So when you're making new friends or even dating somebody (haha, I'm a huge expert!), you go out a few times before getting comfortable and/or broke enough to do something in with the person/people. Instead of going out and spending money you hang out at their place or yours. Watch a movie, show off cooking skills (or lack thereof), talk one on one without balancing your friends or theirs or annoying people at a bar. It's nice. (Especially if there's cuddling.)
When you're roommates with somebody you're staying in with them first. You might cook together a few times or have coffee and chat about your lives. You don't really want the person you're sharing space with to know too much about you, but they're going to know different things than a regular acquaintance would.
They're going to know a whole lot more if/when you go out with them.
My most recent roommate is a couple of years older than me. She's from the midwest and like me has experience teaching abroad. Her Spanish is worse than mine. She's a better cook than I am and didn't eat meat for five years. A stylish, but not intimidating dresser.
My most recent roommate out and about on the town is a smoker, half of a recently broken-up couple, a loser of her phone in the cab, a friendly funny chatty drinker, and doesn't really know our address yet.
So far my other roommates are great, but I'm happy to have a one closer to my age and one who shares a country/occupation. It was actually a really weird small-world moment when we first met. Lots of stuff like this happened in Prague but it's a much smaller community. I'd met a guy getting his TEFL now a couple of weeks ago, and as she's a TEFL instructor he's one of her students. Something somewhere around here is meant to be. Or something.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Keys. Transportation Pass. Phone.
These three things are the trifecta of feeling human in another country. They are now all mine.
Having a job and making friends are crucial too of course, but these make for a good safety net.
The other two things are definitely going well. I start work on Tuesday! I have two official jobs, one directly with a company and one with a language school. The company job will be nice since I can be there all day without traveling from class to class. Also I get free lunch, woo! So that's two and a half days a week and I'm still waiting on my schedule from the language school. It won't start until mid-March though.
EDIT: I start work next Tuesday. Argentina, man.
Socializing has gone well too. It was definitely easier to meet people in Prague through my TEFL school, both with my classmates and previous graduates. Here I've mostly had to rely on internet expat group meetups but it's gone alright. I have some mad social skillz after my first stint living in another country. Some people are just traveling for a while and won't be here long. Other's aren't really in the English teaching world, (which it's good to have friends who aren't).
The relationship with the city is complicated. Before coming here the size of it was the most intimidating thing for me. I still haven't seen 1/4 of it but I feel like with proper planning, a map, and extra money for an emergency cab ride to somewhere I know I'll be just fine. Even without a map I have a decent picture in my head of where things are and major streets to know. People are very friendly, helpful, and patient with my poor Spanish. However, things aren't nearly as developed as Europe or the US. The subway is better but there's no indication on buses where you are or what stop you're at. Just one of those things you have to know. Or do what I do and stare out the window looking for a familiar street sign. Traffic is pretty bad, people don't clean up after their dogs, and sidewalks aren't kept up very well. I'm constantly hearing about the corrupt politics and messed up economy, but I don't really care about either and hopefully won't be affected since I don't have bank account here. Still enjoying it though. I'm sure after a couple of more months I'll be ready for a small (or long) trip to get away.
I feel like this was boring. Here.
Having a job and making friends are crucial too of course, but these make for a good safety net.
The other two things are definitely going well. I start work on Tuesday! I have two official jobs, one directly with a company and one with a language school. The company job will be nice since I can be there all day without traveling from class to class. Also I get free lunch, woo! So that's two and a half days a week and I'm still waiting on my schedule from the language school. It won't start until mid-March though.
EDIT: I start work next Tuesday. Argentina, man.
Socializing has gone well too. It was definitely easier to meet people in Prague through my TEFL school, both with my classmates and previous graduates. Here I've mostly had to rely on internet expat group meetups but it's gone alright. I have some mad social skillz after my first stint living in another country. Some people are just traveling for a while and won't be here long. Other's aren't really in the English teaching world, (which it's good to have friends who aren't).
The relationship with the city is complicated. Before coming here the size of it was the most intimidating thing for me. I still haven't seen 1/4 of it but I feel like with proper planning, a map, and extra money for an emergency cab ride to somewhere I know I'll be just fine. Even without a map I have a decent picture in my head of where things are and major streets to know. People are very friendly, helpful, and patient with my poor Spanish. However, things aren't nearly as developed as Europe or the US. The subway is better but there's no indication on buses where you are or what stop you're at. Just one of those things you have to know. Or do what I do and stare out the window looking for a familiar street sign. Traffic is pretty bad, people don't clean up after their dogs, and sidewalks aren't kept up very well. I'm constantly hearing about the corrupt politics and messed up economy, but I don't really care about either and hopefully won't be affected since I don't have bank account here. Still enjoying it though. I'm sure after a couple of more months I'll be ready for a small (or long) trip to get away.
I feel like this was boring. Here.
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