/DSC09980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBHw6ik10Ni1akgkYDCEUQ6_FFN98v9Z6nikusPkl0qg6fI1hc9LRSxSoJ3kM7PLxSwx90oeXDpa82MUobKedOwWB2jDA4heXULhANnBJqAvLXB6j_XrOphEJ2-7d5A1ojQEv67n_KYDU/s640/DSC09980.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The "museum" has 17 abstract sculptures made by Spanish artists, and its official inauguration was in 1979 (though it's been open to the public since 1972).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqj9BcddYs3IFL9Oku7Y0om6dBe88yVk8oi8X9SYtWPKhaP549abCfsB83X6bYv3mWMZAiZyKs2f7uAOH-cPq0ujVeNmAlcCxmZMPH7E7Bsk__aJsbHfVZ337VH7J9NwyWHM9p3csRb_m/s1600/DSC09982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqj9BcddYs3IFL9Oku7Y0om6dBe88yVk8oi8X9SYtWPKhaP549abCfsB83X6bYv3mWMZAiZyKs2f7uAOH-cPq0ujVeNmAlcCxmZMPH7E7Bsk__aJsbHfVZ337VH7J9NwyWHM9p3csRb_m/s640/DSC09982.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJUW1op01-e3rkSt-5Jsv0w0llWwY9HI-PrBRlxWPqXobX823s_yqfrI1hKoZRkcGKEsZmnZ-wqxiJw6HInKVoDGqfZujAEq4WLmoicB8nr7LKFw4nMGSlN5vSO8bduOhNCTV-vUlAM5T/s1600/DSC09983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJUW1op01-e3rkSt-5Jsv0w0llWwY9HI-PrBRlxWPqXobX823s_yqfrI1hKoZRkcGKEsZmnZ-wqxiJw6HInKVoDGqfZujAEq4WLmoicB8nr7LKFw4nMGSlN5vSO8bduOhNCTV-vUlAM5T/s640/DSC09983.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0pFgtrB1hFVhA4wf13TjXtQ14Mcn4t_Ph-ACEegQP9rOdxwAS9QHGCQwNEq5N9kUbJdDXbRi3Sou4JgipLkHa3LIZPLGhBdpJ3yVwOtP4CwkbFGjDt2kuvmmVlDTNDnesIYDLAqzzTSW/s1600/DSC09985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0pFgtrB1hFVhA4wf13TjXtQ14Mcn4t_Ph-ACEegQP9rOdxwAS9QHGCQwNEq5N9kUbJdDXbRi3Sou4JgipLkHa3LIZPLGhBdpJ3yVwOtP4CwkbFGjDt2kuvmmVlDTNDnesIYDLAqzzTSW/s640/DSC09985.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
I sat and ate my lunch at a nearby bench where the sun was hitting—a nice afternoon in the mid-upper '50s for this Wisconsin gal. (Everyone walking around these days is bundled up in thick winter coats and scarves.)<br />
<br />
Just around the corner, only two buildings away, is the ABC mall—which is worth a look if you're already at the <i>Museo Arte Público</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCjJtbY08VIQaYN-2HrJSACr9pQ1yUVRww-MoPmpYiJdqRvsMqHsSg-Aa506_li0jIOraT-1VyL_Jaf0Xu0jLSu_zvQfd66ygZxrvXXIgsJawsBT0ke6u4UaY58Tg02qHJA-frClxNS_6/s1600/DSC09986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCjJtbY08VIQaYN-2HrJSACr9pQ1yUVRww-MoPmpYiJdqRvsMqHsSg-Aa506_li0jIOraT-1VyL_Jaf0Xu0jLSu_zvQfd66ygZxrvXXIgsJawsBT0ke6u4UaY58Tg02qHJA-frClxNS_6/s640/DSC09986.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I sat outside and sketched it in pencil (today I'll add color), and then I used the mall's bathrooms inside before heading down <i>Castellana.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I passed a Hard Rock Café on my left, which I'm sure was the same Hard Rock Café where Asad, Becca, Sam, and I had eaten seven years earlier for Becca or Sam's goodbye dinner.<br />
<br />
After passing the <i>Plaza de Colón</i>, I stopped into the <i>Biblioteca National de España</i> (National Library of Spain), another building I don't think I'd ever entered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV_-YRsuSVQjcrcmooqhPCwzEY7MxGtvffBmzlM6C8FM6jXy3jL94V8RFGUFkiHnfTirGuSvIgJr-817Ye6JWNrl7avmkNvqBEy5E6IHaCyvKUFpDTMz-9hPHx3T5sBvN6EUXNwYx97Wo/s1600/DSC09992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV_-YRsuSVQjcrcmooqhPCwzEY7MxGtvffBmzlM6C8FM6jXy3jL94V8RFGUFkiHnfTirGuSvIgJr-817Ye6JWNrl7avmkNvqBEy5E6IHaCyvKUFpDTMz-9hPHx3T5sBvN6EUXNwYx97Wo/s640/DSC09992.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
On the bottom floor (not up the stairs pictured above—enter on either side of the main staircase, ground level) there are exhibitions and a museum, all free to enter. So I really quickly walked through those to make it back out into the daylight for some more wander walking.<br />
<br />
<h3>
IF YOU GO...</h3>
<b>What: </b>Museo Arte Público en Madrid<br /><b>Where:</b> Paseo de la Castellana, 40, 28046 Madrid<br />
<b>Hours:</b> Any time, but you'll see better in the daylight ;)<br />
<b>Cost: </b>Free!Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-22957964403928017032017-01-27T13:46:00.000+01:002017-02-01T14:29:02.200+01:00Museo ABC Madrid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Following my theme from October's visit of "new sites," today I checked out the free <a href="http://museo.abc.es/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Museo ABC de Debujo e Illustratión</a><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>(<i>ABC</i> Museum of Drawing and Illustration). <i>ABC</i> is a daily Spanish newspaper, first published in Madrid on January 1, 1903.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you're walking up c/ Amaniel, go past the tiny triangle plaza and you'll see a big, vertical "MUSEO ABC" sign just outside the entrance on the left:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-6vzFaSCrWxNBfbuJZGolFmCVg_C7oY3BKtc6j8AbhH_7Fozbpy_wbJh16ClaMoqsI6gM9sYsUQzieUiflYs4cl7P92Lz2WF8nuGLIOT5YU5saGURjBeNSkqakLiQDIfVFuVL_fyVl9O/s1600/DSC09945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-6vzFaSCrWxNBfbuJZGolFmCVg_C7oY3BKtc6j8AbhH_7Fozbpy_wbJh16ClaMoqsI6gM9sYsUQzieUiflYs4cl7P92Lz2WF8nuGLIOT5YU5saGURjBeNSkqakLiQDIfVFuVL_fyVl9O/s640/DSC09945.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
There were two security guards sitting at a desk inside near the entrance, but you don't have to get tickets or anything—you're free to walk in and start exploring! (If you have a backpack, though, they'll ask you to leave it with them.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUEp-y9hyWH4ZgeNc1N6lJjpGdXPqNGL3qPaCYtV1f1qc3Z3z8MpuYBHywX74I-3Pwg_jCkz2O8jx5GiPINqxiFLv9egYv_U68tmiHzWCwfOWL8hZ4uyk-3bxNk0asGpr4Z-3PBtRCkvO/s1600/DSC09951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUEp-y9hyWH4ZgeNc1N6lJjpGdXPqNGL3qPaCYtV1f1qc3Z3z8MpuYBHywX74I-3Pwg_jCkz2O8jx5GiPINqxiFLv9egYv_U68tmiHzWCwfOWL8hZ4uyk-3bxNk0asGpr4Z-3PBtRCkvO/s640/DSC09951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I loved lots of the creative pieces on that first wall (above), many by the currently featured artist <a href="http://museo.abc.es/exposiciones/2016/12/javier-saez-castan/178350" target="_blank">Javier Sáez Castán</a>.<br />
<br />
I can't remember if the below was by him or someone else, but this was an interactive installation where you could pick a head, middle, and rear to create your own creature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBBV4j-zysi67PiacsHYLmxwz_P3GVhTr1rzt2kZ4rpkWtpVZQXzcSeKecBi6-0_rKbbf3zzITWfy-_cFDzZEkCQ__AR5mw2p85QmE-Z6I7_Kw_eX-med01QI7deYJpvT3oX9a7STArGy/s1600/DSC09947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBBV4j-zysi67PiacsHYLmxwz_P3GVhTr1rzt2kZ4rpkWtpVZQXzcSeKecBi6-0_rKbbf3zzITWfy-_cFDzZEkCQ__AR5mw2p85QmE-Z6I7_Kw_eX-med01QI7deYJpvT3oX9a7STArGy/s640/DSC09947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a closer look at the one I made:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfXsvY-Q4VXljBDrwmff2WNvW05no5lNbq2jR0kci73OFsdOauACIb3bg_mduYGX9ifIkcbeFuVyYHL_UP2gLlLmrT9lmNnhqmWyCfoJznlVSspvAFckmRgYpRQ2Icb6_nb_Fe54gmMW/s1600/DSC09948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfXsvY-Q4VXljBDrwmff2WNvW05no5lNbq2jR0kci73OFsdOauACIb3bg_mduYGX9ifIkcbeFuVyYHL_UP2gLlLmrT9lmNnhqmWyCfoJznlVSspvAFckmRgYpRQ2Icb6_nb_Fe54gmMW/s640/DSC09948.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Downstairs there's currently <a href="http://museo.abc.es/exposiciones/2016/12/serny/138317" target="_blank">an exposition on Serny</a>, a painter from Cádiz who began his artistic life illustrating for magazines and newspapers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrvkACGkr44GiDPQZMKyQj42oKMSlq1dFAv4b_plhu4lESPXSBCQSTeVUx4QXZ6resU5d8mu_poSELgiqR2J90HSNJSkEmmQb1zAsrPURkOqA3ATzVoE7aNVbc0eFq9-P3p8lrPjsoDeH/s1600/DSC09952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrvkACGkr44GiDPQZMKyQj42oKMSlq1dFAv4b_plhu4lESPXSBCQSTeVUx4QXZ6resU5d8mu_poSELgiqR2J90HSNJSkEmmQb1zAsrPURkOqA3ATzVoE7aNVbc0eFq9-P3p8lrPjsoDeH/s640/DSC09952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
All of the signs and explanations were in Spanish, so just be aware that this is the case if you don't speak the language.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6GMY9BbS17gsrK8GAxZWXLY6-2Mme5Hwf9Kj5nHa_ccBwzZKX9ChXxqf-104NRU1EnzgYWdisO5h_YVkytQB_hCuOsOlybDdGw0Cn9-KhXrvdlahvnsCL-nU5K_F2pj18IoS2nGICT_c/s1600/DSC09953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6GMY9BbS17gsrK8GAxZWXLY6-2Mme5Hwf9Kj5nHa_ccBwzZKX9ChXxqf-104NRU1EnzgYWdisO5h_YVkytQB_hCuOsOlybDdGw0Cn9-KhXrvdlahvnsCL-nU5K_F2pj18IoS2nGICT_c/s640/DSC09953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now that I've been sketching and painting with watercolors for a few months, while looking at these pictures I'd look for the shading and light. How did Serny create the depth here, which details did he paint in this work, and so forth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFM4RETjt60tgaB1uvfC_3IhKyKX37HUszmdeI50FXwfx4LyUBJy0tIvGm2oxmPLvuJBAwB0OxFZU0fpMEt0U8SVqMEmgsNAg97YdTrZ2I6a52ao61tnpkAIrVpM-tEszPjH1SHA6tlQu/s1600/DSC09954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFM4RETjt60tgaB1uvfC_3IhKyKX37HUszmdeI50FXwfx4LyUBJy0tIvGm2oxmPLvuJBAwB0OxFZU0fpMEt0U8SVqMEmgsNAg97YdTrZ2I6a52ao61tnpkAIrVpM-tEszPjH1SHA6tlQu/s640/DSC09954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In this next one I liked how there was just a hint of glowing blue in various places—her dress, the book, and around the lamp:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ZoW4psZdemeNap-XzE9-IPVIlB5asXGIMlC2hq3ZiN_Rllnix7WghQoPteGiVLcxkGJ5BOVUMFhgty2-gh3dS5YAiLLW6qKEIZgJKemqrlwj5l_bpEF_wYOpviLFSHhkLujteMx-6Lf/s1600/DSC09955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96ZoW4psZdemeNap-XzE9-IPVIlB5asXGIMlC2hq3ZiN_Rllnix7WghQoPteGiVLcxkGJ5BOVUMFhgty2-gh3dS5YAiLLW6qKEIZgJKemqrlwj5l_bpEF_wYOpviLFSHhkLujteMx-6Lf/s640/DSC09955.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJhnCXfbZWv4dXzIdQ1TXxXz_2tJZAtH6L4QXXdEGQJBTrjLMzx0YvcZq3biDiZZrhzpi4zXf-nfXbw9KjONPdswNJbllewa6Bz09Q1jagvBSC0b0ZH033K6fJfA4dWERB0MCHIk7yQB/s1600/DSC09956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJhnCXfbZWv4dXzIdQ1TXxXz_2tJZAtH6L4QXXdEGQJBTrjLMzx0YvcZq3biDiZZrhzpi4zXf-nfXbw9KjONPdswNJbllewa6Bz09Q1jagvBSC0b0ZH033K6fJfA4dWERB0MCHIk7yQB/s640/DSC09956.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
IF YOU GO...</h3>
<b>What: </b><i><a href="http://museo.abc.es/?lang=en" target="_blank">Museo ABC</a></i><br /><b>Where:</b> c/ Armaniel 29, 28015 Madrid<br />
<b>Hours:</b> Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Monday closed<br />
<b>Cost: </b>Free!Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-86864932266876015322016-11-02T12:37:00.000+01:002017-02-01T12:41:17.275+01:00Parque de Berlín<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On my final day in Madrid—a Sunday—before my flight back to the U.S. (after a year living in France), Damien, Gregorio, and I strolled around in <i><b>Parque de Berlín</b></i> (Berlin Park) after lunch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had never been there before, nor remembered hearing about it the years I lived in Madrid. A pretty standard Madrid park, it's up in Chamartín, just east of Bernabéu Stadium:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28lEvcNjU3Z-ZZ7i6NV8VUyPLds_Uitj_I1oXelXyAGsrEyMwq9pg5NS2dj1uhdYy0ZhJj4QtTbwcQ7A5dsROw02MkxGlsAytWh2cIBsdsuZuSQQx1qgQHnfJJICtB9LOcZvvvlaYdvYc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-01+at+12.16.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Berlin Park Madrid - Map" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28lEvcNjU3Z-ZZ7i6NV8VUyPLds_Uitj_I1oXelXyAGsrEyMwq9pg5NS2dj1uhdYy0ZhJj4QtTbwcQ7A5dsROw02MkxGlsAytWh2cIBsdsuZuSQQx1qgQHnfJJICtB9LOcZvvvlaYdvYc/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-02-01+at+12.16.18+PM.png" title="Berlin Park Madrid - Map" width="512" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The main fountain features three parts of the Berlin Wall.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoWlgKoerCdY17prJ8AoP0iNdWjJ3BAf6R4Q1yDt6xWs8Wqy7MBNs0fpTArELyTZv8PQMFT4Qj2XrxnqPLfconMNW5srOMcTm5LNbIinMaCI6FCRyfloZOyqORKPTHcB0ufWXuhpHLHg4/s1600/DSC09432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoWlgKoerCdY17prJ8AoP0iNdWjJ3BAf6R4Q1yDt6xWs8Wqy7MBNs0fpTArELyTZv8PQMFT4Qj2XrxnqPLfconMNW5srOMcTm5LNbIinMaCI6FCRyfloZOyqORKPTHcB0ufWXuhpHLHg4/s640/DSC09432.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzJBUXUwHksfHIpJ0AzPGgwudDpkhYoo0MitnX4ouTDsqnz9bjKY1Ffel7_WZU_qIhuHWgDGP2nF9ncDGNnqr-PhEmw-hkSVL6epSEWtC1KkPMXURXPIQRd5Dox2f4gh9uEAn1OHxfrAZ/s1600/DSC09437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzJBUXUwHksfHIpJ0AzPGgwudDpkhYoo0MitnX4ouTDsqnz9bjKY1Ffel7_WZU_qIhuHWgDGP2nF9ncDGNnqr-PhEmw-hkSVL6epSEWtC1KkPMXURXPIQRd5Dox2f4gh9uEAn1OHxfrAZ/s640/DSC09437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCa7TFLAzp-UGXJcCeK-BYnwjLf16YhGtukhekeJZ2_Yc1dSQo6akcHfFdPYdWxFz1gJJOh7yYsl0XqsSrc_lV-P-2OPLbGFQ84PeiAm0h0paRzy6E1yrtR_Iv3wcZynFHAAXogzHFYQd/s1600/DSC09438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCa7TFLAzp-UGXJcCeK-BYnwjLf16YhGtukhekeJZ2_Yc1dSQo6akcHfFdPYdWxFz1gJJOh7yYsl0XqsSrc_lV-P-2OPLbGFQ84PeiAm0h0paRzy6E1yrtR_Iv3wcZynFHAAXogzHFYQd/s640/DSC09438.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
We saw this bear statue, representing Berlin, and apparently the park also has a Beethoven statue—but we didn't go past it on our stroll.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0Io3wkOACpXmKV-Dwn03QqEDtcBdKnowm2_-ACygJVCaCG29G88ebVRbXKoSBu78xuYYs194kGk1utsXpDXcGKgK_WaW8f3f5OYtJEJsihHj5GY_epB9uDFklCCJ8CZZz4TMXmKMKLVq/s1600/DSC09445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0Io3wkOACpXmKV-Dwn03QqEDtcBdKnowm2_-ACygJVCaCG29G88ebVRbXKoSBu78xuYYs194kGk1utsXpDXcGKgK_WaW8f3f5OYtJEJsihHj5GY_epB9uDFklCCJ8CZZz4TMXmKMKLVq/s640/DSC09445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUZBaCB5Vm4kT-gmlJhh73Heq91Bi3lNm6Bj3EsPB6JIIOe04ClQSPi_lIwTHj2cxFY2rpyRrZQ-6GI293UhVnxchDzxuJFMZ7H2K4fRyQi6Gr8pE3lCYPR8-LaNpTM_z3QoohXQh2M0Y/s1600/DSC09446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUZBaCB5Vm4kT-gmlJhh73Heq91Bi3lNm6Bj3EsPB6JIIOe04ClQSPi_lIwTHj2cxFY2rpyRrZQ-6GI293UhVnxchDzxuJFMZ7H2K4fRyQi6Gr8pE3lCYPR8-LaNpTM_z3QoohXQh2M0Y/s640/DSC09446.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
IF YOU GO...</h3>
<b>What:</b> <a href="http://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/parque-berlin" target="_blank">Berlin Park</a><br />
<b>Where:</b> Av. de Ramón y Cajal, 2, 28016<br />
<b>Metro:</b> Concha Espina (Line 9)Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-72596622205989418412016-11-01T11:50:00.000+01:002017-02-01T12:38:43.081+01:00Matadero Madrid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was also surprised to discover that I'd never gone to (nor really heard much about) <b><a href="http://www.mataderomadrid.org/" target="_blank">Matadero Madrid</a></b> during my two years living in the city. So on my most recent visit last month, it was a must-see destination.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rpwdOiqm2XnP6NObd4t0cZtu3OaXn95DIyXCEjC8_sV-TI-al6d9n5j9MS0wIShkRMYi5mx_F0tuOEdMoe7hf2s4l4CSuD5oAsETM6mNOfrKIc3MBAfgQBkmhKJE_f2A5Wo4RWyUclqX/s1600/DSC09399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rpwdOiqm2XnP6NObd4t0cZtu3OaXn95DIyXCEjC8_sV-TI-al6d9n5j9MS0wIShkRMYi5mx_F0tuOEdMoe7hf2s4l4CSuD5oAsETM6mNOfrKIc3MBAfgQBkmhKJE_f2A5Wo4RWyUclqX/s640/DSC09399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Located near the Legazpi metro stop (lines 3, 6), Matadero Madrid is a free cultural center that used to be an old slaughterhouse. There are many buildings and outdoor areas that make up the complex, and is well worth a visit in my opinion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcIZHYFDvdzta08S6QWVH3IKcoRqYrbF0XX6UcwtYDCvsM-a2GQF27Gbc0Ah8XhP4GtHnQWaAhvNBtC5eHn9Zqw_MDns-We9WzXXN5BigGh_t9Z_NWSAXldwaysPfDshdXZZNGiwCbMq0/s1600/DSC09400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcIZHYFDvdzta08S6QWVH3IKcoRqYrbF0XX6UcwtYDCvsM-a2GQF27Gbc0Ah8XhP4GtHnQWaAhvNBtC5eHn9Zqw_MDns-We9WzXXN5BigGh_t9Z_NWSAXldwaysPfDshdXZZNGiwCbMq0/s640/DSC09400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You'll find movies (in the<i> cineteca)</i>, galleries, exhibitions, workshops, libraries, work tables, food stands, local artists selling work, and more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuen7UFlQj_76YTesh7p8hpPL3IDGa6JuDX4ueqlf7m9Y64ibb1SutGH2LOtlsZA15d7dmmQb0CYEVkfcqHN0YnL8DtXaMSCVsr3oHWF0cFB4b6Ghn3RfMwcEej-FE6AaLfhtRdVSdZla1/s1600/DSC09401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuen7UFlQj_76YTesh7p8hpPL3IDGa6JuDX4ueqlf7m9Y64ibb1SutGH2LOtlsZA15d7dmmQb0CYEVkfcqHN0YnL8DtXaMSCVsr3oHWF0cFB4b6Ghn3RfMwcEej-FE6AaLfhtRdVSdZla1/s640/DSC09401.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuNdJdh3CoPFhbnjMYCj-6IrYqen7lk84idXg0yvAMBCNzVzqBgl5LVm0B0ZKnamibC17vfPuCBQBUBOR93-B2PHDrEiSOs1uuScGDCgqY_lLBnwF90IJvY-RE-aAc6CeMsZbu9tsiRVj/s1600/DSC09402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuNdJdh3CoPFhbnjMYCj-6IrYqen7lk84idXg0yvAMBCNzVzqBgl5LVm0B0ZKnamibC17vfPuCBQBUBOR93-B2PHDrEiSOs1uuScGDCgqY_lLBnwF90IJvY-RE-aAc6CeMsZbu9tsiRVj/s640/DSC09402.