Chapter Fourteen: 'Bye-Bye, See You!'

So, the adventure of a lifetime is drawing to a close. Rounding off the victory lap and crossing the finish line of the marathon that has been this year has left me in a pensive mood. As far as celebrations go, Saturday 15th May 2016 will live long in the memory. Seeing my beloved FC Barcelona crowned champions of Spain on the final day of the Liga season, at the end of my Year Abroad is unlikely to ever be surpassed, and it's also just as inconceivable that I'll ever get such easy access onto a football pitch again.

Naturally it was a real fiesta for all supporters present: both for others of Barca persuasion, securing the first of two trophies to finish the season, (they went on to add the Spanish Cup to the cabinet a week later against, fittingly, another Andalusian side, Sevilla) and fans of Granada, celebrating maintaining their status as a top-tier La Liga side for another season. But for one supporter in the Estadio de Los Carmenes that day, it also signalled something else. It was time for me to say goodbye.

It's never easy. No matter how often you do it- and I've had plenty of practice of late- that moment when you turn your back on a person, place or thing that has been a part of your life for however long always conjures up a mix of emotions that we never manage to fully articulate. I'm not the only person I know who is experiencing this at the moment. Various friends are now celebrating the end of their university careers, and I have absolutely no idea how I will cope when the time comes for me to follow suit next year. Likewise my fellow Year Abroaders are in the process of bringing their placements to a close.

It's very difficult not to be saddled with nostalgia at the end of the academic year, and I've felt particularly reflective of late. Experiences of the various types that I have lived over the past three years have left marks on me that I won't go into here in great detail, though it also suffices to say that the past eight months in particular feel like something of a culmination. It's been a journey two years in the making, and it doesn't get any easier from here on out.

Last day with one of my favourite classes- everyone appropriately dressed to send me on my way.

I'm grateful for it all, though, every moment. I wouldn't change a thing. I always learn more about myself by responding to moments of adversity and a very distinct minority of the people I've met and challenges I've faced this year have seriously tried my patience at times. It was at these points that I have been truly forced to take a good look at myself, and ask how much I wanted to see this race through to it's very end. I reminded myself of my reasons for taking on the challenge, of all those back home supporting me, my friends and classmates who have all done wonderfully on their respective placements and how I wouldn't be able to look myself in the eye if I packed it all in early. But most of all, it's been the relationships I've been incredibly fortunate to forge over the past eight months with people from all walks of life, teacher and student, both within and outside of school, that have made all the frustrations worthwhile, and are now proving the hardest to let go.

At one time or another, everyone gets a major case of 'the feels'. For me, this happened on Wednesday after my last lesson with my favourite Year 5 group (all suitably turned out for the occasion), when the mandatory music to spell the end of the lesson sounded over the PA. The song this time was 'Fix You' by Coldplay- highly appropriate. It got me thinking about all the people with whom I have crossed paths throughout the course of the last three years.

Some have become extremely close friends, others promptly drifted out of my life, through no fault of their own. A few started out as friends and went agonisingly close to becoming something even more amazing, but then things broke down, for whatever reason, leaving me endlessly questioning myself and wondering where I'd gone wrong. I've learned that some friendships aren't meant to last, but that doesn't make them any less fulfilling. There is one thing that stays with you however, and that's the emptiness and -occasionally- the pain that you feel when whatever person leaves your life. Naturally, I take the blame for a great deal of the problems I have encountered this year. It's very easy to blame others for the chip you may have on your shoulder, but I'd like to think I have the honesty, integrity and respect for others to own up and say my problems are more often than not my own making. Except not being paid for three months.

In my last blog post I touched upon my experiences of working in a bilingual primary school, and although it hasn't been the success that I hoped it would be at the outset, I've been very fortunate to have made some close friends throughout the course of my placement, and our last days together have naturally tugged at the heartstrings, although you admittedly won't catch me shedding any tears over leaving either. Naturally I'll be sad to leave those with whom I've developed a rapport, but will I miss my school a great deal? No. I'm not someone with a habit of shutting the door on people, places or opportunities, but I regret to say that this has proven to be an exception to the rule. It saddens me that some aren't happy with all I've tried to give this year, but that's the way it is.

It's now time to look forward with hope, rather than be weighed down by the mistakes of the past, and to also appreciate the moments of success and the progress I have achieved by coming to Spain. It's incredible to admit, but this was my first job and I doubt they'll come much more difficult than what I've been doing this year. It's also been heart-warming hearing of the successes that other Auxiliares, whom I've known from day one at University and others that I've met out here, have had. Some even want to pursue bilingual teaching as a career path, whilst others are staying on another year. Amazing stuff, and kudos to each and every one of them.

As I've already said, I've been lucky to meet some wonderful people over the course of the past nine months, who have constantly found new ways to make me smile. I'll be the first to admit that this challenge was something that I needed to take on- and not for the reasons you think. Obviously I wanted to improve linguistically, but at the same time I was trying to get away from some painful experiences that had left me feeling burned and upset with myself. Travelling to Spain and meeting new faces has been my chicken soup for the soul in that sense.

You won't find better flatmates than these two. Or a worse picture of me. Though in my defence I had just cooked dinner for the three of us...

It's also been a funny coincidence that my flatmates are also getting ready for their adventures abroad next year, in France and Germany respectively. You won't find more friendly and welcoming people than the Spanish, and I'm so lucky that I've shared accommodation with the absolute best of the bunch in Ana and Ana. Naturally I wish them every success, and rather than saying 'adios' to them, I think it'll be more 'hasta pronto'. I've already told them to let me know when they visit England.

Some doors are easily closed, but maybe they shouldn't be. I believe in second chances, whether they be in reigniting dormant friendships, picking up a forgotten hobby, or even finding love. These second chances are scarce and don't come along every day, so when they do it's up to you to reach out and grab them while you can. For that reason, you won't find me looking back bitterly on my time working out here. It's been a chance for me to wipe the slate clean, bury the emotional baggage I brought out to Spain with me and start afresh, just in time for next September.

Most importantly of all though, I've learned to appreciate the friendships of everyone whom I come across, and to not take things for granted anymore. I'm grateful to everyone for keeping in contact with me despite the lack of proactivity from my end. Because of that I've resolved to take a step back and pursue other interests and new friendships, and to work harder to maintain and improve what I already have. It's time to open my eyes and let people in. I've spent so long talking about it, willing myself to take this step. So, if anyone needs me, I'll be there. It's about time too.


'Maybe you weren't strong enough then. Maybe you are now. What was once impossible might very well be possible today. So do the impossible.'

Chapter Thirteen: The Longest Weekend

So, here we go. Just three weeks remain of my Year Abroad in Granada. It feels like no time has passed at all, yet May seems to have crept up on me almost overnight. Many readers will know that I often compare the challenges that we face in life to running in a race. That's to say, if this year were a 24-lap race on the track (10,000 metres), then these last three weeks are the equivalent of the final 400 metre lap, where the result of the race is ultimately decided.

