New beginnings
Maddie Luke writes a profound insight into her time abroad so far and how the challenges she has faced have helped her immerse herself in Spanish life.
When left stranded at the top of a pedestrian street in Madrid with two suitcases, each almost as big as me, I will admit I was hot, bothered and disorientated. The relief I had felt when landing at the airport, finally having made it to Spain for my year abroad after months of stomach-twisting uncertainty, seemed to disappear as I manoeuvred my luggage down a cobbled street to my new home. Arriving in a new country knowing no one was unlike anything I had experienced. Not even the first night of Fresher’s had prepared me for how independent I would have to be.
Not even the first night of Fresher’s had prepared me for how independent I would have to be.
Given the COVID-19 situation, I knew meeting new people would be more challenging, so as most of my flatmates were yet to arrive, the university being due to start the following week, I went onto an Erasmus page on Facebook and found that a group of people were meeting in a bar. I arrived sweaty and nervous, but three weeks down the line, the people from my first night have become firm friends. In this group, there were Bolivians to Indians and everything in between and thankfully one girl from Manchester, who could relate to my sarcastic British humour that fell flat with the others.
One of the few Spaniards there said that Madrid is not a Spanish city but an international city. This could be said for many capitals; however, I had never experienced first-hand the amazing exchange of cultures before I got to Madrid. We spoke a mixture of French, Spanish and English at varying levels. Since my first day, where I had a tear-inducing encounter at the bank trying to set up a bank account, I can already feel the Spanish coming more easily.
I had never experienced first-hand the amazing exchange of cultures before I got to Madrid.
One of the greatest challenges I have faced, other than biting back heckles for the string quartet who set up beneath my balcony for hours every day with a repertoire of 5 songs, has been in the workplace. I am working as an English language assistant in a school. The Madrileño’s laid-back attitude to everything reaches the classroom as I am invited to lead the lesson without so much as a textbook or hours notice to prepare. It has been demoralising at times seeing the children’s blank faces stare back at me.
Their level of English is impressive but something that had not occurred to me in my years of language learning was the importance of being able to see the teacher’s mouth. This may sound odd, but it has become clear that due to the mask, the Spanish children are further challenged as they cannot lip read and learn how to pronounce words correctly. But, even after a week as they become familiar with my accent, and I learn new techniques such as introducing visual aids and translation, we are starting to overcome this issue.
Their (Madrileño’s) the level of English is impressive but something that had not occurred to me in my years of language learning was the importance of being able to see the teacher’s mouth.
For the first week before my job started, I had the opportunity to explore Madrid. To avoid catching the virus by touching a handrail in the metro, I orientated myself in the city by walking everywhere. Compared to the UK, this city’s relaxed atmosphere was something to behold. People in their suits having a pint with their colleagues over lunch, the free entry to all museums and galleries to students, being invited to dinner by friends at 11pm and the shared love for Retiro park which is always filled with sunbathers and runners. I am looking forward to spending the year here getting to know this city for more than its tourist attractions and immersing myself in the Spanish way of life.
