A Long Overdue Update from Spain

Long time no blog! I’m so sorry for the radio silence. Life has been life-ing lately — school started, presentations and lesson planning kicked in, I got sick (more than once), and then the holidays rolled around. I’ve been pulled, stretched, and just about thinned out… but along the way, I’ve learned a few things I wanted to share.

When school began, I jumped straight into tons of introductions with different classes. Just when I started feeling settled, my classes got switched a few weeks later. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that flexibility is important — but so is speaking up. Don’t be afraid to talk with your coordinator when you’re facing challenges in the classroom. It’s better to communicate early than silently struggle.

Presentations and lesson planning? Still time-consuming — they were in the States, and they definitely are here, too. Two things have helped me a lot:

1. Using already-prepared materials I find on Google, Teachers Pay Teachers, and different teaching websites.
2. Getting work done during breaks or arriving early/staying a little later so I can actually relax or spend time with friends afterwards.

Now for the illnesses… whew. They’ve shown up more than once. One thing I will say: the health insurance that CIEE provides has honestly been a dream. I’ve been sick at least three times already, and now I’m dealing with a sinus infection. I just called the insurance, set up an appointment, and now I’ve got meds. All in a day’s work, right?

And lastly — the holidays. We just celebrated Thanksgiving, and let me tell you, it was amazing. It felt like Thanksgiving Around the World, surrounded by people from so many different places. Even though I miss home, having a community already — in just two months — and getting to celebrate a holiday centered on gratitude made the homesickness a little lighter. It reminded me just how much I have to be thankful for.