Happy

I am feeling very content at the moment, so I have nothing to complain about (well, maybe that I wish my boy was here...)

So, a quick recap of the week! School has been good and busy this week. We have been kept busy preparing the activities for Thanksgiving next week - just about everything is sorted now. I hope the teachers appreciate what we've come up with, because I think they are great. We also have to tell and act out another story for the kids, so I have been reading up on Thanksgiving, since I know very little about it, being British. Yes, I am definately learning alot myself in this job; it's great!!

On Friday, I met up with Abby and Rachel (2 American au-pairs) for dinner, and then we headed off to the intercambio night. It was great fun - spoke to some Americans, Russian, Irish and we also met these 2 lovely Spanish girls: Inma and Fisa. We have arranged to meet up next weekend with them to practice our Spanish and their English over coffee or similar, which I'm looking forward to :]

My Spanish is definately improving. I even went to the hairdresser on Friday, which I was very apprehensive about. However, I came out with what I wanted, so am very pleased with myself. I managed to ask for a cut and blow-dry. To have it cut 3 inches short, my fringe and layers trimmed and for her to dry it straight :) So, another experience.

I had a lovely day today. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if my boy was here too. I missed him lots today :( I went into Sol with my flatmate this morning as she needed to return some stuff and buy some presents. I ended up falling in love with lots of things in H+M. They have even more Hello Kitty stuff here than in the UK, and anyone who knows me will know how much I love anything Hello Kitty. I managed to restrain myself though, and only bought some Hello Kitty boxer pants and a grey and white checked winter skirt which I'm wearing now. I also bought a Hello Kitty t-shirt and a zip-up jacket, but I'm going to take them back tomorrow as they don't fit right. Also going to look for some more, thicker tights and some warm pyjamas.

Then, I went to Sfera and bought a really cute pencil case, and an even cuter notebook agenda. The cover reads: 'Forever With You - I want to make you happy because seeing you smiling makes me happy. I need you.' This really sums up my relationship at the moment, so whenever I use this I am going to be remined of my boy :)

Then, I went to this really posh 5-star hotel, as they were holding a Christmas Bazaar. All handmade stalls with many things; jewellery, decorations, presents, books. I bought a few little presents there and also bought myself a really cute bookmark. It's magnetic and great.

Tomorrow, hopefully Charlotte will be coming over so we can finally sort out and book the hostels for La Puente, and I'll go into town to return the stuff to H+M. Looking forward to another week.

Besos :*

A Productive Day

So, I have Mondays off, as I only work a 16 hour week. I love having Mondays off as, for me, it's the worst day of the week. But not if I don't have to go to work!

Today has been very productive. I had a shower this morning, went to the bank to change my account from a foreigner's to a residents, posted some postcrossing postcards (after the poor shop assistant was able to find the stamps to China!) and went to the supermarket.

Now, whenever I go to the supermarket here it is always heaving; I have yet to find the best time to go when it is quiet. Maybe it's never quiet! I worked in a supermarket last year, and it was never constantly busy. I mean here, the queues always have a minimum of 4 people in them, all with full baskets, with about 6 checkouts open. I pity the poor checkout girls; they have a much harder job here than I had back in the UK. No time to stop and breathe.

This afternoon I made some chocolate chip buns, and this is how they turned out:

They look good! I ate one earlier, and I think they don't quite taste right, the same way my mum's taste. The recipe I found online didn't mention putting baking powder in, but a put a teaspoon in anyway, as I was convinced that's what my mum does. Anyway, next time I speak to her I'll ask her for her recipe and maybe I won't put baking powder in them next time!

Then, I hoovered and tidied my room.

As you can see, I have changed my blog once again! I like it now, although I think the banner at the top could do with being a little wider, and maybe changing the title to black font, instead of pink. Hmmm.....

This evening I am planning to relax, watch some Greys Anatomy, do some more cross-stitch and read. The book I'm reading at the moment is 'The Thirteenth Tale' by Diane Setterfield. It's good :)

Besos

First of all, sorry for the lack of posts! I am just so busy!

This week I (finally) managed to get my NIE number; similar to a National Insurance Number, but for foreigners. In order to obtain this number you first have to send off a form, a copy of your passport and a copy of your nombramiento (work contract). Then you have to fill in another form and take it to a bank and pay 10E and get it signed (for administration costs). Then you have to wait for an appointment. So I found out my appointment was last Tuesday at 8:45am!! So, on Monday I went to the bank and waited 45mins in the queue, only to be told that I couldn't pay 10E as the number at the top wasn't recognised by their computer! So, I go to another bank. And they say the same thing. So I come home and spend the rest of the day worrying that the police arn't going to give me this number. Then on Tuesday morning I get to the police station early and tell them my problem. They tell me to go to the bank next door and try again. So I did, and it worked!! I was so happy :) The rest of the morning was spent queueing outside in the cold, waiting for this piece of paper with a number on it.

