What inspired you to travel abroad?
What inspired me most about going to teach abroad was the opportunity to explore. I had nothing tying me back and so I kept telling myself it was now or never. There is so much of Europe that I have wanted to explore that the idea of living in Spain, so close to it all, seemed like a dream come true. I had heard that flights to many of the countries and cities I want to see were inexpensive and that made it all seem so doable. I also really wanted to practice on my Spanish and get a chance to live on my own. I had always lived with a roommate or family, and I thought this would be a great time to live by myself and really get to know more about myself. My oldest sister taught English in South Korea so that really inspired me as well.
Tarragona, Spain
Why did you choose RVF International?
I chose to work with RVF International due to the way they made me feel. I really connected with them on a personal level right off the bat. I felt like I was just chatting with a friend when we spoke through emails and Skype calls. I could tell they knew what they were doing and that they truly wanted what was best for me. All of the assistance they said they would help me with was exactly what I was looking for. The whole application process can be very daunting, but RVF International really broke it down and made it very easy and very stress-free. The organization also had a very feasible fee, which included all of the assistance and they even scheduled my Visa and Spanish residency appointments for me. They just had everything I was looking for at a price I was very comfortable with.
What was your favorite part about Spain?
My favorite part about Spain so far is all of the events that they celebrate. You thought America had a lot of holidays, well wait until you hear all of the holidays Spain celebrates! So many saints to be honored and celebrated, it really makes for a great and lively atmosphere. I haven't travelled yet as much as I would like to but that will all change in the next month. I am starting to plan my travels and it is really making me love my decision to come here in the first place. I love the sun out here in Spain too. Very prominent on a day-to-day basis and just feels so good! The palm trees, along with the flowers that are still blooming here in January, make me love Spain just that much more as well.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The traveling will be what makes this experience totally worth it. The opportunity to see so many places at such a decent price is unheard of back in the States. I plan on taking full advantage of this proximity to all of the amazing and beautiful countries on my list to see. And with the three-day weekends that we get every week through this program, it is the perfect amount of time. Just enough time to explore and enjoy the city without spending a whole paycheck on food, housing, and transportation. I also really like that there is a sense of community among myself and the other language assistants. We are all in the same situation, living in a foreign land, and really seem to be there for one another when someone has a problem or concern. Although no other language assistants live in my town, I still am able to feel that sense of community via Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
From the very beginning, the staff at RVF International has been extremely supportive. They have given me advice on planning ahead, how to fill out forms, what to do with the filled out forms, how to learn Spanish, a whole range of things. All of it is very appreciated. It really means a lot when someone who has gone through this process before can give you tips and advice on what is to come and what to expect. RVF International helped me with the complete Visa process. They told me everything to prepare, everything to bring, and everything to expect after the appointment. They gave me a packing list to make sure I didn't leave anything behind. They let me know how to find resources once I did arrive and provided me with the Spanish words to look and ask for. They have followed up numerous times to make sure I am adjusting well and to make sure I am on track with the Spanish long-term residency and everything else that follows after you arrive in Spain. They have been there for me through it all.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I would have done differently is either picked a region in Southern Spain where it is warmer or picked an apartment that has central heating. One doesn't think of Spain as being a cold place, especially when you arrive in September. But here I am in January, constantly wearing multiple layers of clothes, always drinking hot water, always sitting next to my portable heater, waiting for that warm weather to return! The cold has made it hard, but planning trips and thinking about the future makes the days a little warmer and that much more bearable. It would also be nice to have found a place in my town that offers Spanish lessons, but it is a very small town and I have yet to find anything like that.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical work day looks like the following: Wake up at 8 and get ready for school. School starts at 9 and I help the English Coordinator with our first English class of the day. By 10 am, we are on to our second English class. 11 am The children get a little recess/lunch break and the teachers all stand outside talking and making sure the children are playing nicely. 11:30 The third English class of the day begins. I usually prepare games for the kids to play, where we practice their new vocab words. I try to choose games where the children have to speak. 12:20 At this time, the English coordinator and I go to an empty room and coordinate lesson plans and games for the following week. 1:05 The children get another short recess/snack break. 1:15 English classes are done for the day. So now I help the English Coordinator with her Art Class, which is also taught in English. 