Before the Go

Welcome!

If you are here you are probably a friend of my parents, or a friend of mine who is my parent's age. Welcome to the blog! If I am being completely honest, this might be abandoned in about a month. But I do usually have a lot to say, so maybe not. Regardless, I don't have much of a goal for this or a real reason for writing other than I have no idea what I am going to experience. So here is the back story, the prep, and a glance into my brain in the decision to leave everything and move to rural Spain!

What is the NALCAP Program?

NALCAP stands for: North American Language and Culture Assistantship Program. Essentially I will work as a student teacher in several different classrooms to teach content and practice fluency with students in English, as well as share American culture with them. The cool part about this program is that it is not really narrowed down to just North Americans. There are participants from India, Canada, and Australia as well. I will receive a stipend of 800 euros a month.

Girl, you're gonna be broke

Only partly. I'll probably make a post of my budget later in October. A 2-bedroom fully furnished and equipped (from bed linens to pots, to a TV) apartment goes for around 450 euros a month and that includes water and wifi. I will be paying 225 euros a month for my apartment plus electricity (WOW). The cost of living is cheaper because I am living rural, I expect groceries to be around 30 euros a month. I will pitch in for gas for those I carpool with to school, and I will buy an ESim phone plan up front. We will be slummin' it during the month of October (I get paid for my work in October once the month is over), but my goal is to only dip into savings when I travel.

Why teach anywhere but here?

I have wanted to live and work internationally for years. I had no idea how or when it would come to fruition. I even graduated high school early when I was 17 to try to move to South Africa (Which, naturally, was vetoed by my parents)! I can't explain my heart behind wanting to live with and love people abroad. The only resolution I can find is that the Lord calls people to serve at home, and he calls people to serve away, and sometimes it changes halfway through.

Why Spain?

Simple answer: It was the easiest and most connected option.

Jana, the friend I am moving with, texted me last December and asked if I wanted to get coffee and that she wanted to figure out how to not live in the country after graduating. After browsing apartments online in Barcelona, we both went back to school, and I applied for a job at the school I grew up attending.

A few days after being back at school, I went for a run and ran into a coffee shop my friend Maddie was working in. I told her about my fun little coffee-friend date. She in turn told me about a friend who was living in Mallorca, and that I should reach out to her.

I reached out to Nicole and talked with her about the program she was participating in. The NALCAP program. I drove to Athens the next weekend to show Jana. We decided to apply and make our accounts.

There were a lot of conversations to happened between making my account and actually applying to the program. I turned down a job in the US. I had to have paperwork and references on the logistics side, and I needed to get my parents on board on the relational side.

There was a long conversation with my parents where we talked through different options of going to Europe over the summer, waiting a year, etc. I narrowed my point down to this: My goal is to have neighbors, enter a community, and create relationships. I do not wish to be a 2 week-long temporary tourist. I want to experience, learn from, and live among those I will be working with. (Before you say "9 months is still short term!" I am going to get there!)

In March, I applied for the NALCAP Program and waited. After long amounts of waiting, I was accepted into the program. After more months, I was placed in the region of Andalusia. After more months, and a few frantic missed emails, I was placed at my school. After MORE months, I have my plane tickets and apartment tours planned, and am moving!

"So, obviously you're fluent right?"

Wrong.

As funny as it is, I decided to move knowing little to no Spanish, and the friend I am moving with is fluent in French instead. We would have done the same program in France but you have to prove your fluency, and unfortunately, I am unable to speak French as well. This unilingual girl is going to try her best. Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave.

9 months isn't that long

It's not! It will be over in the blink of an eye. I am not set in stone on staying or coming back after this first year away. I am very aware of how difficult it will be to be away from my family, and I may be very ready to come home. I also know that I may get to the end of my contract and want to stay longer. I am open to either option and have been (and will continue to) praying for guidance and wisdom in making that decision.

You must be so excited!

I seriously cannot contain my excitement to meet my students and the teachers I will be partnering with. I am excited to meet the other people who are living in my town who are also Language Assistants. I am VERY excited about the festivals during Holy Week, and I am excited to experience the history of the church and of our world. It is crazy to think that I grew up in Atlanta which was established and built in 1847 and rebuilt in 1871. Ubeda, the town I will be living in was built in the 13th century and renovated during the Renaissance in the 16th century. Ubeda dates back to pre-Roman times. WHAT??? If those walls could talk!! (I wouldn't be able to understand them haha)

What am I nervous about

I am nervous about not speaking Spanish. I am nervous about struggling to connect with people I work with or people I meet because of the language barrier. I am afraid of being a target as a young American woman. I am nervous about missing my family.

Bottom line

I am SO excited to be moving, and I am absolutely stoked for the adventure (even if the landlord who promised to rent to me literally backed out as I was writing this post). I plan to post pictures, stories, and hardships here. Thank you so much for following along! If you have any questions please ask! DM me on Instagram, or if there is a space to comment here, please ask away! I will happily share my confusion with you :)