Life is a Roller Coaster

Well. Teaching is tough. Teaching kids is tougher. On Monday night I had a huge freak out (again) and was really anxious about my kids classes.

Here's the lowdown.

Schedule:

In School Classes:

I teach three kids classes. One of really little kids (5-6 yo), one of almost all boys (9-10 yo), and one of medium sized kids (6-7 yo). Two of these classes are back to back on Mondays and Wednesdays (the tiny kids and the boys) and the other is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I also teach two teen classes (so far really really lovely) and two adult classes.

Company Classes:

I teach 2.5 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at a pharmaceutical company in the town next door to the town where my school is (which is about 25-35 minutes from Barcelona). But, the original schedule was 3 hours on Tuesday and 2 hours on Thursday (we changed the schedule because of my meltdown).

So, what's the big deal? Well, on Mondays and Wednesdays I teach in school from 5.15 to 10 pm. Then I catch the bus home and get home around 11.15 or 11.30. Then I have to eat something (even if it's small) because I'm usually STARVING and then I (try to) go to bed. But I'm usually son wound up it takes me awhile to sleep.

On Tuesdays I had to leave my house at 8.40 to catch my bus at 9, which meant I had to get up a t 7.30. Then I had classes from 10.30-1.30, back to school to plan for the evening classes, teach from 5.30 to 9.30, catch the bus back to Barcelona (there's only one that late so I have to wait at school) and get home at 11.15 or 11.30.

Last Monday I had such an awful class with the 10 year old boys that I couldn't sleep. And I knew I had a looooong day ahead of me with my company class and my evening classes, and like all insomnia-laden nights the more I thought about needing to sleep the more elusive it became.

So, when all is said and done I slept about 3 hours.

We've since changed my schedule so that the bus connection is better (and I can sleep an extra hour on Tuesdays) and on Wednesday I was much more successful with my 10 yo boys.


What happened on Monday with those boys? you might be wondering.

In a nutshell: I have one student who's particularly disruptive. He's very very bright but he is constantly trying to get into pissing contests with me. And, when I'm dealing with him the others get neglected (and think that it's ok to act this way).

The class is quite big and I can't pay attention to everyone all the time. And we don't have books yet because the company is taking their sweet time sending them. So, the class is extra chaotic with photo-copies and bits of paper everywhere and handing things out and collecting things. Problem child is constantly harassing another boy, well, they feed off each other. And he also makes fun of me, repeating everything I say in a robot voice. After some of this hooey I told him to come sit next to me. He said no. I said yes, sit next to me. He said no. I went next to him and said in his ear, ok, well, I'll just have to talk to your mom then. And he sat with me. That was last week.

Monday of this week he was doing his disruptive thing, and I was trying to focus on the others. They were working on something that was too difficult (a last ditch attempt to keep them quiet, and it mostly worked) when my one girl came up to me and said "Roger threw his rubber and it hit me in the head." (BTW 'rubber' is not a condom, it's an eraser. The crazy brits...) Oh, crap. I went up to Roger and said "you are in big trouble," and left the classroom and got Sandra (from the class she was teaching) and told her what happened. She took him out and when he came back he was much better.

So, Monday night I felt awful. 'Bad teacher. Bad disciplinarian. Poor Anna got hit in the head with a rubber. Bad teacher. I hate kids.' These were the thoughts in my head.

So I called my mom. And she was great. She said "I know you can figure this out." And that's what I needed to hear. I felt hopeless. How could one 10 year old boy make me feel so small and useless?? So, I bucked up and went to work the next day. And I was beat. But it was ok.

Wednesday came around. Uh-oh. I was worried. 3 new students were coming, hopefully to change the dynamic of the class... So we prepared the class accordingly.

Start of class, no new students. Ok, think on your feet Molly-girl. The new plan seemed to be working. And then the new students showed, 10 minutes late. Too late to go back to the lovely well-planned class. Oh well.

Things were going well. Roger was being pretty good. And then he hit his cohort on the head with his notebook. I took it away and said "no". Nothing else. Then he was messing around with his pencils. I took them away. Then he was messing around with his rubber. I took it away. Then he was doing some work at the board and he was scribbling and he wanted the eraser and I wouldn't give it to him, I said 'no, you did that and you can't rub it out.'

