I’m writing this having just completed my first week of teaching. Well, all twelve hours of it. I’ve been posted in two schools in Mérida, in Spain. It would be an understatement to say one of them is remote – in a village called La Zarza, which translates as bramble, and probably says enough about it. I’m effectively a language assistant for various classes (English, maths, geography to name a few) and I’m just so frustrated at myself that I didn’t have the foresight to bring my CGP Key Stage 3 Maths revision guide because it would be handy to be able to look over Lowest Common Multiples and Greatest Common Factors again.
The journey to get to Mérida, from Madrid and via Cáceres was one which I’m glad I won’t have to do too often. After being seriously impressed by Spanish trains and the train system, it was no surprise that the train two English blokes were catching (myself and Aiden) was delayed. This was no AVE (Spain’s high-speed trains which connect Madrid with the south and east), and we were heading west. Tired, hungover and not looking forward to nearly five hours on a hot train; we knew we’d need some nourishment. We found a suitable-looking cafe with the option to take food out, which we did. To be honest, we should’ve known better. Any place which sells single sandwiches in a box, more suitable for playing jenga than for actual human consumption, was one we should have steered well clear of. The less said about the fillings the better, but anchovies, peas and mayo; cheese (creamed, but not cream cheese) and nuts; and blended cheese and tomato mix (not sliced), were what we had chosen.
Anyway, we arrived at Cáceres station, where we had a one-day, overnight meeting with the people organising our placements. To say the accommodation was poor would be a compliment. Sockets which didn’t work, doors without keys and showers which were more like gutters during one of those random, heavy downpours (not quite the reminder of home I was looking for) all made us feel very welcome. A salad which comprised of quartered tomatoes, quartered raw onions and boiled eggs chopped in half was in the top one of least-appetising salads I’ve ever seen. I promise I won’t talk about toilets in the next post, but the the town of Cáceres offered probably the most pointless and horrid toilet I’ve ever seen. It is truly baffling that it existed (see picture below). If you can find any use for a toilet without a flush, toilet roll or taps then please let me know.
Prior to all this, I spent ten days or so in Madrid, which quickly became one of my favourite places in Spains. I’m not sure what the collective noun for museums is, but there was a gallery of museums which were all superb; the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia are all definitely worth visiting. I managed to get in another football game, unsurprisingly, making it to Atlético Madrid’s mighty new stadium, the WANDA Metropolitano to see them beat the less mighty Huesca, 3-0. I introduced Chevans to the wonders of 100 Montaditos (think Wetherspoons, but better everything for even cheaper), and we proceeded to eat there whenever he fancied a snack, which was at least twice a day. I must say thanks also to Zoe, Anna and Emma for letting me stay in their dangerous AirBnB for a few days as well. Retiro(w) Park is great, and if you’ve ever thought about rowing but not sure how you’d fare, then going to the park and paying €6 for 45 minutes on a boat is a must. And no, even with a river in Mérida I won’t be going anywhere near a boat anytime soon, if you were wondering.
Lastly, I must reserve a few lines for bureaucracy in Spain. I cannot fault it enough for being comfortably the slowest and most backwards system I’ve ever encountered. I don’t think there’s a correlation between Mérida having some of the oldest preserved Roman ruins in the world and the bureaucratic system being archaic, but I can’t be sure. “Just make an appointment by phone” is the most common line, despite being told this while standing in an office and speaking to the same person who would pick up the phone if I were to call.
Thanks if you made it this far with mainly moans from me, but rest assured Spain is still a fantastic, welcoming country and, with cans of beer for as cheap as €0.22, I’m much looking forward to spending the next eight months here.
Hasta pronto,
Bill x
A Conta/La Cuenta/Bill Abroad 