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERtFJa84fNIengAVFCrBC7qh5hQmwgTfhbeyHoigRIKD_zsfJZgGHcXA-9X7voZFDR694v0fOfvNSaGQHkQj53VcYWGdFfcCY3umWTZu8BxNP_d4JkdhR3NbrhElJGymYsaQBPU_aJHee/s1600/DSC09404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERtFJa84fNIengAVFCrBC7qh5hQmwgTfhbeyHoigRIKD_zsfJZgGHcXA-9X7voZFDR694v0fOfvNSaGQHkQj53VcYWGdFfcCY3umWTZu8BxNP_d4JkdhR3NbrhElJGymYsaQBPU_aJHee/s640/DSC09404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRLmMPC5-Hn_X4ecNIkfmrCC62DMSSjDl6GeQKe_QMhJHe4yMv6Z236LrA0pUm36Jlog20TQdqiK3ejlOrGaA2lAjNoMqmFdI_3fxFla_zfUyMkCak_9WHbbg8fL-nxjUW6yP3WaCwE0s/s1600/DSC09405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRLmMPC5-Hn_X4ecNIkfmrCC62DMSSjDl6GeQKe_QMhJHe4yMv6Z236LrA0pUm36Jlog20TQdqiK3ejlOrGaA2lAjNoMqmFdI_3fxFla_zfUyMkCak_9WHbbg8fL-nxjUW6yP3WaCwE0s/s640/DSC09405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgramDYN_TRO0rTuKNreKQXUy7GSuTDhYVw7btDXzbzkDt9OvITMVJ7c1CCbmeiA_tBYrf_EoNVVkrmZ5RktCKXx1aDxELivaoYkN9cMi2eMY7QlAnMnQAe_HtWi8wu1rAOAg4w8LQ5iHgi/s1600/DSC09406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgramDYN_TRO0rTuKNreKQXUy7GSuTDhYVw7btDXzbzkDt9OvITMVJ7c1CCbmeiA_tBYrf_EoNVVkrmZ5RktCKXx1aDxELivaoYkN9cMi2eMY7QlAnMnQAe_HtWi8wu1rAOAg4w8LQ5iHgi/s640/DSC09406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaj9glzndRBj8Q5ueTRiohAnJ3Wp39_Q-8uilxMdaiwxHuLA7br9vhpNgqswBw2lG2CzEcIN37IdC_z5ob5VNr4YdayZVf75hJP7brwMfL4lfIRI4jmPAVGtCgFyrJz7KNA76NtawmjDr/s1600/DSC09407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaj9glzndRBj8Q5ueTRiohAnJ3Wp39_Q-8uilxMdaiwxHuLA7br9vhpNgqswBw2lG2CzEcIN37IdC_z5ob5VNr4YdayZVf75hJP7brwMfL4lfIRI4jmPAVGtCgFyrJz7KNA76NtawmjDr/s640/DSC09407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1GHxHA3387bsvN6vPHA4IqrVpxPFbsmqsMB7RwB3O8kj8-rj14EaQKAOdQzx3w_1xSbIloS8S6vEhPY2cE2LkRQ2lwxDqh1GNp2sI-a4IdGAAZmUFrxl85lvcvQ_a1BjshqkYGtDibHZ/s1600/DSC09408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1GHxHA3387bsvN6vPHA4IqrVpxPFbsmqsMB7RwB3O8kj8-rj14EaQKAOdQzx3w_1xSbIloS8S6vEhPY2cE2LkRQ2lwxDqh1GNp2sI-a4IdGAAZmUFrxl85lvcvQ_a1BjshqkYGtDibHZ/s640/DSC09408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfw4D2HyMs0-6QXe4Co-FoZg_A9OhvB2WQOj5zcc_A4Pt7mgx8jCGEgXpgPlvR__y3aYq8a7RVs5s2Is7DP2gNTnpUn96PgJ8gVT8F8-MULbh6ED9-DYSYm0h-P-vvy85qo8euCZwmTt/s1600/DSC09410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfw4D2HyMs0-6QXe4Co-FoZg_A9OhvB2WQOj5zcc_A4Pt7mgx8jCGEgXpgPlvR__y3aYq8a7RVs5s2Is7DP2gNTnpUn96PgJ8gVT8F8-MULbh6ED9-DYSYm0h-P-vvy85qo8euCZwmTt/s640/DSC09410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOec5MAb2MqgupPDKv1lJjUXVaHPA4p2LHTSuu1MwbEqs-KUQBZQJp3zQL0yLbRs6IPhiC9wGk0aHuzPUXnmumHJTb2DBLMCTGYUhCXgADkAzZA13GwfBxg6f4o6J6H7jrb4pkNhg4OI_/s1600/DSC09411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOec5MAb2MqgupPDKv1lJjUXVaHPA4p2LHTSuu1MwbEqs-KUQBZQJp3zQL0yLbRs6IPhiC9wGk0aHuzPUXnmumHJTb2DBLMCTGYUhCXgADkAzZA13GwfBxg6f4o6J6H7jrb4pkNhg4OI_/s640/DSC09411.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE4Z10R1GGy1MfrusY7h3kf6O60BT6q_9hYfjAVqonv7lVSdDTkaARhpGNjzqFGAR6ui8CXNeidq_95d0WHSNRyPL-6adn971WQJs40hsSROkwT1fB7-fEvPyQPkJjTENGD1v_IA9iT9i/s1600/DSC09412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE4Z10R1GGy1MfrusY7h3kf6O60BT6q_9hYfjAVqonv7lVSdDTkaARhpGNjzqFGAR6ui8CXNeidq_95d0WHSNRyPL-6adn971WQJs40hsSROkwT1fB7-fEvPyQPkJjTENGD1v_IA9iT9i/s640/DSC09412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv74FkAA67iHzMHaWECt2ZZDkfv_CJUbMfCimJT7IlZBUYEbC4wAaWPqRyCoukQNYgUo9HOrtgBey8s2G2nti3q6JMOmP72x_-zZoerc-x7lctFMxWwTV1HgHufu_v07E0OgNr2PDfASJ/s1600/DSC09413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv74FkAA67iHzMHaWECt2ZZDkfv_CJUbMfCimJT7IlZBUYEbC4wAaWPqRyCoukQNYgUo9HOrtgBey8s2G2nti3q6JMOmP72x_-zZoerc-x7lctFMxWwTV1HgHufu_v07E0OgNr2PDfASJ/s640/DSC09413.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAmrUpNBQ8kjz43G7YhyphenhyphenzC-FZOluw1UJBMykFZ9F8PyBy_SANsY5IiFGvklglvovA73LL173tMAct795Vlho-k509HDoqUSyoCPWdCnEyt5tw3KmdCQYFPlQJ8B7vaFbfBOJsF3jYXP32/s1600/DSC09414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAmrUpNBQ8kjz43G7YhyphenhyphenzC-FZOluw1UJBMykFZ9F8PyBy_SANsY5IiFGvklglvovA73LL173tMAct795Vlho-k509HDoqUSyoCPWdCnEyt5tw3KmdCQYFPlQJ8B7vaFbfBOJsF3jYXP32/s640/DSC09414.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4HcM3E3nsyS-D5VPNmXVSUae_XAKHHtIxzzIy4kVc2Ytc7FYyheWr9Oso62Ik5d7bGWr9ck-TSUzRsQuBU9459N-dlsSy1ZjL32KGHe3t9OnrZfOuhyw9awXIHkxvdq1OCliMm9FPcqq/s1600/DSC09415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4HcM3E3nsyS-D5VPNmXVSUae_XAKHHtIxzzIy4kVc2Ytc7FYyheWr9Oso62Ik5d7bGWr9ck-TSUzRsQuBU9459N-dlsSy1ZjL32KGHe3t9OnrZfOuhyw9awXIHkxvdq1OCliMm9FPcqq/s640/DSC09415.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEKETCEyG66Jw8dQmzZB57z_N3FazapQDd8kWZbuDqxjL4moNZqxt8pBzTa-_6g8_JY_3hY4MMRxvI3yEYpdu0kSWPkDjWwfDiju4C8PkBaVs7bUYVsspmpejSAzvCW5MJseTLEvHw7LI/s1600/DSC09416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEKETCEyG66Jw8dQmzZB57z_N3FazapQDd8kWZbuDqxjL4moNZqxt8pBzTa-_6g8_JY_3hY4MMRxvI3yEYpdu0kSWPkDjWwfDiju4C8PkBaVs7bUYVsspmpejSAzvCW5MJseTLEvHw7LI/s640/DSC09416.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-2Xucntqqo7gelPxZmCyzvYVvtie3ux41Yg3-fBAikXAwHXGTXRSS8WIJMw467E_zNr7I0WMjtFfdqd8PyY0cNF4XL0ThKGaS3PbuztMtabh85mVDVVV6IPpBKFYw6Il8J4f02IvZSen/s1600/DSC09417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-2Xucntqqo7gelPxZmCyzvYVvtie3ux41Yg3-fBAikXAwHXGTXRSS8WIJMw467E_zNr7I0WMjtFfdqd8PyY0cNF4XL0ThKGaS3PbuztMtabh85mVDVVV6IPpBKFYw6Il8J4f02IvZSen/s640/DSC09417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
IF YOU GO...</h3>
<div>
<b>What:</b> Matadero Madrid<br />
<b>Where: </b>Centro de Creación Contemporánea; Plaza de Legazpi, 8</div>
<div>
<b>Metro:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Legazpi (Lines 3, 6)</span></div>
<div>
<b>Hours: </b>The plaza and Matadero street are open for pedestrians every day from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. However, many exhibitions and activities are in the afternoon: Tuesday to Friday, 4 - 9 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; closed Mondays </div>
<div>
<b>Price:</b> Entrance is free. <a href="http://www.mataderomadrid.org/cineteca.html" target="_blank">Cineteca tickets</a> are 3.50 euros each.<br />
<b>Tips:</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Check for the day's events on <a href="http://www.mataderomadrid.org/index.php" target="_blank">the website</a> (on the right side, underneath the calendar, where it says "<i>Hoy</i> [date]").</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mataderomadrid.org/mapa#0" target="_blank">Here's a map</a> of the various spaces and entrances.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-1162145522424851392016-10-07T22:04:00.000+02:002016-10-17T22:11:58.446+02:00Parque El Capricho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past Saturday, I walked from Pueblo Nuevo to <i style="font-weight: bold;">Parque El Capricho</i>, a park I'd surprisingly never been to before. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAFLW9zrPpoohakrkCFQCumMyGsgUXWRF0slDG8kqFk1XK_8H_0OrqMTncNzOe4dNmmpa2C3_FnvUpfg-rnvrWrlQdicftno4NvyrcAYI6sfBX32T7n2Hlh2JI6H20C3ZL_0Lc-tpyeN4/s1600/DSC09342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAFLW9zrPpoohakrkCFQCumMyGsgUXWRF0slDG8kqFk1XK_8H_0OrqMTncNzOe4dNmmpa2C3_FnvUpfg-rnvrWrlQdicftno4NvyrcAYI6sfBX32T7n2Hlh2JI6H20C3ZL_0Lc-tpyeN4/s640/DSC09342.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's very close to <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/07/parque-juan-carlos-i-madrid.html" target="_blank">Parque Juan Carlos I</a> and the airport, but it had somehow escaped my presence both years I lived in Madrid.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NJ-rLtnAGVJcuS7IW6Pm5rKIuSa0tqnERIYs6RS0g8WFe3N5yKPpRWh0lpnFiM4KQlfX3mDrB2txVyaWUuxLWNOpNthuSHIlTpxXLnchJUW7BtGKsC56eoWMc3UA9v6-tcwwW4rMYqwb/s1600/parque-capricho.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NJ-rLtnAGVJcuS7IW6Pm5rKIuSa0tqnERIYs6RS0g8WFe3N5yKPpRWh0lpnFiM4KQlfX3mDrB2txVyaWUuxLWNOpNthuSHIlTpxXLnchJUW7BtGKsC56eoWMc3UA9v6-tcwwW4rMYqwb/s640/parque-capricho.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
They count people as you enter, since there's a cap at 1,000 people. When I entered, the woman asked me if I had any food in my bag <i>("¿Lleva algo de comer?")</i> , and I said no. (I did have a snack, but it was for later, post-park!) You can't eat food in the park—no picnics here—so just be aware that they may ask you the same thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAdi67LP57mhF85guVSUeL7VNrPEWjLMXxNe5bqQ9tvCsMA1h7_WfzWz0jBxBYmMF-MI39_3NG6_IQ3ws24170YaLcK0rR419Vdsyw3uPjOTFcHNysz4kXWNbHr7uQ-BcAFK6a-uJPa6L/s1600/DSC09343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAdi67LP57mhF85guVSUeL7VNrPEWjLMXxNe5bqQ9tvCsMA1h7_WfzWz0jBxBYmMF-MI39_3NG6_IQ3ws24170YaLcK0rR419Vdsyw3uPjOTFcHNysz4kXWNbHr7uQ-BcAFK6a-uJPa6L/s640/DSC09343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I brought along my kindle, notebook, and watercolors, and thus passed several peaceful hours either sitting on benches beside the gardens, walking through the park, or reading in the grass.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvlcxse-HRMYNF87B4XGEtYyKIaseQmyEjH_vFK9glHl415WEuCP0GiokEv2khyphenhyphenVby7XWmYtUdJhMEtcYzXI3P5uMNMzLu46ZR1gTAnZBv7nuTgW4Ucg8drAnS7kmLX00pQYrsD-4FVIh/s1600/DSC09345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvlcxse-HRMYNF87B4XGEtYyKIaseQmyEjH_vFK9glHl415WEuCP0GiokEv2khyphenhyphenVby7XWmYtUdJhMEtcYzXI3P5uMNMzLu46ZR1gTAnZBv7nuTgW4Ucg8drAnS7kmLX00pQYrsD-4FVIh/s640/DSC09345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxElsc-viWfSC7stuj8fT2-LvX7PtymFFetU8HbW62o6pa2dVTOvJWvqa1byWtKJraKJDB9g5GRKlZ5TX90osGQXvkb9LgpAvs4mamckzMXUNRtDcJ8RjrO-JGlJsc4RMXCt3xLFYW_nJ/s1600/DSC09346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxElsc-viWfSC7stuj8fT2-LvX7PtymFFetU8HbW62o6pa2dVTOvJWvqa1byWtKJraKJDB9g5GRKlZ5TX90osGQXvkb9LgpAvs4mamckzMXUNRtDcJ8RjrO-JGlJsc4RMXCt3xLFYW_nJ/s640/DSC09346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipev_vojGWwM664GiUFVt5snceymUUItEGKsA39XC2_zd3ZSLTqJUslIMNGKFPxAYOcYEiPgPJ7_SVvYIO8hwbTdJYEkhjA4uGa4Taz-EEB0xkTC0Kvay1zgJR7yRKJiwciWC8LdLBQzOf/s1600/DSC09347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipev_vojGWwM664GiUFVt5snceymUUItEGKsA39XC2_zd3ZSLTqJUslIMNGKFPxAYOcYEiPgPJ7_SVvYIO8hwbTdJYEkhjA4uGa4Taz-EEB0xkTC0Kvay1zgJR7yRKJiwciWC8LdLBQzOf/s640/DSC09347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
IF YOU GO...</h4>
<b>What: </b><a href="http://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/Medio-ambiente/Parques-y-jardines/Patrimonio-Verde/Parques-historicos-y-singulares/Jardin-Historico-El-Capricho-de-la-Alameda-Osuna?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=9db6fb010e99e210VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1cc66e3b07d4e210VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD" target="_blank">Parque El Capricho</a><br />
<b>Where: </b>Paseo Alameda de Osuna, 25; Madrid 28042<br />
<b>Metro: </b>El Capricho (Line 5)<br />
<b>Hours (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays):</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>October 1 - March 31:</b> 9:00-18:30</li>
<li><b>April 1 - September 30:</b> 9:00-21:00</li>
</ul>
<b>Map: </b><a href="http://www.madrid.es/UnidadesDescentralizadas/ZonasVerdes/Parques/El_Capricho/Imagenes/ElCaprichoPlanoN.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for PDF of park</a><br />
<b>Price:</b> Free!<br />
<b>Tips: </b>Below are a few park rules that are helpful to know ahead of time.<br />
<ul>
<li>Animals are not permitted in the park.</li>
<li>Riding bikes and rollerblades/skateboards are also not permitted.</li>
<li>You can't eat in the park.</li>
<li>You can't play ball in the park.</li>
</ul>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-7084713423942612182016-10-05T20:39:00.000+02:002016-10-17T21:39:55.041+02:00Chinchón<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last Friday Gregorio and I went to <b>Chinchón</b>, which is a small town just southeast of Madrid.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh822z9sDtq4p7Iim8xrTTlA8mI9Ss4D6jtSwPiNiMViU267XtYQAxcNeO0eg5r3Y_7XXo9fh7mcR5vbtsDp_lU7UnvXeM8SQh6ENrWjftoaE8M6JXYBqtEmszlNIFoHtDyDMDC485Ooz7M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-17+at+1.36.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh822z9sDtq4p7Iim8xrTTlA8mI9Ss4D6jtSwPiNiMViU267XtYQAxcNeO0eg5r3Y_7XXo9fh7mcR5vbtsDp_lU7UnvXeM8SQh6ENrWjftoaE8M6JXYBqtEmszlNIFoHtDyDMDC485Ooz7M/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-10-17+at+1.36.22+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our first stop was at the castle, which is closed to visitors.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Lwnrb9Q8vnoKJdBzcG3gIWr2Q7FqSQ4W9yGaZPj3Ca9Idui5VvF6XRdWuqNaSz5cNTOp7xKjj9t_Y0dgj_tIdIlBuHhanf098wfOIYN2B0UPqjh8sQ3PW27_FL3V63YqhOOTlt01zDr/s1600/DSC09325+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Lwnrb9Q8vnoKJdBzcG3gIWr2Q7FqSQ4W9yGaZPj3Ca9Idui5VvF6XRdWuqNaSz5cNTOp7xKjj9t_Y0dgj_tIdIlBuHhanf098wfOIYN2B0UPqjh8sQ3PW27_FL3V63YqhOOTlt01zDr/s640/DSC09325+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXQfuq-bFBX5P35RU8OQh3Sr5guwzfrkA2c9-jqW0kW45s37Tlp9hfh_gIvMojHMPWmVFOLuvxZOMzC0MepLHWxotZvKFifmZRFvlPzIWKahJgxy9UORGVTU6zZkHVZ_dXZk6K4br5JV-/s1600/DSC09323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXQfuq-bFBX5P35RU8OQh3Sr5guwzfrkA2c9-jqW0kW45s37Tlp9hfh_gIvMojHMPWmVFOLuvxZOMzC0MepLHWxotZvKFifmZRFvlPzIWKahJgxy9UORGVTU6zZkHVZ_dXZk6K4br5JV-/s640/DSC09323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It was neat that while looking out to the fields northwest of the castle, we could see the four towers of Madrid, as pictured below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjatHwlEdJl8HyZJrF65a0hax1NhyvICmY78x5BM_rwSjscxgV9ROqpsAAdz874-htJ3OhrESsNT6sTPHYyY_luQItpzzWCNUeqILLvKo7nBOxg9YODjyMqaOHnbduEO49-R311vgBG-0/s1600/DSC09324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjatHwlEdJl8HyZJrF65a0hax1NhyvICmY78x5BM_rwSjscxgV9ROqpsAAdz874-htJ3OhrESsNT6sTPHYyY_luQItpzzWCNUeqILLvKo7nBOxg9YODjyMqaOHnbduEO49-R311vgBG-0/s640/DSC09324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On our way to find lunch, we happened upon this cool shop, <a href="https://es-la.facebook.com/La-ruta-natural-de-Chinch%C3%B3n-847250628644535/" target="_blank"><i>La Ruta Natural</i>,</a> where the guy working was cooking his lunch out front with a solar oven.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o9Z66FY-qYXOR43WLnYQHjqpGLkC9eKrmPAzUyzlHOkbSyHz1HCqKAB9aaNGG4RzBUgZSwSq-n8_ej_T-xqAeIfbXVJo71fZvMElkR05upsSl45Ut6bq7jHkn3y6WHFTsptao37lXEla/s1600/DSC09328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o9Z66FY-qYXOR43WLnYQHjqpGLkC9eKrmPAzUyzlHOkbSyHz1HCqKAB9aaNGG4RzBUgZSwSq-n8_ej_T-xqAeIfbXVJo71fZvMElkR05upsSl45Ut6bq7jHkn3y6WHFTsptao37lXEla/s640/DSC09328.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Lunch was a delicious 3-course <i>menu del día</i> for 10 euros.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fe2sSwE-FOzAFlVJewH3aFzjjRtKH_Jn4wVhgSA-CeiycrIJg6UtA6tCoQ8IZ3JpKtfaEQ2_K1a5EPKspa8bUYU9SmKihC3XQlN6-BvgYGfAbZmxUL88JH8ekpZ44CGlXoppzxed3JI6/s1600/DSC09336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Fe2sSwE-FOzAFlVJewH3aFzjjRtKH_Jn4wVhgSA-CeiycrIJg6UtA6tCoQ8IZ3JpKtfaEQ2_K1a5EPKspa8bUYU9SmKihC3XQlN6-BvgYGfAbZmxUL88JH8ekpZ44CGlXoppzxed3JI6/s640/DSC09336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
First course:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0Z9VhLr36dbaX0MNukm540EJfZWETXbIhjouv3FStF0sveincEi8S28DWAULpbpUcXIOICse1OFcaOZQUz9FO_qp0vnC73QCV6wezJDbeCREKuYhDOsVxgPez6YgQ9bq1SiufOqE3GEB/s1600/DSC09329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0Z9VhLr36dbaX0MNukm540EJfZWETXbIhjouv3FStF0sveincEi8S28DWAULpbpUcXIOICse1OFcaOZQUz9FO_qp0vnC73QCV6wezJDbeCREKuYhDOsVxgPez6YgQ9bq1SiufOqE3GEB/s640/DSC09329.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAMTRAjAgLU60AxuTCIK36yi_xJX5Tpz5oWykFGyr3X4a4vF7ZaT2Tp_l48Sl09nT2ZkIy3gCofmrCP3vuHDb5QMlQf0YR_Kd-jNFOiJdYgN1Nj-XUp8Sl1fxXM3m79jHEj-b5IbpSxhe/s1600/DSC09330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAMTRAjAgLU60AxuTCIK36yi_xJX5Tpz5oWykFGyr3X4a4vF7ZaT2Tp_l48Sl09nT2ZkIy3gCofmrCP3vuHDb5QMlQf0YR_Kd-jNFOiJdYgN1Nj-XUp8Sl1fxXM3m79jHEj-b5IbpSxhe/s640/DSC09330.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Second course:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3jNSDbgtRwHmN4eb8MqMtKjUTFR95tDh54M5hCj3l_pyW6dnEKU71LCJrSmvzhygHPjdqaPY1ND65aW0UrnH7EUTDZbN-_5y1Ab43yIJsYEc-Ra4L6yHC9NKLjzL6-3Oar0yTLKxSR4i/s1600/DSC09331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3jNSDbgtRwHmN4eb8MqMtKjUTFR95tDh54M5hCj3l_pyW6dnEKU71LCJrSmvzhygHPjdqaPY1ND65aW0UrnH7EUTDZbN-_5y1Ab43yIJsYEc-Ra4L6yHC9NKLjzL6-3Oar0yTLKxSR4i/s640/DSC09331.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EF4-YBVxs-Lmo2Fb_CyQ0JiXqNW0wRjnt0oUy2GDSl71zmfsPcL_AV-iiTGs7o8uf14qxi4NqZjNpmGU5-jpVZKeIMeVSRzDrrGR18jCxWzNmduxPizxvayrsVT4v2SNIXaUQAujArI9/s1600/DSC09334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EF4-YBVxs-Lmo2Fb_CyQ0JiXqNW0wRjnt0oUy2GDSl71zmfsPcL_AV-iiTGs7o8uf14qxi4NqZjNpmGU5-jpVZKeIMeVSRzDrrGR18jCxWzNmduxPizxvayrsVT4v2SNIXaUQAujArI9/s640/DSC09334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
(By the way, it's been so long since I've lived in Spain, that I was surprised when our waitress opened and left an entire bottle of wine on the table for me, the one who'd picked wine. I'd totally forgotten that some places do that!)<br />
<br />
Dessert:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQisvbRfKBrqTb4xPHL3K2t5IcNt8hKxbe4-Osfv8PersColKfYSzrb7tLpBSFcViws64hc-r1GwueABKr3HvVBF5QsEz3lrMATGTpq8THNhSziggVb0ksMA_7YqnQaUYeqnC8hXMCMYO/s1600/DSC09337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQisvbRfKBrqTb4xPHL3K2t5IcNt8hKxbe4-Osfv8PersColKfYSzrb7tLpBSFcViws64hc-r1GwueABKr3HvVBF5QsEz3lrMATGTpq8THNhSziggVb0ksMA_7YqnQaUYeqnC8hXMCMYO/s640/DSC09337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The restaurant was just off of the <i>plaza de toros</i>, which was being used as a parking lot since there weren't any bull fights that week.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehHZqPvr-d4vBUUgTb246ASBV5SlLGSzJ1pHqIiUP-_UPSrY_jlDwReB-JA5b2Ex5rkIizllJndfJl5eZW0GNsx7sMaHoAPn6u3jToKrHKQ5HJRaXGmuVTDY7TxaJCWz_Ssq1wnW95r8M/s1600/DSC09340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehHZqPvr-d4vBUUgTb246ASBV5SlLGSzJ1pHqIiUP-_UPSrY_jlDwReB-JA5b2Ex5rkIizllJndfJl5eZW0GNsx7sMaHoAPn6u3jToKrHKQ5HJRaXGmuVTDY7TxaJCWz_Ssq1wnW95r8M/s640/DSC09340.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Lunch gave me a total food coma, so I rested on a bench for about 40 minutes until I could walk again.<br />
<br />
