I have been doing research for my Morocco trip in which we depart from Sevilla at 4:45am. So I had to book a hostel for a few hours.
After searching online, I found that the train is an AVE train - a high speed train. I would take a train to Ciudad Real (40 minutes, 6 euros) then wait about an hour and get on the high speed train to Seville (1.5 hours, 50 euros, yes, 50 euros - I get a discount of some sort, but am not crazy about the price). Giving a grand total of 50 euros more or less, and about 3 hours of my time (including the wait time)
Today I walked to the sketchy bus station (the street lights has just turned on making it even more eerie that it is in the daylight). There is not a reliable website for the buses, so it is necessary to walk to the station and bug them with questions. When I got to the train station, the main overhead lights weren't on, just the tiny light in the ticket office. The woman behind the counter was about to leave and I am probably annoyed her with all of my questions, which now that I think of it I missed a good one because I later found out that Seville has 2 bus stations, and it matters which one I am dropped off at...oh well. The bus leaves from Manzanares at 4:15am, and gets in at 9am. So we have an early early early morning and I wouldn't be able to check in to my hostel until 12 or later. (That is almost 5 hours on a bus. 15.09 euros, much cheaper) and the return bus is 8:30pm and gets in at 1:45am ( Again, about 5 hours on a bus, 15.09 euros, much cheaper) So we have a grand total of about 31 euros and 10 hours of my time.
No idea which to pick. Maybe I can do the bus one way and the train another. Hostel is booked just need to figure out how to get there...
Opinions welcome!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Soup for the soul
Clearly keeping up with my blog was an ill-fated New Year's resolution. (Have any of you kept yours thus far?)
First and most importantly: My two adult private lesson students passed their B2 English exam! They were so worried! I am so proud of them! This gives them many more opportunities job-wise, and they can make more money! It just reflects well on me - and can give me more lesson opportunities in the future.
Christmas (wow, I'm still on that) was something I cannot put in to words really. I have so many family traditions that I treasure - so going home was a blast (and it was needed). It gave me a mood boost and gave me some more inspiration. I still have no idea what I am doing with my future, just taking it a day at a time. I've noticed days here where I am happy - plain and simple!
I feel like coming back another year would do me some good. I now have a sense of what I am doing here and what I would like to do - and I would bring more things here and be prepared (I wish I had Candy Corn to share over Halloween, and conversation hearts for Valentine's day!) I would be more prepared for my job, but also more prepared for my private lessons! I did buy a memory game with words and pictures and that has worked well, so I need to buy more games like that.
Coming back another year to a pueblo also gives me a chance to practice my Spanish (which I am really enjoying). Hopefully that will lead to more job opportunities for me in the future - whatever that may be.
I haven't been feeling well in the past 2 weeks, which is super frustrating. I caught a virus and it is still lingering no matter how much vitamin C, or medicines I am taking. Even more frustrating is the fact that I can't just run down to the store and get some Campbell's Chicken Noodle. In fact, they don't have canned soup at all. Sometimes you can get chicken broth in a box - you still have to add to it to make it taste bearable. Recently Mike's sister had been sick, so he made her homemade chicken noodle soup, so luckily he gave me the recipe and I was able to copy from it. I didn't have chicken - but I had everything else. Although I would have rather opened a can of Campbell's - add a cup of water and heated it up in my sick condition - I was stuck making homemade soup. After g-chatting with a friend and crying because I felt so awful, I sucked it up and went to the kitchen. I had garlic, chicken broth, carrots, celery, seasoning, onion and some other leafy thing I got from the fruteria. I had to peel, chop, saute, and be patient. You have to make sure all of the veggies are cooked - and carrots take awhile. Finally I added noodles and chicken broth and waited some more. I felt like I was going to pass out, or cry again.
Finally after what seemed like eternity, the soup was ready - and it was possibly the best chicken soup I have ever had. I felt accomplished and the soup was good for my soul. I now know how to make delicious soup - just don't ask me to make it because I am tired just thinking about it!
Until Next Time
Tori
First and most importantly: My two adult private lesson students passed their B2 English exam! They were so worried! I am so proud of them! This gives them many more opportunities job-wise, and they can make more money! It just reflects well on me - and can give me more lesson opportunities in the future.
Christmas (wow, I'm still on that) was something I cannot put in to words really. I have so many family traditions that I treasure - so going home was a blast (and it was needed). It gave me a mood boost and gave me some more inspiration. I still have no idea what I am doing with my future, just taking it a day at a time. I've noticed days here where I am happy - plain and simple!
