Mind of a 15 year old

It always feels like I haven't written anything for longer than it actually has been. For the record though, my last post I had actually written a couple weeks before during a break at school, and then finally posted it the 18th of February. It was mostly about the option of staying here for the summer as an au pair. After finding out it would cost a lot of money to change the date of my return flight to California, I probably won't stay here as an au pair. I still have to find out if any of the families are willing to pay for my flight change (often times, families fly people over from the U.S. to live and speak English with their families for a summer, so why not a flight change?)

The past two weeks have been filled with good bye parties, dinners, outings, events in general. As well as welcome events for the new Erasmus. A few really good friends will be leaving back to their countries in the next few days *tear* it's sad but kicks in the reality that this won't be home forever. On the bright side, I have more excuses to travel and visit them. So far that includes Canada (Montreal), Sweden, and Italy, not bad. Everyone I meet says they want to go to California, so I think I'll be hosting a lot of people in the near future, better get my own place or at least room in a place. I've had little time to rest, and do my own thing. Which after a while, you start missing. Those lazy days where you don't step outside your house or apartment. Stay inside reading, watching t.v., cooking, sleeping, planning adventures, looking up stuff to do with your life, etc.  There are just so many events here with the new program ISAC (International Students Association of Cartagena) which is an amazing group/association that creates events for all the international students here. Which prior to, nothing existed like that. From movie sundays to jam sessions, to trips to other cities, ISAC is making it big. They just started it up this past fall.

I prefer being in the classroom alone with students, it allows me to be my real teacher self. When I'm with another teacher, I feed off of their energy, if they're serious, so am I, if they're silly, so am I. But most of the time I find myself laughing at their ridiculous jokes, even when I should be a symbol of authority. But then again, I'm just the teaching assistant, i'm allowed to be ridiculous. But it makes me think about the age I actually act. There I am, laughing with the students at stupid jokes or ridiculous situations. I can relate to them, still, and they are no older than 15 or 16 years old! When will I mature to be that serious teacher who really shows authority and focuses on the lesson plan? Or do I even want to be that teacher? Are the best teachers the ones that can relate to the age of their students? I need to find a good balance. The classroom is a science experiment, which makes it interesting everyday. Although, in the elementary school, a lot of the times I find myself bored and constantly looking at the clock. They work directly from the book though, every, day….not very stimulating if you ask me.

Well, whether my mind is where it should be at a 23 year old level, or if its at a 15 year old level, seems to be working so far. I think…

Just found out one of my best friends might come to Spain!!!!! I really hope she does, that would be an experience. I haven't traveled for two months, and i'm getting antsy. Currently planning weekend trips to Valencia for Las Fallas, Bilbao in the north, to Cordoba and Malaga, and eventually want to fit in Berlin and Sweden. For Semana Santa we will be going to Morocco, and my last big trip will be to Italy and Greece, which I want to start planning for now because I'm so excited for it.

I'm not going to lie, I am a bit homesick. I miss California. It's awesome. I miss the essence of Berkeley and the Bay Area in general. I keep daydreaming about all the familiar spots I will go to when I get back. The more and more I travel, the more and more I see how great the Bay Area is. The diversity (in  people, food, music, culture, religion, etc). It is such an accepting culture. Hard to not miss it. I don't miss the north really, so much as the people. It's been 6 years since i've lived in the Bay Area, and i'm ready to live there again as a 20-something year old and go out and experience what it has to offer. Hopefully I can find a grad school program in that area.

I think I've covered everything I've wanted to say. This weekend is Carnaval, no idea what I'll dress up as. I'm thinking a cat, and orange, or a pirate. Until next time!

Au Pair

So I´ve been in-between thoughts about staying in Spain and going back to California. I don´t know if I´ll do another year here, and the numbers for the program are already very high. If I really wanted to though, I´m sure I could request to stay in Cartagena and continue to work at the schools where I am currently working. I don´t know if I would have to go back to the U.S. to do another Visa application? Just thinking about it makes my head hurt. Another option was for me to stay here during the summer (since everyone has told me the summers here are the best, of course) and live and travel and basically spend all my money instead of making money. I could always find private lessons though. It´d be nice to stay in Cartagena, since i´ve already got a network going here. Another option just came up, Au Pairs. The program is for the summer, and all over Spain, but more positions in Madrid. This would be a good way to stay and make money but still be in Spain. It is a big commitment though. Living with a family gives me less freedom, although I´d have my own room, still. It would be a 40 hour a week job with kids, probably little kids, taking care of them, and I don´t know if that floats my boat. Nannyspeaking is already hard enough. Kids really take the life out of you. But maybe it would be easier if I´m living with them, and actually doing stuff. I would be required to teach them English in lesson form at least 2 hours a week. The program offers anywhere from 2 weeks to the entire summer, so maybe I could do a month, then another month to travel, I don´t know. They would pay for my ticket as well, but maybe I can just have them pay for a date change in the one I already have. So those are my options. Oh, also I could just stick with my return date and go back to work this summer and academic year. But is that what I want? Rent is SO cheap here, I´m talking 140 euros a month, that´s like $200. Way cheaper than anything I would find in California. I´ll apply to the Au Pair program, and see where I get placed, etc.

It´s amazing what you can shock kids with. Today we made Valentine´s Day cards.