Gregorio, of course, captured the scene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2MKbvUvt3EQ1sArAg7yCM-ZLpczot-Jz6qitGQS-J0XDzNO9VmVWaOPMs8-kxUxk2fH6EuCQtiYdwBALqewpcIOx7RObrIQ-ck3QF_QhQkm0pigsVbGPnoeLvb3_N23FJoFvBIv0LiBf/s1600/IMG_7797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2MKbvUvt3EQ1sArAg7yCM-ZLpczot-Jz6qitGQS-J0XDzNO9VmVWaOPMs8-kxUxk2fH6EuCQtiYdwBALqewpcIOx7RObrIQ-ck3QF_QhQkm0pigsVbGPnoeLvb3_N23FJoFvBIv0LiBf/s640/IMG_7797.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we headed higher up near the cathedral (closed), which offered a nice view of the town and <i>plaza de toros</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9R0T8j8dyAlIY_SkY-y2zo6MCfc0Y9oLrE0BpUj3yBHEsWspIs1P0OHEyLL2j2cAYNN4gGgB-9GQN4hqT2zRIDOGY2Y9MP1fSBDi6YEzduVi7B0VXnJcnppkzhWizJVQrEpJSNZzmtGO/s1600/IMG_7774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9R0T8j8dyAlIY_SkY-y2zo6MCfc0Y9oLrE0BpUj3yBHEsWspIs1P0OHEyLL2j2cAYNN4gGgB-9GQN4hqT2zRIDOGY2Y9MP1fSBDi6YEzduVi7B0VXnJcnppkzhWizJVQrEpJSNZzmtGO/s640/IMG_7774.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIwjtG64VNOo1Al2wqZwbo1L7eRrzkgMpoGy7EDEHCuELs6Jx4koqeddQsQZfCjrwNL3gSJfCYSaRu4UJ38QczVNAno8PB8D9qHwl1uDhNkvgO9vrw5fvddI-zP3ofWmUhmrObS1bwN6U/s1600/DSC09338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIwjtG64VNOo1Al2wqZwbo1L7eRrzkgMpoGy7EDEHCuELs6Jx4koqeddQsQZfCjrwNL3gSJfCYSaRu4UJ38QczVNAno8PB8D9qHwl1uDhNkvgO9vrw5fvddI-zP3ofWmUhmrObS1bwN6U/s640/DSC09338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-60500524285517010932016-10-04T22:04:00.000+02:002016-10-04T22:05:25.560+02:00I'm back again! (for a limited time)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yup, I'm in Madrid! My last visit had been just over a year go, last July (that's when I'd had <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/2015/07/surprise-visit-madrid.html" target="_blank">that unbelievable surprise from one of the gas & electric companies</a> here...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lunch in Chinchón last Friday</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-0Hcd6afVeBH3BgXUysNqT0aTE85Gkr5ZzQ8vNjv1sQ7MswR6vGw46tOkiXOAC6KrVlpmVb-pmErfMifdVqrLsuBLNySEUWz561TjeHSqQY_w95GnAgSnbWDOcKdYZXyt6O9Mljeknmj/s1600/DSC09334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-0Hcd6afVeBH3BgXUysNqT0aTE85Gkr5ZzQ8vNjv1sQ7MswR6vGw46tOkiXOAC6KrVlpmVb-pmErfMifdVqrLsuBLNySEUWz561TjeHSqQY_w95GnAgSnbWDOcKdYZXyt6O9Mljeknmj/s640/DSC09334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
After-lunch tea in Pueblo Nuevo yesterday</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWKW6RyEeByeUrCZedTYFinccVmPFd-U7RZqOPIdZOwBbTv-1Ii30wqOQ_7JCByaR6SQ_dIFji6v9U7asOhv3EO75hmV1nrcHIkp0xrGuMZLTgqFZI5VLYWEZSQg2WzxmtLgcirbEhWu8/s1600/DSC09350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWKW6RyEeByeUrCZedTYFinccVmPFd-U7RZqOPIdZOwBbTv-1Ii30wqOQ_7JCByaR6SQ_dIFji6v9U7asOhv3EO75hmV1nrcHIkp0xrGuMZLTgqFZI5VLYWEZSQg2WzxmtLgcirbEhWu8/s640/DSC09350.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And I'll be seeing two more madrileño friends (from 2009) on Thursday!<br />
<br />
Is anyone in Madrid still reading and want to meet up? I have Wednesday and potentially the whole weekend free—pending Gregorio's plans.Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-44370703039079455452015-04-19T16:21:00.002+02:002015-04-19T16:24:04.304+02:00What I Learned Walking the Camino de SantiagoThis past fall I walked the <i>Camino de Santiago</i> for a month across Spain. (Interested in seeing my packing list + tips? Let me know in the comments, and a post will result sooner!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNh5FPaYkM7eOB5df-c_5X3gthH4Opa0w6Mc_gkSO_YkWj5nDCdtIcx7RiyjssjYbShxzhCIVa-BauFMcfxdetPxQYaX8tY3kuldJ8v-eprfsI9bHX_GaIblHmqPNKppQL4K3HtqxQhEx/s1600/IMG_5092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNh5FPaYkM7eOB5df-c_5X3gthH4Opa0w6Mc_gkSO_YkWj5nDCdtIcx7RiyjssjYbShxzhCIVa-BauFMcfxdetPxQYaX8tY3kuldJ8v-eprfsI9bHX_GaIblHmqPNKppQL4K3HtqxQhEx/s1600/IMG_5092.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJIcXODgMryYdhQAx4bAaYe10bjUsomdblT_f1s47iSGSiNl1Wj3qEikQRRiP0uTZMDVdk9nudva1p6cGgeaMHk_3TkEYeAV7b0eOs0muofeVo0Rec-RwqeCMpuIn2QCwnttHPsfTZgRo/s1600/DSC06228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJIcXODgMryYdhQAx4bAaYe10bjUsomdblT_f1s47iSGSiNl1Wj3qEikQRRiP0uTZMDVdk9nudva1p6cGgeaMHk_3TkEYeAV7b0eOs0muofeVo0Rec-RwqeCMpuIn2QCwnttHPsfTZgRo/s1600/DSC06228.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRCU6NZwCuzLHIWDh4EEL_dYVqjUgQhn3Xr2dqSOJBp8ROoOrS3QcpgWXiNcw536COKjwwWdnif7Mk5nGPilWBUPjJTUGOv-6GK0q-5rMiDkvIXCC_sW0vYoy8uU1f83eo90uRhXpaz-l/s1600/DSC06263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRCU6NZwCuzLHIWDh4EEL_dYVqjUgQhn3Xr2dqSOJBp8ROoOrS3QcpgWXiNcw536COKjwwWdnif7Mk5nGPilWBUPjJTUGOv-6GK0q-5rMiDkvIXCC_sW0vYoy8uU1f83eo90uRhXpaz-l/s1600/DSC06263.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZxRITg9IRkk5odLGs308aZzzhsOzhFQ3S3eRH8_j6v33K9-e40APJlWzUKK3tpMlqCocMGADSPwcU-fBOsOsGT34SHJ03BL6nIBdzWRm0se7ZfFsK87xApO0HpmppyFKe4FqXDcvf32o/s1600/DSC06303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZxRITg9IRkk5odLGs308aZzzhsOzhFQ3S3eRH8_j6v33K9-e40APJlWzUKK3tpMlqCocMGADSPwcU-fBOsOsGT34SHJ03BL6nIBdzWRm0se7ZfFsK87xApO0HpmppyFKe4FqXDcvf32o/s1600/DSC06303.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMn2HPBNNgE0n2s-2pdSvSKxOW78UQMAR6gNhVUn09eWWIsIH0c4cz0isOcJFyp_TV_I8kyKbiTgJCzUAh_at_0loaquO8Adt5n-aP6cDeLVFk4sbSma69WTHAlForzXirm8vDlS7vF2R/s1600/IMG_5123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMn2HPBNNgE0n2s-2pdSvSKxOW78UQMAR6gNhVUn09eWWIsIH0c4cz0isOcJFyp_TV_I8kyKbiTgJCzUAh_at_0loaquO8Adt5n-aP6cDeLVFk4sbSma69WTHAlForzXirm8vDlS7vF2R/s1600/IMG_5123.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
While there was no huge life-changing moment, I did take away small bits of advice from my experiences on the Camino that I've been able to apply to my life post-Camino. I'd like to share these with you, because I think they can have a positive effect on your life as well.<br />
<br />
Here it is: <a href="https://medium.com/@RebeWithaClause/what-i-learned-walking-500-miles-on-the-camino-de-santiago-9c98aff4f00d" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">What I Learned Walking 500 Miles on the Camino de Santiago</a><br />
<br />
I wrote the post on Medium for a more beautiful and smooth reading experience. Hope you enjoy!Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-66569291482852609452014-10-30T14:37:00.000+01:002014-12-16T16:05:48.852+01:00Decathlon: Sporting goods in SpainIn preparation for walking the <i>Camino de Santiago</i>, I took a trip to <b>Decathlon</b> in Madrid back in September to pick up a few items I'd need for the trek.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://puglia2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/decathlon_cmyk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://puglia2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/decathlon_cmyk.jpg" height="116" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decathlon<br />
<a href="http://puglia2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/decathlon_cmyk.jpg">Image Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Decathlon: Sporting Goods Store in Spain</h3>
Decathlon is a sporting goods store of French origin, whose chains are found around Europe and in a few other areas of the globe. Think of it as your Spanish equivalent to Dick's Sporting Goods.<br />
<br />
The prices are affordable, so these aren't top-of-the-line super expensive sporting goods, but the quality is good enough to warrant purchases.<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Decathlon Departments</h3>
So what can you find at a Decathlon in Spain? Tons!<br />
<br />
Here are the sporting departments listed on their website, with handy photos in case you're unfamiliar with a word:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtdRcTMKPyF5uvD2jQM-zqGEJelN3xSh-HA2SC_KC3-Muo7C7dbGtghGHCIsMm2s1arnYVa_3siGLNKIqXRL1ESEQQWYxafJqfs206DKvZRGD8y1GE_l9SqPOxPDWmU8HIO_nJa9QoBqO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+8.02.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Decathlon departments - in Spain" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtdRcTMKPyF5uvD2jQM-zqGEJelN3xSh-HA2SC_KC3-Muo7C7dbGtghGHCIsMm2s1arnYVa_3siGLNKIqXRL1ESEQQWYxafJqfs206DKvZRGD8y1GE_l9SqPOxPDWmU8HIO_nJa9QoBqO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+8.02.45+AM.png" height="296" title="Decathlon departments" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For those who can't see the image, here are some of the included departments:</div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Gimnasio, Yoga (Gymnastics, Yoga)</li>
<li>Ropa de Fitness-Danza (Dance/Fitness Clothing)</li>
<li>Ciclismo (Biking)</li>
<li>Running, Atletismo</li>
<li>Natación (Swimming)</li>
<li>Kayak-Surf-Deportes Agua (Water sports)</li>
<li>Buceo, Submarinismo (Diving)</li>
<li>Esquí y Snowboard (Ski and Snowboard)</li>
<li>Deportes Montaña, Camping (Mountain sports, Camping)</li>
<li>Tenis, Ping poing, Bádminton</li>
<li>Andar, Caminar (Walking, Hiking)</li>
<li>Golf</li>
<li>Fútbol (Soccer)</li>
<li>Caza, Pesca (Hunting, Fishing)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Basically any sport/outdoors/athletic thing you're looking for, chances are they've got it at Decathlon. You can <a href="http://www.decathlon.es/">browse their website</a> to have a look (if your Spanish isn't great, you can still browse by looking at the pictures and prices of items).<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Decathlon Stores in Spain</h3>
With 99 stores in the country, Spain currently comes in second to France for the most Decathlon stores per country (France has 260).<br />
<br />
Here's <a href="http://www.decathlon.es/tiendas-decathlon.html">a Google map of all of the Decathlon stores in Spain</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyd8OPyo3U-c6XPTqcCzM7qOAejOogyJW6GSdqq-FKXvnPWKkOBdgM51rTEmDZjXY1uAyfM8gvsIt5PMwhLXin8809yiv0sD_ThaTW_Dhj5peH3_o0Kqs7UYksmE2Nc6OImveIoN3peyb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+7.09.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Map of Decathlon stores in Spain" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyd8OPyo3U-c6XPTqcCzM7qOAejOogyJW6GSdqq-FKXvnPWKkOBdgM51rTEmDZjXY1uAyfM8gvsIt5PMwhLXin8809yiv0sD_ThaTW_Dhj5peH3_o0Kqs7UYksmE2Nc6OImveIoN3peyb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+7.09.33+AM.png" height="500" title="Decathlon stores in Spain" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Decathlon in Madrid</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most of the Madrid region Decathlon stores are in suburbs, outside of the city.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt65tm40Wh1mlgcHa5WRvvTpNMdSPfModgvXv6Md_XD_1n4CBuTopxW4LlYHd43dwBewgnw0vdaZWUPIGNnFQPXLECKaNoIE1Z2KdQXOQK6jWc2AXaZB80v7HXHWsTlHZbYVs-eHiU0R5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+7.11.27+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Map of Decathlon stores in Madrid" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt65tm40Wh1mlgcHa5WRvvTpNMdSPfModgvXv6Md_XD_1n4CBuTopxW4LlYHd43dwBewgnw0vdaZWUPIGNnFQPXLECKaNoIE1Z2KdQXOQK6jWc2AXaZB80v7HXHWsTlHZbYVs-eHiU0R5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-01+at+7.11.27+AM.png" height="464" title="Decathlon in Madrid" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The one you see in the center of the map (right near the words "Ciudad Lineal"), is in Nuevos Ministeros. It's actually called <b>Decathlon Golf Castellana</b>, and specializes in golf, running, and fitness. So they only have a tiny selection of the departments I listed above.<br />
<br />
That being said, you'll probably have to venture to one of the bigger Decathlons for a worthwhile trip.<br />
<br />
When I've shopped at Decathlon in Madrid, both this fall for the <i>Camino</i> and years ago for some athletic clothing for frisbee, I've gone to the branch in Usera, which is on the south side of Madrid.<br />
<br />
The first time I went via public transportation, and the second I was lucky enough to be driven by a Spanish friend. If you're taking public transportation, the nearest station is actually a Cercanías station, Orcasitas. You can also check for buses from your location, using <a href="https://www.google.es/maps?q=40.365978,-3.712077&hl=es&sll=40.365978,-3.712077&t=m&z=18&hq=decathlon&hnear=28041,+(294)+Madrid&iwloc=A">this Google map</a> (click "Cómo llegar" and then type in your address as the starting point).<br />
<br />
<h3>
If You Go...</h3>
<div>
<b>What:</b> Decathlon (Usera branch)</div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Address:</b> </span>Avenida Rafaela Ybarra SN, 28041 (294) Madrid (SN = <i>sin número</i>, meaning there's no "house" number)</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Cercanías</b>: Orcasitas</div>
<div>
<b>Hours:</b> 9:00 - 22:00 Monday through Saturday, 10:00 - 22:00 Sundays</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Phone</b>: 913.410.080</div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-60608297695386909862014-09-07T19:30:00.000+02:002014-09-08T09:47:36.523+02:00Back in Madrid: Spain is no KoreaI'm back in Madrid and it feels so great!<br />
<br />
After a year <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/p/korea.html">teaching English in South Korea</a>, I had to pop back over to Madrid for a visit before I return to the states to see my family. I'm actually going to walk the <i>Camino de Santiago</i> for about a month while I'm here in Spain - we'll see how long it takes.<br />
<br />
As my first day back in the +34 goes on, I keep remembering those tiny differences that were once second nature. They still feel natural, but did take a second for me to recognize these Spanish life basics before putting them back into action.<br />
<br />
Some of the thoughts I've had today include:<br />
<br />
"Oh right, <b>I must leave my shoes on in the apartment." - </b>In Korea, shoes <i>always </i>come off at the door - and that's at home, at school, and often in many restaurants too.<br />
<br />
"Ah, <b>I can't use my card for tiny purchases!" -</b> I didn't have cash yet and wanted to pay for Gregorio's coffee after lunch, but he was not keen on the idea of me paying with a card for just a few euros. Paying with some sort of card is done in Korea for <i>everything</i>, no matter the amount. Two dollars at the convenience store? No problem. I really got used to doing that, but quickly remembered that people will take the time to count out exact change here in Spain - <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/07/grocery-stores-in-madrid-spain.html">especially at grocery stores</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>"Is this where I need an ID to use my debit or credit card?"</b> - I had left the house without it when we were heading to Decathlon this afternoon, but asked Gregorio in the stairway if this was the country where you needed to show an ID. Bingo. After two years without needing to do so, and taking on the Korean habits of a quick line for an electronic signature, that detail was a bit fuzzy.<br />
<br />
And of course, "Yikes, I'd better <b>be careful with my purse/phone/wallet!"</b> At a Starbucks in Seoul I actually left my laptop out at a table while I went to the bathroom. That type of crime just isn't an issue in Korea, but pickpocketing and petty theft is huge in Madrid.<br />
<br />
It's also been super refreshing to understand what people are saying around me, and to be able communicate with others! I ordered my own lunch without a second thought. I didn't need time to slowly read and translate the menu, nor practice what I was going to say. And it was such a relief when I put in a load of laundry tonight because I could actually read the washing machine! It's the little things.<br />
<br />
Now I'm sitting here eating some simple <i>jamón serrano</i> with <i>pan</i>, and it never tasted so good.<br />
<br />
Thanks for welcoming me back with open arms, Madrid.Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-81797452727450288812014-07-30T07:58:00.000+02:002014-08-22T08:01:37.680+02:00Alcalá de Henares: That time I got locked in a bathroomEvery now and then I find myself in awkward situations. When these situations occur in my non-native country and language, they're even more entertaining.<br />
<br />
My last spring in Spain, Gregorio and I took <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/06/cafe-renacimiento-alcala-de-henares.html">an afternoon trip to <span style="background-color: white;">Alcalá </span>de Henares to get more information about the Franklin master's program</a>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d803b3127ccef038cd660bd600000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00208336036020120622230103850.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d803b3127ccef038cd660bd600000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00208336036020120622230103850.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling with Don Quijote and Sancho in Alcalá de Henares</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the university meeting was done, we got some lunch in town.<br />
<br />
We were late for lunch, even by Spain's standards, so we could no longer order the menu of the day. We stayed anyways and were seated outside on the patio, since it was a gorgeous day out. After ordering, I ran inside to use the bathroom quick. Didn't need anything from my purse, so I left it at the table.<br />
<br />
It was quite dark inside the bar/restaurant, and empty too -- just a bartender standing behind the bar. It wasn't quiet though, since music blared in the background. I really had to pee and wanted to wash my hands before eating too, so I found the women's bathroom in the back of the restaurant and went in. There was only one stall, and since no one else was in there I could go right in.<br />
<br />
As soon as I closed the stall door, I realize there wasn't a door handle on the inside of the stall door. It looked broken, not how a handle is supposed to be.<br />
