Well as I wrote, I have arrived in Spain, exactly one week ago. It’s been a hectic, relaxing, and confusing week filled with introductions, exploring, emotional swings, and a week-long wine festival, San Mateo, which I will get to in a later post.
Moving to Spain to teach English was a huge step for me. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since studying abroad in college and finally decided to do. As nerve-wracking as it was/is, it’s what I need to be doing. However, that hasn’t stopped my emotions from swinging from elated to what on Earth am I doing during this first week in Spain.
When I arrived, I was the only roommate in my piso for a couple days as the my other roommates weren’t going to arrive for a few days. Arriving and unpacking in a quiet piso in a city where I knew no one, with no phone, left me feeling isolated and alone. The elation I was feeling after touching down in Madrid quickly dispersed. Although, I’m sure the full effects of jet lag had something to do with that. This feeling of being isolated and alone wasn’t what I expected. However, thanks to the ingenious invention of Facebook late that night I was able to meet up with fellow auxiliares in town.
After exploring Logroño for a bit and finding an internet cafe to let family and friends know I arrived safely, I met up on the famous Calle Laurel – also, post coming – for some drinks and pinchos (pronounced: pee-n-ch-os). Meeting other people felt incredible. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and quite frankly, in just about the same boat as me whether it was their first, second, or third year here in terms of wanting to get to know everyone else here. My emotional state went from feeling lonely to feeling welcomed and accepted.
The next couple days were a whirlwind of getting settled, without internet. I felt relieved when I finally got a Spanish phone number and could text my family (iPhone to iPhone with iMessage is free international because it uses data). It also helped me get connected with fellow auxiliares and meet up with them again. Finding comfortable nearby cafes where I could order a café con leche, or something of the like (Thanks, Trevor!), and use my computer, Skype home, catch up on the world, plan some trips, and blog gave me more of a sense of relief.
My roommates arrived a few days after me and having a full piso definitely was a comforting feeling. However, it made things seem real. Suddenly, I knew that this is where I was going to be living for the next 9 months and I flew into a panic. At the grocery store, I aimlessly walked around and bought things I normally wouldn’t and didn’t even know what was happening. Looking back, it was all a blur. I was so overwhelmed by everything.
On Saturday, the week-long San Mateo festival kicked off. It’s an annual celebration of the wine harvest in La Rioja and is probably their biggest festival of the year. Stores close, people celebrate, and things get crazy. With the festival lasting an entire week, there is tons to do, but with all the parties associated with the festival, it really throughs off me having a routine. I’ve stayed out late on numerous occasions which is fun, but weird too. I’m not used to staying up until 4am, 5am, or later. Plus, only having to get a bank account, my NIE/TIE card, internet, and doing normal grocery shopping stuff, I had a lot of free time. San Mateo did help though because it gave me something to do. Not having a regular routine, as in “normal” working hours has thrown me for a loop and leaves me feeling lost, like I’m trying to fill the hours in the day with things.
Luckily, exploring and discovering Logroño, running along the Rio Ebro, doing the things listed above, and simply getting to know others in the area, along with trying to pick up a few private lessons has left me feeling relatively content on the not having a set routine issue. I’ve met the other English teacher in the school, joined a running group, and have orientation next week, so getting a better picture of what my future looks like once I begin work has helped make me feeling more comfortable.
The ups and downs are not over as I know they will continue. Sometimes I feel as though I could call Logroño and Spain home forever, while other times, I’m secretly hoping this is a two week vacation. Okay, those downs only last a little while, and if I ever need to be cheered up, I’ll just take a stroll down Calle Laurel or Calle San Agustín and bite into any one of the delicious pinchos while sipping an inexpensive glass of vino tinto.
How did you feel during your first few days after a move away from home, abroad or not? What advice do you have for those just starting out in a new place?