On the metro - going to my first day of work! It was pretty easy to find a job, actually what was difficult is making decisions. English teaching in Madrid is this game of hours, pay rate, and most of all - location. There's tons of work, but a lot of it spread out around the city. I was too lazy to rush around so I took a job with lower pay but all in one location. Also I got a good feeling from everyone there, and I always trust that. So, my schedule is 5-9pm every day, which suits me well as I like to sleep in (as some of you know)! I may or may not take on private lessons too depending on how I like my life like this.
My apartment (pictured below) is great. Yesterday we had a little chat amongst all the roommates, which was really nice. They are: Napoleon, who is also the manager of the apartment, Estefania, Napoleon's girlfriend, both of them from El Salvador, and Pietro - the Italian. Napoleon is an opera singer!! I found this so cool. He came home last night from a performance and when I asked him how it was he belted something out. Love it. Estefania is a lawyer in IT I believe and is also studying. Pietro is a PhD Classics student. Imagine that - an Italian studying Classics...what do they know about it anyway? :) Yesterday he and his girlfriend (also PhD student in Classics) were making Caprese salad. I told them I like seeing Italians actually making Italian food, and there are now plans to make it all together next time she visits. Um yes please!
Speaking of food...eureka! I have discovered the Spanish Whole Foods. El Corte Ingles. I know I know, it took me a month and a half to walk into one of those, but that's because I was so attracted to the little markets, fruterias, and bakeries and was anti- the supermarket. But I finally went in, and it's oh so pretty. I do have to say, I had not found kefir anywhere else. But also, the specifically Spanish stuff - the pastries and the entire isle of canned seafood, and the dedicated corner just to jamon, and the cheeses...oh the cheeses! Today I had a lunch of fresh bread topped with tuna in olive oil. It was glorious. Of course I have also been having various tapas as much as possible. The food is amazing, but heavy. At home I normally end up making salad to balance out the ehh bread, cheese, meat, and egg!
My apartment (pictured below) is great. Yesterday we had a little chat amongst all the roommates, which was really nice. They are: Napoleon, who is also the manager of the apartment, Estefania, Napoleon's girlfriend, both of them from El Salvador, and Pietro - the Italian. Napoleon is an opera singer!! I found this so cool. He came home last night from a performance and when I asked him how it was he belted something out. Love it. Estefania is a lawyer in IT I believe and is also studying. Pietro is a PhD Classics student. Imagine that - an Italian studying Classics...what do they know about it anyway? :) Yesterday he and his girlfriend (also PhD student in Classics) were making Caprese salad. I told them I like seeing Italians actually making Italian food, and there are now plans to make it all together next time she visits. Um yes please!
Speaking of food...eureka! I have discovered the Spanish Whole Foods. El Corte Ingles. I know I know, it took me a month and a half to walk into one of those, but that's because I was so attracted to the little markets, fruterias, and bakeries and was anti- the supermarket. But I finally went in, and it's oh so pretty. I do have to say, I had not found kefir anywhere else. But also, the specifically Spanish stuff - the pastries and the entire isle of canned seafood, and the dedicated corner just to jamon, and the cheeses...oh the cheeses! Today I had a lunch of fresh bread topped with tuna in olive oil. It was glorious. Of course I have also been having various tapas as much as possible. The food is amazing, but heavy. At home I normally end up making salad to balance out the ehh bread, cheese, meat, and egg!
My new hood...
And my new room!!!
And my amazing teacher friends
No comments:
Post a Comment