<br />
This is what the handle should have looked like:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuLUw2qmGlbtZLmFhpOYArAJNHQig7TjLgBWQK_UTKd5tG7qYc3A" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuLUw2qmGlbtZLmFhpOYArAJNHQig7TjLgBWQK_UTKd5tG7qYc3A" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuLUw2qmGlbtZLmFhpOYArAJNHQig7TjLgBWQK_UTKd5tG7qYc3A">Image source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But the door roughly looked like this on the inside (it wasn't the same type of door/stall, though):<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.craniumfitteds.com/wp-content/uploads/HLIC/20e4975ab4d32d367395904a2ed1fc2e.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.craniumfitteds.com/wp-content/uploads/HLIC/20e4975ab4d32d367395904a2ed1fc2e.png" height="304" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.craniumfitteds.com/wp-content/uploads/HLIC/20e4975ab4d32d367395904a2ed1fc2e.png">Image source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My mind flashed for a split second to the worst that could happen - that I would be locked in here - but I knew that wasn't probable. Of course I could get out, it was a bathroom stall. So the thought left just as quickly as it had come, until it was time to actually exit said stall.<br />
<br />
I tried moving whatever was in the circle on the door. The door did not open, and the inner door handle pieces did not budge. Oh gosh.<br />
<br />
I looked below the door, but the stall door was too low for me to fit underneath.<br />
<br />
Okay, what to do, what to do. I tried again with my hands to move the inner workings of the door to release its latch. Didn't work. If only I'd had a credit card, or a screwdriver or something!<br />
<br />
I looked around and sized up the materials I had with me in the stall. It was pretty bare, but I did notice an empty toilet paper tube on the upper roll holder. And then I had an idea: I was going to MacGyver my way out of this stall!<br />
<br />
I ripped the toilet paper tube from the holder, and proceeded to bend it into a flat rectangle. Perhaps this would work in place of a credit card. I tried opening the door with the new tool, but it wasn't sturdy enough. The tube material kept bending whenever I applied pressure.<br />
<br />
I couldn't call Gregorio because I didn't have my phone with me. "How long have I been in here?," I wondered. Over five minutes for sure.<br />
<br />
Maybe it was time to attempt to get someone to hear me. Why was that music in the bar so loud?! I could hear it - and nothing else - from my stall. But I had few other options, so I decided to try making some noise.<br />
<br />
But then I got all caught up in what to say. What does one say in Spanish when they're in this situation? Should I say <i>hola, hola</i> (hello! hello!)? Should I shout for help (<i>ayuda, ayúdame!</i>), or is that too severe? What's the word for lock? How do I say I'm locked in? If you lock a door, you say "<i>cerrar con llave</i>" (literally: close with key), so do I use that term? Or is it <i>encerrado</i>? Wait, <i>encerrada</i> because I'm a female? Ah!<br />
<br />
So, I'm not exactly sure what I shouted in the end, probably a combination of all of the above. I've tried to erase that from my memory because I was really embarrassed and felt silly during the whole thing.<br />
<br />
"How could I make more noise?," I thought. Could anyone even hear me above the music? How long have I been in here now? How long before Gregorio comes looking for me?<br />
<br />
So then I started to knock on the stall door - from the <i>inside</i>. While trying to shout things in Spanish to get someone's attention. I felt so ridiculous.<br />
<br />
Sooo ridiculous.<br />
<br />
As soon as I would hear footsteps or one of the bartender's voices, I'd be my loudest. <br />
<br />
But no one came in.<br />
<br />
I knew I wouldn't be in there forever - Gregorio would inquire about my well-being after an abnormal amount of time spent in the bathroom. (Though hadn't it already been an abnormal amount of time?!) I wanted out now! I didn't want to wait any longer in this tiny stall!<br />
<br />
These new desperate thoughts made my knocking and random shouts even louder. Now that I'd been doing it for so long, I didn't feel nearly as foolish as at the start.<br />
<br />
<i>Finally</i>, around 15 minutes since I'd first entered the restroom, some lady came in to use the bathroom. I got her to open the stall door from the outside and let me out.<br />
<br />
After washing my hands I rushed back out to our table on the street and saw that both of our plates had been brought out ~10 minutes ago, based on what Gregorio had eaten already.<br />
<br />
I immediately began recounting my tale to Gregorio, and also asked why he hadn't come looking for me.<br />
<br />
He knew that I'd been struggling with IBS for a few years, and said that he thought I just needed extra time in the bathroom... Whoops!<br />
<br />
Relieved to be out at last, my lunch tasted extra <i>deliciosa </i>that afternoon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d803b3127ccef039960eea7700000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00208336036020120622225741755.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d803b3127ccef039960eea7700000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00208336036020120622225741755.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And that incident, my friends, is the memory that always comes to mind when I think of Alcalá de Henares. Not the neat Cathedral-turned-bar that we visited afterwards, nor the first time I visited with my study abroad friends and drank wine by the river.<br />
<br />
Nope, I now associate Alcalá de Henares with that time I got locked in the bathroom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Have you ever gotten locked in a bathroom stall? What other embarrassing situations have you found yourself in while living/traveling abroad?</i></b>Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-58083582982258611732014-06-26T07:24:00.000+02:002014-06-26T07:25:27.862+02:00The Spanish siesta, as taught in Korean students' English books<a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/p/korea.html">I'm currently residing in rural South Korea, where I teach English at a public elementary school</a>, but something that happened in class today that needed to be shared here. Yes, it directly involves Spain.<br />
<br />
Near the end of a fourth grade class we had a few extra minutes to fill. So my co-teacher played the unit's "We Are the World", a short video clip from the textbook's CD-ROM that teaches various topics about world culture.<br />
<br />
I hadn't seen the clip before we watched it in class. Although the speaking was all in Korean, I could tell what was going on by following the visuals and the brief English phrases interjected every now and then.<br />
<br />
<h2>
World culture lesson</h2>
It began with this family:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-473cd94a-d65e-2dc0-c971-cc3bcbf7854f"><img height="323" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aSTgTc0xuzJyU2046PCqIajVHmMei0GjwGBjLrPl3rBJ8V3Fp05o_Jjpk6C7FkkWlVNA3d5n3cjDW7izgbnCwqoQa12KIPVEjZzHOBJXtVUBg_DUhjml72tOKk4iwK0-KAZ1" width="400" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The boy says in English, "I like Spain". That's when my ears perked up. Oh cool, this will be about Spain!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All of a sudden the children are hungry, obvious because of the red squiggly lines coming out of each child's stomach area. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-473cd94a-d661-1d9f-547b-03dfb5680d05"><img height="450px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Gvwpue4Dzos8cCjr3ffaPN761lh8tZgwwcsQZ5RInMmQ_cOxjGHxncbUPM3oEvBadv0OMNDo2cjF9NSh0udb4x03DM-XiIrGlvjhJmrR-9Bbutp7IqmVavVYhEUjsXMZedCf" width="578px;" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The boy goes to tell his parents of their predicament. Then a clock appears on screen showing the time. It's one in the afternoon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-473cd94a-d662-4c8f-bc38-1f8f2fd2aa0e"><img height="474px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/go-bTmUBXCgU_kw0ljgkpwAqStbPXczFcJ6fIDwo-V0Av0Ua4rBACBUiqAwdlxfNE69O5icqjQVHmXLZNzBpPnba8xBHNRXfoRkCleoL61klflZTjBt5lJxQzQBO09f2WlrK" width="586px;" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Next a picture of paella pops up in the top left corner. Time to eat lunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But when the family gets to the restaurant, they all have shocked looks on their faces! Oh no!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-473cd94a-d663-23b9-b19e-dfd0ffaf553d"><img height="466px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/b6WULAo7SNZaMClNLZDwUsaYoGhDmGVEjYXLsSl_vQ9duwpczHIX7XgkzmEOoWtG7dswhYbR3BELl5uNwM_v9r7ejFmWlnonixOimi8x_O6rsxx8O0VgPxspfSmn5beYuo-g" width="586px;" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What could possibly be wrong?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Is the restaurant closed? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
No, that's not it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Is everything in Spanish and the family doesn't know what to order? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Negative.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Perhaps they're vegetarians and are therefore shocked by all of the hams hanging from the ceiling.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nope.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What is it then? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-473cd94a-d664-130b-978e-c495abf9b602"><img height="466px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/q-HylR1LCAcRqSrhEOg50apY_awYcKDB2_KdUK36rw1lbiIvvkwPjax7F71cb64Z1BMhUQoWg6vmLMJkW7uE6lZ-cpZco7cfdhjL2AkM54lf3Zib3x8jDxHXQfTF2jyW6zHr" width="586px;" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh right, the chef is <i>sleeping</i>. (Gasp!)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He's taking a nap because, as the pie chart next to him clearly shows, Spaniards take <i>siestas</i> (naps) from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. every day.<br />
<br />
(*eye roll*) Ah!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was waay more shocked than the family ever was when I saw what was happening in the video clip.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once it finished my co-teacher turned to me and said, "Oh wow, so in Spain they nap every day?"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"No!" I said immediately. I didn't care if it was best to keep it simple for the children's sake - the children whose English level is very basic. I was not going to let this misconception be spread to fourth graders in Korea! (Though for every other fourth grade class in the country, I wasn't able to stop it. My apologies.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's what I'll say about the often misunderstood Spanish siesta.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The Spanish "<i>siesta</i>"</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now, most shops and stores do close from about 2:30 to 5:00 every afternoon in Spain. Why? Go to Madrid in July and you'll see one reason: it is so incredibly hot. Hardly anyone will be out in the streets because the heat at that point in the day is simply unbearable.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The other reason is that it's Spanish tradition to eat meals together as a family in a calm, relaxed fashion, which usually means a long meal. I'll never forget the day in Madrid that I met a friend for lunch at three, and we had to be asked to leave by the owners because it was six thirty, and they'd closed a half hour ago!<br />
<br />
If businesses close during that late afternoon break, workers can return home for a lunch together with their families. If they're lucky perhaps they can catch a few minutes of shut-eye afterwards, but that's really not the case for most Spaniards nowadays. The number of people who go home for lunch is also declining, as many businesses are adopting the half-hour or hour-long lunch break.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Why Spaniards eat late lunches</h2>
But why do Spaniards eat lunch so late in the first place, usually at two or later?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://erikras.com/2014/06/24/the-sun-sets-late-in-spain/">I just read a great post earlier this week by Erik at American in Spain, that answers this very question</a>. Surprisingly, it has something to do with Nazi Germany. Erik's explanation is fantastic, so go there and read it first, then come back here.<br />
<br />
What it comes down to is that Spain is in the wrong time zone. Spain eats lunch the same time as other European countries do, but for the Europeans the time is one o'clock, but in Spain's time zone it's two o'clock.<br />
<br />
This also explains why Spaniards on average get the least amount of sleep among European countries. They're up just as early as everyone else, but dinner isn't until nine or ten at night, with prime time television following.<br />
<br />
There has been recent discussion to change Spain's time zone back to what it once was. Here are two articles published within the last year about attempts to change Spain's time zone and "end" the siesta:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/spain-working-hours-ending-siesta">"Adiós, siesta? Spain considers ending Franco's change to working hours" </a><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/spain-working-hours-ending-siesta">(<i>The Guardian</i>, September 26, 2013</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/18/world/europe/spain-land-of-10-pm-dinners-ponders-a-more-standard-time.html?_r=0">"Spain, Land of 10 P.M. Dinners, Asks if It’s Time to Reset Clock"</a> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/18/world/europe/spain-land-of-10-pm-dinners-ponders-a-more-standard-time.html?_r=0"><i>(New York Times</i>, February 18, 2014)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So the next time you find yourself teaching a class of Korean fourth graders, and their English book teaches that Spaniards sleep for three hours every afternoon, you'll know what to say!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Had you heard of the Spanish siesta? Did you know the real reasons behind the afternoon "break"?</i></b></div>
</div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-61684275248110986772014-06-20T11:38:00.000+02:002014-06-21T12:20:39.208+02:00New king in Spain: King Felipe VI crowned on June 19, 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ep01.epimg.net/portadillasetiquetas/imagenes/2014/06/19/portadilla/1403172876_798322_1403191480_portadilla_normal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Latizia" border="0" src="http://ep01.epimg.net/portadillasetiquetas/imagenes/2014/06/19/portadilla/1403172876_798322_1403191480_portadilla_normal.jpg" height="237" title="Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Latizia" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Felipe VI and Queen Latizia<br />
Photo Source: J.C. Cárdenas (EFE)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pictured above is Spain's new King Felipe VI, crowned on Thursday June 19, 2014, with his wife Queen Latizia. Didn't know who the last king was? Here are the basics:<br />
<br />
<h3>
King of Spain</h3>
<ul>
<li>King Juan Carlos, age 76, has been king of Spain since two days after Dictator Franco's death in 1975.</li>
<li>In the 1978 constitution, he gave up all powers except ceremonial ones.</li>
<li>King Juan Carlos's abdication was announced on June 2, 2014.</li>
<li>On June 19, 2014, his son Felipe (46) was crowned king of Spain.</li>
<li>King Felipe VI is married to Queen Latizia and has two daughters: Leonor (born 2005) and Infanta Sofía (born 2007).</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ep00.epimg.net/politica/imagenes/2014/06/19/actualidad/1403161487_675430_1403209231_noticia_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="King-Felipe-VI-Crowned-June-19-2014" border="0" src="http://ep00.epimg.net/politica/imagenes/2014/06/19/actualidad/1403161487_675430_1403209231_noticia_grande.jpg" height="420" title="King Felipe VI Crowned on June 19, 2014" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Source: J.J. Gullén (EFE)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
What does the king of Spain do?</h3>
<div>
Spain is actually governed by the Prime Minister, who has been Mariano Rajoy since December 2011. The king of Spain holds a more symbolic role, with much less power. Some duties include: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Head of State</li>
<li>Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish Armed Forces</li>
<li>President of the Ibero-American States Organization</li>
<li>Represent Spain in various international organizations</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lapatilla.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-19T094806Z_984769966_LR2EA6J0R7VOB_RTRMADP_3_SPAIN-KING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="King Juan Carlos and King Felipe VI of Spain" border="0" src="http://www.lapatilla.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-19T094806Z_984769966_LR2EA6J0R7VOB_RTRMADP_3_SPAIN-KING.jpg" height="484" title="King Juan Carlos and King Felipe VI of Spain" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Felipe VI with father King Juan Carlos<br />
<a href="http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2014/06/19/las-imagenes-de-la-nueva-familia-real-de-espana-fotos/spains-king-juan-carlos-and-new-king-felipe-vi-wearing-the-sash-of-captain-general-attend-a-ceremony-at-la-zarzuela-palace-in-madrid-2/">Photo Source: lapatilla.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
