Journeys

Looks like my letter accepting Villacarrillo went through quite a trip to get to Sevilla:

Memphis, France, Madrid, and finally to its destination! Cost a whopping $76, so that it would arrive on-time. And it was only 3 measly pieces of paper. Junta de Andalucía owes me mucho vino.

My faith in my work company took quite a blow today. Found out my year-long leave of absence was NOT approved. It didn't completely surprise me, as my request for a raise a few years ago was also turned down. But in both cases, I was given reasons that don't match the reality I see. I am hurt, because I have given my best to this company for 13 years, and I know there are fellow employees who appreciate my work.

It makes me that much more certain that entrepreneurship and creating my own path are the way to go. When you apply to work for a company, you limit the opportunities available to you. When you cast your net wide and try to meet everyone, the opportunity you fall into can be anything.

Villacarrillo????

"Where?" you may be asking. Specifically, here:

It's a tiny, tiny town of 11,000. The nearest place where I'll probably be living, Úbeda, is 35,000. Well, I certainly got what I wished for! My first choices were Andalucía, teaching adults, in a place quieter than my hometown. I got exactly what I asked for! HA HA HA


To completely embarass myself: once the shock of seeing the placement email wore off, I actually CRIED. Out of happiness, of course! I was just amazed at the incredible luck bestowed upon me.

I'm so glad I'll be teaching adults. They actually WANT to learn English, whereas kids usually are not interested and feel like it's being forced down their throats. I was honestly very nervous about my placement, because the NALCA program is notorious for assigning placements not of the applicants' choosing. I wouldn't have been surprised if they had placed me in AFRICA, teaching GIRAFFES.

I've been procrastinating by reading websites over and over, such as the school's website and its Google Map. Dang, the town looks... tranquil. Reminds me of the quiet side of Quebec City. Little exciting blips of information pop up, such as the school's Christmas extracurricular activity: it includes KARAOKE! Hells to the yea!

My prof said I could possibly live in Vill., if I'm required to work a lot during the week. It would ease up my commute, because the town is 30 min. by bus from Úbeda. But Úbeda looks SO damn pretty! I wonder what it will be like, for a girl from a region of 600,000 to live in a town of 35,000. I don't know, there's lots of options and I can't decide until I arrive in Úbeda and look around Villacarrillo. However, ideally I'd like to live in the former; it looks like Vienna, Italy!

Úbeda (izq) y Villacarrillo (der); "One of these things is not like the other...."