Las Fiestas de Agosto in Madrid: La Paloma in La Latina

It´s late afternoon in La Latina, one of the most characteristic and castizo neighborhoods of Spain´s capital city. Colourful flags and vibrant Manilla shawls decorate every street, and the local restaurants are busy blocking off their doorways and setting up makeshift bars outside. It´s stifling hot in the summer heat, but there´s an energy in the air that can only mean one thing: this is gonna be a great party.
And above all else, Madrid loves a good party.

Canary Island Resident Discount

Residents of the Canary Islands (as well as the Balearic Islands and Ceuta) are eligible for a 75% discount on domestic boat and air travel between the Canary Islands and to mainland Spain.

Spreading Those Sunny Vibes: The Sunshine Blogger Award

Sunshine Blogger Award Celebrating Those Who Spread Positivity 🙌 Creativity 🎨 & Sunshine 🌞 Summer in Spain means a lot of good things – island hopping, my favorite local festivals, and sipping refreshing drinks at the seaside. It also means renewing my immigration paperwork. Photocopies in duplicate and triplicate and staples and paperclips and translations and signatures and…

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Ultimate Guide to In-n-Out’s Secret Menu

The menu is short and sweet – burgers, fries and shakes – always made fresh and always cooked to perfection. But as any local will tell you, the best options at In-n-Out are the not-so-secret menu items on the unpublished locals-only menu.

7 Spanish Drinks You Must Sip on this Summer

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!

BEDA Language Assistant Enrollment Fee: Confirm Your Placement

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!

7 Unforgettable Experiences Volunteering at the Surin Elephant Project

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.

Fuerteventura Off the Beaten Track: Camping in the Canary Islands

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.

Score Big with 4 Super Bowl Activities for the Classroom

Touchdown!  Score Big with These 4 Super Bowl Activities for the ESL Classroom The 2019 Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 3, 2019. 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…

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Discover Moya in Gran Canaria

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.

Free Museum Entry to 7 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Museums

From centuries-old houses transformed into museums showcasing local artists and poets, to ancient cave paintings by the indigenous Canarii, there’s something for everyone in and around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Read on for the definitive list of 7 Gran Canaria museums that offer free entry on the first weekend of the month, and get to know a deeper side of this island paradise.

Carnaval in the Classroom: ESL Lesson Plans

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!

Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife: The Biggest Bash in the Canary Islands

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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: MLK in the ESL Classroom

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…

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Getting Lost in 2017: A Year in Photos

The end of the year always leaves me with notes of nostalgia, and this morning as I lazily sipped my coffee I got to thinking about all the places I’ve gotten lost in 2017 (and some plans for the coming year!)

Teach English in Spain: BEDA Language Assistants

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).