As I fly out in 8 days time, opportunities to sit, reflect and set targets for the coming year (and to write this second post) have been few and far between. That said, saying what I've got to get excited about this year won't take much! So without further ado, read on for a list of what I'm hoping to get out of this year- that may or may not have much to do with Spain!
1. Big City Life
When I first heard I'd be stationed in Motril, a small, resort-like town on the southern coast, I'd describe my reaction as mixed. I was 45 minutes away from Granada city centre by bus in what is described as a family-oriented, non-student village, whilst every other language assistant was based in the city centre. So in the knowledge that my commute would be sizeable but with the added social payoff, I decided to look for accommodation in Granada, close to the bus station on the Calle Minerva. I'd recommend any student do the same, unless it's clearly impractical- Language Assistants work only 12 hours a week spread over three days, so you'll have plenty of spare time in which to get out there and polish up your linguistic skills, along with having time to pursue your own interests and friendships. Yes, it means compromising at times- in my case a 50 minute commute- but it's certainly worth being flexible! And I've said nothing so far about what there is to see and do in Granada- like the Alhambra, Sierra Nevada and El Albayzin, not forgetting the highly recommended Erasmus nights!
2. La Liga Loca...
Spanish football is simply the best. It's beautiful, bonkers and
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play it (top already, get in!!!)! But learning that Granada CF also play in Spain's La Primera caused great excitement, and no little intrigue. The club are owned by the Pozzo family, who also run Italy's Udinese and Watford, the English Premier League's new boys. Interestingly, and inevitably I suppose, there are some shady rumours that all three Pozzo clubs rotate players amongst themselves through tactical use of the loan system- not illegal, but not clearly not ethical sporting behaviour! El Grana narrowly avoided dropping to the Segunda Division last year, finishing 17th- one place above the relegation zone. Dream matches would be any of the following: the Andalusian derbies against Sevilla (January 3rd, 2016) and Malaga (10th April, 2016), welcoming Real Madrid to town (7th February- late birthday present?) or a potential title-decider against Barcelona on the final day of the season- 15th May 2016. Save that date folks!
3. The Need for Speed
Cue eye-rolling and groans all round, but here I go: the running scene in Spain is nothing short of spectacular. It's no wonder the sport is growing in popularity in a country rich with fabulous places to train: from parks filled with all kinds of local botany and scenic off-road trails, to quiet neighbourhoods and beaches, there are endless places, and therefore no excuses! Joining a running group would bring all of the usual benefits -motivation, training sessions, friends- along with ample Spanish-speaking practice: another advantage of an open mind is seeing opportunity all around! This summer I've chipped away at my 5K personal best, getting it down to 18:29 without access to a running track. So imagine my euphoria upon discovering not one, not two, but THREE of these within easy reach: two in Granada city centre, the other in Motril. This means that thankfully, despite my aforementioned travel requirements, I'll be able to fit training around teaching and social commitments- it's all about balance after all! It's also, shamelessly, a chance to top up the tan- as one of my former club-mates said: 'All that warm weather training and you'll come back like Mo Farah!' I'll also hopefully be a bit more fluent linguistically- what's the Spanish for 'lactate threshold'?!
4. A Familiar Feeling
Nearly three years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Australia for what I can only describe as a life-changing three months. I say that because of what it did and continues to do for me, namely shaping my independence and installing a strong work-ethic. You could say the typical Aussie spirit rubbed off on me a little: they don't accept being messed about- if you're there then you have a job to do, always to the maximum of your ability. It's not difficult to see how this has helped me during the first half of my university career. However, the best thing about the experience for me was the feeling of working in a familiar environment (in this case a school) but in a different role. It reshapes your outlook and gives you a new perspective- I could certainly see a lot of my old self in the boys staying in my allocated boarding house. Going back to school for the third time in my life, this time as a member of the teaching staff, is yet another chapter to be excited about.
The bond that one builds as a member of staff, particularly one to whom pupils can feel free to build a relationship (be that gap student or language assistant) is extremely gratifying, and I'll never get tired of that feeling. At the risk of sounding extremely big-headed, knowing that people look up to you and see you as a role model is, in my opinion, the greatest compliment that can be given to anyone. It's what I continually strive for and I'd advise all of my fellow Language Assistants this year to set their sights in a similar way. If I can do that then I'll have no choice but to call the coming year a resounding success. Until next time, ¡hasta luego!
'Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.' Paulo Coelho
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