News Articles About Spain's New King</h3>
Here are a few news articles to read if you want to learn more about Spain's new king, Felipe VI.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Articles in English</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/19/inenglish/1403167125_092752.html">Felipe VI becomes the new king of Spain (El País - English)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27918094">King Felipe VI calls for 'new Spain' as he is sworn in (BBC Europe)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/18/world/europe/spain-king-felipe-vi/">King Felipe VI takes over in Spain (CNN)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-king-felipe-queen-letizia-spain-meet-the-royals-20140619-story.html">Meet Felipe and Letizia, the new king and queen of Spain (LA Times)</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2>
Articles in Spanish</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/17/media/1403031532_023044.html">El primer día de Felipe VI (El País)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://eleconomista.com.mx/internacional/2014/06/18/reino-espana-tiene-nuevo-rey-felipe-vi">El reino de España tiene nuevo rey: Felipe VI (El Economista)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2014/06/18/felipe-vi-es-oficialmente-el-nuevo-rey-de-espana/">Felipe VI es oficialmente el nuevo rey de España (CNN en Español)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://elpais.com/especiales/2014/felipe-vi/">Felipe VI: Relevo en la monarquía (El País - especial)</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-53700569941333739002014-06-08T15:54:00.000+02:002014-06-08T15:54:38.455+02:00How much Spanish do I need to know to teach English in Spain?Here are some questions from an email I received last month:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I have read many blogs discussing how the Assistants sometimes you ran their own classes. Did you have to converse frequently in Spanish with your students - Was it essential to converse in Spanish to teach classes? Or was it primarily English in the classroom?<br /> <br />...<br /> <br />So I guess my question is, while I do have a “decent grasp” on understanding the language but some difficulty communicating back in Spanish, would I essentially be “ineffective” teaching classes? Or is English the primary language in the classroom during your sessions. Is it possible to always have the main teacher by my side?</i></blockquote>
<br />
And my response, in post form:<br />
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2olIGiogp-L6I0jU7pR0pcgM8Qfk2g3diLUjmYlpse_R_1YU1CEGTneI4aFaIOIDggxamZ04jBOZyEMH-qGj0yv9Vl9Yh5PXZLs6on5aS9iISYX40IybQMrP3iKTjg4aNrqyBoES-nuc/s1600/How+Much+Spanish+do+I+need+to+Know+to+Teach+English+in+Spain-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How Much Spanish do I Need to Know to Teach English in Spain as an Auxiliar?" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2olIGiogp-L6I0jU7pR0pcgM8Qfk2g3diLUjmYlpse_R_1YU1CEGTneI4aFaIOIDggxamZ04jBOZyEMH-qGj0yv9Vl9Yh5PXZLs6on5aS9iISYX40IybQMrP3iKTjg4aNrqyBoES-nuc/s1600/How+Much+Spanish+do+I+need+to+Know+to+Teach+English+in+Spain-.jpg" height="240" title="How-Much-Spanish-do-I-need-to-Know-to-teach-English-in-Spain" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
Speak in English to the students</h2>
Most schools will ask that you only speak in English to the students. A friend of mine had to pretend that she didn't speak Spanish at her school, even though she was fluent. It benefits the students to hear your native English and to be forced to communicate with you in English. If you can understand some of their side chat or confusions when they speak in Spanish, added bonus for you - but try not to let on that you understand them.<br />
<br />
<h2>
My auxiliares teaching experience in Madrid</h2>
Now I'll tell share my personal experiences about what level of Spanish was needed, and then tell you that situations vary greatly by school/level. So my teaching experience was a bit unique, I think. I was split between two public vocational schools (post high school) with students who were studying things like secretary/electronics/pharmacy assistant, but needed 1 or 2 years of English to graduate. The English teacher at one school was older and had studied to be a Spanish literature teacher. Her English level was low, pronunciation being the biggest trouble. She ran the class in Spanish, as did some teachers at my other school. In my case having a high level of Spanish was really great for communicating with<i> </i>the <i>teachers</i> (since their English level was so low).<br />
<br />
At one school (where the teacher had a low level of English), she started having me teach class by myself at some point during the year, while she stayed downstairs in her office. This meant using lots of Spanish to teach, as she had done, explaining grammatical concepts to them because the English level of these students (ages 16-24, with a few adults) was so low. I was fine doing it because I was more comfortable when she wasn't there - I could run class a bit differently (how I wanted to), and didn't have to worry about discipline much because of the students' age. Had I not been comfortable at that point, it would have been totally okay to say so, and show that the contract states we will always be with a teacher. (Yup, technically language assistants should always be with a teacher when working as an auxiliar de conversación). I think she knew I'd be all right on my own, which is why she suggested it in the first place.<br />
<br />
At my other school, occasionally I'd be sent to another room with half of the class to work on certain speaking activities from the book while the regular teacher worked on something else with the other half. Sometimes in the other room I'd have conversation time with half of the group about a topic previously assigned for me to prepare and run. Again, this is technically against the contract, but I was more than okay with the arrangement. I liked running the class alone, not being watched by the teacher, and being able to do things my way. Again, discipline was not an issue due to the students' ages. My situation came about because of the higher age and lower level of students. Also, it was the first year that both of these schools had an auxiliar, so they weren't sure how best to use me.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Experiences depend on placement</h2>
So that was one specific situation. At primary and secondary schools I've heard of much different situations. The teachers know how to use you, you're expected to only communicate in English with the students, and you're not left alone with students. Some placements require much more prep work than others. But I'll just say again that it varies greatly depending on location, school, teachers, etc. My best friend - also an auxiliar the year I was - had multiple auxiliares working at her school, whereas I was the only one at mine.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Contact past auxiliares</h2>
When you do get your school placement (which wasn't until much later in the summer for me, if I'm remembering correctly), you could try to find a previous auxiliar at that same school - through the Madrid auxiliar facebook group. That could help you get an idea of age/level of the students, and what the teaching environment looks like. I went into it blind, since no one had taught there before and I didn't know what level the students would be. But it all worked out -- and it'll work out for you! <br />
<br />
<h2>
Don't worry</h2>
The first couple of weeks could be uncomfortable depending on communication with the teachers and culture shock (but they could also be amazing and wonderful!), so once you learn what's expected of you and how the school wants to use you, you'll fall into a routine and feel comfortable in your role. You could work with teachers that have amazing levels of English, such that they always communicate with you in English!<br />
<br />
Should something be terribly amiss (I wasn't satisfied with how I was used in the classroom and how classes were run) keep in mind that it's only 16 hours a week, so make the most of your remaining time. (I enjoyed getting to know the students when I was alone with them, and being able to help them. Outside of those hours I was highly involved with an ultimate frisbee team and taught private English lessons to stay satisfied and feel like I was making a difference). <br />
<br />
<h2>
Your Spanish will improve while living in Spain</h2>
You will be great! There's still <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/08/how-to-practice-spanish-before-studying.html">plenty of time this summer to work on Spanish</a>, and keep in mind that you will be living in Spain for at least 9 months. While there: watch TV, read the news, <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/05/intercambios-in-madrid.html">go to intercambios to make Spanish friends</a>, live with Spaniards, etc. Your Spanish will improve so much while you're living in Spain! So whatever your level is today, it will only get better from this point forward. And that can help with teaching.<br />
<br />
Also, keep in mind that the auxiliares program doesn't help you get settled when you come to Spain. You'll have to <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/10/how-to-find-apartment-in-madrid.html">find an apartment</a>, open a bank account, <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/09/how-to-get-abono.html">get a metro pass (abono)</a>, and all that jazz on your own. You'll need to speak in Spanish to do so, which is one reason why this teaching program requires that you have "basic communicative skills in Spanish".<br />
<br />
<h2>
With a grain of salt</h2>
And to go against everything I've just said, take everything with a grain of salt. It's easier said than done, but from my experiences so far (<a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/p/korea.html">including a move to Korea</a>) - you can't really know what to expect until you get there. Especially with a move and new job in a foreign country. The mind likes to wonder about every situation, but after a certain point you'll really just have to see what it's like once you get there. There's no way of knowing exactly what it'll be like ahead of time - even if you can get someone else's take on the exact same experience. I've interpreted my surroundings/situations based on my thoughts/past, but anyone else in my same place might have had a completely different opinion/experience.<br />
<br />
So put on some confidence and know that you can be a successful English teacher in Spain! You shouldn't be expected to teach in Spanish, so your developing Spanish language skills will only embarrass you <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/07/grocery-stores-in-madrid-spain.html">out at the grocery store</a> or <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/09/chino-shops.html">at your neighborhood's chino shop</a> for the first few months, not in the classroom in front of your students.<br />
: )Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-1888287665850540382014-05-14T13:08:00.001+02:002014-06-16T11:21:56.188+02:00Advice on moving back home after living/studying abroad in SpainI've written about <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/10/reverse-culture-shock-spain-to-usa.html">my struggle with reverse culture shock after coming back to the USA from Spain</a>, but what can be done to ease the transition? How can you keep an amazing study abroad experience alive without annoying the heck out of your friends and family? Or return home after having worked in Spain and use your experiences to better your community?<br />
<br />
Last month I got an email from a reader who was feeling some hesitancy towards his inevitable return home next month. He asked more about my return to the states after my second year in Madrid, which touched on all of the above questions. I'll share some of his email below, and then reproduce my answer.<br />
<br />
<i>" ...did you end up keeping up and maintaining your close friendships with your friends back in Wisconsin after you returned from Madrid, or did you just feel like you had changed too much?"
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"I think the thing that's going to be most killer for me is I know that most people aren't going to be really interested in my trip, and just knowing all of the wonderful things that I love about Madrid I am going to be leaving behind. It is truly a wonderful, wonderful city!"
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"How long did you stay in the US before you left again to Korea?"
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Do you have any suggestions on what I could do to somehow make things easier on myself?"
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div>
-----------</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since I taught in Spain right after graduating from college, many of my college friends moved from our University's city and started jobs/lives in new states the same time I left for Madrid. I kept in touch with just a few friends from home while I was away (and am still friends with them today). So part of what was difficult with my return is that the number of friends I had to hang out with in Madison after Madrid was very low, since so many had left Madison after graduating. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was back in the USA for a year (working to pay back most of my student loans) before I left for Korea. But I made many friends during that time, and made the most of it once I got out of my reverse culture shock funk. So I do have some recommendations, since you asked:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>Feelings are temporary</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
Something to keep in mind is that feelings are temporary. I did in fact cry myself to sleep some nights after returning! But know that you won't always feel how you feel right now. It took me a few months to get out of the grey cloud, but since that fall I've experienced many highs and some different lows.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>Your present is unique</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
Remember that no matter where you are, the present is the only time you will be in that particular place with the same people who are there right now. Once I had that realization after returning from Madrid, <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/2013/01/gratitude-thankful-thursday.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">I started a "Thankful Thursday" post every week on my blog to keep myself focused on gratitude</a>. This helped me appreciate my time back in Madison (and now my time in Korea, away from my close friends and family). If you really want to go back to Spain, you can figure out how to make that happen. But while you're home in the USA you're in that particular city. Take advantage of the things you can do there that you can't do elsewhere, and take advantage of being around the people who are also there. (<a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/2013/09/a-look-back-11-months-in-madison.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Here's how I took advantage of my time in Madison</a>).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>Join a Spanish conversation table</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
Check craigslist community, facebook groups, and <a href="http://meetups.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">meetups.com</a> to see if a Spanish conversation group exists in your city. If not, you can always start one! My university (UW-Madison) has a weekly conversation table that I went to in the fall and spring after returning from Spain. Since it only ran during the semesters, I volunteered to lead the Spanish conversation table for the summer so that we could continue meeting. Each week I'd send out an email to current participants and put posts on craigslist and Facebook so others could join. It was a great way to keep up with Spanish, meet people, and during the school year I could encourage young students to study abroad (and meet others who had studied/lived abroad like me)!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>Give back</b></h4>
</div>
<div>
All the years I've spent as a foreigner abroad really make me sympathize with foreigners back home. I know how it feels to be away from family and friends, and to be afraid of everyday interactions when you don't speak the language (in Korea where I currently reside...). My first year back from Spain (after studying abroad for a year) I volunteered at <a href="http://www.litnetwork.org/">Literacy Network in Madison</a>, tutoring ESL to adults in our city. I also joined a <a href="http://apps.iss.wisc.edu/bridge/program.html">UW-Madison group BRIDGE, a friendship program</a> that paired Wisconsin students with foreign students at our University. My second year back I volunteered for a bit as an English conversation partner at the Wisconsin ESL Institute (WESLI) in Madison. So, you could use your experience to help other foreigners, through volunteering or joining (or starting!) a Meetup group with an international theme. Volunteer experiences can help you make friends, be connected to your community, feel good, and possibly turn into a future opportunity.</div>
<br />
<h4>
<b>Pursue your interests to make friends</b></h4>