Spring in Granada brings with it La Fiesta de las Cruces, literally the Cross Holidays, celebrated every 3rd May and commemorating the legend of the Roman Emperor Constantine I's victory against the overwhelming barbarian armies at the Battle of Danube. Before the battle, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky and heard a voice which told him: 'With this sign, you will be victorious.' So Constantine had a cross made, planted it at the head of his army and won a great victory, despite being heavily outnumbered. Simple as that- I wish I could do the same with Barca for their last three must-win matches this season.

In Granada in particular, this holiday is a big deal- many people come to the region to see the celebrations and schools are closed for a week. So what did I get up to with this unexpected freedom? I did indeed travel- home to England for a week. Naturally it would have been great to see the celebrations, which looked stunning in the photos and videos uploaded on my friends' Facebook profiles. However, even with just three weeks to go I dare say I needed a break from Spain, to look after myself for a change as opposed to others, as well as an opportunity for some honest reflection.

So what did I get up to at home? Well, I went to the cinema twice in three days: first for Captain America: Civil War with my brother (I've been waiting all year for this one, and it did not disappoint), then The Jungle Book with my sister. I also saw little Leicester City incredibly win the Premier League and the obligatory party in Jamie Vardy's house. I took my dog out in the fields and hills surrounding my house, and then went out running in the fields and hills surrounding my house, all the while reflecting on my experience of working and living abroad as an Auxiliar this year, which is what this latest blog post will address. I'll say this: work has been tough.

The Spanish system of Bilingual Education is different from how foreign languages are taught in the UK. Rather than treating English as it's own subject, in Spain they teach classes like Natural Science, Music or Social Science, entirely in English. It's a very different way of doing things, and I've never been absolutely convinced that it works, at least at my allocated school. I started learning Spanish when I was 13, going on 14, and even by the end of my third year we were still just talking about basic concepts- things like hobbies, favourite films and other admittedly simple topics.

Here, I've been teaching classes of 20+ children of seven years of age about forces and movement, atoms and energy, in a language that they have no idea how to speak properly yet. Except for swear words, which they take to very willingly. I've had to send out so many kids for dropping f-bombs that my job title should be changed to Language Assistant/Resident Swear-Police.

Geeks like me will understand that reference.

This leads to the most frustrating rule of the trade: Auxiliares are not allowed to speak Spanish to the kids, and we get in big trouble if we do. I understand the reasoning: if our students know that we understand them, they'll never try and converse with us in English. Sure, there have been many frustrating times when some students don't know what a word means and it would be the easiest thing in the world to give them the meaning in Spanish and leave it at that. Maybe I am risking the wrath of those above me at my school, but I've been talking to the kids in Spanish all year. My thinking is that if I'm here for eight months, then I want to build as many bridges as possible to make the whole experience worthwhile. I probably won't go down as the best Auxiliar my school has ever had, but this all comes back to looking out for numero uno for a change. I'm in this for myself.

It's not that I lack faith in the system itself- rather, the way it's implemented in the school in which I have worked all year. I know for a fact that it produces results and it's fantastic that so many Spanish kids are given the experience of learning a second language from such an early age. It's just that to me, it feels like a thankless task. 'Welcome to the world of primary school teaching', some would say. One teacher in my school even voiced to me her frustrations with the way the school teaches English, stating that it's not 'true bilingualism.' I'm not sure what exactly that means, as my experience is obviously limited, but it was interesting to hear a more experienced voice seemingly agreeing with me.

No, it wasn't Boromir...

One thing that everyone who chooses to apply for the programme has to accept is that where you are placed comes down entirely to luck of the draw. You could end up in an amazing concertada (semi-private school),  five minutes out of the city centre with motivated and driven teachers, smaller classes of well-behaved students and, crucially, the freedom to teach the classes you want, how you want. On the other hand, you could be placed at school in a town of 5,000 people, an hour from any major city in rural, back country Spain, where your students don't know the difference between England and America and the English Teacher doesn't speak English. The range of possible situations in which you could find yourself on this programme are endless, but the crucial thing is to not let any placement affect your experience of living in Spain too much, either positively or negatively.

Interestingly, my school has reportedly had problems with previous Auxiliares, who felt more aggrieved with the various shortcomings of the programme, along with the teaching at my school and were not afraid to voice their opinions to the powers that be. Obviously you can't help being judged in the same light as those who came before you, and I have done my best to do what those in charge have asked of me, to the best of my ability. I do wish that my mentors at school had more confidence in me, but again, I can only try and make the best of my situation. Experience is experience, whatever form it takes.

The running of the programme itself is also far from slick. The wait to find out where we were placed dragged on for months once we had all applied, and once our placements eventually did get underway in October, thousands of Auxiliares didn't get paid a cent by the Ministry of Education until the New Year. I should know- I was one of them. Fortunately I had a credit card from an already existing bank account with BMN, but others weren't so lucky and struggled to, among other things, pay for rent, transport and even food. It got to the point where many Auxiliares were set to go on strike shortly after Christmas, though thankfully such an unsavoury episode didn't come to pass.

On the flip side, I don't want this blog post to become overly pessimistic. I've been incredibly fortunate to have spent the past eight months in the company of some wonderful people, both within and outside of school, through various other pursuits and interests. One of the best things about Spain is the reaction of it's people when they hear a foreigner speaking their language. It never gets old. Granadinos continually strike me as the most sociable and friendly people I've ever met. Also some of the teachers I've been fortunate enough to meet and work alongside throughout the past eight months have been pretty inspirational and I have a lot of time for them. But ultimately, despite being employed as a teacher this year the kids have taught me the most important lesson of all: how to face every day with a smile on my face, regardless of the challenges presented to me.

Despite the frustrations, it won't be easy to leave this place in three weeks.

So what does this final lap have in stall for me? Well, more of the same for the most part. I'll be heading down to Motril to do my job, naturally. I'm going to squeeze in one more trip up El Mirador de San Nicolas and a look around the Alhambra before I go, and just simply stroll around the city and take things in on my days off.

What's more, next week is the final day of Spain's La Liga season. Granada CF, fighting to stay in the first division welcome my beloved FC Barcelona to town, who themselves are locked in an epic three way tussle with Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico de Madrid for the league title. It looks set to be a huge game for both sides, and the Estadio de los Carmenes will be packed to the rafters. Somewhere, among the hordes of  Granada supporters, you'll find yours truly, witnessing the very title-decider that I predicted in Chapter Two of my blog. What an ending, potentially, to the adventure of a lifetime. Maybe I'll add Nostradamus to my ever-growing list of job titles.

And so, the final lap begins. I'll see you at the finish line.



'If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance run,
Then yours is the Earth and everything that's in it.
And- which is more- you'll be a man, my son.'

