Aristotle's Space

Sometimes, I can’t believe this is all real, that I’m here. Here I sit at my study desk, renting a room in Spain. I first imagined getting this far in October 2023. Someone told me about “teaching English in Spain.” They mentioned something about “a program run by the Spanish government, auxiliares de conversación.” I remember being intrigued and thinking, “I would love to do that.” I simply couldn’t hide my intrigue.

That same night, I went down the rabbit hole, looking at different programs and websites. Surprisingly, I found that applications opened in November. I applied as soon as applications opened. I remember thinking, “This is it.” Maybe I had a way to combine my passion for academia and teaching English with travel. It had always been my dream since childhood to travel to Europe. I didn’t know how, but I knew that it was my life’s desire.

My room has a view of the street. The orange blinds combined with the luminescent streetlights give the street this European flair. After a little over three weeks, I have done little exploring. I’ve gotten a public transport card and applied for administrative appointments. Madrid is only twenty minutes away. I am planning to go to the city center for the first time this weekend.

A Chance Encounter at 30,000 Feet

I didn’t know how to feel on my way to Madrid, Spain, but I knew one thing—this change would bring growth. Flying is one of my favorite travel experiences in terms of people watching, but not in terms of comfort. I met someone on my flight, a Tanzanian girl, my lucky charm. She told me it was her first time visiting South Africa, for a conference, and I was delighted to have made her acquaintance. She was in awe of the shopping malls. I asked her about her travels and learned that she hoped to visit the United States next. Her smile was welcoming, and I was curious about her country—Tanzania. I told her I would visit, and I plan to follow through with that. By the end of the flight, she searched her bag for something. I paid little attention to this until she handed me a dainty white case. I opened it up, taken back. Inside was a lovely pair of pearl earrings—a parting gift. This lovely, unexpected gift was a sign—that perhaps there was a reason for everything, after all. Maybe I had made the right choice. I knew nothing of what obstacles lay ahead of me, but I was on my way to a European country at the age of twenty-four, and I had met a wonderful friend. Out of all of my past mistakes, I knew I had done something right. It felt like a message: “You’re going to be okay. Keep going.” I liked her smile and her warmth and felt drawn to her immediately. This is the type of kindness I’d like to see more of in my life, flowing from myself and others. What a pure soul.

Madrid—a cultural hub of diversity and heat. 35 degrees Celsius, summer heat, 13 hours of flying, and five hours of teaching on the same day. Walking in a European street, having saved the money, secured the teaching position, and found accommodation myself, made everything worth it.

I made a vow that I would explore once I’m settled. I’ve heard from the locals that Toledo, Segovia, Granada, and towns ‘to be discovered’ are worth visiting. I will have to clear up my seven-day working schedule to travel. No doubts about it.