A Journey: New life

Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself that I'm living in a place people vacation to, that currently I'm sitting in a cute cafe next to Plaza de España with tapas and pastries being served, Spanish conversation everywhere. And other times I walk around amazed at the random statues and pretty buildings I'm passing by, craning my neck and taking pictures like a tourist. I think living here is proving to be the exact experience I was looking for, but I don't notice it really except when I make myself sit and carefully compare my life now to two months ago. Which is kind of cool actually - it's happening naturally.
This week was easier with the kids since I've started being more strict, and also I've had a couple of lessons that made teaching feel fulfilling. This upcoming week is only 3 days because of All Saints Day, and the academy is being decorated in Halloween theme, we're all dressing up, and all the kids are doing Halloween crafts. Should be fun. I'm looking forward to the long weekend and enjoying madrid and probably something around the area.
This past weekend I hung out with Jo at the botanical gardens (pictured below). It's quite nice in there and cheap, I highly recommend. The best part was the humidified tropical greenhouse - our skin and lungs were loving it! Saturday night I went to see a singer/songwriter in a teeny tiny venue called Rincón del Arte Nuevo. Great acoustics, great music, overall awesome. After rounding off the night with some drinks, we were happy campers. Also had a nice dinner with friends from the course - making sure to take advantage of the Spanish food at our disposal. My favorite was the ox tail! Speaking of ox tails, apparently I missed out on watching the farm animal parade through the center of town! Darn! Would've been a sight for sure. Note to self - hang up an events calendar.
Anyway, this whole move to a new country has definitely been made much easier by having friends around that I met here going through the same thing. There are certain things to be experienced alone, and certain ones within a community. I think Madrid is a bit like LA where unless you go seek out a specific group of people, it might be hard to make friends. As opposed to if you are in a small town, but I can't speak for that experience. I definitely don't think I'd be as well adjusted here without having done the course and having met this fine group of peeps. It's nice to share the joys and sorrows and to trade tricks for dealing with rambunctious children.
And here are some pics!

Pietro and Napoleon discussing languages. This was followed by Pietro looking over one of Napoleon's Italian operas that he's in for pronunciation corrections!