day 7
day 7
http://www.gurneysjourneys.com/barthelona.htm
My main problem today is that I have an important job interview in a few hours, and no handbag. It doesn’t sound like such a dilemma, but it is so sweaty in Barcelona that I can’t wear a jacket, and I have no pockets. Even though I have the whole morning stretching out in front of me I manage to leave the bag shopping trip until the last second and end up with a bright orange woven item from Oxfam. At least it was very cheap. In my rush I find that by the time I board the train to the offices of the English school, I have a list of things to get done on the journey; eat breakfast, brush hair, file nails, and safety pin the strap of the bag in an attempt to create a more sophisticated style. The train journey surprised me by lasting a mere 6 minutes - the scale on metro map remains a bit of a mystery to me.
Eating in public is not the done thing in Spain. Food and mealtimes hold more importance here than in England. It’s ridiculous really, you can stand in a crowded tapas bar eating out of a napkin whilst trying to balance a drink in the crook of your elbow, but people look at you disapprovingly when you eat a crumbly croissant on the train.
The interview went pretty well. I managed to keep all the orange parts of my outfit hidden under the table, and I genuinely think I can do the job. The waiting game continues; this time I will get a definite yes or no in three days.
I spoke to Miguel to confirm that I definitely want to rent the room, and then found myself in a kebab restaurant drinking red wine, giggling with my best friend (who is here doing a Spanish course) about drunken summers and reminiscing our teenage flings. It was so much more acceptable to chop and change among your group of friends at that age, the easiest way to play the game is remembering which ones you didn’t go out with.
Tags: barcelona, catalonia, teaching english, TEFL, Travel
