Although I´ve quickly learned that there are many differences between international teaching and teaching in the states, the biggest difference I´ve noticed these days is a very specific topic of conversation -- So, what are you doing next year?
In the states, because (in my opinion) stability is highly valued - owning a home, a consistent job, having a family - people don´t tend to move around too often, unless they have to. So, conversations about changing jobs, especially in teaching, didn´t seem to occur all that often, unless it was for a change in position.
The world of international teaching is completely different! At this time of year, the conversation consistently centers around plans for next year (and it´s only November!). People are constantly asking if you´re staying or going, where you might go, when you´ll decide, etc. It´s crazy! Many people clearly know if they want to stay or if they want to go due to needing a change, more money, or just not enjoying where they are. But many people are in limbo, too.
This topic of conversation has again reminded me of my love/hate relationship with change. I love new experiences and the changes they can bring and I think change is essential and positive most of the time. But I also hate having to think about it! It gives me such an unsettled feeling.
I know I´m staying in Barcelona - at this point in time, I still love the city and have no desire to be anywhere else. (Of course it would be nicer to make a bit more money, live in a country with a strong economy, and feel like I´m living more in Spain than Catalunya, but . . . for the time being, all of that is not enough reason to move - yet. :) As I listen to others discuss what to do, I feel like maybe there´s some change I need to make that I´m not aware of! I start to feel unsettled and unsure - even though I AM really sure about my choice.
As I realized a few weeks ago, I think I need to make some changes so that I can personally feel more settled. Hopefully it´s as simple as finding a new apartment that´s a better fit and buying some things that make me feel more at home. It´s silly, but I think my own set of dishes, a new coffee pot, and the "wall of pictures" I´ve been envisioning might be all it takes to give me that feeling!
I know these conversations will continue to occur - it seems this is just the way things are in the international world of teaching. And sometimes, it makes me miss the stability of "home." Hopefully everyone will start to find their answers soon - for their sake and mine :)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
A Year of Travel
It´s hard to believe 2012 is coming to a close - how quickly the year goes! This year has been full of so many amazing moments and memories - it would take ages to list them all! So, I´ve decided to highlight travel.
Without a doubt, this year has included travel to more countries than ever before - England, Ireland, Croatia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, and Hungary, plus small weekend trips around Spain. Wow! I feel so lucky that I´m living in a place that makes it so easy to hop from one country to another AND that I can afford to do so AND that I have friends who love to travel just as much as I do.
When heading to the airport this weekend for our trip to Budapest, I was again surprised by just how excited I still get about traveling! I love the idea of seeing a new place, experiencing something different,trying new foods, researching, and planning. There´s something about walking off the air plane, knowing I´m about to experience something new that I just can´t get enough of. (However, I would happily skip the waiting and airport lines :)
The excitement I felt yet again this weekend proved to be another reminder that I´m making the right choices for me right now. 2013 promises to be full of even more adventure, including Carnival in Rio and hiking part of the Camino de Santiago with my parents. And my travel wish list just keeps growing . . .
Without a doubt, this year has included travel to more countries than ever before - England, Ireland, Croatia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, and Hungary, plus small weekend trips around Spain. Wow! I feel so lucky that I´m living in a place that makes it so easy to hop from one country to another AND that I can afford to do so AND that I have friends who love to travel just as much as I do.
When heading to the airport this weekend for our trip to Budapest, I was again surprised by just how excited I still get about traveling! I love the idea of seeing a new place, experiencing something different,trying new foods, researching, and planning. There´s something about walking off the air plane, knowing I´m about to experience something new that I just can´t get enough of. (However, I would happily skip the waiting and airport lines :)
The excitement I felt yet again this weekend proved to be another reminder that I´m making the right choices for me right now. 2013 promises to be full of even more adventure, including Carnival in Rio and hiking part of the Camino de Santiago with my parents. And my travel wish list just keeps growing . . .
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| Tessa and I in front of Parliament |
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Fall Nostalgia
Although it's gotten better in the last week or two, I have to admit that I've been more nostalgic for "home" this fall than ever before. I don't know if it was because the weather in Barcelona took ages to change (and it's still not that cold!) or all the posts I saw on Facebook related to pumpkin-flavored things, football, and cold weather. Either way, I felt myself missing things I haven't really missed the past few years:
- big pots of coffee in the morning
- pumpkin bread
- chai tea lattes
- pumpkin decorations
- tailgating
- frosty air
Such little things, but I loved them so much! Luckily the holiday lights have been put up in Barcelona, just waiting to be lit. The weather is cooler and a friend is hosting a traditional Thanksgiving this weekend - hopefully enjoying stuffing, potatoes, corn bread, and more will kick these last few bits of melancholy :)
Sweden
As usual, when the school year picks up, my blogging slows down! I'd been meaning to share a little about our trip to Stockholm earlier, but better late than never, right?
I'm not entirely sure why, but Scandinavia has been high on my list of places to visit since moving to Europe. Maybe it was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series or the actor Alexander Skarsgard, regardless, I've wanted to see what Sweden was all about for quite awhile. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint!
I love any place that's full of trees and green space (reminds me of Colorado) and when there's water everywhere, it's even better! Sweden consists of more than 100,000 islands and 300,000 bodies of water - wow! Needless to say, the scenery is stunning. Tessa and I took a boat tour through the archipelago and it was definitely one of the highlights for me. The air was crisp and fresh, the sun shining, and the trees changing. It couldn't have been more beautiful.
The old town was gorgeous - old stone streets, colorful buildings, and lots of people. I loved it! The fact that you walk cross bridges to each part of town was equally great. The people were tall and beautiful, although often serious and dressed in black. (Again, just like what I imagined!)
The only downside of Sweden, as expected, was that it was expensive. Considering a beer in Spain costs an average of 2 euros, Sweden was the other extreme - most beers were 8-10! A few days there was about all our wallets could handle.
It was so great to visit a place that was only 3 hours away, yet so, so different than where I live. This is why I love Europe! I'm headed to Budapest next week - a city I expect to be just as different. Can't wait!
I'm not entirely sure why, but Scandinavia has been high on my list of places to visit since moving to Europe. Maybe it was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series or the actor Alexander Skarsgard, regardless, I've wanted to see what Sweden was all about for quite awhile. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint!
I love any place that's full of trees and green space (reminds me of Colorado) and when there's water everywhere, it's even better! Sweden consists of more than 100,000 islands and 300,000 bodies of water - wow! Needless to say, the scenery is stunning. Tessa and I took a boat tour through the archipelago and it was definitely one of the highlights for me. The air was crisp and fresh, the sun shining, and the trees changing. It couldn't have been more beautiful.
The old town was gorgeous - old stone streets, colorful buildings, and lots of people. I loved it! The fact that you walk cross bridges to each part of town was equally great. The people were tall and beautiful, although often serious and dressed in black. (Again, just like what I imagined!)
The only downside of Sweden, as expected, was that it was expensive. Considering a beer in Spain costs an average of 2 euros, Sweden was the other extreme - most beers were 8-10! A few days there was about all our wallets could handle.
It was so great to visit a place that was only 3 hours away, yet so, so different than where I live. This is why I love Europe! I'm headed to Budapest next week - a city I expect to be just as different. Can't wait!
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