The Waiting Game

Well......I am all teacher-trained and raring to go.....but have no work. Yet.

I have spent the last fortnight getting up very early for "theory" training in the morning, followed by 4 hours of actually teaching one-on-one lessons to local Spanairds. The first few lessons that I gave were surprisingly nerve-wracking, but I gradually got more relaxed and started to actually enjoy the lessons. Not sure the same can be said of my students though.

I finished training on Friday, and now I just have to wait to be called and told that I have some teaching hours with some big company somewhere in Madrid. The upside to this is that I am getting paid for this month regardless of whether I work or not. The big fat downside to this is that in order to qualify for this payment I have agreed to be available to teach from 7.30am to 9.30pm. So I am preparing to wave goodbye to my life (and my sleep) by fitting as much into this week as possible. However, it would seem that the Madrileños have alot in common with those crazy party animals in Buenos Aires - sleeping is viewed as a ridiculous waste of time, and all fatigue can be overcome if only you drink enough coffee. My body is just about beginning to adjust.

The last couple of days has blessed Madrid with super duper weather. It was about 26 degrees today and not a cloud in the sky.....so this morning I made the decision to "walk Madrid". Which was fun and alot less stressful than I was anticipating. After 3 weeks of dashing about the city underground it´s been a pleasure to actually see the place from ground level, and have a proper look around at what the city has to offer......which on first impressions, seems to be alot!!

Neighbourhood communities (or barrios) are very important to the Spanish, and it would seem that after only a few weeks and some quizzical looks Ive been accepted into mine. I get an "¡Hola!" every morning from the people in my building and a "Buenos Dias"from the man who works in the garage next door but doesnt seem to do anything other than stand around in the street and talk to people. And the lovely young fellow in my greengrocers gave me a free avocado last week because he couldnt believe that was all I wanted to buy. (When people go grocery shopping here they buy the entire stock of fresh produce. I keep wondering who on earth all these little old ladies are feeding when they leave with two trolleys full of potatoes, cabbages and carrots).

I also went to a barrio fiesta in a suburb just north of Madrid. Which bascially involved about 5000 people having a giant party and getting very drunk in a huge carpark until about 7am. T´was fun. Fiestas and public hoildays abound.....there is one on Thursday, and then 4 more before Christmas..... they celebrate absolutely everything you could imagine. Apparently, in July, Madrid takes the day off work and celebrates "The Day of the Burial of the Sardine". Can´t wait for that one.

Anyhoo chicos.....just thought I´d update you on the happenings from the mainland, where the sun usually shines and the tapas is always good.

Muchos besos

Liv x x x x