Living and Teaching in Madrid: Random Things I Love About My Placement 

As I sit in the teacher’s room on my last morning at Colegio Antamira (for this year!) and reflect on my time living and teaching in Madrid, I’m looking around, filled with joy and gratitude for the community I have had the privilege of becoming a part of. From the secretary, janitors, directors, teachers, students, and all those in between, the community at my school is something I’ll forever value. In just a few short 7 months, I have built meaningful relationships that I will cherish for my lifetime. They have welcomed me, supported me, joked around with me, and accepted me – something that not all Language Assistants can say.

There are countless things that I love about my school, but some are somewhat random, while others may not be things you ordinarily think about. I feel immense joy in recognizing and appreciating the following things that have put a smile on my face over the past seven months. 

1. The Commute – The Commute is Long

There’s no denying that, and admittedly, in the beginning, I would dread it because commuting three hours a day was exhausting, especially when there were fewer hours of daylight. In fact, the playlist that acted as the soundtrack for my commute is titled “The Pilgrimage” because sometimes, it felt as though it would never end (maybe a bit dramatic, I can admit!). However, after a few months, I started to enjoy it. I began aprovechándolo – listening to podcasts, enjoying the free hours to simply listen to music, reading a book, or catching up with friends and family from home – it became a ritual. Perhaps part of it is that it became habitual, and I didn’t think as deeply about it. However, I found myself more relaxed, taking the moment to disconnect and prepare for the day ahead, or decompress from a busy day at school. 

2. Empty Hallways

The moments when I’m walking between classes, during a break, or early in the morning, the hallways are silent and at peace. As the sun shines brightly through the glass windows that surround the school, the light reminds me of the possibility, brilliance, and joy that fill the building. 

3. The Loud Hallways

On the other hand, the moments at the beginning of the day or the end, when every student and teacher is in the hallway at the same time – the sounds echo through the school from students running, screaming, laughing, and hugging. It’s pure joy, chaos, but pure joy. 

4. The Many Personalities

As I’ve mentioned, I’ve gotten along very well with the staff at my school, and it’s a joy to observe their diverse personalities and how they all come together to create a mosaic of character, humor, joy, brilliance, and love. Each person has their spark; they have their way of communicating, greeting, and showing affection. Learning what each person’s spark is and participating in the exchange of unique character and fulfilling communication is such a privilege. 

5. Patio and Lunchtime

Unfortunately, due to the number of classes I had and the fact that I covered courses from 3rd year through 2nd year of Bachillerato, I didn’t have patio or lunch duty. However, there was something so special about observing the students running free, playing with their friends, and developing their core memories and friendships. 

6. Seeing Myself in Them

Being a 22-year-old Language Assistant brought some difficulties. However, something that always warmed my heart was that I am only 22, so in reality, my time as a student in primary, secondary, and high school wasn’t that long ago. I loved school, of course, there were highs and lows, but overall, I was a child who loved learning and being in school. Therefore, I have many fond memories of my academic years, so it genuinely warms my heart to see my students excited about an activity in class, enjoying an excursion, or feeling celebrated and successful. I believe that learning is one of the most beautiful elements of life. Education is a great privilege; therefore, when I see that spark shine in my students’ eyes, it brings it all rushing back. 

While I’m sad to see this year come to an end, I am incredibly excited to return to my school in October. I have had such an incredible experience – rewarding, transformative, and challenging in the best ways. I’ll see you in October, Antamira. 

Xoxo,

Emilia