Feels Like Home
A lot happens when you don't have wifi!
It has been a few weeks since my last post. During this time, I had my Fulbright orientation, found an apartment, moved in, started school, and began enjoying life like a true Madrileña. Let's start at the beginning.
The Fulbright orientation was life changing for me. Walking into a hotel lobby full of recent graduates from Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, etc. could have been intimidating, but I felt more grounded than I have in months. Many of us are here to teach English, but there are a handful that are here as researchers across a variety of disciplines. Orientation is what brought us all together. While the three days were filled with information packed sessions, the nights were filled with opportunities to bond and socialize. Ideas and career goals I had kept to myself for years were all of a sudden coming out in conversation with people I had just met. I laughed harder, smiled wider, and engaged deeper than I had in quite some time. It was then when I realized that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be. We ended our three day extravaganza with a lovely reception hosted by the Fulbright commission. Our guest of honor was the US Ambassador to Spain, James Costos.
Some Fulbright ETAs and I
A blurry picture that captures it all
It has been a few weeks since my last post. During this time, I had my Fulbright orientation, found an apartment, moved in, started school, and began enjoying life like a true Madrileña. Let's start at the beginning.
The Fulbright orientation was life changing for me. Walking into a hotel lobby full of recent graduates from Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, etc. could have been intimidating, but I felt more grounded than I have in months. Many of us are here to teach English, but there are a handful that are here as researchers across a variety of disciplines. Orientation is what brought us all together. While the three days were filled with information packed sessions, the nights were filled with opportunities to bond and socialize. Ideas and career goals I had kept to myself for years were all of a sudden coming out in conversation with people I had just met. I laughed harder, smiled wider, and engaged deeper than I had in quite some time. It was then when I realized that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be. We ended our three day extravaganza with a lovely reception hosted by the Fulbright commission. Our guest of honor was the US Ambassador to Spain, James Costos.
US Ambassador to Spain, James Costos and I.
Once the orientation was over, we all parted ways to start the intense piso hunt. I had originally wanted to live alone, buuuuuut that proved unsuccessful. Once I decided that I would live with people, the hunt became nonexistant. I found a place almost immediately and I couldn't be more grateful! I'm living with three Spanish girls, all from northern Spain (you can include me in there too, as an honorary northerner). We get along really well. We are all professional women in Madrid for our first year, ready to explore the city!
School has been absolutely fantastic. I shall right about it in my next post. All I can say, is when you end the day with your students asking you to sing John Legend's "All of Me" for them so they can join in on a sing-along... well, it's a good day. Until next time, folks.
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