Not On Holiday Anymore...

Until I started work last Monday it really did feel like we were on holiday.  Even though we were renting an apartment and going to the police station to complete paperwork, we were in the sun, seeing a new city and wearing shorts all the time.  That's a holiday in my book.

Well it may still be hot enough to wear shorts every day but I certainly do not feel like I'm on holiday any more.

The first week at school was relatively easy.  I just had to sort through the mountain of stuff that was still in my classroom and get it ready for my new lot.  Easy.  Then Friday rolled around.  The first day of school.  I was incredibly nervous and hardly slept at the prospect of meeting my first class but it passed quite enjoyably really.  The joy of reception teaching is that the children learn through play and you have a fairly relaxed start to the year, observing them play and getting to know them.

The children themselves seemed lovely, but didn't speak much English.  Understandable really, as they had a 2 month summer break and most would only have spoken/been spoken to in Spanish in that time.  I could see they were very chatty though, not just to me but amongst each other.  I had been warned about this.  "Spanish children aren't like English children" everybody told me.  "How different can they be?" I thought.

Well this week has definitely shown me.  As lovely as the children can be, I have spent much of this week thinking "why won't you just be flipping quiet for 5 minutes?!"  I ended up in a thoroughly bad mood on Wednesday evening about it, stressed by my inability to quieten them down without raising my voice.  I never raised my voice last year when I worked at Woodlands.  Not once.  I did however at my second school placement but that made me feel incredibly guilty and like I had failed because I don't think children should be shouted at.  However when 20 children (I know, small class) are all talking at the top of their voices, there is no other way to make myself heard.

I moped a bit, and I worried that I wasn't cut out for it.  I mainly missed my class from last year though and that didn't get me anywhere.  By Thursday after though I had a plan. And by plan I mean I had names to stick on the mat they sit on (put your bottom on your name and don't move is working pretty well) and I had a whistle to blow to get their attention.  Friday was therefore a much smoother day.  At no point did I feel like my head was going to explode, and I felt far more in control.

I still have a lot to do to get my class into good routines.  They start school younger and so some of my new reception class aren't 4 until December.  The difference in maturity is noticeable and it's something that will take me time to get used to having taught far older children last year.

I fully intend to make the most of the weekend though to recharge my batteries and make the most of the continuing amazing weather.  I managed after work drinks and a late dinner (most of the restaurants here don't open til after 8 and get busy til after 10 which can be difficult on a Friday) before enjoying the best lie in ever this morning.

I hope to have another post soon as we're planning to go to a tapas fair tonight.  Life in Spain is really very good indeed.

Bioparc Valencia

Sunday was the last day of my summer holidays and so we decided to have a touristy day out.  The Bioparc was our choice, not that we're deprived of fun things to do in Valencia, as we had heard such great things.

The Bioparc describes itself as a "zoo immersion" environment, where the barriers are hidden and the animals live in natural habitats so you can get closer to them and feel more involved.

We were definitely impressed.  There is a great range of African animals in different habitats- Madagascar, Equatorial Africa and the Savannah.  My photos don't do the place justice.

We enjoyed it so much (and are pretty sure that we'll be going a good few more times when we have visitors over) that we're almost certainly going to get annual passes.  At just €50 each they are great value for money. I could sit and watch the giraffes roaming around for hours, and I almost certainly will do that. 

The Bioparc is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Valencia.  Children would absolutely love it as well.  The only downside is that you aren't allowed to take your own food in and the prices were high (as they always are) for very small portions.  That aside, it's a very enjoyable way to spend a day and I'm sure you'll see me mention it on here again! 

My Happy Place

This is not a sad post.  I feel like I need to say this so that my Mum, who will no doubt be reading this, doesn’t worry.  Everyone has those days when you feel a bit overwhelmed and that’s what this is about.

I have used the word overwhelmed so much over the last few weeks. Because that what I am.  Not homesick, or upset or worried, just overwhelmed by it all.  Moving into a new flat in a country where I don’t speak the language and starting my first teaching job is a lot.  And although I feel excited 90% of the time, I had a moment on Friday.

If I was in Lincoln and I felt like this then I would head to Starbucks, usually with my mum, and talk it through.  Well who needs Starbucks when you have this at the end of your road?

I took myself off to sit outside the art museum (I think it's the art museum, must check that) with my book and a cold drink for a while on Friday afternoon.  

