And What Exactly DO You Do? A Day in My Life Abroad

A lot of people from home, and others looking into working abroad in Spain, have asked me what I do on an average work day.  Usually I met with a mix of shock and amazement.  They tend to think my life abroad is super glamorous: always going out, constantly traveling, stocking up on a fashionable European wardrobe; that's really not the case (I wish, right?!).

And I mean yes, I do go out sometimes and yes, we have such an amazing opportunity to travel here, but I am still working.  I still have responsibilities, bills to pay, and errands to do during the week.  The reality is that my daily life in Madrid is relatively normal; I wake up, go to work, cook lunch, do errands, plan lessons, and go to sleep.  In many ways it's much like my life last year and of my friends who are working back at home.

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For those of you wondering if you want to make the move to Spain too, here is a breakdown of my day-to-day life here in Madrid:
Tuesday-Friday
7:25 am (I know, I'm weird) I wake up and start to get ready for a day of work.  I would say 'Bright and early' but the sun is really not out until I start walking to the train.  With my program I only work 16 hours a week and have all Mondays off, it's pretty awesome.

8:10 am I leave the apartment to catch the cercanías/train in Sol.  Luckily our apartment is really close so it's a quick walk.

8:19 am I catch the train south to Getafe, it's about 18/20 minutes on the train and then another 10 minutes walking to the school.  I don't actually mind the commute, one of my favorite parts about Spain is all the walking and public transportation.

8:50/8:55 am I arrive at the elementary school and make sure I brought everything I needed (so far so good!) and that I have everything prepared for my classes.

9:00 am The school day begins and I go to my first class, either First or Fourth grade English or Science.  All my classes are different depending on the day of the week, but they're all always with the First and Fourth graders.

10:00 am Second class of the day.  Usually it's First or Fourth grade English or Science but on Thursday I have Physical Education (PE) class with my Fourth graders.

11:00 am Third class of the day, again First or Fourth grade.

11:45 am Break/recess, students go out to play on the playground and the teachers get a delicious breakfast in the lunch room.

12:15 pm Fourth class.  On Wednesdays I have a break during this period and I use it as more planning time.

1:15 pm Last class (yayy)

2:00 pm End of the school day!

On the days I don't have private classes I take the train back to Madrid capital to have lunch with the BF, run errands, and prepare for the next day.  However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have my private lessons so I don't come home until much later.

Tuesdays
On Tuesdays I have two private English classes I teach.  One at 4:00 pm and another at 6:00 pm
2:00 pm Planning time at the school, I use this hour to finish any preparation for my private lessons or classes.

3:00 pm Lunch in the school lunch room with the other teachers and administrators.

4:00 pm My first class that is just perfectly right near my school. When this first class ends I have a coffee with the family then leave straight to my second class, which is about 40 minutes away.

6:00 pm.  Second class of the day with two siblings.  It's fun class that's all about different games.

8:00 pm This is around when I arrive home.  It takes roughly 40 minutes to get back home when the class ends so I usually get home very late and very exhausted.

How I feel at the end of every Tuesday..., source

Thursdays 
Thankfully it's a day with a much easier workload, especially now that I might be dropping my second class (really not worth the stress it puts me through, just not a good fit).
2:00 pm Planning time while I eat a lunch I packed from home since there's not enough time to grab a delicious lunch from the school.

3:30 pm This is actually the same 4:00 pm class from Tuesdays, just thirty minutes earlier.

5:30 pm Arrive home from my class and prepare for the next day of work.  Usually feeling great on Thursdays because Fridays are so easy in comparison!

As for what I actually do in my in-school classes depends on the class and teacher I'm working with.  In my classes I'm used differently by all of the teachers I work with, some I prefer more while others tend to leave me guessing.  It's definitely been interesting getting used to all the different styles and trying to figure out what is expected of me in the different classes.

I have one teacher who asks me to teach the class's lesson in advance and I will look through the book and plan how I will present the material to the students.  With another auxiliar in the same grade we also plan activities for the students on American culture for special occasions and holidays (for example this super cool "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" game), as well as do special tasks they want us to do like creating the above book cover for the class book on growing up.  Sometimes they put a lot on our plate but the teachers are really understanding and grateful for everything we do.

It is, right? source

I have another teacher that doesn't usually ask me in advance, but will ask me in class to teach the lesson.  At first it completely caught me off guard and I would sweat my way through the lessons until I figured out exactly how she wanted me to teach the material.  Luckily I started to have a hang of it before she left for a few weeks and I had to solo teach her class.  Usually she doesn't have me plan anything special for holidays because she's so on top of it, she plans the most amazing things for the students.  While the last minute planning was a bit unnerving at first, I now know exactly what is expected of me with this teacher too.

