Welcome to Barcelona

So why am I in Barcelona??? Good Question! I never had ANY intention of staying here- I just though that I would do my TEFL, have a fabulous vacation on the Mediterranean, and then be off to South Asia (where I hear all of the well-paid English teaching jobs are). It's amazing how plans can change so dramatically and quickly. Plans that I thought were set in stone changed within weeks of my arrival here, and I have lived in Barcelona ever since.

Upon my arrival I did an intensive one-week Spanish course to review all of the basics and feel more confident in my speaking abilities- especially to learn the “tu” and “vosotros” forms which are hardly ever used in South American countries. With that under my belt the journey was much easier- I’d definitely have to recommend beginning any stay in Barcelona with a Spanish course. While Catalan is the other main language, everyone living here is bilingual- and knowing Spanish is a great asset in general, so it is a definite “must” in my book.

It all began with a chilling little sojourn in a law school far, far away where I learned that I’d prefer to be the one on the other side and from thence began my interest in the unknown land of teaching English abroad. Leaving the US without a plan or destination I began my journey with a visit to friends on the west coast of Ireland. Along with many other acquaintances who had visited over the years, they too recommended doing my TEFL in Barcelona, since if you’re going to travel, you should do it right!

While taking my TEFL course I learned that I loved to teach and draw up lesson plans. It is also where I met some of my best friends since I have been here in Barcelona. Weekends spent planning lessons on the Barceloneta beach, days spent lunching under the Mediterranean sun, nights spent listening to music on the streets of the Raval until the madrugada, the stuff you read about but were never sure was true- all right here. I never hesitated. After two weeks wandering around and getting lost every chance I could find I was hooked. There is a feeling in this city unmatched in any other place I have been.

Since I have been here I have seen Tool’s “Forty-Six & 2” played on a sitar, danced in the fires of the correfocs, eaten a three hour menu del dia, taken classes in life drawing and flamenco, and learned that when someone says “foc” to you, what they really want is a light. Even if you leave Barcelona, having been here you will never be quite the same. I'm not sure if I will ever be able to leave...