Author: Grace in the World

Two friends and I did a long weekend in Sicily (Sicilia “Seesheelia”) and it exceeded expectations! This part of Italy is definitely worth going (or returning) to.

Two options for flights: Palermo or Catania. We went for the latter.

My experience was in the Southeastern part of the Island.

We rented a car from the airport in Catania (booking in advanced is recommended since there happened to be a shortage due to a Spanish holiday weekend). We drove about an hour to a small town called Licata and our Boutique Hotel, Villa Giuliana.

To be honest we didn’t spend much time in the city besides a fantastic dinner outing at Ristorante la Madia. HIGHLY recommended but $$$$. Italy is the place to enjoy fine dining in my opinion. W had an unforgettable multi-course meal:

Having a car was key. Our first day trip destination: Scala dei Turchi (Stairs of the Turks)

We explored the geological awes then sunbathed for an afternoon.

The drive was really nice along the coast and on the way back we went for a walk around Agrigento and antipasto + wine then a patio pasta dinner at a random restaurant hidden away in the narrow alleyways of the oldest part of town. We ran out of time for the Valley of the Temples but it looks quite interesting..

On day two we decided to drive the other direction. I had Caffè Sicilia in Noto (known for their ricotta gelato and more) fixed in my mind…BUT we got very lost on the many country roads and ended up in Syracuse instead.

This was a rather happy accident because the city was fun to walk around and we went for a bottle of wine by the beach at sunset. Make sure you try arancini: a fried rice ball + the local cheap beer, Peroni. We loved ArancinaGlutenFree.

I live in Murcia, Spain and work as an English teaching assistant at three primary schools in the Murcia city area. I don’t have any teaching experience but I’m learning everyday as I teach English and Natural Science in years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

I am an employee of the Ministry of Education (the Spanish Government). I am on a student visa which allows me to work here for the duration of the school year (beginning of October- end of May). I work 12 hours per week. I receive health insurance and a monthly salary of 700 euros. Before you gasp at that figure please take into account that the cost to rent a room is around 200 per month. This is a living wage. If this program sounds appealing to you please read on.

Here is a link to the main information page (U.S. edition):

https://www.mecd.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/auxiliares-conversacion-eeuu.html

Program Requirements:  4-year undergraduate degree & native English speaker. No teaching experience/education degree required.

My advice for applicants:

1. Apply for your Visa ASAP the process can take a very long time (months) especially if you don’t happen to live in a city with a Spanish Consulate 
2. The application process can be tedious. There are confusing translations. Pay close attention to the help guide they provide and it will get you through.

Before you go:

Save 3 months income before coming ( around $2000) re: late paychecks + fall/holiday travel. You’ll need some seed money to make a deposit on your new place, furnish it (“furnished” places are pretty basic!) and feed and clothe yourself for a couple of months. Also there are many holidays in Spain! The fall is a great time to take advantage of your residence on the European continent and do some traveling!

In the Murcia region it took until the End of November to receive our first paycheck. We were paid in full of course and the checks have been more steady (monthly) since…

I booked my first week’s stay at The Cathedral Hostel (in a private room) in advanced. I ended up staying for two weeks but having a guaranteed roof over my head for those first few days was important. 

I met two other girls in the same program via a Facebook page for Murcia area language assistants and we used a service called Opau to find our apartment. Honestly we didn’t love this company (they had a bad attitude and were hard to get ahold of) but they came through and found us a nice place and all of our forms with the landlord were done in their office- nice and official.

You’ll need to set up an account at a Bank upon arrival. Get a Spanish phone number first & don’t forget to bring your passport as ID.

NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero)

When you arrive you will need to apply for a resident card. You’ll use the NIE provided on your visa to do this.

You’ll need to go to the Extranjeria by bus.

-First visit: show them your visa they will give you paperwork and a date to come back with that work completed (you’ll also have your fingerprints taken by the police at this second appointment)

-The Empadronamiento is in the park behind El Corte Inglés (look for a yellow building) you need to bring a copy of your rental agreement and copies of owner’s and tenants’ passports (all tenants must be present). They will provide you with a form to pass on to the Extranjeria.

-There are photo booths around town where you can take passport photos.

-Go onto any bank with the tax form to pay it.

-Your card will be ready for pickup on a third trip to the extranjería a few weeks after the (second) fingerprints appointment.

GENERAL INFO

For WiFi we use Vodafone. For cell phone I use Orange.

Go grocery shopping at Mercadona and Gran Bi Bio (their organic version). El Corte Ingles has more brand variety in case you’re looking for something familiar

TO DO

I go to Quo gym (I like it!) bonus: they offer Pilates classes 🙂

weeknight activity in Murcia center: Indoor rock climbing (bouldering) at Montaña Magica

One of the best things to try in your first few weeks/months is an intercambio. Intercambios (language exchange meet ups- try Tap Room’s) allow you to meet people from all over the world and speak in many different languages.

I hope this information is of some help/interest to someone. Please, if you have any questions about Murcia or about the program or about my experience so far in my first year living abroad let me know.