Rudyard Kipling- 'If''

Chapter Twelve: 'Granada es chula'

Less than two months remain, and I'm still not sure how to refer to my city of residence for this year. It doesn't feel big enough to be called a major city, yet to refer to it as a forgotten jewel seems to be paying it lip service. It's certainly very different to any other Spanish city I've ever been to.

Granada has a lot to offer. Funnily enough, it's strikingly similar to Nottingham, as there are reminders of the city's heritage scattered all over the place. It's also a very popular student destination- with good reason, as I'm sure you've heard that when you order a drink at a bar you get a free tapa, making the experience of dining out cheap, social and fun. Because of this you get people from many different nationalities here, meaning it's easy to make friends from all over the world- we're all in this together.

As far as student attractions go, Granada is all set. However, what if one were to spend a week here, seeing other things the city has to offer? Well, you absolutely would not run out of things to do, which is what this latest blog will talk about. A mix of breath-taking landmarks, friendly cafeterias and historic restaurants, (yes, historic) combined with some striking architecture make this one of the great 'undiscovered jewels' (still doesn't feel right) that Spain could possibly offer any budding tourist willing to give it a try. These are just some of the places that you simply must experience.

1. El Mirador De San Nicolas

Of course, mostly everyone knows about this place, but I need to say this: it is utterly mind-blowing. The Mirador is essentially a lookout which offers the best views of the city, Alhambra and Sierra Nevada. I went up during the early evening, and I'd absolutely recommend experiencing it during the twilight hours. Looking out over the city as dusk gathers is nothing short of magical, and I'm certainly going to make the time to do it again before I leave. There isn't much else to say, other than it's a must for anyone who finds themselves visiting Granada. Finally, make sure to drop in at the Balcon De San Nicolas restaurant and bar before you head back down into town. Sitting opposite the majestically lit Alhambra as a backdrop is a dining experience you will not forget in a hurry.

'I can see my house from here..'

2. The Alhambra

Yes, another obvious pick but it wouldn't be Granada without mentioning the Alhambra . Having previously read, watched and written at length about the city's most famous landmark before I even set foot here, I can safely say that it deserves its renown. Everything there is perfectly preserved, giving the impression that this last great bastion of the Muslim Caliphate has been completely frozen in time.  The gardens are stunning, and the towers and walls offer equally spectacular views of the city as the previous entry on this list.

Meaning 'The Red Fortress' in reference to how it appears to glow in the evening sun, the palace was built in the 14th Century as a visual symbol of the rule of Granada by the Muslim Nasrid Emirate, and is considered by both contemporary and modern architects the world over as the greatest example of Moorish-Arab architecture in Europe. It's highly likely that you will have watched a documentary on Spain which would have featured this place at some point, however it is absolutely worth a visit.

As far as visits go, the popularity of the palace among tourists has increased exponentially in recent years, making actually getting your hands on tickets a little more complicated. I'd advise buying tickets two months in advance. Really. This is because my trusty guide-book tells me that roughly 6,000 tickets are put on sale per day, of which only a small number can be purchased over counter, for only 14 euros a go. This naturally forces your hand, and it's worth being an early bird as these are snapped up quickly. But it's worth the effort- take my word for it.

3. La Taberna Salinas

I love this tapas bar. Some of the best dinners out I've had this year have all been here, in this little place just off the Calle Gran Via and with good reason: the atmosphere is friendly, the food is affordable and delicious, and service is excellent. It's popular, but that doesn't make the experience any less pleasant- in fact, it generates an atmosphere of comfortable companionship, rather than making the whole place feel cluttered. It's also my usual haunt to watch Barca games, and I'm yet to have anything other than a great time here. Well, discounting last week's Classico from that, but it remains the exception rather than the rule. Even then, it had nothing to do with the setting! I highly recommend the Paella, naturally. Make sure to wash it down with a good pint of Alhambra, the local lager too. Brilliantly refreshing.

4. La Capilla Real

Yet another unmissable landmark for a student of History, the tomb of Los Reyes Catolicos (the Catholic Monarchs) King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castilla is an essential visit for anyone interested in diving into the country's past. Personally, I am yet to fully immerse myself in this particular area for any extended period of time other than my first year at university, but reading recreationally about the Reconquista (the setting of this October's much anticipated Assassin's Creed film starring Michael Fassbender) was a tantalising glimpse into the often blood-soaked history of Spain, and my visit here only served to further wet my increasing appetite to find out more about this fascinating period that changed both the country's religious landscape and the course of it's own history.

Sometimes the distant past becomes infinitely more tangible.

The Reconquista (literally 'Reconquest') of Spain by the Catholic Monarchs was definitively ended when Isabella and Ferdinand's army marched into Granada in January 1492, ending the Muslim Emirate of Granada and driving out the last of Spain's former Muslim rulers. This day in history is still celebrated in the city today, although many are quick to condemn this particular festival for obvious reasons. Regardless of any controversy over how their lives are commemorated, I would strongly advise anyone to make a trip to where the remains of Ferdinand and Isabella, together with those of their oldest grandson Miguel de Paz, and their daughter Queen Juana I and her husband Felipe, currently rest. The Capilla's museum can be found in the refectory and houses many of the monarch's personal items, such as Ferdinand's sword, sceptre and crown, along with Isabella's reliquary and prayer books, and some of her collection of paintings.

5. El Estadio De La Juventud

Something for more athletically-inclined readers. Recently renovated and officially reopened last summer, this sports centre, located on the appropriately named Calle Jesse Owens has almost everything you'd want. A six-lane athletics track surrounds a full size, all-weather football and rugby pitch, with Padel courts also located outside. The interior houses indoor cycling and Pilates studios, along with table tennis and free weights rooms. If you're not a member, you can get daily entry and use of all facilities for five euros. It's ok for a couple of uses, but if you're here for the long term then it's worth getting a year's membership for only 20 euros. It's a brilliantly affordable price, and means that people of all ages and abilities can easily have access to great facilities to get fitter and improve their health. Fitness classes and personal training are also offered at reasonable prices.

Where sweat is shed and champions are made.

You'll normally find me down here three times a week. On Monday and Friday I'll be pumping iron in the weights room, with a track session on Thursday afternoons traditionally kicking off my weekend. There's nothing like some tough 800 metre reps to bust the stress that comes with teaching! This has been the first time that I've ever had consistently easy access to quality facilities, and it's brilliant being able to use the track and gym alongside semi-professional athletes, a point further demonstrated by the Granada CF Ladies' team who use the Juventud as their home ground. For my running friends, the track is open 9am to 5pm and 8pm to 10pm, Monday to Friday.

