Cruzando El Puente a Madurez

Here I am a week after leaving the US and I already have an apartment, a bank account, a job, and friends. Who knew it would be so easy?

I took this while crossing the bridge back from la escuela.

Well, it actually wasn't. The apartment took a decent amount of searching, and I had to communicate in a different language. The bank account didn't work the first 3 times I went into the bank, and I had to communicate in a different language. The job I visited for the first time today, and I spoke Spanish and English.  The English they had learned was British English so there was some confusion there. And the friends? Well, their Spanish so that's what we primarily speak. So easy? Not so much. Worth it? Yes. 

I don't think I've done any of those things in the United States by myself. Yes, even make friends :P  I imagine it's easier when you speak the same language. But boy, do I feel like I'm becoming an adult now because I have done all these things. 

I shouldn't say that I did all of it on my own. One of my roommates took me to the bank the first time and then did errands with me for food and linens etc. Actually, the first meal I cooked for myself was stir fry; I think that really confused my roommates (3 spainards). They think Americans eat pizza, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and French fries all of the time. When we went shopping, Maria Jose kept pointing them out to me. Once I started cooking, she wondered if I liked Chinese food.  They really do have the opinion that Americans eat greasy food all of the time.

An instagrammy picture from one of the tallest points of the city

I also had a lot of help in the school.  The main English teacher, who learned a lot of her English in Ireland, showed me around and spoke in both English and Spanish (when we couldn't figure out how to say something in English).  I am the first Auxiliar de Conversación that they have had so not only are the uber (I think that it's a proper time for that word) excited to have me, but they don't know what to do with me.  She told me so many of her ideas but they really don't know.  I think that makes it better.  We can work together to figure out the best way to go about this.

Now, I don't know if I told a lot of people, but I am teaching in two schools.  This one is in the city, only 30 min walk or 15 min bus ride.  The other one is in a pueblo, or town, 45 min drive away.  Obviously, this was a huge concern for me because I have no means to get there.  The first option they presented was a bus.  They volunteered to cover all of the charges, but still, a 45 min + bus drive would be annoying.  Well, it turns out that we called the other school and they have an English teacher who drives from Badajóz.  However, that teacher is on leave for some reason.  The great news is that the substitute also drives from Badajóz.  So even when the teacher returns, I will have a ride. ¡Qué bien!

So, right now things are looking pretty good.  We have orientation this Thursday and Friday in Cáceres, the other autonomia in Extremadura. I start actually teaching the first of October and vamos a ver, we will see what happens.

Finally, the weather here has been brutal.  It has been 90+ degrees (Fahrenheit, not Celsius).  Emma, do you think I can take my parka off now?  They say that it gets cold during the winter, but cold for them might not mean cold for me.  It never snows, but it sometimes rains which means it can't be too cold during el invierno, the winter.

I'm going to try to update this blog once a week.  Obviously, I have been writing more frequently as I've posted 3 posts in a weeks time, but I'll try to keep it to just the highlights.  Below you will see a video of me giving a tour of my new apartment complete with Jacob awkwardness.  ¡Aprovéchete!