A Roman Holiday!

Bike Ride Through Rome

Spanish Steps

I spent my first Holiday in Europe!! Halloween in Rome is precious.  There's just no other way to describe it!  Little kids running around ancient streets dressed as ghosts and goblins, yelling trick or treat (but in the way only kids with Italian accents can say it).  Every store is decorated with an Italian sense of fashion.  No gross witches with warts, but pretty little girl witches.  Spider webs made from fine silver chains... It's the same holiday, but with a finesse that Italy is famous for.  Then, my excellent Italian tour guide, Massimo (a friend I met in Madrid who lives in Rome) took me on a tour of Rome on bikes!  The weather couldn't have been better.  It was warm and crisp, and on every corner the street vendors were roasting chestnuts!  The aroma of Rome in Autumn is overwhelming.  We rode from Villa Borghese all the way to Piazza San Pietro.  Every turn would reveal a small Piazza with a fountain, or a Villa with moss covered cobble stones.  Then at night, the people take over the streets, and we walked the city of Rome down the center of the streets, looking into Store fronts like Fendi, Prada, D&G, Bvlgari, etc.  The churches open their doors to the masses, and you quietly enter the church and listen to a musician, or admire the fresco painted ceilings.  I've never felt a city so alive before.  I've been to Rome once before, but this experience was completely different.  It was as it was my first time all over again.  I was hesitant to return to Rome because there is only so many weekends I can travel, but I'm glad I went.  Here are some photos of the city.

domes of  Rome

A visit from Yuki!

So my friend Yuki from Portland recently moved to Barcelona, and we both had long weekends, so she hopped on the bus and came to visit!  We had an amazing weekend exploring the city.  It was a great excuse for me to go and see some of the sights that I've been wanting to see since I've only been here for a few weeks now.  A fellow English teacher Nic lived here last year and was a great guide!  We went to the Palace Real and wandered through some of the oldest parts of Madrid.  I took a few random pics and then my battery died.  Story of my life.  Then, after a long day of walking the beautiful streets of a city founded in the 9th century (courtesy of wikipedia), we made an emergency stop for a frappuccino at Starbucks.  

My Brother, Blaine, comes to visit on Friday, so I'll get some more sight seeing done!  I'm super excited!  Other trips on the itinerary; Rome for Halloween, Hamburg for Christmas.  I'm thinking I'll hit Berlin on my way to Hamburg, and then maybe spend NYE in Prague or Amsterdam.  Any Suggestions?

Teaching...

Here is a pic of my piso btw!  It's not huge, but it has a little balcony over looking the street.

Today was my official 1st day of actual work.  Everything seems pretty chaotic, but I'm hoping that time will remedy that.  I had to "present" (they teach British English) myself to each class.  Everyone got a kick out of me having 5 siblings who all have "B" names.  I've been feeling a little guilty because I haven't been emailing people pics, but I've published all my Spain albums on Facebook to be accessible to anyone.  You're welcomed to check them out.  My email is brycetbutcher@gmail.com if you'd like to send me a message!

Here's a picture of my school!  I'm teaching 3rd and 4th graders, so that translates to 8-10 yr old students (I think).  Of course I remember the trouble makers' names, the boys who are named "Nacho", and the girls who are named "Paloma" (because The Senas were going to name Mia Paloma, and for some reason it stuck in my head).

Piso

I thought I would be able to find an apartment in 4 days... turns out I was sorely mistaken!  My Spanish is not nearly what I thought it was.  In fact, I feel like it's worse a week into it than it was before I came.  Anyway, I couldn't get a hold of anyone on the phone or through email, so the day crept up on me that I had to be out of my hostal, and I had NOWHERE to go!  I sat in the lobby with my suitcases and my laptop on my lap thinking....what next?!?!?  (I think I even said a quick little prayer)  Then I remembered that I had looked at this attic room where these Americans from Portland Oregon (yes, I said Portland) were living.  It was dark, and gross, and I couldn't imagine living there (I think I even mentioned it in my earlier blog).  I asked them if I could stay with them a few days until I could find a proper room, and thankfully they said yes!  The night I get there, their Landlord comes and tells us he has a 3 bedroom apartment down the hall coming open!!! I can't believe it!  So, long story short, I'm living with two kids from Portland, Zack and Marissa!  More to come later, but it's a tiny little apartment, but it has 2 bathrooms and a little terrace that looks over a very Spanish street!  Pics to follow!

1st 4 days

It's been a whirlwind of a week here!  I got really sick the 2nd day and had to visit a "Centro Salud" to see a Dr.  I got an ear infection from flying.  But I'm happy to report that I got some antibiotics and I'm on the up!  Went to orientation and met 3 others from Portland Oregon!  It's a small world!  They wanted me to be their roommate, but the room they had was basically a crawl space.  You couldn't stand up in it.  I may not have super high standards, but I feel like it's ok require head room.  I'm going to look at a place tomorrow on a street called Fuencarral.  It's this amazing shopping street right in the middle of everything!  I hope it's as cute as the pictures.  The guy on the phone was super bossy and insisted that I be there at 11:30 on the DOT!  But that is one thing I'm figuring out...Spanish Folk are very DIRECT.  There are no niceties.

Haven't had any fantastic food experiences yet... but I know I will soon.  I ordered a salad with chicken, and it was iceburg lettuce swimming in thousand island dressing with ketchup drizzled over it.  I almost puked.

Puerta del Sol

Gran Via

Here are some pics of Gran Via and Puerta del Sol!  I need to get better at photography!  I'm still figuring out my camera!

ESTOY AQUI!!!!

I made it safe and sound!  The Metro in Madrid is BEAUTIFUL (compared to NYC, that is).  It has these crazy moving stairs called escalators!!  Which, after dragging my luggage around NYC's, was a big relief.  I've broken 2 of my 5 piece luggage set, and I left my iphone in a cab (but the cab driver actually brought it to my hostal!!!), and I'm so tired, I feel like I need a triple shot infused redbull.  But other than that, this place is amazing!  I've attached a picture of my luxurious view from my hostal room.

Other than that, not a lot to tell.  I did meet 2 girls on my flight from NYC who are in my program, and they are both going to be in my group for orientation.  So that's pretty cool!  I'll write more later (and include more interesting photos)

And please look past any typo's, my internet spellcheck is in spanish at the moment.

Minor Details

I've realized that I really haven't been very explicit about the details of the program I'm to be a part of.  People keep asking, "so why are you going to Spain?" and I'm tempted to say, "for the wine."  The wine might have something to do with it, but unfortunately, sitting back with a glass of Rioja won't pay the rent.  

I was very fortunate to be a recipient of an educational grant through the Ministry of Education of Spain.  As part of the stipulations of the grant, I will be a cultural ambassador in one of their schools.  The school I was assigned to is an elementary school in a suburb of Madrid called Las Rozas.  map of Las Rozas  The fantastic part of the program (besides the fact I'll be LIVING in SPAIN) is that I'll receive full medical coverage and only be working 12-16 hours a week!  Hopefully that will leave me with plenty of time to explore the great cities of Europe!  Or, more likely, to get a second gig.