Today marks exactly 3 weeks since I moved to Vigo, Spain. It simultaneously feels like I’ve been here three months and hardly 10 days. Time passes without notice until I look back and realize all the weeks that have unfolded. Since arriving in Spain, I’ve muttered the phrase “poco a poco” often. In English, it translates to “little by little” or “slowly but surely”. If I were to sum up my experience thus far, this phrase would serve as my overarching anthem. The learning is slow but it is steady. Progress is still progress no matter how slow.
Here’s a glimpse into what I’ve been up to since my arrival!
1. I moved into a shared flat. With Spanish roommates! This all feels very exciting (and scary). Frankly, this move has probably been the most daunting decision I’ve made since my arrival. Upon signing my lease, I had no clue who my roommates were beyond a vague description from the landlord that included, “They’re very nice girls in their 20s. One is a dentist and the other is a translator.” There was no guarantee that either spoke English before moving in. I felt excited at the prospect of a new beginning while equally terrified of the unknown. After 2 weeks living in my new home, I am happy to report that my roommates are kind, interesting, and considerate people. One of them even invited me on a paseo while she showed me around Vigo – YAY to kind humans!
2. I am a real life language assistant! One of the primary purposes of a Fulbright ETA grant is to work as a language assistant in a school. Currently, I work Tuesday through Friday for 18 hours a week with students that range from 11 to 17 years old. My time thus far has consisted of planning and leading lessons, games, and activities that reinforce a grammatical concept or new vocabulary that the students are learning. While I’ve always felt a yearning to be in the classroom, I never pursued the interest in college. This is one of the many reasons why my time as a Fulbright ETA is such a gift. Although I’m still learning the intricacies of classroom management, I love the challenge of tailoring lesson plans to different language levels and encouraging students to extend their knowledge beyond the classroom.
3. I am making friends!! And some of them are Spanish (bonus!!). It feels like I am back in my freshman year of college when I knew no one and had to muster up the courage to say “Hello” to my dormmates. Here’s what I can tell you – it pays to show up as yourself. Shocker, right?!? Introductions can be so awkward to navigate. When in doubt, always revert back to what you know to be true about yourself. For example, I love Jesus, coffee is my love language, and I’m a serial optimist that enjoys writing in her free time. DONE. Let it stand. Don’t be bashful or end sentences with “That’s pretty much it”. You are so much more than “pretty much it” and introductions are a perfect time to practice embracing it. Regardless of language barriers, I’ve found that passion and authenticity always translate.
4. I am speaking SO MUCH Spanish and trying SO MANY new foods! This is not an overstatement. My day is saturated with Spanish, colloquial phrases, and *failed* uses of the past subjunctive tense. I wake up to roommates saying “Buenos dias” and walk into a school with Castellano and Galician being spoken all around me. It is both incredibly challenging and totally worth it. In addition, I am trying *so many* new foods. Octopus, scallops, pimientos padrones, and fresh salmon have all graced my plate. Vigo is the perfect city for a pescatarian like myself.
While much of what I’ve shared are considered “highs”, there are a myriad of low lows that do not get posted. Everyday here is both beautiful and terribly difficult. Let’s allow both to coexist. Highlight reels are counterfeit. There is a grayscale of emotions that never gets captured on camera. Over the next five months, I commit to sharing both my best moments and the hard ones with you, dear reader. Do not let FOMO consume you. Our lives may look different online but we both watch the same sunrise, sip similar cups of coffee, and marvel at the feeling of a “Job well done”. Both are worthy and genuine existences.
Until next time – besos!
*PLEASE NOTE: the opinions expressed in this blog post and related articles on the site are a reflection of my experiences alone and not that of the Fulbright Organization.