I think I’ve found the perfect place to chill out; the cool breeze, the blue sky and water and the quietness meant that I actually enjoyed being on my own rather than feeling like I needed Rich there to translate things and help me get around.  Not knowing the language is difficult; it makes me feel confused and stupid because I'm not used to having so much difficulty understanding what's going on.  Here though, I felt totally chilled. 

Where’s your go to place when you feel overwhelmed and in need of a break?

Moving Day

Well we have moved into our new flat.  A mountain of cases and a taxi ride later we found ourselves in Monteolivet.

Our flat is in a large complex, on the 6th floor and it seems like a nice area.  There are lots of little cafes and bars nearby and one even sells perfectly drinkably wine for 50c a glass.  OK that's a small 125ml glass for 50c but at 250ml for less than £1, we're happy!

What makes the location even better is that we have 5 tennis courts just outside the building and we're only a 5 minute stroll from the Riverbed park and the City of Arts and Sciences with its incredible architecture.  We've yet to explore either properly but I know we'll be there soon and no doubt take all our visitors there too.

We took some pictures of the new flat so you can have a gander...

Not a bad park to bike and walk in eh?

The view at the end of our street.

I was a little bit excited to get the keys and move in!

The lounge.  The colours in the flat are a bit loud but it's really comfy and homey.

Dining area in the lounge.

If you look closely you might spot a few tiny pictures of my family- I got them up as soon as I could and now we need to get some of Rich's family organised.

The kitchen is a little galley kitchen, but very well equipped.  Our landlady has left crockery, cutlery, glassware, everything for us right down to tea towels which is a bonus when you can;t bring any of that stuff with you. 

I took this before I bought more hangers to hang my dresses up and before I put some new sheets on the bed but this is the master room in all its red and gold glory.  I told you it was bright!

The guest room is orange and has quite a tribal feel.  It'll probably look a bit different by the time people visit though, slightly calmer. 

And lastly the bathroom.  I absolutely love this shower with its 4 settings including a separate foot shower and jets out of the wall!  It's been up to 35c this week so a good shower is a must here.

So there you go, a little tour around our new place.  It still feels very new but hopefully we'll settle in soon and see lots of our friends and family for visits.  Rich's parents are our first and we can't wait to show it off!

I'll post about other things we've been getting up to at the weekend.  We may have been busy with flat hunting, paperwork and moving but we've still found time for some fun as well!

Tengo uno piso!

That means we have found a flat!  To be fair we only took a day and half to find somewhere but it's 35c and that  is pretty hot to spend long days traipsing around a city!

We sign the contract tomorrow and move in on Thursday when I will be able to pop some pictures up.

We both love it though which is the most important thing as it's our first flat together :)

Leaving on a jet plane...

My bags are packed and I'm off!

I have no idea when I'll be able to post next but keep your eyes peeled for updates when I can get to a computer.

Wish us luck!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Goodbye...

I knew that I'd find saying goodbye to my friends and family difficult.  Given that I won't see most of them until Christmas, that's not a surprise but like so many things the reality is proving even more tricky.

My brother is cycling from London to Paris this weekend and he left this morning so he was the first family member I said bye to.  Cue floods of tears.  I know it's not that long until he'll come to visit in October, but it wasn't very fun regardless.  And to be honest once you've cried that much at 7am, it leaves you feeling a bit funny for the rest of the day.

I've just spoken to my grandparents and that was difficult too.  They're already far away (well, Glasgow) and to be honest moving won't really affect how often I see them but I won't have the same amount of contact with them.  It probably doesn't surprise you they're not on Facebook and don't read blogs or even e-mail.

This all has me slightly worried about the goodbyes at the airport tomorrow, partly because I don't have any waterproof mascara and Rich will fairly inevitably have a streaky faced girlfriend in tow as he goes through security.  But it's not all bad.  I love my friends and family to bits and if it's hard to say goodbye then that just means I'll miss them.  I'd rather this than not being fussed at all.

To anyone reading this who I've seen over this summer (to name a few- Dave, Sharon, Jenny and her boys, Josh, Tom, Lucy, Olly, Marianne, Laura, Amy, Sarah and so, so many more people-sorry if I've missed you out) I have loved catching up and sharing my excitement and I look forward to posting about our new life in Valencia which I'm sure will be fantastic.

Tonight will involve the last of my packing before I relax with my Mum tomorrow morning.  And then it's on to the airport...