day 6
Sunday, October 8th, 2006day 6
http://www.gurneysjourneys.com/barthelona.htm
The English teaching job I had an interview for pays 1050 euros a month, and apparently that is a normal wage. I can’t believe it would be possible to live on so little money. I came to Barcelona partly because the cost of living is so much cheaper than England, but I am stunned by how low the wages are. The “thousand club” is a phrase used to describe a massive chunk of the population who have completed their studies at higher education colleges, in a respectable profession, and then end up on a wage of 1000 a month. These are well qualified workers, which explains why most locals don’t entertain, even for a second, the idea of buying property.
Overall then, 1050 is pretty decent going for someone who’s qualification involves a one month TEFL course. Did I mention, by the way, that I have not done a TEFL and I have no experience teaching English? I’m not sure quite what position that puts me in job wise, I guess the fact that I heard nothing back from my only job interview so far suggests a pretty bad one. This week I am pinning all my hopes on a job teaching English in companies. The interview is tomorrow, I’m more nervous than last time, and I don’t have a handbag.
On the flat hunting side things are going rather better - I found a room! It’s always the same with looking for a place to live, you spend ages weighing up the pros and cons of places you have seen, but when the right one comes along that’s it. You know it’s a good’un, you call off the search, cancel all future appointments, and take yourself out for a celebratory dinner you really really can’t afford. Miguel is renting two rooms in the flat, which has (in order of importance), a table and chairs out on the terrace, comfy sofas, space in my room for a double bed and a functioning kitchen and bathroom. He is a genuine Catalonian, but because the other member of the flat is South American, they speak Spanish. I can tell he is going to be the perfect person to show me around - oh and he is an English teacher, which may be extremely helpful for me in my new profession.