¡La escuela ha comenzado!

School is in session! Our first day of school was last week, so we are officially into the swing of things. I'm working at an elementary school in a town northwest of the city. It takes about an hour to get there from my apartment (if everything goes smoothly), so I leave around 7:15 a.m. to arrive around 8:30 a.m. I found a cafeteria down the street from my school to grab a coffee since I don't have a coffee machine at home, and this has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the day.

While my mom was in town, we practiced my commute so that I would be less nervous on the first day, but also because she just wanted to see my school. Getting to Majadahonda from the city center requires taking a metro, cercanías, and bus, so it was important to do this prior to day one to understand where I needed to go. I have to say, this whole commuting thing is totally new to me, but I'm enjoying it so far. My first job out of college wasn't in an office, and my second job was primarily remote, so this entire process is foreign to me. That being said, I don't mind the commute - it gives me time to read my book or listen to a podcast.

Since we started school on a Wednesday and I have off on Fridays, the first "week" was really only two days. There are four auxes (our title is "auxiliares de conversación") at my school, one of whom worked here last year, which is great because she knows the law of the land. My language coordinator is very organized and welcoming, which is a huge blessing because this is your direct manager, so they play an important role in your day-to-day experience. I have a friend who didn't have a positive experience with hers last year, and it led to both professional and personal challenges.

As for our schedules, the week is divided into 21 sessions, so I'll be working with 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders throughout the week for 45 minutes each. There are two classes of 4th through 6th graders and only one class of 3rd graders. I work primarily with one teacher who teaches science and English to the 3rd and 4th graders. I'm very grateful that she has also been extremely kind and helpful because starting a new job can be really overwhelming no matter where you are. Then add working in a school for the first time where everyone primarily speaks Spanish, and you really have your work cut out for you!

Overwhelming feelings aside, the kids are absolutely adorable, and it's been such a joy getting to know all of them. They're still at the age where they run up to you and give you hugs, but they're old enough to sit at their desk and independently complete a worksheet. I've really enjoyed being able to help them individually, as well as in smaller groups, because it feels like I can make more of a difference that way.

This week will be my first full week of school, so I'm excited to see how I feel after four full days. I'm definitely the busiest I've been since arriving to Madrid, but this feeling reminds me of how I felt after four days of orientation, so I know it will pass once I settle into the routine. There's so much to learn, do, discuss, and understand that it can feel insurmountable at times, but it's all part of the process and I still feel so fortunate everyday to be experiencing it all.