I'm just glad it's done now, nothing else to worry about. It also means that I won't get charged by the bank, for being a foreigner, which is good.

On Friday, myself, Andrew and Damaris were invited to Mary-Beths house after school for food and vino. She lives in a small pueblo about 30mins from Alcala. Her house is beautiful; it's completely made of wood and is so cosy and open. It doesn't have central heating; instead a massive wood burner. She had cooked a gorgeous stew with yummy bread and salad. After lunch we went on a walk with her husband Alex and their dog, Chanel - who is the cutest! Then we came back, lit the fire, and ate pumpkin pie with whipped cream :) I could have stayed there all night, it was just so cosy; sitting by the fire chatting.

Also, on Monday, Damion and I 'celebrated' our 1 year. I received a gorgeous bunch of roses to my door, which are sadly wilting a little now! But they were so lovely and I also got a little message with them which made me awww!! We spoke on Skype briefly before he had to go into uni, but we'll have a proper date/celebration when I see him in the Christmas holidays.

This afternoon I am thinking about making some chocolate chip buns, although I don't have any eggs and I don't know if I can be bothered to go and buy any! I think I will though, in half an hour or so.

Tomorrow, I may go and find the swimming pool and see how much it costs, because I really need to do some more excercise....

Besos :*

:]

W ell, it has been a fairly busy week so far! I had both Monday and Friday off though, as I will be working every day next week.

At school, we were preparing activities for Halloween, which is an all week thing this week. I also made my poster display for the school and put it up on the wall, it looks pretty good, I must say!



Myself, along with the other 3 assistants also had to plan activities for each grade (1-6) and ensure that we had all the materials prepared. This involved lots of photocopying, colouring, making posters, laminating pumkins and sticking them on sticks, making skeletons etc.!! We also have to act out a story for each class, and have been given the story 'Scary Mary's First Halloween' to do by our co-ordinator. On Friday of next week all the parents will be coming to the school because the children will be performing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' for them. The last week or so has seen us attempting to first learn, and then teach each grade a different part of the dance. I must say that it is looking pretty good, although we've not yet tried it with all the school together! Let's just hope Friday brings a nice day as we are going to do it outside in the playground!

Aside from school, I have also had a busy week. Wednesday saw me meeting up with Tamzyn and Charlotte, 2 other ELAs for some tapas and vino at Sol. A very enjoyable evening, and only costing us 9E each, for 4 tapas and a bottle of vino! Excelente!

Thursday, Damaris, Andrew (2 American assistants at my school) and I headed to near where Andrew lives and went to a cafe and had a chocolate (literally a cup of melted chocolate... mmm but so bad!! haha), and then Damaris and I headed to 'Cine Dore' to watch Che Guevara 2; very interesting insight into Che's life in Bolivia.

On Friday evening I met up with Andrew and Damaris again at Cine Dore, where we saw 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'; also excellently done. A great dialogue and an excellent performance by Elizabeth Taylor. Afterwards we headed to a little bar 'El Sur' for some vino and tapas. As it was very close to the cinema, the place had a film theme about it, with posters of various Spanish films lining the walls. I definitely want to check that place out again. I can recommend the huevos revueltos and the musaca, both delicious and another great bargain, coming to 6E each this time, including a glass of wine :]

After food Damaris and I decided we should probably go and join the teachers for a quick drink. It was the night of their long-awaited 'cena', which we decided not to attend as the price was at the top end of our budget, at 50E each!! So, we went to 'Moma Bar' and arrived just as desserts were being served and were treated to some. Shots then followed. We stayed just over an hour and then left around 1am, as we needed to get the metro home before it closed at 1:30, and we left the teachers to go and dance the night away in the club next door.

Today, I met up with Charlotte and Tamzyn again in El Parque de Buen Retiro. Another gorgeous day where we enjoyed a picnic by the lake and then had a lovely afternoon strolling around the different parts of the garden. We also talked a little about our plans for 'El Puente' and Christmas shopping!


I have just watched 2 episodes of Grey's Anatomy and have made good progress on my Hello Kitty cross-stitch. Am up early tomorrow (6:45) for a very full and busy week ahead; but I'm looking forward to it.

Besos :*

Introduction

Well, I thought it best to start with an introduction of myself and why I am writing this blog.

My name is Naomi, and I am a 20 year old student from the University of Manchester on her year abroad in Madrid, Spain. My degree is in Spanish and Psychology, and so this year forms a compulsory part of my course. I decided to be an ELA (English Language Assistant), and am working in a bilingual primary school in Coslada, on the outskirts of Madrid.

I have been here for three weeks now, and I started my job just over a week ago.

I am going to use this blog to record what I have been up to, to advise future ELAs and also some information about teaching.

Hasta Luego