I feel like coming back another year would do me some good. I now have a sense of what I am doing here and what I would like to do - and I would bring more things here and be prepared (I wish I had Candy Corn to share over Halloween, and conversation hearts for Valentine's day!) I would be more prepared for my job, but also more prepared for my private lessons! I did buy a memory game with words and pictures and that has worked well, so I need to buy more games like that.
Coming back another year to a pueblo also gives me a chance to practice my Spanish (which I am really enjoying). Hopefully that will lead to more job opportunities for me in the future - whatever that may be.
I haven't been feeling well in the past 2 weeks, which is super frustrating. I caught a virus and it is still lingering no matter how much vitamin C, or medicines I am taking. Even more frustrating is the fact that I can't just run down to the store and get some Campbell's Chicken Noodle. In fact, they don't have canned soup at all. Sometimes you can get chicken broth in a box - you still have to add to it to make it taste bearable. Recently Mike's sister had been sick, so he made her homemade chicken noodle soup, so luckily he gave me the recipe and I was able to copy from it. I didn't have chicken - but I had everything else. Although I would have rather opened a can of Campbell's - add a cup of water and heated it up in my sick condition - I was stuck making homemade soup. After g-chatting with a friend and crying because I felt so awful, I sucked it up and went to the kitchen. I had garlic, chicken broth, carrots, celery, seasoning, onion and some other leafy thing I got from the fruteria. I had to peel, chop, saute, and be patient. You have to make sure all of the veggies are cooked - and carrots take awhile. Finally I added noodles and chicken broth and waited some more. I felt like I was going to pass out, or cry again.
Finally after what seemed like eternity, the soup was ready - and it was possibly the best chicken soup I have ever had. I felt accomplished and the soup was good for my soul. I now know how to make delicious soup - just don't ask me to make it because I am tired just thinking about it!
Until Next Time
Tori
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sophie's Choice
I am a bit stuck.
My Best Friend's Wedding is this October and I am a bridesmaid. I am stoked that my best friend is getting married, the groom is a perfect match for her. I was previously cleared to start my contract here in Spain late in November so that I can attend her Oct 29th wedding.
Today they told me the Ministry of Education does have a problem with it because they pay for 8 months of an Auxiliar, and I would only be here 7. (I don't understand the problem, they would be saving one month of pay to me)
Anyways, they have a problem with it, so if I renew I have to start Oct 1st. ONLY option would be to pay for a plane ticket back on the 26th or 27th of October, and then come back. Which sucks considering flights aren't cheap and I would have JUST gotten here and used to jet lag. Not to mention if I go back then I will miss out on a lot of festivities and I would probably have to give up being a bridesmaid since I would need to have my dress fitted and everything. UGH.
I don't know what to do.
Do I miss out on my Best Friend's Wedding and the chance to be a bridesmaid to her?
Do I try and find another job?
Do I not go out at all ever over summer to save money to pay for another plane ticket home?
Do I give up the honor of being a Bridesmaid?
This would be a little simpler if I had a ton of money...
I have no idea on where to begin on the pros and cons of my decision. All I want to do it cry over it.
I promise a better update on my blog this weekend!
My Best Friend's Wedding is this October and I am a bridesmaid. I am stoked that my best friend is getting married, the groom is a perfect match for her. I was previously cleared to start my contract here in Spain late in November so that I can attend her Oct 29th wedding.
Today they told me the Ministry of Education does have a problem with it because they pay for 8 months of an Auxiliar, and I would only be here 7. (I don't understand the problem, they would be saving one month of pay to me)
Anyways, they have a problem with it, so if I renew I have to start Oct 1st. ONLY option would be to pay for a plane ticket back on the 26th or 27th of October, and then come back. Which sucks considering flights aren't cheap and I would have JUST gotten here and used to jet lag. Not to mention if I go back then I will miss out on a lot of festivities and I would probably have to give up being a bridesmaid since I would need to have my dress fitted and everything. UGH.
I don't know what to do.
Do I miss out on my Best Friend's Wedding and the chance to be a bridesmaid to her?
Do I try and find another job?
Do I not go out at all ever over summer to save money to pay for another plane ticket home?
Do I give up the honor of being a Bridesmaid?
This would be a little simpler if I had a ton of money...
I have no idea on where to begin on the pros and cons of my decision. All I want to do it cry over it.
I promise a better update on my blog this weekend!
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