6. Restaurante Chikito

Yes, it's a restaurant but it's about as far-removed from the popular Mexican chain as you're likely to get. This charming little place located in the Plaza del Campillo started out as a café, and over the years has gone on to become one of the cities most popular restaurants, not just for the quality of it's typically Andalusian cuisine, but also for the history behind it. It was here that Federico Garcia Lorca, the renowned and beloved poet and one of Granada's most fondly remembered historical figures, would come and sit in the corner of the former Alameda artist's café, and spend hours at a time talking with friends and associates. Garcia Lorca was such a prominent figure in the history of Spain before his death at the hands of Falangist rebels in the build-up to the Spanish Civil War that he even has a sculpture in the dining room, at the very table at which he used to sit. Yet another romantic reminder of the city's past- and also the lessons that must be learned from it.

Federico Garcia Lorca retains an iconic presence.

Regarding the food itself, lovers of Portuguese and Andalusian dishes will leave infinitely satisfied. Naturally most dishes are fish based (no problem here!) but there's plenty on offer: such as tortilla, caldaretta (essentially cold meat stew with potatoes, also very delicious) and gazpacho (cold soup, available only in summer, yet again highly recommended). The café/bar has also been kept, so it's a great place to meet friends for a casual drink or two. Outdoor seating is available on warm days, which makes for a great experience looking out on the Plaza.

7. Catedral Santa Maria de la Encarnacion

Last, but by no means least. You may read this and think it looks just like any other cathedral in the world. I'm here to tell you that's right. It's just as regal, imposing, stunning and menacing all at once as any other temple of worship in the world. It's not as radiant as that of Barcelona, nor as big as Sevilla's. Yet it is almost certainly the most important of Andalucia's four major cathedrals for it's religious and historic significance.

Throughout the course of the Reconquista monarchs such as Alfonso X and Pedro I instructed craftsmen to erect Catholic monuments in retaken territories in an attempt to impose Catholicism upon the inhabitants. With Granada being the capital of the Nasrid Emirate, the significance of the city's Catholic cathedral is symbolic of Ferdinand and Isabella's final victory. This is further demonstrated by the fact that Granada's was the only cathedral in Spain that was commissioned after the re-occupation of the city in 1492. Work officially began on the cathedral in 1523, and continued throughout the Renaissance period. By the entrance are wooden statues of Ferdinand and Isabella, carved in 1677 by sculptor Pedro de Mena. When you consider all that it stands for, even the word symbolic fails to do it justice.

The Catedral de la Encarnacion rises above the houses in the city centre.

I'm continually surprised by what I learn about Granada's heritage and cultural significance. For a city that is oft forgotten by the thousands of foreigners who journey to Spain each year, it certainly has something for everyone to enjoy and be enthralled by in equal measure. Listed above are the seven places in the city that have left the biggest impression on me so far this year, for differing reasons- whether that be the opportunity to look into an area of history that continues to fascinate and excite me, a chance to have fun with friends and visiting family members or boosting my recreational athletic pursuits.

Sure, if you were to ask people about the 'A-List' Spanish cities that they wish to visit, you'll hear the usual answers of Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla, and that's fine- these are wonderful, unique and stunning cities to explore. However I'd urge anyone and everyone to give Granada a try, if you're ever looking to sample somewhere with a difference. You will not be disappointed.

'So come and see. The city is a lady, a mountain of a woman. A river shimmeringly encircles her body like a waist belt; flowerlike, jewels glisten at her throat.'
Poet Ibn Zmarak on discovering Granada (14th Century)

Chapter Eleven: Lessons Being Learned, Part II

Back in late October, I dedicated a blog post to the experience of a certain David Moyes as manager of San Sebastian's Real Sociedad CF, and the lessons that we, as ERASMUS students living and working abroad, could take from this particular episode. I extensively quoted Guillem Balague, Sky's Spanish football expert, who was critical of Moyes' failure to fully adapt to the unique culture of the city, and also that he didn't help himself by failing to learn the language sufficiently. In the same piece, Balague also commended another Brit working in La Liga- Philip Neville at Valencia- for stepping out of his comfort zone and being willing to learn. Despite some linguistic teething-problems, -he meant to say he was 'running on the beach', google the rest- Neville had impressed throughout the August 2015 pre-season as Valencia's assistant coach.

By the time December rolled around, Los Che were in crisis. Valencia's brilliantly named head coach Nuno Espirito Santo had been sacked, with the team in serious danger of missing out on the lucrative riches of the Champions League. Valencia supporters could be forgiven for thinking it couldn't get any worse. Little did they know...

Upon leaving the gym one Wednesday afternoon, I checked my phone only to nearly drop it in shock- the headline read 'Gary Neville leaves punditry role at Sky Sports to become Valencia head coach alongside younger brother Phil.' I had to read it multiple times for it to sink in. Gary Neville? Managing his first club? In Spain? AT VALENCIA? Needless to say, the reaction among the Spanish press was almost as universally negative as the recent reviews for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.  'A huge gamble', screamed  Marca, a far cry from Super Deporte's 'Neville, yes we can' (written like that). One paper even referred to the new gaffer as Scottish.

Supporters were incredulous. How, they said, could a famous ex-player with no top level coaching experience, who worked as a TV analyst and who doesn't speak the language walk into the fourth biggest club in Spain as if it were the easiest thing in the world? Moreover, Neville didn't make a great start when he said 'I'm here to learn and make the best I can of this experience.' Sounds fine, but when put through the mouth of an interpreter, Valencia's notoriously fickle fans believed that their new gaffer saw their club as simply a stepping stone to greater things. Needless to say, they were less than impressed- was he just coming in to test the water? Had he just got the job for being chummy with the owner, Peter Lim? (The answer to that second question being emphatically yes, by the way.)

After three months it's all over, following a terrible run of just three wins from his 16 league matches in charge. Neville's relationship with the fans had deteriorated dramatically, something not helped by his struggling to get to grips with the language, (outside of him being heard screaming 'pasa la puta pelota' at his players) and an almost scatter-gun policy of team selection. He admittedly wasn't helped by poor performances from key players at key moments (I'm looking at you, Alvaro Negredo) and a 7-0 thrashing at the Camp Nou at the hands of my beloved team, but three wins in three months is not good enough for a club the size of Valencia. When he took over, Los Che were 5 points off the coveted fourth Champions League spot. He has left with them 20 points adrift. In the cold light of day, it's easy to see how this experiment failed.

As the Telegraph's Sam Wallace puts it: 'It's been a good experience for him, but not necessarily for the Valencia fans. For all the bravery he's shown in taking on a club of that size, if we were to reverse the situation, with a rookie Spanish manager coming over to England, who didn't speak English and was effectively parachuted in ahead of other English managers, then Gary Neville would probably be one of the first in line to say "What's going on?" He didn't give himself enough of a chance to succeed. Sometimes you need to do more than just back yourself. There's being brave, and then there's overstretching yourself.'

Me when I set my students homework...