Sounds like you do have some friends at home to return to, but by getting involved in your interests you can make more friends (some who might understand more of what you're experiencing). I really love ultimate frisbee, so I played on a spring and summer league when I was back in Madison. I also started going to a French conversation table because I'm learning French. Staying busy and getting to know people through these activities was so beneficial for me -- and fun!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Give yourself some time to feel down</b> </h4>
If you noticed above, I didn't start those Thankful Thursdays until January, but I returned to the USA at the end of September... so it took a few months for me to turn things around. Writing that post on reverse culture shock (in November?) was so helpful for me. I didn't know it would have that effect until after I had written it, but I felt so much better after letting it out somewhere. If writing's not your thing, maybe there's someone you can talk with, or some other way to work your way through the reverse culture shock feelings. And everyone's experience will be different -- the first time I came back from studying in Spain I experienced virtually no reverse culture shock. Many of my friends from the study abroad program returned to Madison with me for my senior year, so we continued to hang out and could talk about Madrid memories with each other whenever we wanted to. If there is reverse culture shock, know that it <i>will</i> wear off over time. When you're feeling rushed at a restaurant or can't get over the ridiculous amounts of water in the toilets, make note of it, because in a few months it won't have the same effect.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>For former expats who have returned home, what helped you re-establish yourself back home after living abroad? How could you share/make use of your international experiences?</i></b>Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-1410455222156334062014-04-14T15:50:00.000+02:002015-11-16T20:47:23.856+01:00FAQ: Teaching private English classes in SpainMany native-English speaking expats in Spain tend to teach private English classes for a little extra cash, whether they're studying or working abroad. Here are some FAQs to help new arrivals get started teaching private English lessons:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUkPkHZtcqZAYjMrl-hVp56JMeLOuqVvB1Jx4tgu-KDqeia-01tB0d_dMLhG5G4Ak_ZaHCnvdlHAqKpQlAFtqu9Of4dNDeCNs8z6B0whGykYRbE2r_AKjcCWn5t_izMgKJ2hvts6cGXJN/s1600/Teaching+Private+English+Classes+in+Spain+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching private English classes in Spain - FAQ via Oh No She Madridn't" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUkPkHZtcqZAYjMrl-hVp56JMeLOuqVvB1Jx4tgu-KDqeia-01tB0d_dMLhG5G4Ak_ZaHCnvdlHAqKpQlAFtqu9Of4dNDeCNs8z6B0whGykYRbE2r_AKjcCWn5t_izMgKJ2hvts6cGXJN/s1600/Teaching+Private+English+Classes+in+Spain+(2).png" title="Teaching private English classes in Spain - FAQ via Oh No She Madridn't" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
How do I find private English lessons to teach? </h3>
<div>
I've written <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/08/how-to-find-private-english-classes-in.html">an entire blog post about how to find private English classes in Spain, which can be found here</a>.</div>
<br />
<h3>
What types of private English classes can I offer?</h3>
<div>
You'll want to specify in your advertisement what type of classes you're offering. Based on your experience and preference, that could include any of the following:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Conversational English</li>
<li>Business English</li>
<li>Grammar-intensive classes</li>
<li><a href="http://www.britishcouncil.org/spain/en/exams/cambridge">Cambridge Exam</a> preparation (Specify which: PET/FCE/CAE/CPE)</li>
<li>Level: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced</li>
<li>Grade/Age: <i>Primaria</i> / ESO (<i>Educación Secundaria Obligatoria</i>) / <i>Bachillerato</i> / <i>Universidad</i> / Adult</li>
</ul>
<div>
... or whatever other area of English that you can teach!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
How much should I charge for private English lessons in Spain?</h3>
I don't have an exact answer, as rates depend on your experience and the "going rate", but I'll share my experiences. When I first started giving private English classes in 2009, I didn't have previous experience tutoring ESL/EFL. Our study abroad program advertised private English lessons for 15 euros/hour, so when I got my first student via my study abroad program, that was my rate. I also taught five siblings from a family of eight who lived rather far outside of Madrid (Las Rozas). They paid 18/hour plus the 5 euros it cost me to get out there and back by bus from Moncloa. It really was a hike to get there, but the family was so great I would have done it for free.<br />
<br />
I attended a 2.5 hour Introduction to TEFL Workshop put on by Canterbury English once I started giving those private lessons, and taught for the year. Partway through I added two more students to my weekly classes (cousins of my first student). Back in Madison I volunteered as an ESL tutor at Literacy Network the summer after graduation. So with all that as my experience, I upped my rate to 16/hour when I returned to Madrid in 2011 to work as an English teacher in the public schools. I also taught a student from my first year, so we kept the rate at 15 for him.<br />
<br />
That was my second year of private classes, and first year teaching English in public schools. I volunteered as an ESL conversation partner back in Madison for a few months when I was home and completed a 100-hour TEFL certification course online early in the summer of 2013. When I finish my current contract here in Korea I'll also have a year of full-time EFL teaching in an elementary school under my belt. So with that experience, plus the quality of lessons I'd guarantee, if I returned to Spain today to teach I would start my rate at no less than 20/hour.<br />
<br />
You'll hear all sorts of opinions and debates about what to charge for private English classes in Spain. I knew a girl who found a play class from a flyer (play with two young girls in English for an hour) that paid 25 euros. Other people think you should charge higher if you're a native, regardless of experience - but I think experience is important.<br />
<br />
Feel free to offer discounts for number of students (For example: 16/hr/student - 1 student, 10/hr/student - 2 students, etc.). That way if friends want lessons together it's more affordable for them (10 euros instead of 16 euros), yet you can make a little more because you've got to pay attention to and work on strengthening two different students' English skills.<br />
<br />
I recommend browsing some native English teachers' postings on <a href="http://www.tusclasesparticulares.com/buscar/clasesparticulares.aspx?idsubcategoria=1&idprovincia=33"><i>Tus clases particulares</i></a> or <a href="http://www.lingobongo.com/madrid/en/">Lingo Bongo</a> to get a general idea for current rates, too. Looking today, in April of 2014, I saw a range from 10 euros/hour to 22 euros/hour between all the posts I looked at. The high of 22/hr was posted by a 37-year-old with over 10 years of ESL teaching experience.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What factors should I consider while choosing a rate?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Your ESL/EFL teaching education</li>
<li>Your ESL/EFL teaching experience</li>
<li>The quality of lessons you will provide</li>
<li>The location of the lessons (Your apartment? Their apartment? How far are you willing to travel?)</li>
<li>The status of Spain's economy</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
How do I get paid for teaching private English classes?</h3>
I always got paid in cash at the end of each lesson, and think this is the norm. One time a family asked if I preferred to be paid every week or once at the end of the month, but I chose to get paid weekly.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What tips should I know to receive payment smoothly? </h3>
<div>
Decide with the student (or his/her parents) how often you'll be paid before you begin tutoring.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since I charged 16/hour my second year, which isn't an even 5 or 10, I always made sure to have change on me. Make it easy for the parents/students and be prepared to give change for a 20 (or whatever bill makes sense in your situation).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, be sure to keep track of each payment you receive -- write it down in the same place every week. Every now and then some situation would arise where the parents forgot to leave money with their kids, or they wanted to pay for both Tuesday and Thursday's classes on Tuesday. Regardless of the reason, I always jotted it down in my private lessons notebook. That way I never got confused if I'd been paid or not.</div>
<br />
<h3>
How do I time the lesson?</h3>
<div>
I always set an alarm on my cell phone before class so that I wouldn't have to constantly be looking at it during the lesson. (Speaking of cell phones, make sure to silence your phone ringer while teaching class!). I set my alarm to go off 2-3 minutes before time was up so that we could finish whatever we were in the middle of and end class calmly. Most of my lessons were an hour long, though the year I had five students from the same family, each kid had a half hour with me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
How do I keep track of multiple students?</h3>
I had a small "private lessons notebook" with a section for each student I taught. I took notes during and after every lesson, which I highly recommend doing. What should you write down? I'd write new vocab words or the grammar unit they were currently studying at school so I could prepare related exercises for our next class. I'd write down common mistakes I heard, or things the student had difficulty with, so I could create activities to work on those particular items next time. The notebook was also a good place for me to jot down personal details I'd learn during lessons (Birthdays, interest, likes/dislikes), which helped me personalize classes and develop better relationships with each student.<br />
<br />
<h3>
I've never taught English before. What should I know?</h3>
<div>
The answer to this question could be a whole post series in and of itself, so I'll be brief and just hit a few key points: Speak slowly and clearly with your students. <br />
<br />
You should most likely be able to understand and explain grammar to your students, depending on their age/level. If you've studied a foreign language before, you'll probably have a better idea of direct/indirect objects, transitive/intransitive verbs, verb tenses, and other grammatical topics. Be prepared to explain, for example, the English rule about when to use <i>how much </i>vs. <i>how many</i> (Why we say "How <b>many</b> people?" and "How <b>many</b> shoes?", but "How <b>much</b> water?" and "How <b>much </b>money?"). If you're scratching your head, look up "countable and uncountable nouns" online. You'll be seeing those again and again in various grammatical rules, so it's a good idea to learn it now. <a href="https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/">Purdue's Online Writing Lab</a> might be a good place to start if this is all new to you. I'm sure you can work your way through a Google search to find other helpful information to learn about English grammar.</div>
<div>
<br />
Please make sure you know the correct usage of the basic (but way too often confused) "their/there/they're", "it's/its", and "your/you're". (Hint: "It's" = it is, "its" is possessive).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're American, keep in mind that most Spanish students are taught British English in school, and there are some spelling/vocabulary/grammar differences you'll come across. <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/08/differences-between-british-english.html">Here are ten differences between British and American English that left an impression on me from teaching in Spain</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd consider attending a short TEFL/TESOL training in your city, or see <a href="https://www.udemy.com/basic-tefl-certificate-course/">what sorts of free TESOL/TEFL training you can find online</a>. Something you will learn quickly is that compared to any other language, there are huge amounts of<i> </i>free English-learning materials available on the web (games, worksheets, flashcards, songs, lesson plans, exercises, etc.). Here are a few of these sites:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mes-english.com/">MES English</a> - Flashcards, worksheets, games, phonics</li>
<li><a href="http://www.eslcafe.com/">Dave's ESL Cafe</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/">Breaking News English</a> - English lessons/worksheets from recent news stories</li>
<li><a href="http://iteslj.org/questions/">Conversation Questions for ESL/EFL Classroom</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.waygook.org/index.php?wwwRedirect">Waygook</a> - Community of English teachers in South Korea sharing lesson plans</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dreamenglish.com/">Dream English</a> - Great songs for young learners</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<b>Did you find this post helpful?</b><br />
<br />
I share all of my Spain how-to posts and guides for free! If you'd like to return the favor, consider tossing a little love in my tip jar:<br />
<br />
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">
<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" />
<input name="encrypted" type="hidden" value="-----BEGIN PKCS7-----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-----END PKCS7-----
" />
<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" />
</form>
<br />
<b><i>What other questions do you have about teaching private English lessons in Spain?</i></b>Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-11810339664900615462014-03-11T12:06:00.003+01:002014-03-11T12:10:05.819+01:00Where are you today?Just play along and see which category applies to you, based on your current location:<br />
<br />
<h3>
If you're in Madrid...</h3>
<div>
Go to <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/03/parque-de-la-quinta-de-los-molinos.html">the Parque Quinta de los Molinos to see the almond trees in bloom</a>. When? Now! Today! Maybe tomorrow. They're in full bloom <i>right now</i>, according to photos from my friends in Madrid, so be sure to visit this week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd30b3127cceffc3139d178000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120311175914562.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="La parque Quinta de los Molinos" border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd30b3127cceffc3139d178000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120311175914562.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" title="La parque Quinta de los Molinos" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Parque Quinta de los Molinos, Madrid 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
If you're not in Spain...</h3>
The application deadline for the <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/p/auxiliares-de-conversacion.html">2014-15 North American Language and Culture Assistants</a> program (Auxiliares de conversación) is April 1, 2014. So apply now for the chance to live and and work in Spain for 9 months, teaching English. Your only regret will be not applying, I promise!<br />
<br />
<h3>
If you're not in Spain <i>anymore</i>...</h3>
Don't forget that you can always return for a visit. Hopefully in 6 months I can look back and see the foreshadowing of this statement. ; )Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-29173914345204915132014-02-16T05:34:00.001+01:002014-02-16T05:49:19.436+01:00How to receive packages in Spain without fees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAWP_iBTHHBrQsB3rIpDCixAP3LscnbgB8olIUOhHCzAgTiJAm67VVUeUFDaowy-c83SU5dSbAO5OyuJXqjM6tQTTpkpGUZXXhCj008NBG2FDKH84_FnsMf5Q1ReydEPOcdVDZzftPzPa/s1600/how-to-receive-packages-in-spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Receiving packages in Spain - How to" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAWP_iBTHHBrQsB3rIpDCixAP3LscnbgB8olIUOhHCzAgTiJAm67VVUeUFDaowy-c83SU5dSbAO5OyuJXqjM6tQTTpkpGUZXXhCj008NBG2FDKH84_FnsMf5Q1ReydEPOcdVDZzftPzPa/s1600/how-to-receive-packages-in-spain.jpg" height="454" title="Receiving packages in Spain - How to" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Picture this: Your birthday is tomorrow and you've been expecting a package from the USA to arrive any day now. You return home from some afternoon tapas with friends, only to discover a slip of paper on your mailbox. You make out that a package for you has arrived, but you must go to Barajas airport to pick it up. What?! Yeah, all the way to Barajas. Oh, and by the way, you have to pay 70 euros to get it. Happy birthday!<br />
<br />
To increase your chances of never experiencing this scene, keep reading.<br />
<br />
So why the fee? It's an import duty and/or tax (VAT). When the sender mailed the package, he/she had to fill out a customs form listing the contents of the box and their value. That description is used to determine the duty/tax. <br />
<br />
Now, I am not advising that anyone lie on this form, but I'll share what has worked well in my experience (I never had a package held for me at Customs):<br />
<ul>
<li>If family is sending over some of your personal items, make sure they write "used ~" and/or "personal items" on the form.</li>
<li>If it's a gift for you, make sure the "gift" box is checked.</li>
<li>Generally, if the contents of the package are worth less than $20, you won't have to pay tax/duty on it.</li>