It's my final teacher that I still sometimes don't know what is expected of me.  Sometimes she tells me what she would like of me, other times I have to figure out, some days I'm asked to plan something, other days I'm expected to plan something without knowing.  I finally brought it up to her and she explained what she wanted and I'm thinking over the Christmas vacation how I can realize those expectations in the classroom.

This whole experience has been full of so much learning for me as a teacher.  It's definitely made it easier that I came into the program with prior teaching experience, but the education system and styles in Spain are so different that I've had a lot of catching up to do.  It's important to remember that each teacher has a different method to the madness and it really helps to talk to them and get on the same page.  Being so shy I have had trouble going up to the "much-more-forward-Spaniards" but it has really helped discussing what we both want to accomplish in the classroom.

This is what it's all about after all

How does my life compare to yours?  Do you have questions about teaching English in Spain?

Exhausted in Madrid

Yes.  I know.  It's been over a week since my last post, but trust me; definitely not the most exciting week you've all been missing.  If you don't believe me here's a quick rundown of the "excitement" you've been spared from missing.

Proof of delicious Spanish beer!

• Picked up my NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) so I'm almost legal in Spain
• Experienced a field trip to the zoo with my fourth grade students
• Tried, and I can't believe I'm saying this, some good Spanish beer this is actually brewed right here in Madrid
• Finally made a Spanish bank account; seriously why is it such a hassle here?
• Started the first of my private lessons that I will hold after school
• Planned a trip for the upcoming puente "long weekend" to Sevilla
• Enjoyed the Fiesta del Cine (Cinema Festival) in Madrid

But mainly what the world has been missing from the commentary on my life abroad is how exhausted I'm finding myself at the end of every day, even though I'm working far less than I did last year.

I love my school, my classes, my students, and my teachers; but it can be exhausting the effort it takes to communicate some ideas to the students (especially the younger students).  My school has a very strong bilingual program and in all the Science and English classes the teachers, and the students, only speak in English.  It's very impressive, but some days dealing with the language barrier (and studying Spanish at home myself) are harder than others.

I seriously forgot how much practicing, and especially teaching, a language can take out of you.  At work we're not allowed to speak Spanish or translate and while it's definitely better for the students to make them speak English, it's much harder as the person trying to convey the ideas.  I'm constantly searching for words and ways to describe concepts in English, repeating simple commands, and keeping track of my instincts to respond to Spanish with Spanish.

PERFECT thing to come home to after working all day

The younger students generally are more tiring because of their boundless energy (can I have some pretty please?) and the fact that some days I find myself constantly repeating: "Go to page 10.  Page 10.  Page 10.  Page 10."  or "Raise your hand please.  Raise your hand.  Raise your hand. Raise your hand."  Many days by the time the students have recess I'm ready for a longggg siesta.

And now after school I've started giving private English lessons for some extra spending money.  So far I only have four hours, and they're on the same two days, but I will be out of the house and commuting more than I am used to.  On the days I have private lessons I won't be home until around 7:30 pm if I'm lucky.

But I'm still only working twenty hours.  And never in my life would I have thought that working twenty hours a week would be something to complain about.  Twenty hours in itself is practically nothing, but living abroad it's not just that.  It takes a lot living a different country and adjusting to many different aspects of life in a different culture.  I honestly think the real things that exhaust me are a combination of the language barrier and the Spanish schedule.  Let's face it.  At 23 years old I've been living my life like a grandma.  How many other people my age spent the past year knitting and going to bed before 11:00 pm?

Preparing crafts for Halloween at school next week

In Spain the lifestyle is much later and much more social on weekdays than I'm used to.  It's very common for us to meet our friends out for drinks and dinner late on weeknights (not that I'm complaining about some post-work drinks) but it's just this dang time-frame that the grandma in me is not adapting to very effectively.

On an average night in Madrid we eat dinner around 10:00 pm and are lucky if we make it to bed by midnight.  Then wake up at 7:30 am to do it all again.  Personally I don't know how Spaniards are not perpetually worn out by the late schedules they keep.  I guess it's just something they are used to?

And so I guess what you all really missed this past week is that I made a life-changing revelation: It's time to kick that internal grandma out of my life and enjoy my youth.  I've always forced myself to be serious and work hard but I've come to realize that there's nothing wrong with working and taking part in some cheese, wine, and dancing.  So yes. I'm currently exhausted; but I'm living my life and I don't think I've ever been happier with where it's going.  Thanks Spain!

How has your Fall been going?  Have you had any life-changing revelations?