However, Henry Winter of The Times commends Neville on his approach: 'Anyone who has met Gary Neville will know that this is a tough character. He will bounce back. He'll use this experience in the right way, however painful it has been, and I wish this current generation of young English coaches would go out, gamble and take these chances. At least he took a risk in a professional capacity. It hasn't worked out but he will use the experience. We should celebrate that rather than dancing on his managerial grave. Had he not taken the job, he said he would never have been able to look his colleagues in the eye again.'

The words of the both of them serve to teach me a lesson, and also to remind me why I'm here. Firstly, had I not decided to take the plunge and head off to Granada, then I feel my credibility as a motivated and driven Modern Languages student would have been irreparably damaged. I feel that I wouldn't have been able to look my tutors in the eye throughout my final year, and this was a huge factor in pushing me towards Spain. It was absolutely crucial, in hindsight, that I was prepared to take the risk and learn what I can from the experience, when it came to linguistic practice, cultural competence and my own understanding of what I was capable of achieving.

Also, much like Neville, I realised that the opportunity to gain work experience in a foreign country was truly unmissable, and it's given me plenty of food for thought. What I'm trying to say is that when we look closer at the reasons why Neville took the job at Valencia, there are myriad parallels that we, as language students, can draw that will help us to better articulate why we are here, doing what we're doing. At the outset I was scared, I'll admit. But now, with only two months remaining of this adventure, I for once feel prepared. Hopefully I won't jynx anything but I finally feel as if my Spanish has come on in leaps and bounds, although in true granadino style, I've stopped saying the letter 's'. I've also drafted something that looks vaguely like a dissertation title over the easter break, beginning to look ahead to returning at the end of September.

'How many was it, Gary?'

Ultimately, when I consider all of the above, it becomes clear that this whole experience is a win-win situation. Thinking back to Christmas 2014, when I was agonising over the decision of whether to take on the challenge or not, it feels like a lifetime ago. Choosing the more difficult option has undoubtedly changed me for the better. The big take-away is this: always be prepared to push yourself, in whatever walk of life that may be. It will not always be easy, but if it were easy then it wouldn't be worth doing. It wouldn't challenge you, or make you an even better version of yourself than you already are.

I believe that things aren't always as black and white as they appear. It's very easy these days to dub oneself a success or failure depending on past experience, and I believe the fear of 'failure' is what holds us all back sometimes. It's not the end of the world to admit you've made a mistake. I'm a firm believer in second chances in all walks of life, be that with work, academia, friends, relationships, you name it. There will always be another chance to try again, to make amends. You just need to be prepared to go away, learn where and how you went wrong and then be patient when you return. It may come tomorrow, next week or a year from now. But when that next opportunity comes around we have to be brave, take a chance and grab it while we can.

So if in doubt, challenge yourself. If you don't buy a ticket, you'll never win the lottery.


'You see teams go to the Camp Nou and get beat 5, 6, 7-0. Barcelona are a good side, well, a great side. But if I were ever involved with a team that got beat 7-0  there I wouldn't be able to look my family in the eye anymore.' Gary Neville, 15th April 2014 on Sky Sports

'We can only say sorry to the supporters and the many people who work every day for this club.'
Gary Neville, 4th February 2016, after experiencing the aforementioned result.

*The quotes in this blog are taken from BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, from the 31st March 2016. Well worth a listen for any fellow followers of The Beautiful Game out there.

Chaper Ten: 'Ellos tambien son cracks' (The Adventures of Jesus Spain)

It goes without saying that a year abroad is a priceless opportunity to obtain fluency in your target language. By living each day surrounded by it, it's highly likely that one will improve a little, almost unconsciously. Like all other walks of life, effort must still be put in in order to get the maximum benefit, but it's also important to make time for what you enjoy doing, and also for researching other aspects of Spanish life that interest you. There are various avenues and resources available for everyone to explore and research, whatever their interests and passions. Some of these are more subtle than others, however.

On a normal day, one of the first things I do when leaving my flat is to pick up a copy of Diario Sport, a daily newspaper dedicated to my beloved FC Barcelona. I have a vast stack of these gathering dust in my room as I write this post- one for almost every day of the past five months, to be exact. These are wonderfully accessible, cheap and interesting, as they allow me the chance to practice reading in my target language (a crucial practice I neglect back home) about something I'm thoroughly interested in, and also grant me a viewpoint into the more forgotten areas of Spanish sport.

These dailies have also taught me a peculiar word: crack, which is used to describe someone as a 'great person, a legend'. It's often used to eulogise about Messi after his latest wonder-goal, but other sports like tennis, athletics, swimming, handball, basketball and padel are also incredibly popular. To that end, I present a list of the Top 6 Spanish sportsmen and women you probably haven't heard of. Que la disfruteis...


1. Paco Alcacer- Football

It's not been easy of late for La Seleccion. In 2014, the defending champions crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil at the first round, a humiliating fall from grace for a team that had made history by winning the previous three international tournaments they had played in- two European Championships either side of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. To add insult to injury, the core of that phenomenal side - midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso and record goalscorer David Villa- retired from international football. Two years later, and La Roja are yet to convince going into the European Championships in France this summer. The biggest issue is at centre-forward- who will lead the line? Who will score the goals? Who could pick up the mantle of the great Raul Gonzalez and be the figurehead of the national side for the next decade?

Step forward, Francisco 'Paco' Alcacer. The Valencia striker continues to quietly go about his business in Spain's third largest city and is a crucial part of Gary Neville's footballing revolution at Los Che. Alcacer has spent his entire professional career at his hometown club, besides a loan spell at Getafe, having been on the books since he was eight. His goal-scoring skills are impressive, with nearly 50 strikes recorded since he made his first team debut. Moreover, this should give him the edge over Spain's other first choice 9's. Chelsea's Diego Costa appears more interested in throwing punches than scoring goals, whilst Alvaro Morata, of Italian giants Juventus, has scored just 5 all season. If Alcacer, 22, continues to develop at this steady pace, coach Vicente Del Bosque's problem position could soon be solved.

2. Mario Mola- Triathlon

This guy can run 5 kilometres in 14 minutes. On it's own, that's insanely fast: try running one lap of a 400 metre track in 68 seconds. Tough right? Now imagine doing it at that pace at least, for another eleven laps. Brutal. When you factor in what takes place before that, the feats that elite triathletes accomplish become almost superhuman. For Mario Mola, this is just the business end of his event. In a WTS (World Triathlon Series) event, he must first swim 1500 metres in freezing cold, open water. This often turns into a melee, with hundreds of athletes jostling for position, arms and legs flailing everywhere. Survive that without getting dunked, it's onto the bike to cycle 40 kilometres at breakneck speed. Crash, or suffer even the slightest mechanical hitch at this point, and its game over. Once this leg of the race finishes, it's time to run 10 kilometres. This often takes elite triathletes approximately 30 minutes to complete. That equates to a pace of 4 minutes and 50 seconds per mile. A 30 minute 10K run, off the back of almost an hour and a half of flat out racing, on legs already saturated with lactic acid from their workload on the bike. There's a reason why nobody ever says 'let's go and play triathlon.'