<li>If you must have something new sent over from the states, have your sender remove the packaging before mailing it to you.</li>
<li>An insured package will most likely be held at customs, but then again, if it's insured it must be valuable and therefore <i>should</i> be charged duty/tax.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So pass along this information to your family and friends <i>before </i>they mail something to you!<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
Successful Kindle delivery</h3>
I ordered a Kindle Touch while living in Madrid, but had it shipped to my home address in the USA. My mom then put it a different envelope and sent it to me. She wrote that it was a book with a value of $19, and <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/01/receiving-mail-in-spain.html">the envelope was delivered to my door, no problem</a>.<br />
<br />
<h3>
If you like surprises...</h3>
One final tip about receiving packages from the USA in Spain: If you like surprises, don't read the green slip taped to your package when you receive it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSaO_jShnfomuIy2X4r28EkxSVF2KdfBC9AS3Dss5cEq55w3JzGJcnezqilzPBmpFOVPuuhzdFSL7he5pezJFfobPcQmCqL8C_kHs4wBNaTEdCP7ieh4i42PSWUVX_MlKgwaNKZdc0QIc/s1600/mail-package-to-spain-advice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSaO_jShnfomuIy2X4r28EkxSVF2KdfBC9AS3Dss5cEq55w3JzGJcnezqilzPBmpFOVPuuhzdFSL7he5pezJFfobPcQmCqL8C_kHs4wBNaTEdCP7ieh4i42PSWUVX_MlKgwaNKZdc0QIc/s1600/mail-package-to-spain-advice.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I remember the first time I got a package for my birthday when I was studying abroad in Spain, and I immediately saw what was inside via the green slip. I had no idea that's what the green slip would contain, but it was too late by the time my eyes found it. No element of surprise at all! For future boxes I made sure to look somewhere else and cover up that slip of paper with my hand while opening the box. I recommend doing the same: tear it off, cover it up - whatever works for you.<br />
<br />
<b>Any other tips for your friends/family when they send mail to you in Spain?</b>Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-28888807407837079222014-01-18T10:39:00.000+01:002014-01-18T10:41:18.532+01:00Oliva: Day 1 - Castillo de Alarcón<i>[This post is the third of my recounting of the trip I took to Oliva with <a href="http://madridnt.blogspot.com/2011/11/caras-de-madrid-gregorio-luna.html">Gregorio</a> in early December 2011. Part one, <a href="http://madridnt.blogspot.com/2011/12/oliva-day-1-ucles.html">Uclés, can be read here</a> and part two, <a href="http://madridnt.blogspot.com/2011/12/segobriga-spain-roman-ruins.html">Segóbriga, can be read here</a>.]</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
With the <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/12/segobriga-spain-roman-ruins.html">Roman ruins of Segóbriga behind us</a>, we were on the road again. We pulled over maybe an hour later just outside of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alarc%C3%B3n">Alarcón</a>. Remember now, Gregorio and I were on our way to his parents' house in Oliva (near Valencia) from Madrid. It should have only taken between 3-4 hours by car, but we were en route the entire day!<br />
<br />
That's because Gregorio had many stops planned that I was never made aware of, but it was a fantastic day with gorgeous sights in this country I love so much. <br />
<br />
So we parked the car near the entrance to Alarcón.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c302acd0f00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c302acd0f00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The car looks a little out of place, no?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We ate a picnic lunch outside of the car, with a gorgeous view of the town's 8th century medieval castle, <i>el castillo de Alarcón</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c6c7b4c4000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c6c7b4c4000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alarcón's castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The blue-green body of water just outside of the castle's town made the enchanting sight ever so pleasant for the eyes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Alarc%C3%B3n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Alarc%C3%B3n.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture thanks to wikipedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2df05b3127cceff649ec8cc2300000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120124214145985.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2df05b3127cceff649ec8cc2300000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120124214145985.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
While driving into the small town to get a closer look at the castle, Gregorio decided he wanted to be the driver <i>and </i>the photographer. The picture I captured below was a common site throughout our drive. Although this was taken on a quiet street, he did this on the busy highways leaving Madrid too! (It's okay parents, I survived)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8ceafdcdb500000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8ceafdcdb500000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multitasker? I think not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The castle was converted into a Parador hotel in 1963. <a href="http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parador_Nacional">Parador</a> builds hotels throughout Spain in buildings that have historic, artistic, or cultural significance.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8d00316c7000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020111212092751294.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Parador Alarcón Spain" border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8d00316c7000000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020111212092751294.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" title="Parador Alarcón Spain" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c80cacdb700000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020111212092733946.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Parador Alarcón Spain" border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cc33b3127ccefe8c80cacdb700000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020111212092733946.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="464" title="Parador Alarcón Spain" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went inside the hotel for a coffee and tea, and then it was back to the road. Next destination? I had no idea.</div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-60937682878169866172013-12-19T06:25:00.000+01:002014-02-16T05:41:13.644+01:00Q&A: Teaching English in Spain as a North American Language and Culture Assistant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf-YUSO2pqjO_VG-NlQgrGC3d5W7axsRaUIpGTt1NqoHqTdRF-9del7BMA3JEWxILMffuVd8n190fpjKL3VlC_72q47HsmVBMeg46tcq4tKAtR7S_rMFAPAAjdgu_f7eeZ9rFBJRtDEql/s1600/TeachEnglishinSpain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf-YUSO2pqjO_VG-NlQgrGC3d5W7axsRaUIpGTt1NqoHqTdRF-9del7BMA3JEWxILMffuVd8n190fpjKL3VlC_72q47HsmVBMeg46tcq4tKAtR7S_rMFAPAAjdgu_f7eeZ9rFBJRtDEql/s640/TeachEnglishinSpain.jpg" height="497" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A few weeks ago I got an email with questions from someone interested in working as an auxiliar de conversación (North American Language and Culture Assistant) in Spain next year. In case others have similar questions, I thought it might be useful to post the questions and my responses here.<br />
-----<br />
<h4>
1. Looking back on your overall experience, are you glad you decided to spend 8-9 months in Spain? Was the decision worth it? </h4>
Without a doubt, yes. I am so glad I went back to Spain for another year. Some of the people I met during my year as an auxiliar became my best friends --and are still to this day.<br />
<br />
<h4>
2. What was your biggest reason for participating in the Auxiliares program? </h4>
<b> a. A desire to teach English abroad.</b><br />
<b> b. A desire to improve your Spanish language fluency by living abroad.</b><br />
<b> c. A general desire to travel and live abroad.</b><br />
<b> d. Or some other reason.</b><br />
<br />
I had studied abroad in Madrid my junior year of college and loved it. I actually thought I would be serving in Peace Corps (PC) after I graduated college, but when I randomly got accepted late into auxiliares (and my PC health exam didn't pass) I decided to go to Spain. Reasons being: To live in Madrid for the Spanish language, the sunshine, the relaxed lifestyle, to make new friends, and to have new experiences. I was also really excited to be teaching instead of studying like last time, so I would have more free time instead of needing to study and write papers.<br />
<br />
<h4>
3. What was the best part of your English teaching experience in your school? </h4>
The best part for me was getting to know the students. I was at two public vocational schools, so my students were ages 16 - 40. Many were around my age in their early 20s. Sometimes that felt strange, but they were all really nice and I learned more about Spanish culture through conversation with them. I actually became friends with some, and hung out outside of class a couple of times.<br />
<br />
<h4>
4. What was the worst part of your English teaching experience in your school?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I didn't feel I was utilized as much as I could have been by my schools. As an assistant, I had little control over the format of class, and thought the way my students were taught English by their teachers was not the best way to learn a foreign language. But please see #5: </span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
5. What advice can you give to a future Auxiliar about having a positive teaching experience?</h4>
<div>
Please keep in mind that your teaching experience completely depends on the school(s) you're placed in and the English teachers. Unfortunately you won't know until you get there how it will be -- but don't let that stop you! I was placed in two (poorer) vocational schools, and it was the first year that both of them had an auxiliar. So they didn't really know how to best use me. It's not like it was a bad experience - I didn't dread going to work or anything, I just uh, felt useless/powerless most of the time, which is a shame because I thought I had a lot to offer with my experience/knowledge of learning/teaching foreign languages. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other auxiliares were a lot busier than me, and a lot more involved in their classes/school. Some schools are wealthier and have more materials than others. One of my auxiliar friends got to go on a school trip to the UK with her students during the year! <br />
<br />
Again, you won't know until you get there, but either way you can make the best of your situation and have a great year. Since my work as an auxiliar wasn't very fulfilling to me, I made sure that the rest of my time was. Work is only 16 hours a week, so I put my energy and dedication into my private English classes - where I <i>did</i> have control over the format of class. I felt useful there! I also joined an ultimate frisbee team and spent multiple nights each week and nearly all weekends with them at practices and away at tournaments. That's where I made my best friends and have the best memories.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd30b3127cceffc376c3577400000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120311211257139.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2dd30b3127cceffc376c3577400000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120311211257139.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juanito's Open (ultimate frisbee hat tournament) , March 2012 Madrid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
6. Whom did you end up living with? Americans? Spaniards? People of other nationalities? And was it a good experience?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I lived with a young Venezuelan couple (28 and 30), and yes it was great (they cooked a lot - and <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/10/best-roommates-ever.html">would often make me a plate of whatever they'd made</a>!). I'm a quieter type, so I didn't mind living with people a bit older than me who were going to have quiet nights in most of the time. I highly recommend living with Spaniards to improve your Spanish. Other people have gotten shared flats with international students, which sounds like an incredible experience as well, actually. But you won't have the language practice at home -- so it depends on what you're looking for. But also it depends on what's available in your budget when you're apartment hunting... </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />7. Did you teach private English lessons or have any other side jobs?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes, I taught private English classes and I really enjoyed them. I charged 16/hr for all of my classes but one (15/hr for a student I had taught when I studied abroad -- we left it at the same price as before. I adore this kid and his family, so I didn't care). And what I made in private classes actually covered my rent each month, since my rent was cheap and I taught four classes a week. (If you're looking to do so, <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/08/how-to-find-private-english-classes-in.html">here's how I found my private classes</a>). </span></h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db03b3127ccef079e2b77f3a00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120522204220759.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db03b3127ccef079e2b77f3a00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ls=00208336036020120522204220759.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these girls, two of my private English students!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<br />8. Was the Auxiliar stipend livable? Plenty? Too little?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes, the auxiliar stipend is definitely livable. I found a place with significantly lower rent than most in Madrid, but even paying a higher rent price, there's still plenty to spend each month, and room to save for travel/loans/etc. This obviously depends on your lifestyle - if you eat out every day and blow a lot of money going out every weekend, you're not going to have as much. (<a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/09/auxiliares-de-conversacion-budget-madrid.html">Here's a rough breakdown of where I think my money went</a>). </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />9. How fluent were you in Spanish upon arrival in Spain and how fluent were you when you left? (1=beginning level fluency, 10=near-native fluency)</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I know you wanted numbers, but I'm going to give you words instead! I think my level of Spanish may have actually been the highest at the end of my study abroad year, and that's because my classes every day were taught in Spanish, and I read and wrote in Spanish when doing homework/classwork. When I worked as an auxiliar, I was speaking in English most of the time because that was my job! So keep in mind that since you'll be speaking and thinking in English during your auxiliar classes & preparations and private lessons & planning. Thus, in order to improve your Spanish, every moment outside of class you should be speaking and thinking in Spanish (theoretically)! </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Watch Spanish TV. Read Spanish news. Speak in Spanish at home and with your friends. <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/08/how-to-practice-spanish-before-studying.html">Here are some more tips to get better at Spanish</a>. Just by living in Spain, your Spanish will improve. But the amount you improve obviously depends on the situations you create for yourself. Back before the internet when my study abroad advisor studied abroad herself as a student, she became <i>completely </i>fluent during the year -- such a high level of Spanish. And that's because she was speaking and thinking in Spanish </span>all the time<span style="font-weight: normal;">. She wasn't reading English websites or Facebook or writing English emails, or skyping with friends in English. So obviously the more immersed you are, the more you'll learn and improve. </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />10. Were you able to travel while you were in Spain? What was your favorite destination?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes - there is time to travel! Since you only work four days a week, every weekend is a long weekend. There are lots of other random national holidays too, plus winter break. I think my favorite place in Spain (outside of Madrid) is <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2010/06/gran-granada.html">Granada</a>. For a beach weekend, I loved going to <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/09/malaga-relaxing-beach-weekend.html">Málaga</a> or <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/06/castillo-de-santa-barbara-alicante.html">Alicante</a>. <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/05/barcelona-solo-travel-success.html">Barcelona was also a wonderful trip</a>. I have been to many places in Spain, but still have never made it to Galicia or Asturias (or many other places!). There is <i>so much</i> to see within Spain.</span></h4>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d830b3127ccef00204bcbbbf00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d830b3127ccef00204bcbbbf00000030O00JbM2zNm4ZA9vPgY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" height="465" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alicante, Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
