Hotel Parasol Garden Torremolinos

It's been one month since I arrived in Spain and let me tell you, it has been one hell of a roller coaster. I have experienced so much and I look forward to experiencing a lot more. This has been my first time going out of the country and I am very glad that I am out, but it has not been as easy as I thought it would be. I really thought that I would be able to get by easily with the Spanish that I knew back from high school, which I'm not ...

"Yes" it is possible to to experience a different Marbella.....
Normally one does not associate "authentic Spain" when coming to
Marbella or the Costa del Sol in general! The picture we all have of this part of the world, is big
concrete buildings from Malaga right to Gibraltar! Big hotels, big resorts, Golf Courses and obviously lots of sun! Not to forget the bling bling factor!
When looking for the "Real ...

... t think I will quite be able to until I take a trip to a different country so I have something to compare it to. But first, like I said, I really want to get to know Andalusia and to orient myself. I wish I would have written more entries while I was traveling before ISA started, like while I was in Madrid and Torrevieja, but at least this is a start.

... with the teachers!
So, I´m going to talk to the Delgation of Education in Málaga on Monday to complain and see if they can help me. Hopefully it will be worked out because the first two days were just miserable! Everyone else that I have talked to have schools that are very involved and nice. I am the first auxiliar that my school has had and it is not good. But, as I said, things aren´t all bad! Málaga is great!
On Friday I did go into ...

... Yummm

On the way down I saw all sorts of kids playing in the streets and I wondered if I would be teaching any of them in the coming weeks. I also have noticed all sorts of dogs off of leashes – apparently pet owners in Spain are not worried about their dog attacking other dogs or getting run over by cars!

I haven’t noticed any of the coldness that some say Spaniards tend to exhibit, so that has made my time here pretty pleasant. I think people ...

... it and you can get that thing going pretty good. Those thugs who spend thousands for some hydraulic system on a $300 Monte Carlo would be jealous of what a Benz can do. Some heated words were exchanged between all parties and I learned some new gestures I want to try out on people, especially in Marseille when I get that finger wag. And I need to research this one some more...the woman took her hand, lifted her left boob and ...

... br>
Pühapäev kulges seal oma aeglases ja tšillivas tempos, kus kellelgi polnud kiiret (tegelikult hispaanlastel vist polegi kunagi kiire), inimesed istusid kohvikus, jalutasid rannas või lugesid pargis raamatut. Selline mõnus puhkepäevane äraolemine.

Huvitav oli see, et Marbellasse nii sisse- kui väljasõites tuli tasuda kiirteemaks: sisse 6€, välja 4€ :)

... country, the efforts to conserve energy make personal comfort take a back seat. The complete lack of air conditioning in the airport would only serve as a predecessor of what was to come.
After our group had gathered we were separated into the homestay group and the residence hall group. This only increased my anxieties as my new found friend, Mirella, and I were put onto separate buses. Once en route, I tried to take in the ...

... and a thin layer or fabric covering the outside. Luckily, the beach made up for it. I was tired from my trip, and I wasn´t quite ready to run down to check out the water but I did want to see what was around after (the nasty) dinner. After dinner, I went walking around with Valerie (who's taking the classes associated with this trip), her slightly older sister Shanelle, and their mom Sandra. They're a fun family and good to hang out with. We were also joined ...

Today has been absolutely awful. I am stranded in Algecires because the express afternoon train to Madrid is full. I should of guessed. It would of been ok if Algecires had of been a good town to stop over in for half a day. But, to say the least Algecires is a horrible town with unfriendly people, temperatures in the 40s, limited internet access between 2.30 and 5.30 and over inflated prices. My current mood doesn`t help matters ...