Mola, 26, has been doing these races for over 10 years. Needless to say, he's bloody good at them. His breakthrough performances came in the 2013 and 2014 World Triathlon Series, where he finished second overall , both times behind fellow Spaniard and 5 time World Champion Javier Gomez- himself a 2012 Olympic silver medallist. I'd say it's a shame that an athlete as dedicated and talented as Mola is forced to live in the shadow of a legend of the sport, but the truth is Mola is showing that he has it in him to carry his countryman's mantle, having beaten Gomez on numerous occasions, most notably during the London race in 2014 and in Chicago last September. The popularity of Triathlon is increasing dramatically in Spain, and with good reason. Inspired by the success of Gomez, it's not inconceivable that Mola, who hails from Palma de Mallorca, could well become the very best at his sport very soon. With the Olympics heading to Rio this summer, I'll naturally be supporting the brilliant Alistair and Jonny Brownlee in the triathlon, but keep an eye out for Mola: he will be an enormous threat.

3. Garbine Muguruza- Tennis

As a casual follower of tennis, it saddens me greatly to see the fall from grace of Rafael Nadal. This is a player whose explosive style and battling performances against the likes of Federer, Djokovic and Murray captured the hearts and imagination people the world over, to say nothing of the cult status the Spaniard enjoys in his home country. But alas, chronic knee injuries have taken their toll on the two-time Wimbledon king, and the people of Spain are now looking for a new champion to get behind. In the 22 year old Basque, Garbine Muguruza, they may just have found their new heroine. Born to a Spanish father and Venezuelan mother, she first began to play tennis aged 3, and her subsequent rise to the pinnacle of the Women's game has been nothing short of spectacular.

Muguruza exploded onto the world stage with her incredible performances at Wimbledon last year, where she made it all the way to the final, before losing agonisingly to Serena Williams. Taking the greatest woman ever to pick up a racket into a deciding set is nothing to be sniffed at. Having already reached her first major final and claimed the scalps of some of the biggest names in the women's game, it would appear that the only way is up- she is currently ranked 5th in the world, having previously been as high as 3rd. In the words of former women's Wimbledon champion Marion Bartolli, 'She's not waiting for it to happen for her- she's going for it, and that's how you win the biggest slams.' High praise indeed.

4. Pau Gasol- Basketball

Six-time NBA All-star and double Olympic Silver medallist Gasol was born in Barcelona, and joined FC Barcelona Basquet when he was 16. After helping the junior team to a hugely successful 1998 season, he was promoted to the senior team. However, the following season saw him amass only 25 minutes of playing time in the ACB league that year. The following season followed a similar pattern. However the next year saw Gasol voted National MVP, after helping Barcelona to the Spanish National Cup and averaging 12.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per 25 minutes per game. That's to say he was superb. Following a successful year for both team and player, Gasol entered the NBA draft in 2001, eventually ending up at the Memphis Grizzles.

Since moving to the States, Gasol has continued to clock up MVP performances, helping his various teams across the pond to win trophy after trophy. He has also helped the Spanish national side perform well in various international competitions, such as the 2006 FIBA World Championship and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. From 2008-2014 he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the most famous basketball team in the world. As of today, Gasol has plied his trade for the Chicago Bulls from 2014. Players on the books at the Bulls have won the NBA's MVP award six times- three of those going to some bloke by the name of Michael Jordan. He must have been alright...

Although it hasn't been entirely plain sailing for Gasol in Chicago, a resurgence from the team over the last couple of seasons breeds optimism, with the arrival of the Catalan in 2014 spearheading this fresh approach. Not only is Gasol a superbly gifted athlete (he stands seven foot tall and possesses one of the biggest leaps in the sport) but he is also a highly intelligent individual who speaks five languages, having taught himself French and Italian to go with Catalan, Spanish and English. He would often speak in Spanish with team mate Kobe Bryant during games, to prevent opponents from knowing their planned moves. Furthermore, the Basketball court wasn't always his first calling- he originally wanted to be a doctor, following in his fathers' footsteps, and originally played rugby. His two younger brothers, Marc and Adria, are also professionals, on the books at the Grizzlies and UCLA respectively.

5. Jesus España- Athletics

No list of my top sportsmen would be complete without a distance runner, and this guy's worth including on his name alone. Born in Valdemoro, a small Community of Madrid, middle-distance runner Espana first represented his country in the 2001 World Cross Country Championships, where he finished 11th. The following year he took the World Indoor Bronze medal in the 3000 metres. After nearly 20 years of competing for Spain at the elite level of world athletics, his role of honour is substantial: he has been to an Olympic games (Beijing 2008), finishing 14th in the 5000 metres final, against a field that included the legendary Kenenisa Bekele, who won the race in an Olympic record, and would also go on to win the 10,000 metres later in the games. Two years prior, España won his first major international title at the European Championships in the 5000 metres, overtaking the leader of the race in the last 20 metres. The name of the athlete he overtook? Mo Farah, who has since won every European, World and Olympic distance medal going. As of 2016, España remains the last man to beat Farah in a European final. Impressive stuff.

After nearly 20 years of competing at the top level of world athletics, España has had to closely monitor and adapt his training programme in order to find new ways to improve, and also to manage the workload on his body as the years creep by. The impressive results that he has obtained throughout his career are testament to this constant tinkering- as of today, his personal bests for the 3000 and 5000 (his preferred distances) stand at 7 minutes 38 seconds and 13 minutes 10 respectively. The former was set in 2006, the latter 2009- further emphasising the importance of training smarter, rather than simply adding more and more volume and intensity. As a keen distance runner myself, this philosophy is something that rings true to me. The word is balance. España, for me, is the ultimate example of continually assessing your performance, being honest with yourself and making the necessary changes in order to continually improve. This is also applicable to any area, not just sport, and for that reason alone he is worth including. That, and because his name means Jesus Spain.

6. Vernonica Boquete- Football

This 28 year old striker plays her club football for Bayern Munich in Germany, has captained her national side at the 2015 World Cup and is considered her country's go-to player, a Spanish Ladies Lionel Messi, if you will. Prior to gaining international attention in 2011, after a successful few seasons in America, she previously turned out for RCD Espanyol (city rivals of Barcelona) and Praninsa Zaragoza, and was the top scorer in the 2010-11 Superliga Femenina with an impressive 39 goals. During her time at Espanyol she also won two international caps for Spain.

After a various highly successful and prolific spells at clubs throughout the world (she played for Russian outfit Energiya Voronezh in the 2011 Champions League, and in the Swedish Dmallsvenskan for Tyreso in 2012), and some more stateside adventures with Portland Thorns, the jet-setting Boquete found herself on the books at FFC Frankfurt, who had finished runners-up in the 2014 Bundesliga. She would go on to help the team to the 2015 Champions League at the end of the season, following which her services were secured by German football giants Bayern.