11. Were you able to sufficiently experience Spanish culture?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes - I had some Spanish friends from my previous year, but you can definitely <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2013/05/intercambios-in-madrid.html">meet Spaniards at intercambios</a>, meetups, couchsurfers, a sports team, out at night, etc. If you live with Spaniards, you will learn lots more about the Spanish culture! There are so many events in Madrid all the time, many of them cultural. Eat the food, visit the parks, go to the museums, travel the country, speak Spanish! (This is a big one, because if you're constantly hanging out with other Americans speaking English, then you're way less likely to meet Spaniards. You can still have American/foreign friends, I just highly recommend speaking in Spanish when you hang out!) </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />12. What was the most frustrating aspect of the Auxiliares de conversacion program and/or the Spanish government?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">One part I didn't like is that all of the communication was through email. <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/09/auxiliares-de-conversacion-first.html">The first orientation really didn't orient us</a> into the program (I felt), so had I needed to get in contact with someone for any reason, I didn't know who to contact or the best way to do so. (Most of the emails we got say "do not reply to this email address") at the bottom. </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />13. What advice do you have to make these frustrations go more smoothly?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Just knowing to expect some frustrations should help. Be flexible, and realize that <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/02/inefficiency-of-spains-government.html">this is how the Spanish government/offices are for Spaniards, too</a>. Take it as a cultural lesson, and a great lesson in patience! The other part to remember is that it's only for 8-9 months. If I were going to live in Spain forever, I'd have to do some thinking, but it's not too much to put up with for the things you'll need to do during those 9 months. Remember that tons of other native English speakers have all gone through the same program and they get their NIEs and they get paid. Now that it's been some time since I worked as an auxiliar, I only really remember the good parts. Whatever frustrations I may have felt were all temporary and resolved. </span></h4>
<h4>
<br />14. Considering your entire experience in Spain overall, would you recommend that an interested person participate in the Auxiliares de Conversacion program? Basically, was it worth it?</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Definitely! You will have experiences that will last you a lifetime. The Spanish culture/lifestyle is so great! The country is diverse and exciting to discover. Speaking Spanish is fun, and you will gain a great language skill. Worth it 100%!</span></h4>
<h4>
<br />15. What final advice would you give to a future Auxiliar? And what is the best way to prepare for the program and 8-9 months in Spain?</h4>
Advice -- It sounds like you've already been reading blogs, which can give you a good idea of what to expect. But don't treat these as word of law, because your experience will be what you make of it. I've tried to leave advice here and there in the above questions. Work is only 16 hours a week, so make sure you get involved in something during the other hours. Whether it be teaching private lessons, joining a sports team, volunteering, going to intercambios, etc. - just don't sit at home! Whatever your interests/hobbies are, I'm sure you can find a way to get involved in Spain. Lots of people go off to different European countries every weekend, but don't forget about where you're living! Seeing and experiencing the local events and visiting other parts of Spain will better integrate you with Spanish culture. Lastly, apply! You can always decline when you get accepted, but I would just go ahead and apply so that you have the option.<br />
<br />
-----<br />
<b>Have any more questions? Please leave a comment!</b>Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-24151770131595584222013-12-03T12:55:00.000+01:002013-12-22T04:58:49.758+01:00Spanish animal soundsLast month one of my third grade classes here in Korea reminded me of the fact that different languages have different sounds for animal noises. <a href="http://www.rebewithaclause.com/2013/10/korean-animal-sounds.html"> I reflected back to when I first learned that animals in Spanish made different sounds than in English</a>, and how it was a real eye-opening moment. More small moments like that one accumulated during my first year abroad, which amounted to my "new perspective" of the world that I brought back with me - and have been building on ever since.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQopS2QbzHieWQERD4d1NgQUSV5OFn_wGRRNLgBncBOI5knmdxxgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Animal sounds in different languages" border="0" height="196" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQopS2QbzHieWQERD4d1NgQUSV5OFn_wGRRNLgBncBOI5knmdxxgg" title="Animal sounds in different languages" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.esl-languages.com/en/animal-sounds.htm">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So what do Spanish animals sound like?<br />
<br />
Some Spanish animal sounds are pretty similar to their English counterparts, like these:<br />
<br />
<b>Bee</b> (abeja): bzzz<br />
<b>Cat </b>(gato): miau<br />
<b>Cow</b> (vaca): muuu<br />
<b>Duck</b> (pato): cuac cuac<br />
<b>Donkey</b> (burro): ii-aah<br />
<b>Owl</b> (búho): uu-uu<br />
<br />
<br />
And others are a bit different:<br />
<br />
<b>Chick </b>(pollito): pío pío<br />
<b>Dog</b> (perro): guau guau<br />
<b>Frog</b> (rana): cruá cruá<br />
<b>Horse</b> (caballo): jiiiii, iiiou<br />
<b>Hen</b> (gallina): coc co co coc<br />
<b>Lion</b> (león): grrrr<br />
<b>Monkey</b> (mono): i-i-i-i<br />
<b>Rooster</b> (gallo): kikirikí<br />
<b>Turkey</b> (pavo) gluglú<br />
<br />
<br />
Hear them spoken by a (cute, young) native Spanish speaker below:<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bq8hP-rr3lk?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></center>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-43268718157768485592013-10-28T13:04:00.001+01:002014-02-16T05:41:47.298+01:00Humana: Used clothing store in MadridI love thrift stores. When in the states, I do my clothes shopping at St. Vincent De Paul's and Goodwill. So the first time I moved to Madrid, I was worried that I would have to buy new, expensive clothes - or none at all during the year.<br />
<br />
Then a friend told me about <a href="http://www.humana-spain.org/" style="font-weight: bold;">Humana</a>, a used clothing store in Madrid. Hurray!<br />
<br />
Humana is an NGO with projects in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and Asia. Humana collects and sells used clothing in order to fund its projects. There are multiple Humana shops in Madrid (and elsewhere in Spain!), and numerous donation bins all around the city.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.humana-spain.org/uploads/imagenes/qsde/tiendas/tienda/tienda-atocha-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.humana-spain.org/uploads/imagenes/qsde/tiendas/tienda/tienda-atocha-web.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.humana-spain.org/uploads/imagenes/qsde/tiendas/tienda/tienda-atocha-web.jpg">Source: www.humana-spain.org</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2009/10/humana.html">The first time I went to Humana, it was 4 euro day</a>; every item in the store cost only 4 euros, just for that day. I was amazed! (And shopped!). Jeans, sweaters, coats: 4 euros.<br />
<br />
Imagine my surprise that a few days later I happened upon 3 euro day at another Humana. Amazing!<br />
<br />
(Note: If anyone is still looking for a halloween costume this week, Humana is the perfect place to shop!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://humana-spain.org/uploads/imagenes/qscom/noticias/humana-tienda-madrid-raimundo-fdez-villaverde-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://humana-spain.org/uploads/imagenes/qscom/noticias/humana-tienda-madrid-raimundo-fdez-villaverde-2.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: www.humana-spain.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />
Throughout both my years living in Madrid, I was a regular shopper at Humana. I even had a punch card! In fact, I also visited Humana shops when traveling: one in Sevilla, and <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/05/barcelona-solo-travel-success.html">I went to <i>two</i> different Humana shops in Barcelona</a>! Point being, Humana and I are great friends. I'm actually surprised I haven't explicitly blogged about Humana until now, apart from <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2009/10/humana.html">my post about the first two times I went there back in 2009</a>.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And at the end of both years, while packing my suitcases to return to the states, I always had a huge bag of things I donated to Humana. You can donate clothes directly at the store, or put it in any of the donation containers around the city. <a href="http://www.humana-spain.org/que-puedes-hacer-tu/donar-ropa/?lang=en">There are 5,000 Humana donation bins in Spain</a>, and that link will help you find the closest container to you!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEaAI1eaO8qdcSAdZ3fbEpCP-ipCcfEDR2vECPmma7Sd5LnPYOkk_Pd4JVorzfL14IHGTBHF4J8AY7X1ItbiHJCkWS2vP0DsZevMLi9yf9I_Hs_iDeU_0lbAUH2DF3LIYstdlmgFNoDMg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-28+at+8.50.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Humana donation container" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEaAI1eaO8qdcSAdZ3fbEpCP-ipCcfEDR2vECPmma7Sd5LnPYOkk_Pd4JVorzfL14IHGTBHF4J8AY7X1ItbiHJCkWS2vP0DsZevMLi9yf9I_Hs_iDeU_0lbAUH2DF3LIYstdlmgFNoDMg/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-10-28+at+8.50.23+PM.png" height="200" title="Humana donation container" width="121" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humana donation container<br />
Image from: humana-spain.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.humana-spain.org/que-puedes-hacer-tu/comprar-ropa/?lang=en">There are currently 12 Humana shops in Madrid</a>, so visit as many as you'd like! (There are 2 in Sevilla, 2 in Granada, and 12 in Barcelona).Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6007093113294736017.post-83967902228601391952013-09-17T13:37:00.002+02:002015-06-05T21:02:18.606+02:00Living on an auxiliar's 1,000 monthly stipendIn the auxiliares de conversación program in Madrid, language assistants receive 1,000 euros a month during the nine-month contract (700/month in other regions of Spain). Is this enough to live on? Certainly! I'm going to break it down in just a bit, but first I'd like to touch on a few other financial topics:<br />
<br />
<h3>
School loans</h3>
I had just graduated from college before working as an auxiliar de conversación, so I had loans to pay -- and I made monthly loan payments throughout the entire year in Madrid. If this is your case, I highly recommend paying on your loans while you're in Spain. To date (one year since finishing my job as an auxiliar), I've already paid back three of my four loans, and this would not have been possible had I deferred them, accruing interest the whole time (scary thought!).<br />
<br />
<h3>
Transfering money to a U.S. account</h3>
I could only pay my loans from a U.S. bank account, but in Spain I was getting paid directly to my Spanish bank account. To not completely drain my U.S. checking account, I would transfer money to my U.S. account using paypal. I hooked up my BBVA (Spanish bank) account to a new paypal account and I already had a U.S. paypal account connected to my U.S. checking account. So every now and then I would make personal transfers from my Spanish paypal to my U.S. paypal. I found that sending 150 euros at a time was the cheapest (1,50 fee). This is what worked best for my situation. Most of my money was being spent in Spain, so since I was only sending smaller amounts no more than once a month, this was easy to do. I didn't have to mess with any wire fees, or worse -- Spanish banks!<br />
<br />
<h3>
Taxes</h3>
<div>
Just because the question always seems to come up, a brief note about taxes. The 1,000 or 700/month stipend is considered a grant/scholarship by Spain's Ministry of Education, so <b>it's not taxable in Spain</b> (since it's not considered income). I thought this meant it also wasn't considered income in the USA (and read that several places back when I was an auxiliar), so I didn't list it when I did my U.S. taxes. However, according to this thorough "<a href="http://www.trevorhuxham.com/2013/04/how-to-do-your-taxes-as-language.html" target="_blank">How to Do Your Taxes as a Language Assistant in Spain</a>," y<b>ou <i>should </i>list it as some type of income on your state and federal taxes.</b> I'm so obviously not a tax expert, but check out that resource linked to above... and then you'll probably want to get advice from an actual tax expert.</div>
<br />
<h3>
Additional income</h3>
<div>
I also taught private English lessons every week to supplement my income. (Want to teach private English classes? <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/08/how-to-find-private-english-classes-in.html">Use this resource to find students!</a>) You're only (supposed to be) working 16 hours a week as an auxiliar, so there is definitely time to teach some evening or weekend private classes. I taught four classes a week, three at 16/hr, and one at 15/hr, so I made 63 additional euros a week, around 252/month if no classes were cancelled.</div>
<div>
<br />
<h3>
Monthly Budget</h3>
</div>
<div>
Alright, let's break it down. The italicized items varied each month.<br />
<br />
Total monthly income: 1,252 euros<br />
(1,000 auxiliares + 252 private classes)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Monthly expenses:</b></div>
<div>
Rent: 240</div>
<div>
<i>Utilities: 15</i><br />
<a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/09/how-to-get-abono.html">Abono (metro/bus pass)</a>: 30,50</div>
<div>
Loans: 250</div>
<div>
<i>Cell phone: 5 - 10</i></div>
<div>
<i>Tournaments/travel: 100 - 200</i></div>
<div>
<i>Groceries: 120</i></div>
<div>
<i>Drinks/Eating out: 75?</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Total Expenses</b>: 835,50 - 945,50 euros<br />
<b>Unspent</b>: 306,50 - 416,50 euros<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
This is a rough estimate -- my tournament costs varied greatly depending on location, mode of transportation, and the tournament fee. Some months I had more than one tournament, some months none. I don't have a good idea how much I spent each month eating out or going out for drinks. Again, I tend to spend less than my peers, but I would still go out with my friends for cañas and tapas.<br />
<br />
Many people will notice that my rent was considerably low compared to what most auxiliares will pay (nearly double my rent cost). If I taught all of my private classes each month, I could pay my rent with just that income, leaving me with a full 1,000 euros after rent. I lived with two others in an apartment five minutes from one of my schools. My roommates (a young married couple) didn't want to make any money by renting the third room; they simply wanted to cover 1/3 of their monthly rent. I chose not to live in the center of Madrid (I lived in Artilleros), and to not look at an apartment unless it was in my price range back when I was apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
During 2009-10 when I lived in Madrid, I paid 320/month (internet and utilities included) for an apartment in Salamanca. Again, I only had two other roommates -- it was a great find. If you're frugal like me, know it can be done! Just don't settle during your apartment search, because you'll be paying that rent <i>every </i>month -- it adds up quickly. <br />
<br />
I didn't have a smart phone when living in Spain, <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2011/09/cell-phones-in-spain.html">rather, I had a tarjeta pre-paid "plan"</a>. This meant I simply added money to my account whenever it was low, and paid by the minute and per text. I didn't make phone calls or send texts very often, so my monthly cost was low. If I were to live in Spain again, I would bring a smart phone and get a plan with internet. My friend's internet phone plan in Spain cost 8 euros a month -- data plans are much cheaper than in the states!<br />
<br />
From July '12 through September '12 I was supporting myself in Madrid with no income (June is the final month of the auxiliares contract). Those summer months included a <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/07/germany-augsburg-konigsbrunn.html">two-week trip to Germany</a> and a <a href="http://www.madridnt.com/2012/08/loire-valley-castles-france.html">two-week trip to France</a> for me. When I returned to the states at the end of September, I still had over 1,000 euros in my BBVA account.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<b><i>Are you paying your student loans while working as an auxiliar de conversación? How does your monthly budget in Spain compare to mine?</i></b></div>
Rebecca Theringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16795003314925060233noreply@blogger.com14