Now, it's very important to mention that whenever he did something well, which was often because he IS very bright, I praised him. A lot.

Amazingly it seemed to work.

So, hope against hope, I might have cracked the Roger-nut. Now to crack all the other nuts. I've got about 8 or 9 that need it...

4 Weeks

So, it's been almost four weeks (exactly 4 weeks tomorrow) since I arrived in Barcelona. And I still love it. I'm still getting used to a lot of things. Siesta. No, it's not a rumor, things really do close between 2 and 4. Or 3 and 5. Lots of things. And that's just when I'm ready to go out and do some shopping! Late late dinner. Again, not a rumor. Last night I was making some dinner and it was a little late (for me, apparently) around 8.30 or 9 and I asked my flatmate and her friend if they wanted anything to eat and Marc said, it's a little early for dinner, don't you think? Ummm, no. Not really. Actually, it's late. But maybe it's just me. Manana manana. Another friend was also looking for teaching work. And everywhere he went they said we'll probably have something for you, we'll definitely have something for you, but we can't let you know until next week. So, of course, he found other work. And then he got a series of increasingly frantic phone calls from schools that needed a teacher to start the following Monday. You snooze you lose. But there's a lot I don't have to get used to. The weather. The charm of the buildings. The food. The wine (I keep buying 2 euro wine and it's quite good. Some bottles don't even have proper labels.). That's all for now.

2 out of 3

So, yesterday was ok and so was today. I think I'm getting the hang of this teaching thing!

50/50

Well, I've had 2 days of teaching kids and teenagers, and the results are mixed.

Yesterday I was pretty successful, no one cried (except me, today!) no one got hurt, they mostly did what I told them to do... But I was COMPLETELY exhausted after the classes. Literally dead on my feet.

Today I was terrified, more kids? Another group of teens? I couldn't bear the thought. And I had 3 morning company classes...

I forced myself out of the house this morning.

And, lo and behold today wasn't so bad. My kids class today was very badly behaved, rowdy rowdy little rascals, and I was exhausted from not sleeping enough last night and teaching three classes this morning, but things were much better.

Either I'm learning something, or I'm just getting more resistant...

More later. Wish me luck tomorrow!

Eeeeks, KIDS!

So, I had a mini meltdown on Wednesday about teaching kids. I've never done it. I don't want them to be bored or act up or destroy anything or cry or any of it.

I told my boss and she's holding my hand and we're planning my lessons together. Whew. Now I know I made the right choice. I doubt very much if many other schools would do what she's doing with me, I mean really, holding my HAND! So, my transition should be smooth. Or as smooth as possible. And, I do have adults, but also teens ... eeps. Well, we'll see how it goes.

Actually, I'm sure that everything will be fine. Once I get in the room with the little ones it'll be fun. And the teens, well, I remember what it was like, so hopefully that'll help me. And regardless, I'm going in on Monday and I've got 4 classes to teach. So, whether I'm nervous or not it'll happen. YOW

A little about my neighborhood

So, I live in El Raval, which has always been a neighborhood for immigrants. Here it is on the map BCN Map

A lot of the locals look down their noses at El Raval, and many of them call it "Ravalistan" because of all the Middle Eastern residents (ie Pakistani).

Here's what Wikipedia says:

"El Raval is a barrio in Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Spain. The neighborhood is also known as Barri Xino, meaning "Chinatown." El Raval is bordered by one of the two historic neighborhoods near the Rambla. The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people.

It is currently the home to a very diverse immigrant community, ranging from Bangladeshis and Indonesians, to a more recent Eastern European community, especially from Romania. El Raval is also becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighbourhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work. It is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots."

I love it. It feels very cosmopolitan and interesting. It has the old-Barcelona feel, I think it was part of the original walled city. So the streets are narrow and winding and there are tons of balconies and window boxes and people hanging out and little shops and places to buy cheap handbags and belts. It's great.

My flat is big and full of light. We have french doors in the living/dining room that open onto a non-balcony, it's only big enough for a little window-box, but it looks out onto a tiny tiny plaza (or placa as the Catalans call it) with a fountain that doesn't work so it just looks like a statue and there are pigeons on it's head.