Though her club and international careers have proven highly successful, Boquete has played a pivotal role in promoting Women's football in Spain. She was the first Spanish female footballer to release an autobiography, and started a website called change.org, which encouraged video game developers Electronic Arts to include Women footballers in their Fifa video game series, a campaign which has subsequently proven to be a resounding success. With women's sport finally starting to get the recognition it deserves, Boquete has lead the women's football revolution in Spain from the front in more ways than one.

***

This year, I've been highly fortunate to have shared both a running track and gym with a group of sprinters from the Spanish Athletics Federation, one of whom is currently the second fastest 200 metre runner in the country. Being able to see such dedicated semi-elites train up close has been a privilege, and no little inspiration for me as an amateur athlete. With sport playing such a key role in Spanish identity, and with both the Olympic Games and European Football Championships just around the corner this summer, I will be following the performances of the athletes mentioned above with interest. Don't be surprised to hear their names popping up more and more regularly should they find success this summer. You heard it here first.


'When the outside world wants to bring you down, count on what's inside to keep you up.'
Lionel Messi

Chapter Nine: Mind Over Matter

At the outset of this blog, I was determined to make this year abroad the best thing I would ever do. Fast forward to now, with a little over three months remaining and I'd tell you that it's turned out very differently to what I expected. That's not to say I'm deeply unhappy with where I am and what I'm doing. Rather, its a timely reminder to not set ludicrous expectations. It's not the first time of late that I've had to be honest and accept the reality of a situation, and it never gets easier. It's not uncommon to be so caught up in the hype that you fail to be honest with yourself (and others) about what you really think of the experience. Furthermore its very easy with something as big as a year abroad to feel like you're failing at it if you feel anything other than total happiness the entire time.

However, one thing I've learned since I began University in late 2013 is to take a more holistic approach when it comes to goal setting, and to keep track of the bigger picture. By this I mean remembering where, and who, you were when you began, so that you can use that as the barometer to judge yourself, rather than just the result of something. That way, even if you deem yourself to have failed, you remain positive for the changes you experienced along the way. I've been able to  put this strategy into practice at various times, on various fronts, since I started my days as a student. That's to say that although University hasn't been success after success, I've emerged a better, healthier person as a result of trying to make a difference.

I believe that this approach stems from a Type B personality trait. This is defined as 'people who by definition live at a lower stress level and typically work steadily, enjoying achievement but not becoming stressed when they are not achieved... They are often reflective, thinking about both the outer and inner worlds.' Needless to say this doesn't mean that you shouldn't put absolutely everything you can into achieving whatever goals you set for yourself, but again I come back to enjoying the process- which for myself and my classmates means the remaining three months of our year abroad. Likewise, being privy to judging my current self against the me from last year is another common occurrence for B personalities.

So how does this help me to get the best of myself? Well, it keeps me level headed, and motivated to continue to strive to be the best I can be in everything. This means I'm often looking within and asking myself, 'What am I capable of achieving now? What would I be capable of achieving if I tried and kept at it a little longer?'

With only three months remaining of my year abroad, I'd say it's been pretty good- it hasn't been the greatest thing I've ever done, nor have I made any great effort to 'find myself', and I often end up unfavourably comparing my experiences in Spain with those of my friends, which judging from their various Facebook posts, blogs and photos, puts mine into the shade. This is quite a shift in perspective from my early blogs, but I believe there's a very important lesson to be learned from this: don't expect too much, too soon.

Did you know that over ninety percent of New Year's Resolutions fail by the end of February? It's true, according to research from the Brain Statistics Institute, who go on to state that a loss of motivation is cited as the main reason that people give up on their goals. I don't mean to judge and criticize when I say this, but I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions. Though they are meant to imply a willingness to change and adopt healthier habits, I believe goals can, and should, be set at various times throughout the other 11 months of the year. What's wrong with achieving in February, March or April?

Moreover, I don't buy the excuse of lacking motivation. If you weren't up for changing something, then you wouldn't set it as a goal. What I believe to be most important when setting goals for oneself is being realistic. Don't try and bite off more than you can chew immediately- it's much better to focus on small steps. It takes more time, but that means it's worth doing. These days, we live in a society in which the pressure to enact personal changes can be overwhelming. Almost everyday, we see new commercials for the latest FAD Diet or Self-Help book, or hear people on the radio talking about how they're going to shave their heads, move to Tibet and live in a monastery for a year. No thanks.

The most important first step to setting a goal is to work out what you really want. This sounds obvious but often people come up with things from scratch, without being sufficiently introspective first. What I mean is that it's better to map out a few different areas of your life and then write down targets for each that you would enjoy achieving, and would leave you feeling enriched as a result. I would call this 'Focusing Inwards to Achieve Outwards.'

The next part of this process involves being kind to yourself- this sounds extremely corny but bear with me. This is the absolute first step towards achieving any goal which you set yourself. Treat yourself as you'd treat others, so that if you make a mistake, you're able to draw a line under it and move on. I'm still getting to grips with this little step. It's been very easy to feel that, because I'm not as blissfully happy as my classmates I'm not making the most of this opportunity, rather than focusing on the multiple things I've done well. Goals require a certain amount of diligence, so you'll be better equipped to cope with mistakes by going into them with a positive mindset. We should all be allowed to make mistakes from time to time, and use them to focus on how far we have come and all we have previously achieved. So what does this mean for me?

Despite being employed as a teacher, for me this year is about learning. I've reached a point now where, with three months remaining before I pack my bags and say 'adios' to Granada, I'm asking myself: 'At what level do I want to be when I return to University in September?' This is a marked contrast to what I wanted to get out from this year at the start of September, and shows you how your perspective can, and indeed should, shift throughout, irrespective of the quality of your experience. This goal doesn't only apply to language-learning, but to athletic and social pursuits also. Though admittedly, acting like a sponge and trying to soak up all the Spanish know-how I can is the big one.

With your goal in mind, it's then your task to come up with various strategies that will allow you to attain it through repeated practice and self-improvement. This doesn't have to mean force-feeding yourself grammar tests (as a linguistic example) or other tedious things that don't work for you. You have to enjoy the process, or else the end result won't be what you wanted at the outset. An example for me this year would be religiously buying Diarios (Sports dailies) during the week, and noting down new words or phrases on my mobile each time I come across one- which is a lot. Then it's my job to put them into practice. This is just an example of something that works for me, as I'm able to read about something I enjoy -Spanish football- in my target language, and isn't something for which I need to set aside a scheduled hour each day. The beauty of having such simple resources at your disposal is that this kind of exercise becomes part of your routine. As Horace Mann said: 'Habit is a cable. We leave a thread of it each day, and at last we cannot break it.'

