Entry 06
Since my last life update, three significant events have taken place:
my dad's visit to Barcelona
the start of the school year
my trip to Madrid
Pa’s Visit
My dad arrived in Barcelona during my second weekend in the city. We spent our mornings savoring coffee and pastries at local cafes near my apartment, and there's truly nothing better than that. On our first day together, we explored the El Encants market, where I found some items for my apartment. Dad graciously helped me transport them via the metro, making us feel like real locals. In the afternoon, we strolled around town, catching a glimpse of the exterior of the Sagrada Familia and the La Vuelta cycling race barriers passing by the church.
La Vuelta is a prestigious cycling race held annually in Spain, akin to its more famous sibling, the Tour De France. Lucky for us, La Vuelta's first two stages coincided with Dad's visit, and since he had always wanted to witness a Grand Tour, the timing couldn't have been better. The first stage, a team time trial, allowed us to see the riders for an extended period. We positioned ourselves along the route, enjoying drinks and snacks at a café while watching the warm-ups. Dad's excitement was contagious.
As the race began, we moved closer to the tightest curve on the route to get a better view of the riders. Unexpectedly, rain started pouring, but fortunately, we didn't witness any accidents. After observing about five teams navigate the curve, we made our way to the nearest metro station, still drenched from the rain.
The following day brought more rain, and a thunderous lightning strike near my apartment startled me awake. Dad and I decided to spend the day indoors, making some improvements to my apartment and staying dry. Around 4:00 PM, we headed to Montjuic, the finish line for Stage 2 of La Vuelta. Once again, we secured a prime spot to watch the race, and afterward, we even walked a section of the racecourse. For dinner, we dined at a charming local fish restaurant, relishing delicious food and the warmth of the staff.
Saying goodbye to Dad left my eyes a bit teary, as his departure marked the end of visitors for the foreseeable future. I'm unlikely to see any friends or family until the holidays, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he's fallen in love with this city and might return before the school year ends.
School Begins
School started in the usual chaotic manner. No matter how much you prepare for the new school year, there's always more to do, and you never feel completely ready. Starting school in a new country added an extra layer of excitement. This year, over 20 new employees joined our school, and we've already formed a strong bond. It's comforting to be surrounded by so many passionate individuals. Even on challenging days, I know everyone is giving their best.
Adjusting to my identity within this group has been a unique challenge. I've long associated my identity with traveling, but here I find myself among some of the most seasoned international school veterans. While I may be a bit behind in experience, I have a wealth of travel knowledge at my disposal, thanks to my well-traveled colleagues.
I'm teaching 6th, 7th, 10th, and 11th grade this year. Teaching middle schoolers for the first time has been an adjustment, particularly with the spirited 6th-grade boys. However, I feel right at home with my 10th and 11th graders, who as a plus, provide me with valuable tips on exploring the city.
On Fridays the staff goes to “The Community Center” for a beverage or two (three?). It appears that the chosen teacher vice is truly worldwide! This particular building had caught my eye multiple times as I exited the metro near my house. It has beautiful stained-glass windows and the best Claras and Tinto de Veranos my teacher money can buy.
Madrid
The third week of school I had the opportunity to get out of town to attend professional development in Madrid. A fellow new teacher and I decided to turn it into a weekend getaway, booking a hotel for Saturday and Sunday. The last time I visited Madrid was in 2019 at the very beginning of my whirlwind European tour. It turns out that I don’t remember all that much from that trip, likely due to jet lag.
The locals say that there are two kinds of people, Madrid people and Barcelona people. Before this trip I was solidly in the Barcelona camp. Now don’t get it twisted; I still am, but I can now see the draw of Madrid a little more. The city is clean and bustling. It feels quintessentially Spanish, where I would argue that Barcelona feels… well…like Barcelona, distinctly Catalan.
On Saturday we caught the train into the city early and checked into our hotel. We walked around town and grabbed a bite at Mercado de San Miguel, which like all other historical marks in Europe is forever under renovation. As we approached the market, we noticed street vendors selling knockoff handbags and souvenirs. The funny thing was that all the things they were selling appeared to be on what I would describe as small parachutes. The men held the strings of the parachute in their hands and we mused that they were probably to deter thieves. These parachutes, we later learned, were meant to aid a swift getaway. As we savored our snacks, we watched these vendors yank on their parachute strings, creating Santa-like sacks of goods, and dash away. Shortly after, a police car passed by. Witnessing this interaction turned out to be a highlight of our trip. In the evening, we reunited with some of my coworker's old friends and indulged in the famous churros and chocolate.
Sunday greeted us with rain, a detail I had foolishly overlooked when planning our trip. We purchased umbrellas and I spent the day trudging through the rain in sandals. We started with breakfast and then visited a vintage market. There, I found some delightful jewelry while exploring the offerings of over 700 vendors. In the afternoon, we attended a mesmerizing flamenco show, featuring one female dancer, two male dancers, two male vocalists, and a male guitarist. Watching the dancers and listening to the music was a magical experience. As a child, I had taken flamenco classes, so witnessing it in person was truly incredible. After the show, we stumbled upon a hairpin turn on the route for the final stage of La Vuelta, allowing me to witness both the beginning and end of the tour. What incredible luck! We concluded the day with an unbelievably delicious meal at an Argentinean restaurant. I'm not typically a fan of steak, but I could have sworn I almost licked my plate clean; the meat was incredibly tender.
On Monday, we headed to the American School of Madrid for our professional development session. The campus was vast, but it was located outside Madrid's city limits, likely due to its size. The training was valuable, and we'll return in the spring for the second day of instruction. Meeting math teachers from other American schools in Spain was a rewarding experience. My coworker and I took the midnight train back to Barcelona, leaving me exhausted but grateful for the opportunity.
I hope to provide another update soon—I need to be more consistent, after all!