UPDATE: HOW TO RENEW YOUR TIE in a different region AND GO HOME FOR THE SUMMER (LIMIT 90 DAYS)

Step 1: Make an appointment at your local Extranjería (Foreign Office) and print the confirmation

Step 2: To Renew TIE in a different region bring the following to the local Registro de Gobierno 

➡️ Copy passport (every page)

➡️ Photocopy TIE both sides

➡️ Both cartas (contracts from current/last & future years)

➡️ Renewal form EX-00 

tip: use an address where you want future docs sent (maybe next year’s school) 

➡️ Print & pay tasa 790/052

➡️ Letter of completion (from current/last year’s school)

+

For your appointment at the Extranjeria re: Regreso (authorization to leave the Shengen for up to 90 days while your renewal is processing) 

➡️ Copy passport (every page)

➡️ Copy TIE both sides 

➡️ Print flight reservations

➡️ 2 copies Ex-13 form

 use your current home address in Spain 

➡️ Tasa modelo 790/012

NOT the policía one

Oporto is an old beauty. She’s a cozy and colorful refuge from the grey skies above. Her river has helped bless the world with sweet Douro valley wines for centuries. Sure, she’s a little rough around the edges but that gives her character! I fell fast.

My father and I traveled to Porto just after Christmas and stayed in Vila Nova de Gaia near Praia da Sereia and Praia da Madalena (beaches). In Gaia I loved to walk along the coast line then river into the Port wine cellars area. There is a little fishing village on the way called São Pedro da Afurada I had an amazing fresh fish as part of a 6,50 euro prato de dia (multi-course lunch + beverages) at Casa Machado. I ran into this place after a long and rainy walk along the coastline and had the plate of the day which was delicious! I loved the atmosphere immediately and the food and wine did not disappoint (they poured me not one but two glasses of vinho verde- yay!). From this area you can also take a small ferry across the Douro river to Porto Pier.

Take a Port cellar tour in Gaia! I walked into a random shop on the inner street (running parallel behind the touristy street) and got a tour + tasting for 5 euros. With more time (and maybe warmer weather) I’d have loved to get to the Douro Valley vineyards… next time.

In Porto we did a self-guided walking tour.

Starting at Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar in Gaia (an excellent spot for viewing NYE fireworks!) walk across Luís I Bridge (build by the guy who did the Eiffel tower) then past the Church of Saint Ildefonso (passing Majestic Cafe) to Manteigaria– Fábrica de Pasteis de Nata. These custard tarts are so good! They come outside on the corner and ring a bell when fresh ones are ready. Have two for 2 euros and add a coffee for ,70 cents. Best second breakfast ever!

Next up: Livraria Lello (SUPER beautiful but tourist-crowded bookstore which I couldn’t handle entering based on the line around the block but maybe you’ll be lucky and get to see the pretty staircase!) then walk across the park to Clérigos Tower. You can pay 3 euros to go up to about 250 steps for a view (but I was happy with the view from the bridge). If you haven’t already seen it, check out the São Bento train station (blue and white tiles depicting Porto’s history inside) and finally see the Porto Cathedral and Monument Church of St. Francis (inside!) finishing in the touristy but pretty Barrio La Ribeira.

Lisboa was a place I’d heard was beautiful but honestly didn’t know much about upon arrival. The port city is ancient (older than London, Paris, etc.) but due to an earthquake on All Saints Day 1755 which flattened much of the city and killed about 50% of the population it was rebuilt around 1775-1800. As you walk through different neighborhoods you can feel the histories in the wide/narrow streets and crumbling/rainbow facades. Portugal’s role in globalization is important to remember- this was the place where spices and produce and precious metals from five continents came into Europe. You can find pagodas across the park from statues of elephants and sword-yielding Christian missionaries. There’s a statue of Jesus like the one in Rio as you cross a Golden Gate Bridge (like in SF). 

There is quite a bit of tourism in Lisbon. Here’s a list of places to eat which is a blend of my finds and recommendations from my local airbnb hostess:

Tapas and wine – Artis Bar or Lagar do Cais

Rooftop Bar – Sky Bar

Bistro 100 Maneiras – art deco interior and innovative cuisine

Pharmacia – an “antique pharmacy” themed place with cocktails 

A Cevicheria – try the ceviche 😉

AO26 vegan food project – very crowded (vegan food is hard to find here)

Princesa do Castelo – vegetarian

Speaking of Tourism…

Walk through the city to various view points. There is much to be seen, smelled and heard on the way! When you’re walking through Alfama you can buy shots of homemade Ginjinha (local type of cherry brandy) from people selling out of their home windows for 1 euro.

An easy place to eat (especially with a group) is Mercado de Rebecca. You can grab wine by the bottle and meals from different top-rated restaurants around the city here. Try Sea Me for black tempura and green wine or the local favorite: cod and potatoes.

Good photo/picnic spots: Miradouro De Santa Catarina, Miradouro da Graça (see the Golden Gate/25th April bridge), Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

I do recommend a day (or two) trip to Sintra it is still touristy but feels much more relaxed due to vegetation and the ocean and mysterious gardens and castles scattered around the area. It’s an easy train trip from Rossio station (under 5 euros round trip) and for me provided a much needed escape from the city. I recommend packing a picnic and enjoying your meal in the great outdoors.

I have mixed feelings about Lisbon, about visiting monuments and structures commemorating explorers whose discoveries meant globalization’s also colonization. Today I say a statue in the distance which appeared to be a cross but as I got closer I realized it was a sword being carried on the backs of men heading for Rio de Janeiro.