I have an internal room, which means my window looks out onto the stairwell. LOL. Most of the rooms I looked at were this way, I think that's just the way it is. On the upside there's no street noise!

Actually, my room is really nice. Pretty big in comparison with the others I saw and we're on the 3rd floor (European 3rd=American 4th) and there's only one floor above us, the attic apartment, so I get a lot of light. No view, but light. I'm usually in the living/dining room anyhoo.

There are lots of little shops around to get food ("Paki-Markets" as everyone says, there's even one named that!) and the street is always full of people.

I have two metro stops (actually three I think) near me, one is about 5 minutes away and the other's about 7 minutes (I don't know where the third is, probably about 8 minutes away...).

La Rambla is 6 minutes away with all the human statues that bcn is famous for, and the flower markets and the people who sell birds and rabbits and guinea pigs. It's a great street.

There are two big markets with fruit and vegetables and fish and meat and some cheese on either side of me. One is on La Rambla, it's very famous, La Boqueria, and I love it. The other is famous because on Sunday they sell books there. But during the week it's a regular huge market, and this one also has cheap and not-so-cheap clothes and shoes and stuff along the edge.

Last week I walked home from the beach, it only took me an hour. So, that's pretty cool. And I was on the nice part of the beach, there are closer ones I think.

So, that's the neighborhood! I love it. LOVE LOVE Love it.


Check out this site if you want to read about stuff that's happening in Barcelona, BCN Homepage.

I made the choice

And I chose a lovely small school called Harvest English. I really liked the two women who run it, the girl I'd be replacing has been there for 3 years (a LIFETIME in tefl teaching) and I think I'll be really happy there. There are only 5 teacher total. TINY. But sweet.

So, that's the dealie. I've been here for 10 days, maybe 11, and I found a flat, a job, and a few friends. Unfortunately the job doesn't start until Sept 17, but nothing starts earlier, and really, I could use a vacation!

So, time to play in Barcelona! Beach. Walking around. Free days at the museums. The markets. Making lunch at home (to save those precious euros). Learning Spanish from the book I bought, reading signs, translating with my mini dictionary, speaking awkwardly to strangers in shops and to my Spanish speaking friends. Beach.

I think it'll be nice.

From no job to three

Spain may be all manana manana but when things happen they really happen. I was offered a job at one school today and so I called my other top contender and she offered me a job. And then I checked my email, and another school wants me to come in and meet with them, I think to talk about hours. Woohoo! I have more work than I can stand :)

3 down, 3 to go

So, after that first interview I felt pretty low. But, I've had 2 more since then and things are looking up. I've never been one to settle!!!

So, it looks like every school has kid's classes. Well, there's no time like the present to see if I like teaching kids, right?

I'm heading off to another interview in an hour and a half, and two more tomorrow. We'll see what happens.

My interview this morning was really nice, small school, all women (plus and minus) and the director really seems to know and care about BOTH her teachers and students.

So, I think it would be a nice place to work. The pay isn't great (not horrible) and it's out of bcn... So, pros and cons all around. But the teachers seem to stay a long time (3 years!) and the newest teacher has been there a year... so that's pretty good.

I'll let you know how things develop.

I have a flat, now for the job

(From September 3)

So, I have a great flat. Lovely lovely lovely. But now I'm looking for a job. I had an interview today and it doesn't seem that great. I'd be making a little more than in Prague (not much...really, hardly more and my flat is 3 times as expensive) and I'd have to teach kids teens and something they call "nursery" and commute to a suburb thats about 45 minutes from my flat EVERY DAY. What am I, a glorified babysitter/train hopper?

I had the same problem with the flat. Do I take what I can knowing that if it's awful I can quit and find something different (or move as the case may be) or do I hold out for something fantastic? And if I hold out, what if I'm holding out for something that doesn't exist?

So, I'll do more research. I think I can do better. I hope I can do better. I have another interview tomorrow. Let's hope it'll pay better, have less travel, and not be teaching "nursery".