The temptation at the outset of any new challenge is to go into it expecting far too much of yourself. I remember the day before I started teaching getting a text message from my Dad, a highly experienced former teacher himself, which simply stated "Go for it, but remember: you don't need to be a fully qualified teacher by tomorrow afternoon." This summarises everything I've spent the last two days trying to explain: there's a big difference between challenging yourself with the targets you set, and biting off more than you can chew. Four months later, I understand that I'm not going to be revolutionising Spanish Bilingual Education- however this doesn't mean that I haven't performed the tasks expected of me to the best of my ability. Come May, I will feel content with the experience I've had, even if it hasn't lived up to the hype that previously surrounded it.

So besides putting effort in on the linguistic front, what other challenges have I set myself this year? As I said, my particular carrot is the thought of returning to University in September as prepared as I can be to put what I've learned this year into practice. Even though it probably won't be the best year of my life, I'm sure it will still be the most valuable learning experience.

Many thanks, and until next time- which hopefully won't take another month to write...


'Perfection doesn't exist- but you have to look for it anyway.' 
Pep Guardiola


Reference: New Year's Resolution Statistics, Statistic Brain Research Institute: http//www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics

Chapter Eight: Building Bridges

So, it seems we've arrived at what I'll call the interlude- defined as 'something that happens during an interval'. In the world of theatre, actors and actresses use this time to assess their performance thus far, and look for areas of strength and others in which they can do better. Likewise, as my classmates and I arrive at this, the halfway point of our placements in Spain, France, Germany and even China and South America, this time serves as a natural period of reflection. Moreover, many of us will at this very moment will be writing the latest instalment of our Year Abroad Dossiers outlining exactly how we feel we have progressed since jetting off mid-September and, crucially, the areas where we feel we still need to improve. We then have another 4 months to put those into practice and squeeze everything we can out of the time we have left. Easy.

Whilst I won't bore you all to death with my own goals, it suffices to say I'm making progress on various fronts where I felt I was lagging pre-Christmas. Though not so much as Gary Neville, who in the space of two months as head coach of Valencia C.F appears to be getting to grips with the lingo quicker than I've been able to- a direct quote being 'Pasa la puta pelota!'. No prizes for guessing what he's on about there. Cutting edge football management, Nev.

 If you were to ask me the key concepts required to make a decent fist of a year as an Auxiliar then I'd fire back with two mindsets that, in my experience are inextricably linked. These are 'Confidence' and 'Consistency'. By these I mean being willing to get out there, step into the breach and making mistakes, but also being prepared to bounce back and learn from them. I believe that the beauty of both of these is that they feed off each other- confidence leads to consistency, consistency breeds confidence. I'll be the first to admit that I thought communicating would be a doddle. Needless to say when I got my first blast of the Andaluz  accent, I was somewhat taken aback- believe me, it's tricky at the best of times, and nigh-on unintelligible at its worst.

I still haven't quite negotiated this obstacle, but I've also realised recently that it shouldn't be a barrier to making the best of this year. I've stopped seeing this problem as a negative reflection on my linguistic competence and more as part of being placed where I am. Now whenever I hit a stumbling block, I remember to look back on all the times already that other teachers, my flatmates and even complete strangers have complemented my level of Spanish, rather than shrinking back into a corner. Now I remember that I can speak the language just fine, rather it's grasping the nuances of that pesky accent, even if it means just getting the gist of what people are saying, and there are so many ways of interpreting this, like body language, facial expression and tone of voice. And I just said I wouldn't bore you....

So what exactly has caused this confidence-related shift? It's difficult to put my finger on it- maybe it's the fact that January is almost out of the way, although we still get sunny, 18 degree afternoons. That's right- I'm still hitting the track in my shorts and vest in the thick of winter. Perhaps the looming prospect of a trip to my favourite city (more on that next week) has given me a brighter outlook. Or even that I'm now fully settled, feet under the table and really feel like I can get going. I'm not sure, but I'm happy regardless.

More likely though, is the eureka moment that landed me the title of this latest post. I remember reading somewhere that 'a smile is the bridge between two strangers' and it gave me the idea that, in much the same way, we too can build bridges and forge friendships we never thought we could have by just being brave and willing to make an effort. In order to do this, outlets such as hobbies and other interests are the best thing. For example, I've already been part of fascinating discussions about things like Spain's history and religious climate. I've found Spain's past particularly endearing being a student of history, so naturally I wanted to contribute a few ideas myself. Out here people are much more open and willing to talk about issues that in England are a BIG no-no. My landlord even thinks that Franco was great for Spain. I'm not entirely sure I, along with many others, would agree on that but it further illustrates the point. People here aren't afraid, so neither should you be.

Moreover, pursuing your other interests means that you open yourself to interactions with others. For example there are usually the same people using the track at the same time I do on a Thursday. Now that we're accustomed to seeing each other I'm often asked what I'm doing: 'Oh just some 800 metre reps.' When I reflect and realise that they knew what I was on about, it inevitably gives me a real boost. In much the same way people at the gym now know me as 'the Erasmus kid from England.' Fame is reaching me.

Likewise at school, though not for the reasons you'd think. Obviously, my football allegiance has made me popular with half the kids and infamous among others. This has really helped me in that it made me seem relatable. I was already sharing their world. More so now, as the traditional football-card-swapping mania has swept through Motril. The kids generosity has meant that I'm now the proud owner of half the Barcelona squad, though I'm still waiting for someone to part with their Suarez, Neymar and Messi. Let's see if I can scrounge them by the end of May.

However, without doubt the best thing I've ever done at school yet happened just this week gone, and I tell you all this entirely at the risk of losing all of my credibility. Prepare yourselves.

Friday the 29th January marked El Dia de La Paz, where the life and work of the almost mythical Mahatma Ghandi are celebrated. To mark the occassion, the music department had to lead the whole school in a dance to an Indian-related tune. The song in question? Jai-Ho, a real blast from the past I'm sure you'll agree. At the end of the first rendition, the kids naturally cheered for an encore. Me being me, I secretly got on stage behind the two teachers in question, chanelling my inner Jared Leto to whip the adoring audience into a frenzy. Needless to say the teachers obliged, on the condition that I, having instigated said encore, join them. And so it was that Ben Seymour, to celebrate the life of one of the greatest humanitarians to ever live, danced (perfectly choreographed) to Jai-Ho, in front of 200 wowed Spanish 5-to-7 year olds. Needless to say, I stole the show. And I have no regrets, unless during this age of Social Media, a video finds its way onto Facebook. Then I may think differently. Still proud though.

So how does that have anything to do with this post? Well, like I said, you've got to be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and go the extra mile (double-cliché alert) in order to build those bridges with people. If you do so, then you're experience as an Auxiliar will be so enriched, despite whatever bureaucratic issues the ministry of education, or your bosses can throw at you. It's the people you meet, the friendships you forge and the things you accomplish which you previously thought impossible that make it such a worthwhile experience. And I think realizing that has been the keystone upon which I've built my bridge.

Until next time.

'Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.'
Mahatma Ghandi