I Survived the First Week

I keep thinking that as the weeks go by and I'm more settled in Madrid it will become easier to keep up with these posts.  Then it comes time to actually sit and write and I just can't seem to get the words out as I want.  Everyone at home asks me how things are and what exciting things I'm doing, but really things just feel normal.

Maybe it's the fact that being in a classroom is the norm for me, or that I'm living with my boyfriend, or now with my first week of work I'm officially speaking way too much English here!  This weekend has been my first alone to decompress and to really reflect on both this past month abroad and surviving my first week of work.

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And yes, you heard that right.  I survived my first week, high-fives anybody?  And from now until the end of June I will be working Tuesday through Friday in one fourth and three first grade classrooms.  If you ask why only the four days, in my program we can only work 16 hours per week.  But don't worry!  I'm looking for private classes too, we all know I'm a weirdo that lives to be busy.

Anyway, my school is a bilingual elementary school.  This means that multiple core subjects are taught completely in English, even to kindergarten and first graders, and each week I assist in teaching English, Science, and Physical Education (super fun!).  Even though it's only 16 hours per week, it's far more tiring than any teaching I have ever done before, and in fact far more frustrating because I have to pretend I don't know Spanish.  So many of the students are eager to talk and bond with me, but the young ones cannot communicate effectively in English yet.  I know they will improve quickly with all their exposure in school, but it still breaks my heart when I see their frustration because they can't express themselves.  I guess right now I'll just have to settle for hugs, kisses, and hearing "Hello Lauren (L-ow-rain)" yelled down the hallway.

My Experience

Each morning I wake up bright dark (seriously pitch black) and early at 7:30 am to catch the 8:26 train.  The day starts at 9:00 am, they have recess from 11:45 am to 12:15 (teacher's get a delicious breakfast!), and the school day ends at 2:00 pm.  At this point students can either be picked up by their parents or stay for the school's lunch.

And to be honest, my first day was a little jarring (and not only because they use mostly British English: rubbers, trousers, basins, toilets, oh. my. goodness.).

Luckily I had previously visited the school and kind of had an idea where everything was, so I wasn't that big a bundle of nerves.  Upon arrival the other auxiliares and I all met for a meeting where we received our health insurance cards, filled out paperwork, and discussed our weekly schedules.  Since there are four of us it was decided that two have Mondays off and the others Fridays.  It worked out quite nicely because two wanted specific days off and myself and the final wanted specific grade levels (luckily the opposite ones!).

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As I was sent off to my first classes I saw how different the spectrum of teaching can be.  Day one, a teacher of mine was what I would call 'a little bit rough around the edges'.  She was very, well, vocal in the class and it took me back a little because I'm not used to a teaching style like that.  In fact, I left the first day completely overwhelmed and unsure if I had made the right decision moving all the way here...

But I'm glad I brushed the thought off and came into school the next day with an open mind and a positive attitude.  Over the rest of the week I talked with the three different teachers I will be working with for the year about the plans they have for the class and it was then that I could fully see what dedicated, hard-working, and caring teachers I get to work with.  They do have very different teaching styles, but they all put so much personality and effort into their students and their lessons.  Especially clear in the constant celebration of the little victories: from when a student knows what day comes tomorrow, to asking if they should use a light or dark blue crayon, or to knowing what a cake is and that it starts with a "C".  'Good jobs' and high-fives all around!  So far it's been such a rewarding experience!

And on this note, I vow to carry the 'little victories' over into my own life for this year.  Maybe I'm still not a social butterfly, maybe I can't follow the news programs on tv, and maybe I still cannot have a heated debate in Spanish.  But I can run all the errands on my own, I can use public transportation without getting lost, and I can hold my own in a conversation.  Not bad for my first week of working abroad.

Exhibit A of the little victories:  Good wine and cheese

How has your first week been?  Has it been a good experience so far?

The Things I'll Miss the Most...

So as of today it's officially three weeks before I make the move 'across the pond' to Madrid.  Being so close to my departure date I'm feeling so many mixed emotions.  As excited as I am to go on this adventure and see all my friends (and my boyfriend) over in Spain, I know that there will be plenty of things I will miss about the US and my home state.

Beautiful RI beaches, even in the winter.

While I know this move is the right choice for me, it's still bittersweet as I say goodbye to everything I know.  Even when I went to an out of state school my freshman year I came home once a month and was home for all important holidays and events.  This time though I won't even be home for Christmas and may not see my loved ones until next summer (Though I'm very lucky to have such a great support system waiting for me in Spain!)

