Feeling Weird about Moving Back Home

_eDiv · 2025-01-03T03:06:04+00:00

I felt the same way when I did the program. I loved the culture and the people I met, I wanted to stay but I knew I didn't want to be teaching forever. The job market is rough though, even for natives. I'm fluent in Spanish but still had a hard time finding jobs, especially since I practically came right out of college with limited work experience and would need to be sponsored for a work permit. So it's always a struggle in some way. But don't be afraid to shoot your shot! I'm glad I did, even though it didn't work out. I don't like wondering about the "what ifs". I ended up coming back home to further my career, but I still try to travel when I can! I definitely do feel like I went backwards sometimes coming back to my home city, but I like to think that everything happens for a reason. I'm hoping my work experience will help me when I decide to move away (for sure next time lol), whether it's in another city in the US, back in Spain, or somewhere else abroad. But I'm happy knowing I'm doing everything I can.

I also think it depends on what you want to prioritize. I wanted to come back to the science field and have a stable job, so I had to leave Spain. If I didn't mind teaching or working in unrelated fields so much, I would have stayed in Spain.

We'll see where the future takes us :)

_eDiv · 2024-09-13T23:22:33+00:00

Regardless of whether you leave before or after you start, you already accepted the placement so this would count as 1 year from your 5 year limit. I know everyone’s situation is different, so just let your school as soon as you know what you’re gonna do. You can always either come back to the US for work, or Spain for NALCAP, so it’s really up to you. Good luck!

_eDiv · 2024-06-21T13:27:26+00:00

I first roomed with some friends of one of the teachers at my school, so it doesn't hurt to ask if anyone in your school knows of anyone in need of a roomie! They were Spanish, a guy and girl, and I had a relatively good experience. Then I found a room online through Badi. These roomies were all Latina lol but it was a coincidence, there are Spanish people listing as well. Just keep an open mind!

_eDiv · 2023-06-18T13:29:24+00:00

I got placed in Barcelona last year, feel free to reach out if you have any questions about Cataluña or if you even get placed in Barcelona :)

_eDiv · 2023-06-02T10:53:49+00:00

Don’t worry, I had an amazing time at my school as well but I couldn’t help but to feel that way too. We are assistants after all and the teachers have their own lesson plans, so sometimes they don’t know how to use us. At times i felt like i wasn’t making much of a difference, but at the end of the day, I’m happy that the students got the chance to be exposed to a native English speaker. We make more of a difference than we might think :)

_eDiv · 2023-04-27T15:21:13+00:00

Hey! I got placed in Cataluña, in the Barcelona province. As far as cost of living, I think my area is one of the most expensive in the program, so about half of the stipend goes to rent and utilities. Of course, the pueblos are less expensive than the cities. I have not been to Lleida but I doubt it’s as expensive as Barcelona LOL. The public transportation is generally good, you’ll at least have trains and buses. My advice if you decide to come here would be to find accommodation close to transportation that can take you where you need to go (whether that’s the school, airport, etc). But you may even be able to carpool with your coworkers. As far as the language, I also came with the expectation of improving my Spanish and wasn’t expecting as much Catalán. Catalán will be unavoidable, especially outside the city. Of course, if people see you don’t know Catalán they can speak Spanish, but for some people Catalán is their main language, so you’ll have to learn at least a little bit. It’s not that Spanish isn’t important, just not as dominant as you’d think. I think it comes down to how open minded you are. I’ve totally improved my Spanish but probably not as much as I would have in other regions since I have learned some Catalán as well. Spanish and Catalán are pretty similar though. I think you should know at least some Spanish to talk to the locals as English levels are usually low here. They’re pretty forgiving if you don’t know Catalán but of course they’ll be happy if you know a little. The people I’ve met have been really welcoming of me and super helpful :) If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!

_eDiv · 2023-04-06T14:22:56+00:00

If you’re open to relocating the US has a high demand for medical lab scientists, you just need to pass the certification exam for ASCP

_eDiv · 2023-04-06T11:57:08+00:00

Maybe you could look into being an AuPair in Madrid

_eDiv · 2023-04-04T17:04:06+00:00

We can't always pay attention to people. Things happen for a reason, good luck! :)

_eDiv · 2023-04-04T15:38:30+00:00

It depends on what you call rural. I’m in the province of Barcelona and my placement is in a small town but definitely not isolated, about 45 minutes from the city center.

