Dollars and Cents

Hola! I made it! The journey went smoothly which makes me paranoid as I will have to pay for that later but so far so good. I emerged from the metro onto street for the first time and was in a great mood. It was lovely and sunny and there was a man playing an accordion, which I now already know is a common occurance. My good was unaltered by the fact that I saw a huge billboard from my school within thirty seconds. I met my new flat mate Antonio who is very nice. My Spanish was tested to its feeble limits but I was pleased with how much I understood and how much I could say, but as I got more tired it fell off a cliff and it became more a struggle. I'm hoping I'll learn a lot.

It turned out to be a strange day. Antonio is a keen amateur photographer. He said he and some friends were going to Toledo to photograph an event and asked me if I wanted to come along. I couldn't quite catch what was going on in Toledo, something to do with a war. I was thinking of maybe a civil war memorial, or maybe something to do with the medieval wars in which Toledo was an important part. Then I heard that it was to mark a 30th anniversary which kept me wondering as to what war it could possibly be. Star Wars. It was Star Wars. Around 30 guys descended on Toledo to march and display their light sabre prowress. I don't know why they choose Toledo but then what do I know? I can't even quote the entire script of the Empire Strikes Back. A marching band played the Star Wars theme and nerds dressed as storm troopers marched through the medieval streets. There was then a light sabre fight but they were being careful, despite the sabres being the cheap plastic ones, so it had the effect of it being in slow motion, which in my mind at least made it much better. I had fun but I don't think I can say the same about the guys involved, but they were taking it very VERY seriously. It just does prove that even if I do manage to understand most of what someone says in Spanish it the small parts can make a big difference! Possibly a controversial point, but I don't understand the fuss about Star Wars, I like Star Wars but why anyone would dress as a bounty hunter thirty years later beats me.

It's already very different to Pamplona. No signs of anything Basque, lots more Spanish flags. I've been constantly reminded that apparently Spain have recently won some type of international football tournament. Lots more people but fortunately it doesn't feel to crowded. Somethings are similiar, banks are backwards and most things are still shut on a Sunday which I still find really frustrating.

I have my first of two inductions on Tuesday, it's a full day and involves something called a 'webinar'. It's time like this I become a grumpy old man. Fortunately I'll have day to recover from my grumpiness as there is a general strike on the 29th. By default I'm striking in solidarity, in your face 'the man'. I'm still nervous, especially when I got sent a copy of the code of conduct today, apparently this school doesn't stand for sexual harrassment... drat.

I miss you already

love love love x

Sofa Core

Hola! Sorry for the sporadic posting this summer hopefully by Saturday it will have picked up again. As by Saturday the long summer will be over and it will be time to be a constructive, motivated young go getter once again / for the first time. I can't wait to be honest. I like summer as much as the next man but its time for this one to end. It seems to be a recurring theme but it doesn't seem real that on Saturday I'll be back living abroad. Everyone asks whether I'm excited, I always say yes but whenever do I think about it I just get nervous. It's a big school, hundreds of teachers, an army of students and I'm sure they will be much more aware of what I'm doing. In Pamplona they were pretty laid back, leaving you to get on with things but Madrid have already made it clear that they will be much more omnipresent. THERE WILL BE WORKSHOPS. I'm a little nervous that the laid back attitude of Pamplona may come back to bite me. My nerves got greater when I realised that the woman who interviewed me literally wrote the book on business teaching. Someone I already know has started work today, so hopfully interogate them and find out more. What's the worst that could happen?

I've been getting about a bit this week, not like that, I was treated to a trip to Hatfield on Friday. It's not as bad as it was made out! We did have to spend a while in a bad boy pimpers garage reading OK magazine as tires were fitted. They didn't even offer us anything from the espresso bar, a garage with an espresso bar, the times they are a changing. Over the weekend it was off to St Neots to see Shiner. A night out there is eventful. Two groups of guys kicked off and we had a pretty serious disagreement with a ginger guy who thinks that its ok to racially slur people and then gets upset when people object to it. Should have seen Shiner, what a trooper. I need him in Spain in case someone tells me to go back to my own country. I would probably deserve it though.

I had a novel experience on Sunday of watching Real Madrid on TV and supporting them. I got to the seventh minute and couldn't go on. There' something just so inheriently unlikable about them. The hair gel, the pouting, the supreme over-arching arrogance and sense of entitlement. The NINE European Championships. NINE! Thats obscence! Any Charlton will tell you, winning and even goal scoring is a vulgar pursuit. Wouldn't find us lowering ourselves to such a level, we transcend. I don't think I'll be able to warm to them and this could be a problem as I don't like any of the Madrid teams and last time I was there within 20 minutes I had already had two conversations about Real and Atletico. I'm alienating myself already.

In other news, my mum passed an exam about poo (sadly not joking), friends have been hurting themselves constantly (please be careful I don't want you to be next) and according to this wrapper a catfish has 250,000 taste buds... tasty.

love love love x

I Wanna Be An NY Ranger

What ever happened to the ordinary boys? Weren't they popular once? I ask because I was flicking through TV when Big Brother appeared (I was flicking through, honest!) and that one that was married to the blonde one was on.

Anyway, I'm being distracted.

Things have moved on since we last spoke. I'm officially back off to Spain on the 25th. I'm moving to Madrid! I'm hoping the Basques I know and the honourary Catalans of this here blog will not disown me. It's very exciting. I treaded water for a long time about what to do next year, indecisive as ever. The masterplan now is one more year of TEFL before a PGCE and having to be a like a proper grown up type. Ask me again in ten to fifteen minutes and I'm sure it will be entirely different. No excuses about visting this time!

The flat hunt is over, thank God, but it was not without one last sting in the tail. For once I was organised and rang the bank to ask what I needed to transfer money abroad. A very nice man (or so I thought!) told me all I needed is this special number. I walked confidently into the branch with my special number and all the landlords detail. The women at the desk, I'll call her Beryl, looked at me with confusion. Beryl had no idea what this number was and told me I didn't I have the Iban number. This was the deadline day so I ran home worked out what the hell and Iban number is ran back, for their fucking printer not to to work. It took twenty minutes before they had the brain wave of using the other printer. I didn't even know they had another printer!

As you all know I'm an uncultured sport lout. However, the great civilizer (Alex as he is more widely known) has introduced me to the theatre. I've seen two plays within a week, I enjoyed both and I think I was the only one! Maybe like my nan I just enjoyed being out of the house. I really enjoyed the whole experience, the sets and seeing actual people rather than a screen was really enjoyable. My favourite bit though was the man next to me at the second who I suspect maybe an actor himself. He gasped in horror, laughed at points where no one else did and at the dramatic climax held his hands high above his head, he was deeply, deeply worried. He spoke to me at the end and was lovely as well as highly dramatic.

Off the point again, I fucking love News Night.

I hope I find you well

love love love x