Day 4: Charging back up to Positive

I was twenty minutes late to orientation. Of course, orientation didn't start until thirty minutes after it was supposed to (it was running on "Spanish time") - so, technically, I was still ten minutes early. But after another long, drawn out day of being handed packets and then being told in seven different ways what the packet said and students asking in seventeen different ways things that had just been covered, I was starting to regret my decision. When kids had said they wanted to be a teacher when they were younger I'd think they were crazy. Why go through all the schooling just to pop out on the other end of it? It sounded like interminable prison. And yet, here I am... getting a Master's degree in Education...

My idea had been that I would teach English for awhile to fund my desire to travel the world. It sounded exotic and crazy and I liked that. It sounded like the type of thing that you could tell even the most successful of individuals and they'd still envy you for your freedom and experiences and tenacity and independence. Like the type of thing that would provide you with never ending stories for your friends and children and grandchildren. Like something many dream of having done as a young adult, but instead got married or had kids or settled into a job too soon.

But only four days into this adventure and I was starting to feel like all travel meant was constantly leaving loved ones behind and having to start over - over and over again- lonely, a little frightened, forlorn and sometimes even floundering. Of course, I remember feeling this way last summer a few days after arriving, as well. When the feeling quickly dissipated as I figured out where I fit and got to know people and establish a routine of constant gratitude and discovery. But for that first week - man! It's not as chipper and glamorous as travel writing and travel photography make it seem. No, not at all.

After orientation was over, I went to talk to the program director, Iulia, about the specifics of my school and how to get there. She handed me a sticky note with my mentor's name and phone number and said she'd be picking me up tomorrow morning as school buses won't begin service until Monday. I looked at her sideways and asked, "I'm the only one assigned to this school?!" "Oh yes!" she said, smiling. "You'll just love it. Everyone is very nice and the school is very modern." I grinned to myself, wondering if Cristina really had had a hand in deciding where I was to intern, like she said she had yesterday when I saw her and Fausto in the street.

I immediately called my mentor (also named Cristina - Cristina P.) and when I introduced myself she became very enthusiastic. "Aye! Chelsea! Hola!" She said she would pick me up at 8:30 and where should she do so? I suggested in front of the University of Alcala but she said oh that would be impossible with traffic in the morning, and how about the train station? She has a big grey Nissan and will look for me. :) It was a pretty adorable conversation, as simple as it was. Sometimes talking to people in Spain for the first time feels like talking to an old friend. I don't know how they manage that sort of thing - especially in a foreign language - but it's extremely comforting.

To further cheer myself up and get ready for my big day tomorrow, I treated myself on my first train ride into Madrid to go to the six story Desigual near Callao. :) Ever since Moxie got broken into last October and my Desigual purse was stolen, I'd been longing to have one back on my shoulder. I saved up a little money just for this purpose. And so after 45 minutes of carefully perusing, I present you with my new dream bag:

As soon as I got home, Katie invited me out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Alcala with her friends and I agreed (in my quest to become more social). I had a surprisingly good time and giggled a fair amount. :)

Upon arriving home I was greeted by an email from Ernesto asking if I would be interested in meeting up for lunch next week to catch up and to go over his teaching portfolio that he's planning on sending to universities in the US! When I woke up this morning I told myself that something good was going to happen to me today. I didn't really believe it, but it had been a cute quote on Pintrest and I was determined to at least say it to myself as I walked to school. Lo and behold, it worked! ^_^ Being with all new people has made me feel way more upset than I expected to feel here in Alcala - which, up until yesterday, I was sure I'd considered my home away from home. But with so many changes happening so fast, I'd began to become overwhelmed and forlorn at the same time. Hearing from Ernesto and asking to be included in his teaching portfolio revisions was just what I needed to feel a little bit back on track and sanguine! :)

Time to try to get more than four hours of sleep! I can't be late for THIS meeting. EEK! ;)