That Time I Moved to Madrid

From the moment I could understand the concept of different countries, (which was most likely quite early as half my family was in the United Kingdom and we were in New Zealand) all I wanted to do what move to Europe. I loved everything about the idea of being there, the languages, the history, the cultures, the fact that you can ‘pop’ to a different country for the weekend. My plan was always to head to England, no matter what happened, I wasn’t going to be spending my whole life in little New Zealand. I mean there is nothing wrong with New Zealand, I’m a proud Kiwi, but it’s the place I grew up, the grass is always greener on the other side!

Once at University, I was still hoping that I would be able to make it to Europe once I graduated. Still, the reality was that I had no money or work experience (that is a discussion for another day and still annoys me six years on). But then an email arrived one January morning, while I was at home for the summer, that changed everything.

I got an email from my Spanish lecturer about English Language Assistants in Spain (auxiliar de conversación). I was out of bed in less than 2 seconds, sprinting down the hall to the kitchen where mum was having her breakfast. She read over the email and said, “Well, just apply!”

Done!

Months went by.

I Graduated in June, and by September I was on a plane to Madrid!

It had happened!

I was going to Europe!

I was travelling!

Then I vomited my lunch as we went through turbulence on the way into Melbourne…

I was then watching the United Arab Emirates then North Africa and the Mediterranean, while the lady next to me kept trying to get my screen fixed but why would I want to watch a movie when there is a fantastic world going by beneath me!

Before leaving, I joined the Auxiliar de Conversación Facebook page to find others who would be in Madrid, to find people to flat with. I ended up connecting to Diana, who is from the United States. We chatted and decided that we would begin the challenge to find somewhere to live together. I will tell you trying to find a rental property, in a city you know nothing about, in a language you have only been learning for a year, in a different timezone is not easy. And it didn’t get any easier once I had gotten there either.

Mum and I had booked one hostel place to stay in thinking that it wouldn’t take too long to find somewhere to live. I moved from one to another, was there for a week, then moved into a flat with two Americans and stayed in their living room for a week or two. We thought we had one place, but then they kept putting it off, because of renovations. Then they decided to change the way they were going to go about it, by going through the council (I still don’t understand how things work in Spain) which would have made it harder and more expensive for us.

I was about to give up. The school year had now started, and we still didn’t have our own place. I was in tears. I wanted to leave, and I didn’t want to be there anymore. I almost packed my bags, what am I kidding I had never actually unpacked my bag and got on the next flight to England. Eventually, we viewed a charming apartment, with a lovely landlady. More or less the next day, we were signing the contract and paying the deposit. Diana and I then found Rebeca to take up the third bedroom, and we had an excellent, loud, dramatic, multicultural flat!

But the issues hadn’t ended with finding a place to move into. Now that I had an address, I could go and get a bank account as well as a few other things that I needed to do.

I may or may not have just face-planted my desk at the memory of everything.

The bank account was set up. It’s tough to pick a bank when you’ve never done it before, and in a language, you are not confident in. Also, some things are a little behind in Spain, I love Spain, but ask anyone who has lived there they will agree.

Bank was set up. But my card didn’t work. I got three new cards, and they didn’t work. It’s now November. I’ve been paid. I need to book tickets to England for Christmas, and buy things. Bankcard doesn’t work. Eventually, I found someone at the bank who figured out why they weren’t working and got it going for me. Doesn’t the banks close at like 2 pm because siesta and I finished work at 3 pm. So I only had Friday and Saturday to figure it out. (I’m officially annoyed at it all again!!)

I had now been there for more or less two months. It had taken a month or so to find somewhere to live and another month to be able to access my money!

Let’s just say the start of my time in Madrid was a bit of a struggle, and there were tears and frustrations involved. I also learnt, from spending 10months in a High School as a Teaching Assistant that; 1) the English language is rubbish and stupid! 2) I do not want to be a teacher, not my thing!

Out of those ten months came a lot of good times. I’ve added in some of my videos and photos for you to enjoy too.

I met some awesome new friends.

I went to my first ever amusement park, Parque Warner, for my 22nd birthday!

I got to explore London with Dad, before Christmas with the English family and a couple of new friends.

I went to Toledo and Cuenca.

I got to ‘celebrate’ the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC’s landing at Gallipoli in London.

Had Easter in Amsterdam with a friend I had made while at University.

I went to Salamanca.

Had loads of delicious food!

Other all it was a great time. It was hard at times I’m not going to lie. I do regret not spending more of my time travelling and exploring Spain. But I don’t regret going and doing it, even though I did not and was not very good at teaching.