2:00 Class is dismissed. 2-3 Siesta time! (When else am I going to have all this free time? Might as well enjoy a nap here and there while I can.) The rest of my day I spend doing my second job (online administration work) and preparing for future travels. I make dinner, go for a walk, and then settle in bed (currently under 4 layers of blankets) with some Netflix. Wake up the next day and repeat!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Travel, Travel, Travel! But on top of that, I really enjoy reading. I haven't been able to find any English books in my town, so when I went home for the holidays I made sure to bring many back. I also have a book app on my iPad that has really come in handy. I also really enjoy going for walks down by the beach. I've pretty much explored this whole town already but it still is very lovely to walk around. I have started getting into yoga, as well. I am currently living right on the beach, so when the weather starts getting nicer, you can definitely find me down by the beach with my yoga mat! And then relaxing and cooking have also been great ways to fill all this free time you do have while teaching out here through this program.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I am currently living by myself in a three bedroom apartment. The reason I chose this place was for three reasons: 1. It is literally a two-minute walk to my school. 2. It is literally a three-minute walk to the beach. 3. Lots of room for visitors! It has turned out to be a little too big for me. Trying to keep it warm is harder when there is so much empty space. But the place did come furnished so it is not completely empty. The place came with a coffee maker, which I have loved because it literally has been the only drip coffee I have been able to find in Spain, outside of Starbucks. Almost everywhere in Spain serves you espresso when you order a coffee. But my place also came with everything, beds, blankets, towels, dishes. It has been really great to not have to buy all of that when you know you would just have to leave it all behind once you are done. My favorite part about my place is my balcony with the ocean view. It is just so lovely.
Christmas Decorations in my town
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Before you start your program, I highly recommend joining Facebook groups for other language assistants. Many questions that you may not even know you had will be answered by other people going through the same thing you are going through. It is also a great way to meet other people. Being the only language assistant in my town was difficult at first, but I was able to find another like-minded girl who is teaching English in the town next to mine. Only a 15-minute bus ride! We now hang out every weekend and it has made this experience so much easier having her to hang out with and talk to. Also note that payments from the government are not always on time, but you do get paid!
Would you recommend RVF International? Why?
I would totally recommend this program to others. If you have wanted to teach abroad, especially in a beautiful country such as Spain, RVF International is definitely the company to help you make this happen. They know the ins and outs of everything and know how to make your transition to Spain very stress-free and smooth. They help you with everything and are there for you 100 percent throughout the whole process. They have been a pleasure to work with and have really made this dream of mine come true. They make your goals become a reality. When I wasn't sure about something, they were just an email or Skype call away to answer any and all of my questions. They always left me feeling satisfied and heard.
What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?
The biggest benefit is seeing the world. You get to see how many people in different cultures live their lives day-to-day in a totally different way than your own. It really makes you appreciate people who travel abroad by themselves. It really makes you appreciate everyone who is trying to live and thrive in a new and foreign land. It just gives you so much appreciation. You get to learn so much about yourself and other cultures. You put yourself out of your comfort zone which just makes you grow as an individual. You learn new things you like and don't like. You get to cross off things from your bucket list. It's just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I am home, I have never appreciated my time with my family more. Being away from them was definitely the hardest part of this whole experience. I was still able to talk to them almost every day (of course I had to figure out the time difference in order to plan a call) but just being able to hug them and do activities with them really gives me a new kind of happiness. During the hard times abroad, they kept me afloat and I just have so much to thank them for. Being abroad really showed me an interesting side of the world. This experience will be one that I will never forget. It has created many relationships and ended some others. But I feel like it has really made me a stronger person. It has shown me so much about the world and about myself that I don't know how I would have seen if I didn't teach abroad.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful traveling to me means that you not only see the world but you analyze and appreciate it as well. You see and appreciate the workers who are transporting you. You appreciate the person who helped you find the train station. You appreciate the person who tried to help you in English. It really makes you want to pass on those kind acts to others. It makes you want to find foreigners in your home land and help them enjoy their time. Help them find a fun place to eat, or a must-see place at night. It really is just all about being nice to one another and when you travel you really see the good come out of some of the most unexpected people.
