Come along with me as I continue to get lost – and find myself – all around the world.
Whether you’re desperately trying to beat the heat in Barcelona, soaking up the sun along the southern Spanish coast, or sitting at home wishing you were living the dream in Spain, chances are you’ll be feeling a bit parched this summer.
While there’s no shortage of cerveza and sangria to be sampled, do as the Spanish do and beat the heat with one of these 7 classic summer thirst-quenchers instead!
La Orotava is easily one of the most charming towns in Tenerife and is worth a visit any time of year, but even more so during its colorful Corpus Christi celebrations held annually from about mid-May to mid-June.
Small as it may be, the sapphire blue water of the Charco Azul (“Blue Pond” – definitely sounds better in Spanish) is worth a visit for anyone who finds themselves near El Risco in the northwest coast of Gran Canaria. The pond is easy enough to reach, with some lovely landscapes on the way and a perfect, picturesque place to take a solitary dip and cool down beneath the small waterfall.
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been accepted to the BEDA Language Assistant Program in Spain.
Congrats!! Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, you have just 7 days to confirm your placement as a BEDA Language Assistant, so it’s time to act fast!
Tossing and turning against the stifling heat, I rolled over on the thin mat, trying to make myself comfortable in the raised bamboo hut. Tired and hot as I was, I couldn’t help but smile as I listened to the muffled squeaks and rumbles below.
Elephants.
The beautiful, majestic creatures that had fascinated me since childhood, of whom I had seen countless documentaries of their incredible memories, near-human emotional intelligence and fascinating beauty…
And here I was, living amongst them.
With only five days to explore Fuerteventura – the second largest of the Canary Islands – we would need to do a lot of moving around. We arrived without an itinerary, determined to follow the advice of locals on our search for the most beautiful beaches, and daily weather reports to avoid the wilder winds (Fuerteventura, after all, translates to “strong wind,” and for good reason.
As much as I tend to bemoan the overly-touristic south, I’m always surprised at how much I enjoy my time here every now and then. There really is plenty to do – from basic beaching to luxury spas and all the water sports you can think of. Plus, sunshine.
Perched above deep volcanic valleys and ravines sits the sleepy, whitewashed town of Moya, where time has seemingly stood still. Children play in the small plazas and old women guard the town from their intricately carved wooden balconies. Church bells ring and old men stop to chat about the weather or yesterday’s match. There’s something timeless about an afternoon in Moya, as if this is what’s always been and what always will be.
One thing I’ve learnt Teaching English abroad is that there are many great opportunities to share your language, culture, traditions and celebrations, but if you want to keep your students completely engaged, try bringing their culture into the classroom! As an added bonus, you’ll learn a ton about local history, culture and traditions from your students! Read on for 10 Carnival activities and lesson plans for the ESL classroom!
Vibrant colors, vivacious rhythms, dizzying talcum powder wars and the most diva-licious Drag Queen show I’ve ever seen – ya es Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria!
Usually January is considered a time to tighten up the budget and the post-holiday buns and to settle in for the less festive side of winter; but as most of Spain is packing up their poinsettias and nibbling on the last crumbs of turrón and Roscón de Reyes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is just warming up for the real party… Carnaval.
These days, learning English is all the rage in sunny Spain, and between the many English teaching programs out there, almost anyone can find a way in.
I’ve spent 4 years working as an English Language Assistant with BEDA (Bilingual English Development & Assessment).
We arrived around two and the fiesta was already in full force. Squeezing through the mobs of sweaty fiesteros and fishermen selling eucalyptus branches for 2 bucks a pop, we made our way through the crowded, narrow streets to Plaza de la Constitución, the heart of enchanting Agaete.
Apartment hunting isn’t usually considered fun. Throw in a different language in a different country with different customs and it’s, well, different. Luckily, you’re not the first guiri to make the move to sunny Spain, so save yourself the stress of making all the mistakes yourself and learn from some of ours before you.
To describe Cuenca as dramatic would be an understatement. Originally founded by the Moors in the 8th century, the city was built on a peak protected by severe drops down to the gorges of the Huécar and Júcar rivers below. Everything surrounding the city is verdant green, and everything within the city is solid stone that has witnessed thousands of years of history.