It's a giant leap into the 'adult' world and is full of scary unknowns and 'what-ifs': What if I don't like it there?  What if I don't like teaching there?  What if my boyfriend actually can't live with me? What if, what if, what if.  Instead of focusing on my worries I thought I would keep my mind on the positive.  I love Spain a lot, but I also love where I am from, and there are plenty of things I love about home that I'll miss.  I mean, it's a pretty awesome place to live if I do say so myself...

My Friends And Family

We didn't make matching t-shirts or anything...

This is a give-in usually, I think it's pretty common when you pack up and leave a place you've lived (in my case for my whole life) that you miss the people you've met along the way.  I have a great group of friends, some from high school and some from college, that have been there for me over the years and have been a really great support group.

It's taken a few years to get a solid group of real friends that I know I can depend on and will support me through anything, even if it's something like wanting to eat all day at Friendly's...or moving to Madrid.  

Best friend piggy back rides

It's definitely bittersweet saying goodbye to these who have been constants in my life, but it's even harder with most of us graduated and going our separate ways this year.  With myself and another friend to Spain, one to China, one staying in New Jersey, one maybe going to Idaho, and the others on the 'adult' job search, we're all going in different directions.

It's like we're the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, but without the traveling pants...or all being girls...

And likewise with my friends comes missing my family while I'll be abroad this year. We may be small, but we're very close. My parents are divorced, but my mom and I are close and always do girl things together. I see my Dad every week and we've always been incredibly close too. He's my go to for logical advice on anything, especially handy now with my packing underway...

Not to mention my brother, my cousins (even though they might as well be my siblings!), my grandpa, and my aunt. All amazing!

As for my grandpa, he's probably the hardest to say goodbye to.  He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's earlier this year and it's hard knowing he doesn't always remember me anymore.  I often feel guilty leaving him behind this September as I head out on this adventure, but I know that if he was in a better state he would be the one pushing me to Spain.  So as much as this move is for myself, it's for doing what my grandpa would want for me. <3

Can't forget my baby!  I'll miss him too!

Food

Yum, wings with sauce!

This is my favorite topic in the entire world, food.  I love food.  And even though I do love Spanish food, I love saucy, spicy, sweet American food too.  I'm trying to hit all of my favorite local spots before I leave because I know food is something I missed a lot while in Spain the past two summers.

It's funny how things you don't really think about, like specific foods, can make a world of difference in homesickness.  Last summer when I was missing American food my boyfriend took me to Foster's Hollywood so I could get my American food fix and that little taste of home made me so happy.

Delicious, delicious Bismarks.

After visiting Spain a couple of times before I know what American foods I miss the most: good BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, any sauce, spicy food, good burgers, blue cheese dressing, peanut butter, dessert, maple syrup, and ice cream that's not plain. I'm trying to fit all of those in within the next three weeks...probably not the healthiest choice, but hey that's why I go to the gym so much!

Thanks to my food-loving friends I've definitely been making a dent in my list of must-have foods.  Not to mention so many people have already started stocking me up on food supplies to bring to Spain this year!  I already have BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, vanilla extract, and whole sauce recipe book my cousin put together for my birthday (I know it will be a lifesaver!).

But even with all this preparation I know there is one thing I will miss most of all.  Good beer, and a wide selection of good beer.  It's a hard thing to say "good-bye" to 69 beers on tap and "hello" to only one.  And that 'one' might as well be water.  Oh well, I guess you can't have everything.

I shall miss you dear beer with actual flavor!

New England Landscape

Rhode Island is a little known state.  Really.  Ask anyone outside of New England and they don't know it exists (sometimes even in NE!!), but I think it's one of the most beautiful.  We have a beautiful, rugged coastline, large forests, and hidden ponds and rivers.

It's full of New England charm and its landscape is something I will sorely miss while in Madrid.  I've always grown up near the ocean, my house is fifteen minutes and my dad's is only five.  My whole life I've never lived more than fifteen minutes away the ocean.  The beach was always my escape; a place I would go to study, read a book, or take a walk when I just needed a break from everything.  To not have that this year will be one of the hardest things to get used to.

Another part of Rhode Island, and New England in general, that I miss when I visit Spain is the woods.  How else could you have beautiful New England foliage in the fall if there weren't so many trees!  I live on a dead-end, seriously surrounded by trees, and have only one neighbor.

Along with not having the ocean, I won't have the solitude that comes from living in the wooded country.  I'm definitely moving out of my element going to Madrid, the third largest city in Europe, where I'm sure it will be much harder to find the solitude I'm used to.

While I'm excited for a new experience in the 'big city' I'll definitely miss my country roots and the landscape I grew up with.  I'm trying to take in as much of the woods, ocean, and rivers as I can before the trees I'll find will be in a park and I'll be serenaded by noises other than crickets at night.

