5 things i love about spain/year abroad

sometimes i forget to remind myself that life is good. living in spain is cool. having a year abroad is excellent.
so, in no particular order...

1. spanish. yes, even though i am still yet to enjoy a coherent conversation without feeling really awkward, i do actually love spanish. this is why im here, this is why im studying it, this is why im frustrated because im not fluent yet. and even though im two months into my year abroad and i cant see a vast improvement, i still dare to hope that at some point in life i will achieve near native fluency, and i still believe by the end of this year i will be reaching it, and by the end of my degree it will be within my grasp.

2. church. i love church. and im blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the newfrontiers church plant here. its already been a massive blessing, knowing some like minded people who are also struggling to get to grips with the culture and the language and how to proclaim the name of Jesus in this nation. im blessed that this year is not just about me learning spanish, its about getting stuck in to God's plan for the city of Madrid. wowza.

3. school. i really enjoy my job, which is almost a surprise to me. im seriously considering doing a pgce after uni now, with the aim of teaching french/spanish at secondary school. i enjoy a job where i am around people all day. i enjoy my cute 1st ESO (year 7) classes where we learn how to say Juana is opposite Raquel. I enjoy my humourous 2nd Bachillerato (A2) class where we have debates about whether sciences or humanities are better. I enjoy being surrounded by spanish conversation at break time and await the day i can work out what theyre saying quick enough to contribute a witty response. i even at times enjoy the 40 minute bus journey as we pass mountains and villages and i just get to relax and contemplate life for a while.

4. knowing myself. i think being thrown into a different culture with no friends and family and a lack of fluency in the language is definitely a challenging thing, but with challenge comes the opportunity to grow. outside of my comfort zone, i find i am realising things about myself, about God, about life in general that may usually pass me by in the busyness and ordariness of life.

5. friends. as the year goes on, i hope to make more friends and deepen friendships, and i have already met and got to know two lovely housemates and my super friendly language exchange partner and incredible people from the church plant and one of my best uni friends is only a short train ride away.

and this is by no means the end of the things i enjoy about life on my year abroad in españa, but i must admit, im absolutely buzzing to go home for christmas! i guess there is really no place like home. great britain for the win.

Trusting in God.

Nearly two months into my year abroad, and I feel like I can barely string a sentence together in Spanish. Apparently I don't know how to pronounce sí. I have no 'Spanish' friends. I haven't really got anywhere with my YARP. Sometimes I just want to give up, go home and work at October books for the rest of my life. But I know that I'm here for a reason. I know that this is where God wants me. He could have brought anyone to teach at Juan de Herrera this year. He could have chosen anyone to join the Madrid Church plant for nine months. I have to remind myself constantly, that God is with me, and has plans which he is working out for my good. And if, by the end of this year, I have achieved nothing more than understanding more of God, having a bit more faith, being more deeply in love with Jesus, then that is an immeasurable achievement. The purpose of this year, as with every year of my life, is to be more Christ-like. Not to learn more languages, get a first in my dissertation, or whatever else. And as well as that, I know that God is more than able to help me in each and every situation this year.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

UPDATE on life.

I was thinking today that this is currently the longest time I have ever been outside of Great Britain. And as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I currently do feel nostalgic for my home country with its tea and politeness and banter.

Having said this, I'm generally enjoying living in Spain. I feel like living elsewhere goes in phases. I'm past the wow I'm living in Spain everything is a novelty and fun times. And I think I'm just getting past the oh my life I'm living in Spain everything is so foreign and ridiculous. Well I guess the whole year I'm going to be in one of these categories to an extent, but at the same time I'm just getting on with life.

Today school was a good day, but I ended up teaching a whole class on my own without another teacher there, which is probably normal for some other assistants but the first time I'd done it. It wasn't a complete disaster, so that's good. Also I'd prepared a song with another class but we realised we couldnt have the language lab at the last moment, so we had to use the CD player rather than a computer and the available song which went with the textbook exercise was Justin Timberlake, always a bonus... or not.

I'm actually beginning to get somewhere with my YARP, by which I mean I have a feasible idea and have read a few articles. Having changed my plan, I still need to write a new proposal, yay. And an abstract, in Spanish. Who knows how that will go, since I feel like if anything my Spanish has got worse since I've got here. 

Definitely need to get on more 'intercambios' to chat Spanish in general life and probably try and actually keep a record of new words/ phrases I come across, and watch some more TV in Spanish, though it is very tempting to just watch in English, especially when there's a new series of Grey's Anatomy. But I'm trying to remind myself that I probably have my entire life to be in England and watch American TV so I should go out and speak Spanish and immerse myself into it a bit more proactively than I am right now. 

Also it's been awesome to see my besties Natasha and Hanna here this weekend/week, although tonight I was too tired after school and my commute to go over to Alcala to hang out with them tonight, they're coming over again tomorrow, so that will be super.

And I literally can't wait to see Dave next weekend.
All in all, loving life.