Here I am, 1st week of work behind me!

Hello to you all! Here it is, that update that you have all been waiting for...(takes in a deep breath).
Well, first things first...I am sooooooo busy! I am teaching everything from young kids who barely know how to say "Hello my name is" to really advanced students who only need help with extra vocabulary and pronounciation improvement. The language school is almost my second home, since I spent most of my time there this past week, getting familiar with the materials, ressources and everything. I have just been rushing to get everything set up, everything organized, etc etc...it´s been a very hectic week...and it´s far from over! Until I REALLY get settled into everything, it will take a bit of time, that´s for sure. With the intensive courses starting in 2 weeks, things are far from slowing down...(I´ll also be teaching military men!)
Well, the way I see it: I made it through the first week, so I know that I will survive, even though it is a lot of work and a lot of getting used to. I like my classes, some more than others (which is normal of course) and I remain optimistic.
Some of "my" kids are so cute...(I won´t talk about the hooligans). Honestly, there are a few that I just want to take home with me...such perfect angels who seem to grasp the language so quickly. Most of my adult classes are fairly advanced. I have one student who is retired and who is taking 3 languages classes at Inlingua: English, French and German. My coworkers also tell me that he is a millionaire. Well, if you have that much money and are retired, hey, why not? I would probably do the same...beats watching crappy Soaps on tv while your bones slowly rot away.
The thing to get used to right now: all the different books. Since practically ALL of my students are on different levels, they need different books. So, I need to get familiar with the material...and the only crappy thing from this week (and possibly this upcoming week) is that some of the shipments haven´t come in yet and I have had to manage the classrooms without books (so I basically had to find my own material). Well, I will pretty much always use a bit of extra ressources since I want to make the classes fun (a class just with textbooks is very boring of course) so I guess in one way it isn´t too bad since it has already forced me to look for other materials elsewhere, making it easier in the long run for later on.
I really enjoy my coworkers. The work atmosphere is really great here in Logroño, and I know that I can always ask my directors for help. They are very friendly and helpful...so coming to work is nice, you can actually feel the friendly energy. :)
But honestly, wow...have I ever been busy. Today is a Saturday and I actually spent the day at the academy finishing up some things and printing out some materials (there is some stuff due for Monday for the Intensive Courses which start on the 17th). I can´t wait to kinda be in the real groove of things, things are still only beginning...some things can still change because some students need to get switched to different classes (some are at higher levels than others, vice versa). Being a TEFL teacher is some hard work (at least, here in Spain). At least the money is good :P I am still very grateful that I got a full-time job so fast in Europe! I am so so happy to have my EU passport...
Last night I went out with my Irish coworkers again, and we went out for some tapas together. Going bar hopping is so much fun...you can really be full on a few small tapas! It´s so much fun :) People are in general very friendly here...I found out that night something really nice: my directors regard me in a very favorable light apparently. My friend Dervla was telling me that, so that was nice :) I also found out my coworkers´ages: Dervla is 27 and the rest are around 30...when they found out that I was turning only 23 on Oct. 23rd they were a little shocked. Not that I look like an old hag, hahaha but they said I acted older. "You´re still a baby! That´s quite an achievement, working with Inlingua already...at that age I was still finding my way in life," said Dervla. That made me feel good a little...sometimes I guess we don´t stop and pat ourselves on the back enough, you know what I mean? I do work hard dammit...I deserve all of this, lol!
It is still a little nerve-wracking, getting used to everything...but I guess that all new beginnings in life are a little scary...I remember being scared for my first day of high school! Starting off fresh without any friends, skinny and nerdy looking..."would anybody ever like me?". Then, being nervous for university, "will I like my roomate?"...hahahah and then, somehow, you make it through another step in life. Somehow, someway, you make it. Sometimes it takes a lot of blood and tears, but then...it works out. You know?
I would like to take this gushy, cheesy opportunity to thank all of you out there. You who have made my school years (high school, university, etc) amazing. Of course I don´t forget about you guys, in fact you are often on my mind because I hear songs or see things which remind me of all of you. Bittersweet memories, in some ways. I love you guys!
I sometimes still can´t believe that I am here...sometimes it feels like I have been longer in Spain than...how long now? (checks calendar): 3 months and 12 days. Wow.
Interesting fact: The other new teacher Mike quit on his very first day of work. Apparently, he thought that it was going to be too much work for him to handle....WUSSY! I was very sad, he was such a nice guy and we got along great. The weird thing is that he has already 2 years experience...and I have practically zilch. Who should be the one freaking out at the last possible moment? Hmmm...some people!
We are getting another new teacher on Tuesday...and he is also a Brit. Hopefully he will be as cool as Mike, or even better! The directors told me that he already has some experience with Inlingua, so...we´ll see!
Besides that...hmmm tomorrow is Sunday, my fave day of the week....I think that I will do a bit of laundry, clean the apartment and take a nice morning walk in the park with my cdman..oh, and talk to my parents online (it´s my mom´s b-day today...happy b-day mom!xoxooxox).
Shane, you are coming to see me this Wednesday, weeeeeee! We´ll have so much fun together, even though I am going to be super insanely busy....but we´ll go to Barcelona for my B-Day, yooohoooooo! We can also go to Madrid the weekend after that :) It will surely be a hell of a lot of fun, no matter where we go :)
Well, this is it for now...another busy week is awaiting Heidi...