Growing up my friends and I were all so excited to leave our small town one day and start out somewhere new in the big world.  Now that the day is coming up fast I find that I have much more appreciation for the beautiful area I was so lucky to grow up in, but so little time left to appreciate it!

I'm king of the world!  Or something like that...

Holidays and Traditions

Just my pumpkin patch donkey friend.

This really goes hand and hand with my missing my family, as most of these traditions are things we've done together since I was a little kid.  Being so far away, this is the first year I won't be able to celebrate birthdays, do any of these traditions, or celebrate any major holidays with my family.  

In the fall we always go pumpkin picking at one of the local farms.  Usually we also go in the corn maze and on the hayride, then go home and decorate our pumpkins.  I doubt I'll even be able to find a whole pumpkin in Spain, and celebrating Halloween there is very different (if even celebrated).  

Along with Thanksgiving, which obviously isn't traditionally celebrated in Spain, is cutting down our Christmas tree.  We always get it the Friday after Thanksgiving and it will be hard not being there to help pick it, cut it down, then decorate it at home.

While I know the Spanish Christmas celebration is not as different as Halloween, at least in my boyfriend's family, there will be certain traditions I'll miss doing with my family.  

Making all of our Christmas cookies for example, sometimes I think we end up with more cookies than dinner food...  Or our annual arts and craft project, reading the "Night Before Christmas," watching our holiday movies, and celebrating Christmas with specific traditions from our mixed cultural heritage.

1000x yum!

My family is a mix of the British Isles, Sweden, Germany, and French Canadian and a lot of that is incorporated in how we celebrate the holiday.  Our Christmas Eve food is normally a mix of traditional food from the British Isles, our Christmas Day breakfast is always Swedish (Swedish pancakes and coffee bread), and we of course have the German Christmas pickle...yes that's a real thing.

I know I'll miss spending the important days with my family but I know I'll get to experience a whole new set of cultures and traditions, as well as share some of my own as well.  Some of my friends have already mentioned having a Madrid Thanksgiving, and who knows, maybe I'll bring my own German pickle!

Free Gym Membership

This may sound like a strange thing to most people.  What normal person would miss a gym membership so much?  Well maybe I'm not that 'normal' but I honestly just really love working out, is that weird...  I seriously do like having my routine of three hours a week, I like doing cardio and strength, I like feeling stronger, having more stamina, and I like that I can go for free.  I'm sure most of you stopped right there, free?  As in no money?  But yes, you read that correctly.  For the past two years I've worked at the local YMCA and as a part-time employee I get a free membership, saving me hundreds of dollars a year!!

Now with moving to Madrid I'm worried about how I will be able to workout there.  I don't think I'll have enough money to spend on a monthly membership, as most seem to be at least €30+.  I've really been dependent on my membership while at home because every time I try to run outside I have intense hip pain (thank you scoliosis for my uneven hips).  I definitely will miss the free membership, and thus far have not come up with any way to soothe this loss in the move abroad...

My Car

Told you I was surrounded by woods!

As much as I do love the reliable transportation in Spain and don't really like driving that much, I will still miss my car.  

Or at least the freedom having my own car gives me.  I don't have to wait for the public transportation schedule, I don't have to worry about how late or early the transportation runs, and I don't have to know where I need to meet it either.  When I want to go somewhere, or need to get away, I can just hop in my car and I'm off.  

Having my own car is again something else I often took for granted living here.  Yes, driving is not my favorite, but I had the freedom to come and go as I please.  While I really am looking forward to public transportation this coming year I know I will miss not having the independence to rely on myself when I want to get somewhere.

Definitely won't miss this:

9 inches of snow...and only the middle of the storm

Sorry if this is a little "down," but now you can read about all the great things I'm looking forward to abroad!

For those of you moving, or doing a similar program, what will you miss about home?  Do you think you'll miss any of the same things?

Common Life After College Myths Debunked

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If any of you recent grads out there were like me this time last year then you probably are A) freaking out about what you'll do in the Fall or B) wondering if your new career/education/life choice is the right one for you.  You're finally having that realization that this isn't just a regular summer break, you've graduated and won't be going back to life as usual come September.

Life after college can be a very emotional time where you're unsure of who you are and what you want.  Navigating these murky waters can be equal parts exciting, confusing, and frustrating.  I'm sure many of you had an idea in your head of what life after college would be, whether good or bad, and I'm sure many more of you have been surprised at how different it can be from your expectations.

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There are many stereotypes that are perpetuated about life after college and after hearing all these myths myself in my first year after college I'm here to debunk some of the most common from my personal experience.

