The months leading up to moving to Spain as a Language Assistant were filled with preparations. My luggage pile slowly grew from one suitcase, to one suitcase and a ‘personal item’, then finally two suitcases and a backpack. There were so many things that I had seemingly collected to take a little bit of home with me on this new adventure.
Whether this be letters and drawings from friends, good luck cards from family, and comfortable clothes that remind me of home, I brought it, readying myself for the inevitable feelings of homesickness that I knew would be hard to shake. However, one thing to bear in mind is to make sure to not overpack! Moreover, chances are your room will have less storage than you’re used to. I had never used packing cubes before, but now I share a wardrobe with another person, so I have pretty much been living out of them, and they have kept me nice and organised (I recommend packing cubes!!!).
My Departure
And then the big day came. I said my (very emotional) goodbyes to my loved ones and hopped on the train to the airport. I was filled with so many contrasting emotions, I swear I felt every feeling possible, from fear, regret, and worry, to excitement, pride, and relief that I was actually going ahead with moving to Spain as a Language Assistant.
A short but bumpy flight later, I landed in Madrid and headed to the flat I would call home for the next 10 months or so, which I found through Spotahome. After a quick exploration of the big, bright city now on my doorstep and a long sleep, I woke up bright and early for the induction day where I would go on to meet the people I had been talking to about visas, where to live, how to find a flat, and how excited we were to be moving to Madrid and starting a new adventure as Language Assistant.
The great thing about the induction day is that most people have never met each other, so everybody is feeling just as nervous, excited, and chatty as you. In fact, there are people from all around the world in the same room as you, who are all interested in the same thing, and are about to embark on the same journey as you. The induction day was so important for my confidence as everything you could possibly need to know about the programme gets explained thoroughly. It also made the whole process feel so real. Here I was in this room, with all these people, finally getting started. It was very relaxed but structured, something I appreciated. I didn’t feel stressed, but finally relaxed.
(P.S. If you’re getting the bus to the university from Moncloa, the interchange is underground. Don’t make my mistake of waiting outside for the bus to come by – it won’t, and you will pay for a pricey Bolt, like me!)
My Frist Day of School
Naturally, when the day came to start school, I was terrified! But I knew that I was ready. I left with plenty of time to make the hour-long commute to my school. One thing I find very peaceful and actually enjoy doing. I was shocked to find that my school is actually in the mountains, and overlooks an abandoned palace – much cooler than my old school! I met my tutor first thing, who has supported me with all the weird and wonderful, and of course, the mundane, questions I have asked her.
Currently, I am the only language assistant in my school, which I found very daunting for this initial week, but I grew used to it in no time. I would recommend preparing a powerpoint presentation about yourself and even your country so that you can introduce yourself when you meet a new class. I didn’t do this until halfway through the week as I didn’t think the kids would enjoy it as much as they do, but after they begged me to make a presentation, I caved. It’s always a safe bet.
Right now I’m in my second week at the school and even though I still get lost in the halls every day. I have already had 2 drawings and a bracelet gifted to me by the children, even one I don’t teach! I already have such a connection with the kids, you just need to be caring, confident, and most importantly, fun! Since I teach kids between 5 and 15 years old, I am still getting used to the variation of activities I should prepare for, especially with no previous teaching qualifications or experience. If you’re moving to Spain as a language assistant, you will quickly find that the experience is as rewarding as it is challenging. If I can do it, you can. Good luck!
