TEFLees in Spain

Today is a gorgeous sunny day in Madrid. As I chat with TEFLees from the UK, I feel smug about our good weather, as if it is a personal accomplishment of mine during my office admin time. Like blogging and creating facebook networks and soaking in gossip and offering unsolicited advice and secretly giving away chocolate was has been gifted to the office, bragging about our fabulous climate has become an unwritten task of my job.

They (the unnamed smart people who we so often plagiarize) say that sunlight makes you less depressed. I don’t know if it’s necessarily the vitamin D I’m soaking up from the sunshine or the terrace drinking culture of Springtime in Madrid, but I do know that all of the TEFLees’ spirits — and mine — have been high the last few weeks.

The Spanish are attracted to the streets. The first ray of sun streaked through the clouds, and suddenly there were tables of beer and sangria on every corner. And, as is appropriate, people flocked to them.

My other favorite thing about Spring is Semana Santa. I love that Madrid closes down for a week… and it’s certainly great for the teachers. It’s been fun listening to all of our TEFLees talk about the places they are going and the things they are doing. Cheap bus trips to the coast, 15 euro hostels, easyjet to Paris, walking tours of the Camino de Santiago in the north, Geneva, Prague, off to a mountain village of Madrid.

Spring is a time for new beginnings. For travel, for resolutions, for lighter jackets and white sandals. And apparently, a time for calling the course administrator at the TEFL school of your choice to complain about British weather, so she remembers to relish her own:).