*[Please remember that these are my personal experiences and they are not a cookie-cutter for all college graduates, we all have different experiences with our lives after college.  I would love to hear about your own experiences in the comments section!]

You'll Have Your Life Completely Sorted Out and Know Exactly What You're Meant to Do

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One myth that I definitely felt forced on me was this one, and particularly by those of my parents' generation.  It was always the same dreaded question: "So what are you going to do in the Fall?".  AH!  I just wanted to scream that I didn't know yet.  This feeling that once you graduate you should have everything planned is very stressful for many new graduates who really feel the pressure to have their life sorted out.

Maybe our parents' generation was that way.  Maybe they were able to leave school and come out with a job, but it's not so simple now.  But more and more people are going to college and an undergraduate degree may not be enough to set you apart from the sea of all the other job seekers.  We feel a lot of pressure to leave school knowing what we want to do and having opportunities lined up.

When I graduated I had only been hired for one district as a substitute teacher.  It wasn't until the end of August/beginning of September that I was offered the after-school position and hired at two other districts; incredibly last minutes!

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The reality is that we are young adults, we are humans, and we are not fixed.  Who we are changes, what we want changes.  Most of us leave college still very unsure about who we are as people and what we want to do with our lives.  If you are unsure about what you'll do in the Fall or what you've chosen to do in the Fall, don't let it get to you.  We are young and being unsure is the norm.  It's perfectly okay to not be 100% about your future, that's what this time of your life is about.  It's about trying different things, experimenting, and finding out who you are and what you want out of life.  Embrace it and learn to love your life after college!

You'll Quickly Find a Well Paying Job in Your Field, That's What a Degree is For Right?

Some of you may have been lucky and have found a great paying job in your career, but for the rest of us it's probably not so easy.  I remember when I first graduated last May knowing that my state had a bad job market for elementary school teachers, but it couldn't be that bad...right?  Um, wrong.  I started applying to teaching jobs confident in my abilities, I had won awards for my student teaching and worked in classrooms for years, but it wasn't enough.

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I got e-mails saying that over 400 people had applied to nearly each position where I had submitted an application.  Needless to say I didn't get my dream job my first year after college, in fact I didn't get any full-time job.  Instead I took multiple part-time jobs that were in my career.  They may have not been what I wanted, but they gave me the invaluable real-world career experience that I needed.  I didn't get rich quick, but thanks to being a smart spender and having a budget in place I have saved enough for moving to Spain with the Auxiliares de Conversación program this Fall.  The point is, you probably won't get your dream job right away, but you can still find something in your career and if you're a smart saver can still make plenty of money.

You'll Be Stuck in a Terrible Job That You'll Hate

On the other hand of the previous extreme is that you'll have a terrible job that you'll hate.  Chances are you won't have a nightmarish job, and if by some cruel turn of fate you do, remember that this first post-graduate job is not the position you'll have for the remainder of your life!  Even in the current job market there are other, jobs out there if you land one you can't stand.  Maybe you need to expand your job criteria, think outside the box about how you can apply your skills or if need be, relocate to a different area.  Teaching jobs in Rhode Island are scarce and I've looked into my options for getting my teaching certificate in other states as a possibility.

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So yes, I didn't get my dream job, and yes, I didn't make tens of thousands, but I don't hate my jobs.  They may not be perfect but are at least in my chosen field (which I absolutely love!) and I'm constantly gaining more experience.  Don't panic over your first post-graduate job experience.  Try to get as much experience and knowledge you can and if you still absolutely hate it find something else.  Life is too short to spend it stuck in a job that you are miserable in.  There are always possibilities out there, you may just have to look harder for some of them.

Living at Home as a New Graduate is the End of the World

Like most American college graduates, I lived away from home while in college and was not looking forward to the move back home after graduation.  You've spent the past few years finally gaining your independence and freedom to be brought back home feeling like it almost never happened.  While it may feel like the end of the world, it really isn't.  If your parents or family allows you to move back home, especially rent free, I highly suggest you take them up on their kindness.

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It may not seem ideal for you, you may want to try and push yourself out into the 'real-world', but with the money you will be saving on rent you can use this opportunity to save a substantial amount of money to help pay down your student loans and establish yourself in the future.  Along with this savings boost, living at home can give you time to sort out your goals and aspirations without risking a financial loss.  Living at home helped me save thousands that I was able to put towards moving to Spain this Fall.  And if you're afraid about losing your independence talk with your family about what you all want and need from the living arrangement.  They may be surprisingly accommodating, after all they were your age once before.