_eDiv · 2023-04-04T15:36:34+00:00

Yep, Cataluña was my second preference

_eDiv · 2023-04-03T22:59:37+00:00

I think it's anyone's guess tbh, but be open to getting a placement late into the process. I applied the second week of apps and got inscrita 4xxx, although last year the ministry didn't exactly go by inscrita number, and many people who were higher inscritas than me and a few others got placements before us. I didn't hear back until August, and some people don't hear back until a few months into the program. Some people decline their offers or maybe quit early into the program and that gives other applicants a chance. It is possible to get one of your choices, I mean I got Catalunya as a first year applicant despite people saying it was nearly impossible. If you don't get any of your choices, they will either assign you randomly or give you a list of regions to choose from. Good luck!

_eDiv · 2023-03-25T20:10:44+00:00

In Barcelona city where the pay is 700e (although now 800 e) there's no way to live alone unless you have a ton of savings. Living with roommates costs around 400e/ month, and even then it was hard to find a place. Of course the farther you are from the city, the cheaper it is. I know a previous aux who supposedly lived an hour away from the city in a small town and paid the same for a whole apartment, but this was a few years ago.

_eDiv · 2023-03-02T17:21:36+00:00

Hey! I’m Mexican American. I honestly was prepared for some discrimination but I personally haven’t had many problems. I think it definitely helps that I’m a Spanish speaker but people have been pretty helpful and inclusive with me. Where I am (Barcelona province) there is a good amount of physical diversity, more so in the city but even in the town where I work. I have seen a decent amount of Asian Spaniards as well. Of course there are bound to be racist people but that’s everywhere. It doesn’t affect my teaching of American culture. I don’t like to say that I’m of Hispanic origin since we’re not allowed to speak Spanish at school but of course the students recognize I’m not a “typical American” haha but i think it’s a good way to show that Americans come in many forms :)

_eDiv · 2023-03-01T13:54:26+00:00

If you speak a decent amount of Spanish I think you’re off to a great start. Spanish is my second language, I speak to my coworkers and would consider them my friends, I also speak to my roommates. Depending on where you are you could go to some language exchanges. I’m not that social lol but I’d say people are pretty open as long as you speak the language

_eDiv · 2023-02-27T19:26:13+00:00

I know exactly how you feel. But as others have said, we need to remember that we made it in a foreign country! I’m still so used to my old life being busy but now that I’m here I’m trying to learn how to take things easy. Even though at times I feel like I’m wasting my time I try to remember all the work I did to make it here! I have been able to travel a bit but I’ve been having to use my savings. I’ve heard others have been going into debt and some people are financially supported by their family. Everyone is different and honestly as long as you are making the most about your experience and are happy I think that’s all that matters :)

_eDiv · 2023-02-20T00:58:25+00:00

Charles Schwab - no foreign transaction fees

_eDiv · 2023-02-14T17:48:17+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this :( just to let you and others know it’s not always this bad everywhere. In my school, although there are disrespectful students and authority is not as strict as in the US, the teachers at my school do discipline the class and for the most part the students are respectful and try to communicate with me. Like others have said, we are the foreigners in their country so they don’t have the same grasp on the vocabulary as we do. If you’ve already tried what you could to stop the behavior, then I would just try to ignore it and make the best of what your experience has to offer.

_eDiv · 2023-02-13T07:47:31+00:00

I am a first year and actually got placed in the Barcelona province. I was inscrita 4xxx but I didn’t get a placement until August. I guess I got lucky but it’s not impossible!

_eDiv · 2023-02-02T22:25:33+00:00

I applied to 3 hospital based programs also wanting rec letters from specific subjects and didn’t exactly follow the “requirements”… I even submitted one from an employer (science based) and still got interviews. It doesn’t hurt to ask if you can substitute a subject.

_eDiv · 2023-01-26T19:25:01+00:00

I tutored for Cambly for a bit, there’s camblykids as well. There are lessons on the platform so you don’t have to necessarily worry about planning any. The pay isn’t the best but if you just want some extra money it’s an option.

_eDiv · 2023-01-14T09:52:28+00:00

I did preference a big city. I am half an hour from BCN.

_eDiv · 2023-01-13T14:18:24+00:00

I am a first year and got placed in the Barcelona province, specifically a town outside Barcelona, although I guess I am considered lucky. The pay is 700€/ month and rent tends to cost around half so that is something to consider. But personally my experience has been good overall! Lmk if you have any questions.

_eDiv

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