Teach Travel Budget

Adiós, España

April 27, 2022April 28, 2022Melissa

Coming to Spain as a language assistant back in September of 2015 will forever be one of the best decisions of my life. Since then, I’ve gained residency through pareja de hecho, worked as an ESL teacher, and then as a Director of Studies. I’ve improved my language skills, seen a lot of Spain, and even started a family. Despite all of this, there are some positive changes on the horizon for me, and it’s time to move forward.

On June 6, 2022, I will start my first day as a Consular Fellow for the US State Department. Although getting here was a long process, which I started in July of 2020, the 40 days I have left in Spain feel so short. I have so much to prepare before moving to DC for training, but need to remember to slow down and enjoy the time I still have left here.

I intend to keep this website going with great budgeting and travel tips, as well as life in Spain posts by guest contributers. However, I will now be posting about my Consular Fellows experience as well. If you are only intrested in reading about exeperiences from Spain or from Consular Fellows, you can filter posts by category.

I think the Consular Fellow program is a perfect transition for former language assistants. All of my experience in the classroom was even credited as qualifying experience as a part of my salary determination. My advice for people who might like to take this same path, especially now that the Ministry’s Language Assistant program has a 5 year limit, is to use your time here wisely. Learn Spanish. Gain good experience for your resume. And enjoy Spain.

Aux Interviews

January 4, 2021April 11, 2021Melissa

Before I moved to Spain in 2015, I read as many articles and interviews as I could find about the different Autonomous Communities. Not only did it help me decide which regions to preference on my Auxiliares application, but it it also gave me great ideas for traveling once I arrived.

If you’ve read any of my other posts, you’ve probably seen me talking about my own experiences in Andalucia and the Basque Country, or even how to file your American taxes, but I think it’s beneficial to offer a variety of perspectives from auxiliares all over Spain, especially recent accounts that include how Covid has affected everyday life.

Teaching English Abroad Opens Doors

June 12, 2017June 9, 2018Melissa

Teaching English Abroad

My name is Melissa, and I love teaching English abroad. Why? For me, teaching is a natural extension of a love of learning, and teaching English abroad allows me to really see the world—not just on holidays or in retirement.

Maybe you’re a teacher yourself, but your summers never seem long enough and your budgets never stretch far enough. Or perhaps you’re thinking about becoming a teacher, but you’re not sure if it’s really for you. Maybe you have no idea what to do, and you’re looking to spend a year or two learning about yourself. All of these are great reasons to try teaching English abroad.

Still Drinking Spanish Wine

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022Melissa

A lot has changed since leaving Spain in May of 2022.

The end of an era. I came to Spain in 2015 with a couple grand in my (virtual) pocket, and by the time I was leaving, partner and toddler in tow, I had about the same. Did I make zero progress? Absolutely not. What used to support one was now supporting three. And the experience of living in Spain for nearly 7 years was priceless.

I really love the time that I spent as a language assistant in Andalucia and the Basque Country. Those two years reinforced how to budget and be frugal. The 4 years I spent at a language academy in Caceres, Extremadura taught me about self study and advancement. And finally, the year as a Director of Studies in a small town in Andalucia allowed me to thrive professionally in an environment that was also great for my then two year old daughter.

One of the hardest things about readjusting to life in the US after living abroad for so long is the sticker shock. I once wrote about spending $80 a month on groceries. In Arlington, VA, I found myself spending that in one shopping trip.

So how do you overcome such a shock when you repatriate? One trick is to convert prices into percentages. If you find that the bottle of Spanish wine you’ve grown accustomed to is now 3 times what you used to pay for it in Spain, is it still a good deal? It is if you’re earning 3 times the salary. Through this perspective, that bottle of Spanish wine was actually cheaper for me than it was when I bought it in Spain.

It’s easy to get carried away with spending when you start earning more. A lot of people fall victim to the Diderot Effect, where one nice new thing leads you to replacing your other things to match the higher quality. It often makes financial sense to buy higher quality products, as they are likely to last longer. But it’s important not to replace things before their time just to feel the high from upgrading.

I bought new shoes for work for 3 times what I would have been willing to spend in Spain. But the replacement was necessary, and a quality shoe will last a lot more miles. At the same time, I still have the same hiking shoe that I bought in 2017. I don’t plan to buy new hiking shoes just because my work shoes are a nicer quality.

This is one of the ways I stay frugal with a higher income. What are some of yours?

Pre-Departure Pantry Challenge

May 1, 2022May 1, 2022Melissa

Nearly 5 years ago, I wrote about building up your pantry on a budget. Now that I’m leaving Spain in just 4-5 weeks, it’s time to do the opposite. Care to join me in a pantry challenge? Let’s use everything up!

Although I’ve moved within Spain several times, this will be my first international move since I arrived in 2015. With each previous move, I left food behind with local friends, since pantry food was the last thing on my mind, and I never planned for it.

Aux Interviews – Requena

April 11, 2021April 11, 2021Melissa

Zachary spent a semester in Madrid in 2012. Years later, while working in a bakery in San Antonio, Texas, he decided it was time to go back. He spent 3 years as an auxiliar in Madrid before transferring to the Valencian Community.

Aux Interviews – Madrid

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021Melissa

Zahra is an American and Swedish dual-citizen that has been teaching in Madrid for 5 academic years. She was working in the US as a non profit employee in teaching and social work when she decided that the timing was right for her to move to Spain. As a UCETAM auxiliar, she earns 1300 euros a month.

Aux Interviews – Castellon de la Plana

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021Melissa

Kira is a third year Auxiliar in Castellon de la Plana, Valencian Community. Originally from Lancaster, UK, she studied Modern Languages at Durham University. Post studies, she decided to travel and put her language skills into practice.

Aux Interviews – Huesca

January 7, 2021January 7, 2021Melissa

Ella is a 2nd year Auxiliar living in Huesca, Aragon. She was working as a chiropractor in Adelaide, Australia when she decided to spend a year in Spain to improve her university Spanish. Covid had other plans for her, and since she wasn’t able to return to Australia during the lockdown, she decided to stay another year.

Aux Interviews – Caceres

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021Melissa

Kylie is a 3rd year Auxilar in Caceres, Extremadura. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she was working as a museum curator and teaching at her university, when funding for another year fell through. She decided that teaching in Spain sounded new and exciting. And she was right! In January of 2021, she is starting her PhD at the University of Extremadura while juggling the last 5 months of her Auxilar contract.