You'll Never be Able to Pay Off Your Student Loans or Afford Anything Ever Again

This fear of daunting student loan payments goes hand and hand with the financial benefits of moving back home.  Some people may rack up student loan debt without thinking about it and some may not have any other way to afford college, but the need to repay what was borrowed remains the same.  They can be very confusing and it can quickly seem impossible to make sense of your student loans.  However, I promise that if you know as much as you can about your loans they will be much less scary.

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What many new graduates may not realize is that lenders can be understanding and there may be programs in place to help make your student loan payments more affordable like: payment plans, interest rate deductions, etc.  All you have to do is ask!  It may take a while to pay off your loans, depending on how much you owe and if you reduce payments, but it is possible and one day you will.  And having student loan payments doesn't mean you have to sacrifice all enjoyment in your life.  You can still have money for things like: entertainment, shopping, and travel.  You'll just have to work hard and sort your priorities; decide what is important to you and your life.  Just remember that student loans are not the end of the world either!

You'll Have No Social Life and No Friends

This one is tough because it does have some truth in it.  Working full-time makes it harder to have the social life that most college graduates are used to, and it is much harder to keep the friends you had in college as well as meet new ones.  You will have as many breaks or time off as you did in school, but it doesn't mean you can't go out or enjoy your life as it is now (which I think is pretty fun, hello classy wine tastings!).  Instead of having free time during the day you'll have to utilize your nights and weekends, which can be hard for friends still in college because you'll be running on different time schedules, but it is possible.

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And now that you're out of school you are probably further away from your college friends, but it's always possible to bridge the gap in a long-distance relationship (ideas whether romantic or between friends!).  It will require more work to keep these friendships strong, but you'll start to see who are the friends worth putting the effort into and which friends are better left in your college days.  And as for making new friends, it can also be challenging post-college.  You no longer have clubs or classes to meet new people and may not work in an environment with people, but like most things isn't impossible.  You can make new friends and survive life after college by getting involved in your community and joining groups with people who have similar interests.

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Put yourself out there and you will surely find interesting people that have the potential to be life long friends.  I love my life after college and love the group of friends I've retained, and the new ones I've made.  College may be over, but this is the start of the rest of your life.  It's all about what you make of it.


And for those of you who need a laugh via Buzzfeed: Enter the Real World: Expectations vs. Reality. Enjoy.

What has your life after college been like?  Have you found any of these 'myths' to be a reality in your personal experience?

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Benefits of Learning a Second Language

A lot of my friends and family ask me why, as a certified teacher, would I want to move to Spain to teach English as an assistant instead of looking for a permanent job here, in the USA.  Other than the fact that I love Spain and want to be closer to my boyfriend, is that learning a second language is SO very important.  And is something I, and my whole family, are very passionate about.

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My grandmother was well-known in the foreign language community as a long-time high school Spanish teacher and an active member of multiple language organizations.  My mother also was a Spanish teacher but at the elementary school level.  Both have instilled in me the value of second language learning, particularly at a young age!

If you're considering an attempt to learn another language, or if you're teaching abroad and you're questioning your importance in the class (or have family that is not supportive), here are just some of the benefits of learning a second language.

The Younger You Learn, the Better Your Ability

Research over the years has argued that there is an optimal window for learning a second language, a time when our minds are more open and able to pick up the language easily with little accent.  In a February 1996 Newsweek article, Sharon Begley claimed: this "'learning window' of opportunity for language learning is indicated from birth to ten years...it's far easier for an elementary school child to hear and process a second language and even speak it without an accent."  Whether cognitively more able than adults or not, young children are generally more open and interested in learning another language and about another culture.  They are naturally inquisitive and learning a second language can be both fun and exciting for them.

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I once did a report on the benefits of Early Language Learning back in high school.  I compared student work from my mom's 5th grade students, that she had been with since kindergarten, to what I had done in my own 10th grade Spanish class.  Everyone in my class was shocked that we were working on the exact same concepts.   Just think if they continued their language studies all the way through college...

Increased Opportunity for Jobs

Knowing a second language is extremely important in the job search nowadays.  In a world as global as ours is, it has become increasingly valuable to be able to communicate with people from other countries and backgrounds.  Many companies have contacts or positions overseas, most educators have students coming from various countries with differing language abilities, and in general you will encounter people that speak other languages in most places you will work .  Being bi-lingual, or even tri-lingual, is a huge selling point to have on your resume and could be what makes you stand out from a sea of other candidates.

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From my personal experience, I had one practicum teaching experience where the majority of students spoke Spanish as their native language but the teacher knew no Spanish.  Knowing Spanish helped me communicate with these young students and help provide better support in the classroom.