Oh, and btw, she was very very intense and in the email telling me when my interview was there were no directions except that the school was only a 10 minute walk from the station. 10 minutes in what direction? So I did a lot of research online trying to find a map with no success and finally had to ask my flatmate for help. Jeesh.

I’m in my new flat

And I love it. It's in El Raval, a changing neighborhood that used to be quite dangerous but was cleaned up for the Olympics. I'm living with a Catalan girl, Silvia, who's fantastic. I'm really happy. It's perfect. More later.

A Blog Backlog

This having two blogs thing is time consuming.... Sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Here's what you missed!

Waiting for Chronically Late Students from August 14

so forgive me if this ends abruptly

Since I've been her a little over a year and it was just my birthday and I'm leaving soon I've been doing a lot of reflecting.

It's remarkable that I've actually been here a year. And that I'm heading off into a haze of beach-fantasy and sangria-lust for another foreign country.

And, it's remarkable how different I feel now. I can't even put my finger on it, but there's a steadiness a sureness a confidence that I didn't have before.

I guess it's about experience and growing up and all of those things, but it's not that things have gotten any easier, per se, it's just I'm less skittery. God, it's really hard to pin it down.

I agonized over the decision to move to Barcelona, and I'm still having second thoughts (fleeting ones, don't worry) and I'm still frightened, but I'm certain that I'll be ok whereas before I had faith that I would be ok. I know now that I can land on my feet. That I'm quick and bright and ready to fling myself into life and that that will serve me well




Continued from August 20


So, it's still the same but a week later!

I'm still not ready to leave but oh so ready to leave and I'm not packed and I'm procrastinating packing because it feels like too big a job and I hate saying goodbye because at least when I left the states I knew I could come back but with Prague I don't think I'll come back, maybe for a visit.

Whew.

This is the countdown. 2 more days of teaching, Wednesday and Thursday, and then I'm jumping on a plane on Monday. Yow.

So, that's my life. Have a screaming headache and I wish it was all packed and ready to go. No such luck.

I might not post for awhile... don't know what the situation in Barcelona will be like! Wish me luck in finding a job and a flat!

2 days from August 25

yowza

I’m in SPAIN from August 27

It's real! I'm here! My couch host is really nice and I actually have a bed, and his friend is going to help me tomorrow with getting a phone and looking at flats and going to the beach!!!!! The beach!! Life is great!

Still here... from August 29

...and still happy.

But, like with every new place I'm exhausted. There's so much to pay attention to, the metro, figuring out where to go when I come out of the metro, everything. But, it's a lot of fun too.

I looked at two flats today (4 yesterday) and I love one of them... I hope the flatmates love me :)

It's in a really cool neighborhood (Poble Sec), pretty near the beach and it's got the Barcelona romance that I fell in love with when I was here in April. Charming old buildings with balconies, I could hear birds in one as I was sitting at an outdoor cafe, a street one street over is pedestrian only (well, except where the cross streets cross the pedestrian area), and it really had a lot of charm. And the price is right. The room is small (very small) but the flat is pretty spacious (not huge, I saw a bigger one yesterday) and seems to have a lot of light. The two guys that live there seem nice...

I have 2 more to see this evening (at 8pm and 9.15 of all hours!)

So, remember all the complaining I did about the men in Prague? Well, Spain is the opposite. I was walking up a zillion stairs out of the metro station and this guy was talking to me, seemed like he was complaining about the zillion stairs, so I smiled. And then he said something directly, and I'm so used to saying I don't understand a language, that I said I didn't speak Spanish, and so he said "nice ass". And like an idiot I kept smiling... until I realized what he had said but by then he was long gone.

So, I guess I can't have my cake and eat it too.

So far everyone else has been nice, all the rooms I've looked at are interior so they look out into an air shaft or the stairwell or something, but that's the way it goes. I'm glad I've seen two flats I like (and 4 that I didn't, or that the timing was wrong) so I have faith that I'll find something pretty soon. It's all about timing. The flat has to be free when I need it and I have to get along with the people and they have to like me enough. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it people like me!

So, now I'm off to figure out how to recharge my mobile phone... Can't be that hard, right?

But maybe a short siesta first. That's what Barcelona's all about.