After a nice, long break, I'm back to write a bit about how I came to be here and my holiday experiences.
First: a little about my program, and a link to the website: Cultural Ambassadors: North American Language and Culture Assistants.
I am a teaching assistant here in Spain, working as a part of an agreement between the U.S. and Spanish governments. I am here on a student visa, and I'm paid 700 Euros per month, insurance included, to co-teach for 12 hours per week. I'm also allowed to give private lessons on the side, tax-free, to make a bit more. It's recommended that applicants have at least an intermediate level of Spanish, and be a university junior or higher to apply.
Bottom line: You basically get paid to take an academic year to study abroad in Spain and its territories. Read--Canary Islands. :)
Extra tips: I'm pretty sure you could also at least try to work out some independent study credits with your department or the Study Abroad Office... If you've got student loans and you're interested in this program, be sure to check that they won't go into repayment while you're gone--it could really be a hassle to work out from across the Atlantic.
There is a program very similar to this in France. I am under the impression that they're more rigorous with their language requirements. Applicants must present proof of linguistic abilities.
Unfortunately, the deadline is 1/15, but if you hustle, you can still make it. The Teaching Assistant Program in France.
Now for fun things: I spent my Christmas with a family in France, celebrating some local traditions and eating wonderful food. Christmas Eve dinner was treated almost as highly as Christmas lunch, it was just a bit smaller with the nuclear family. Extended family celebrated all together the next day.
Among the many dishes over the two days: foie gras, chestnuts as a savory side, homemade olive oil, and the traditional 13 desserts with champagne, nougat, gateau castel, bûche de Noël, choux, and many fruits, nuts, and chocolates.
Now for fun things: I spent my Christmas with a family in France, celebrating some local traditions and eating wonderful food. Christmas Eve dinner was treated almost as highly as Christmas lunch, it was just a bit smaller with the nuclear family. Extended family celebrated all together the next day.
Among the many dishes over the two days: foie gras, chestnuts as a savory side, homemade olive oil, and the traditional 13 desserts with champagne, nougat, gateau castel, bûche de Noël, choux, and many fruits, nuts, and chocolates.
New Year's Eve was no less decadent. Europeans don't mess
around. The meal didn't actually begin until 9:30pm's pastis toast.
There was dancing, singing, and much celebrating between each course,
too--something like 5 in all. The meal lasted hours, and the dancing
that followed was even longer. I was a party pooper when I called it a
night at 5:30.
Kings' Day was the next big celebration. Here in Spain it's the
day that families open their presents all together (they don't have
Santa to push the gifts forward to Christmas Day). It's celebrated with
King Cake of course! I was fortunate to live in New Orleans the last
two years--a city lousy with the stuff. However, King Cake seems to be
different everywhere you go. I tried three different styles in France,
and there are at least two different types that I know of here in Spain.
And as usual, New Orleans really does its own thing. But the basics
stay the same: find the hidden goodies, get the crown, get some luck,
and buy the next one.
Cheers!
-Erica
Cheers!
-Erica
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Interested in experiences like this one?
Check out this blog from Amy, a recent U of A grad and Fulbright teaching assistant in Thailand, at: https://sameamebutdifferent.wordpress.com/
For more information about the Fulbright Grant Opportunities and how to apply, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright/fulbright-programs