Improved Grasp of Native Language

Learning a second language also helps improve the grasp of one's native language.  Too often we may forget the specific grammar and structural rules of our own language, but learning another language forces us to re-examine these rules as we are often comparing our native language to the second.  Most people who are learning a foreign language show improved knowledge in reading, grammar, writing, and overall critical thinking.

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Learning Spanish helped me have a better grasp in different areas of English like: direct and indirect object pronouns, various verb tenses, a rich extended vocabulary, adverbs, and of course general memorization.  Not to mention knowing Spanish seriously helped me with the often Latin-based SAT vocabulary words.

Increased Mental Capacity

While learning a second language helps improve your grasp of your native language, studies have also shown that in general studying a foreign language increases your mental capacity.  Some of these benefits on mental capacity range from things like increased problem solving abilities, high memorization skills, better communication skills, and increased creativity.  And these are not limited to younger learners, studying a second language is beneficial to people of all ages.  It is a mental challenge, and challenging your brain is always beneficial.  Recent studies have shown correlations between studying a second language and postponing the effects of Dementia.  This claim is made based on studies on the brain showing that the challenge of learning, and using, a second language helps keep the brain active and strong.

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Travel Benefits

It is often the stereotype of traveling Americans that we will only speak English while in a foreign country without even trying a few words in the local language.  This may not be true for all, but many American in reality do not know a second language.  This can make it difficult for those traveling internationally (I know I was surprised how few people over the age of 30ish in Spain didn't know English, really made me appreciate knowing Spanish!) as you may not always find people who speak English.

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Knowing even a few words in the local language can be extremely beneficial for international travel; it shows respect for the local culture and often will cause natives to be more accepting and welcoming of the traveler.  Wherever I travel I try to know a few basic words like: hello, have a nice day, thank you, please, and your welcome.  I've always found that even this small effort is very appreciated by the people I speak with (not to mention natives usually have a great knowledge of local places off the usual tourist radar).

Are you studying another language?  What benefits have you found from learning a foreign language?

The First Goodbyes

Well the day finally came, the day I had to start my goodbyes before leaving for Spain.  Yesterday was the last day of school, and my last day with my students in the after-school program I've worked at for the past ten months. 

Pumpkins we carved in the fall.

Over the past ten months I've grown really close with all of the kids we watched.  Most of them I had the experience of working with them in school as their substitute teacher, as well as out of school in the after-school program.  And despite all the long days, all the times I wanted to pull my hair out because no one was following directions, I never actually thought the day would come when I would have to say goodbye to these amazing children and their wonderful families.

The delicious donut cake we bought them

Part of me still thinks that I'll just see their bright, shining faces tomorrow; yelling my name down the hallway and running over to give me a hug.  But the worst part is when they tell me they can't wait to see me again in the fall.  Because I've told them all, and their families, my plans.  I have had those talks explaining that "Miss Lauren found a job in Spain,  it's across the ocean so I won't be here next year with all of you."  But they're young and most don't even know what Europe is, so they look up at me with those big, eager eyes "But you'll visit us, right?"  And cue my heart melting...

As we said our goodbyes I had to remind them that I don't know if I'll see them again.  Most still didn't comprehend that it was the end of my time there, a few even said they would see me tomorrow.  One of my favorite little girls almost walked out without giving me a final hug until her dad gently reminded her.  You could see it hit her as she dropped all of her stuff and jumped into my arms for a final hug; this very well could be the last time we saw each other.  A few of the children I did give my address to so we could write each other.  And while this promise of keeping in touch softened the blow to my already sensitive personality, I didn't realize goodbye would be so hard.  I had not prepared myself for this first set of goodbyes...I didn't think I would have to start so soon!

"My favorite thing about School's Out is the teachers"

I'm proud of how much these little ones have grown and glad I've gotten to share the year with them and their wonderful families.  The cards some of the families gave me were so touching; knowing I have their appreciation is worth more than any gift I could ever be given.  The chance to have a small part in the lives of their children has been so fulfilling and has made my first year after college so much more rewarding.  I do hope I can stay in touch with the few families who I have exchanged addresses with, because (and maybe this is just because I'm an emotional mush-ball) these children have all weaseled their way into my heart.  

Ah so cute, breaking my heart!

Saying my first goodbyes have made me realize that rest are not far behind.  Before I know it, it will be time to leave all of the people I love here...  But I'll try not to worry about those for now. It's bittersweet enough saying good-bye to the bright little faces I've gotten to spend time with for the past ten months.  Bittersweet having the last day of of silly pictures, bear hugs, making 'boo-boos' better, and little voices expressing their love.  Now we're both on our own new journeys, and I feel blessed that I've gotten to play a even small part in who they are and who they will become.