Every Thursday night in Vegueta, the scent of mojo and mariscos fills the air and hungry patrons – both locals and guiris alike – fill every bar, terrace and square inch of sidewalk. It’s the weekly Ruta del Pincho aka Tapas Thursday in the historic center, where friends gather together to share a bucket (or 10) of botellínes and sample the countless pinchos on offer.
Finding a flat is essential.
Finding a flat you love (or at least like, hopefully a lot) will make a huge impact on your overall Spain experience.
Las Palmas Neighborhoods: Finding the Barrio That’s Right for You Finding your little piece of paradise in Las Palmas might just be the most important decision you’ll make when you arrive. There are the obvious factors like price and commute convenience, but for me it’s equally as important to find the barrio of your dreams….
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably received your regional placement as a Language Assistant in Spain… congrats! If you’re like most first-time auxiliares, this will be your first time living overseas for more than a just study abroad stint, and let’s just say… it’s different. Different in lots of good ways, and a few stressful ways, but absolutely different.
The truth is, there’s quite a bit that you won’t be able to do until you arrive – finding a piso (apartment) you love, setting up a bank account, securing a Spanish SIM card, etc. There are, however, a few things you can do now to make the transition a whole helluvalot easier when you arrive, and here are my top 3: consulates, cash & communication.
Eating my way through the Canary Islands has been and continues to be one of my favorite parts of living in this little corner of the world.
🔥I Fell Into A Burning Ring of Fire🔥 Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain Ear-splitting explosions, blazing bonfires, enormous burning effigies and packs of feral children playing with matches. Nope, it’s not a war zone or the latest post-apocalyptic blockbuster. Welcome to Las Fallas; Valencia’s premiere party and one of the biggest, craziest festivals in all…
This month begins the beautiful debauchery of one of Spain’s most cherished festivos. If you’re lucky enough to be celebrating in one of the top Carnaval hotspots in Spain – Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Cadiz, Sitges – get ready to be dazzled. From shimmering, sequined gowns and luminous firework displays to blaring Latin beats and the sensation of thousands of people soaking it all in with you, your senses are sure to be on overload.
Touchdown! Score Big with These 4 Super Bowl Activities for the ESL Classroom To be honest there are very few things in this life I care less about than American football… (Sorry not sorry?? 😏) I suppose that’s why I was banished to Europe where my beloved fútbol reigns supreme… GOLLLLLL ⚽! Personal tastes aside though,…
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: MLK in the ESL Classroom As Language & Culture Assistants in Spain (or wherever you may be teaching abroad), I think one of our most important duties is to share and encourage cultural diversity. Chances are, if you’ve been in Spain over the past few months you’ve seen some things…
Coming back to school after the holidays is tough.
Realizing the day before that you haven’t planned anything is worse.
Lucky for you, I’ve stock piled a few simple no & low prep activities to get you through the first few days.
Glittering fairy lights, oversized Christmas trees and the smoky scent of chestnuts and honey almonds roasting on an open fire. Dulce Navidad is playing in the shopping centers and long lines loop through El Corte Inglés. It’s the end of November and beginning to look a lot like Christmas all over Spain.
There are few holidays that leave this expat soul feeling as sentimental as Thanksgiving, which is kinda peculiar since it never used to be a holiday I cared much about. Of course I’d get down on some sweet potatoes and stuffing, but even as a child I didn’t buy into the whole pilgrims and “Indians” holding hands and singing kumbaya.
It all began when the main English teacher insisted that I plan a “fun” activity for Columbus Day. After all, what’s more fun than genocide? Nope. This guy was already not on my list of favorite people, so I wasn’t completely surprised with the way the situation went down. I (politely) explained to him that…
As much as the littles (and even not-so-littles) love Halloween, it can get pretty tedious making the same old skele-pumpki-spiders every year.
Coming from Los Angeles, I’ve always been mesmerized by the colorful Día de los Muertos celebrations that are held all around the city and throughout SoCal. Especially when teaching in countries with less diversity, I think it’s imperative that we make an effort to showcase our rich cultural diversity.
Are North Americans residing in the Canary Islands eligible for the resident discount? Maybe. Read on for details!
