Thursday 28th September

Today I woke up at about 8am. Rob had texted me last night saying he wasn’t very happy with me and he’d emailed me. I was desperate to get online. We got a taxi to the Police station to collect (recojer) my NIE but I was told to come back at 1pm. We headed and got some breakfast. Saw a woman get run over as we crossed the main road by the police station. She was further down the road and we heard a car screech to a halt and beep it’s horn and then saw her bounce off the bonnet. It was kinda comical in a bad way. Anyway she got up limped to the side of the road. Others stopped to help her out.
Each had a baguette and something to drink and I shot online for 30 mins. They’re old dating things that I had signed up to that was upsetting Rob. Things I had written in my profile and the fact that there were several of them. I emailed a reply and signed off. I popped to the bank to open an account (La Caja de Canaria) and got another text from Rob saying “sent you an email, you can decide if you want to reply or not.”
Dreading what I’d read I went again for 30 mins of internet. It wasn’t good. I’m not going into details. After a few more texts we decided to take things very slowly this year. That’s definitely sensible. It’s so hard to communicate from this distance. Texts and emails don’t sound right.
I topped up my mobile (GC being a little tax haven I got 25 Euros of credit for 21 Euros.) Hurrah.
Then we all went back to the Police Station only to find out that my NIE still wasn’t ready and to go back in 24 hours. Also, the Tarjeta de Residencia that I have to get I can only get in Las Palmas. Great.
We headed to the Tourist Info again to get a map (we had left both of ours at the hostel) and then wandered to Plaza de San Juan (beautiful) and into the old quarter of Telde. The streets were beautiful with stark white buildings and cobbled streets. Well done up buildings and wooden crosses on corners where roads met.
Then we got in a taxi and headed home. Feel as though our morning was very productive. Opening a bank account is another thing off my list. At the moment I’ve got a little savings book like I had as a child but I can collect my card from them next week. I have to let them know when I have an address and I have to email my NIE and bank details to Madrid. Meeting at school tomorrow at 11.15.
Finished my book on the beach this afternoon then came back to my room to have a shower and write this.

Wednesday 27th September

Got a taxi first thing into Las Palmas, cost 20 Euros, got dropped off at Parque de Santa Catalina. We had breakfast which came to 8 Euros and then headed to El Corte Ingles to find stamps and a decent map of GC. No joy. Got stamps and paper and envelopes but there were only maps of the other islands. Another shop was suggested to us and we went there but had no more success. I think I’ll have to go to Tenerife or somewhere just to find a good map of GC. Maybe the airport is a better bet. It seems locals don’t need them a tourist maps of only the very central areas suffice visitors. Might ask at school for some suggestions. We headed south to the Cathedral and museums on Paseo de Chil. Thought it would be a nice stroll but in the heat of the day and with Dad we gave up after about a km and got in a taxi. Wise move. Turned out to be much further than we would have enjoyed. No-one is listening to anyone properly today. Dad is complaining of white noise in his ears the whole time and someone is bound to snap soon! Dad is constantly huffing and puffing cos of the heat with constant heavy breathing and a need to sit down in shade and make moany noises. It winds me up and makes me so unsympathetic.
Realised today that people are saying “Gracia” to me, is this a polite version of Gracias I wonder??
Mum picked out a restaurant for tonight back in Playa de Melenara called “Escuela Melenara” – Dad started going off on one about was she sure it was called that, and that makes no sense cos Escuela means school. Why can’t it be called that?! You get restaurants called all sorts of things in England – The Ivy, Old Orleans…doesn’t mean it is what it says it is.
We sat for a while on a bench in the shade in a Plaza opposite the cathedral and each wrote a postcard and took a few pics. Then we headed into the cathedral. It’s one of the Top 10 of Gran Canaria in my book so it felt good to be seeing some of the hot spots. In one of the chapels of the cathedral are the remains (on display) of some bishop. His hands are all bent up the wrong way (has gloves on) and his face is all sunken and minging. I took some pics :D
We got access to the cathedral tower too which had some lovely views.
Had lunch on a little back street behind the cathedral. This area of Las Palmas is much nicer than the bustling, busy, hot, dusty main bit. Much nicer streets and houses. Popped to the Museo de Colón afterwards (free). It’s all about Columbus and it’s in a house which he used to use as a base. Beautiful house, wooden ceilings, central courtyard (like the cathedral), a well, 2 parrots and a fountain with fish in. After that, Dad had really had enough so we headed back to Playa de Melenara and went down the beach until early evening then headed back to the hostel for an hour or so to chill before dinner. I bought my first foreign newspaper today and instead of going for a Spanish “El Pais” I showed my support for my little island and bought “Canarias7” a local paper for all the Canary Island. Wrote a little list of vocab out from it (just from headlines and adverts…haven’t really read it properly yet) but think it’ll be a good thing to keep getting – even if it’s only 2x a week.

Tuesday 26th September – Rob’s birthday

Headed for a taxi at 8.30 today and had some breakfast in Plaza de san Gregorio before heading to the school. Dad kept saying “I don’t think they’ll want us there” when I had specifically asked him and Mum to come with me. Feels a bit like they are dragging their feet when I really want them to hear what’s going on and be there incase I mishear something or forget something they say.
Met Angel and Toni. They both seem really nice. We discussed a few options for what to do about housing, there are some other assistants at the school (French) and also some at other schools nearby so they are sending out a fax to everyone for me to see if we can find someone for me to share with. They know I don’t have a car and that it’s quite important to find something quickly.
We semi-discussed a time table too. I know a little more about the school, the students aren’t from the main town but from outskirts and apparently better behaved for it. I’ve agreed in principal with them to have Mondays off but I’m going in on Friday (alone) to discuss my timetable a bit more and what they want me to do etc. The following Friday I’m going to the staff meeting to introduce myself and sum up my first week.
After finishing up at school we wandered to a park and made a few phone calls about flats. They are all unfurnished which is no good. I made Dad make the calls cos I was feeling so tired and disheartened about everything. I know I need to get on and do it but I’m just shit at it. Feel like I’m doing everything. After that we headed to the police station so I could give them my Spanish mobile number but we got there and they told me there was no need. So we headed for the place we had had breakfast at so I could use the internet (a bargain 50 cents for 30 mins) and Mum and Dad had a drink. Then we all had lunch. Got in a taxi back to the hostel afterwards. Think we’re planning on heading into Las Palmas tomorrow to have a look around and act touristy. Must find some postcards and stamps.
Headed down to the beach at Melenara this afternoon. There was an amputee there hopping into the water (on his good leg). He had amazing balance and I couldn’t help but stare. I sat under a beach umbrella and read my book. Mum and Dad went for a quick dip then came and read with me. There’s a really cool statue of Neptune in the water here. See pics. After a while Dad and I headed back to the hostel for showers and a rest before dinner. Mum stayed on the beach a bit longer. We headed down for dinner at about 8. Mum and Dad had the most perfect melty steak and I had a garlic pizza. I know how that sounds but it was so, so yum. Coffee after. We came back to the hostel and played boggle. I’m sure Dad was making up words. One word he had was “sherd” which is apparently an alternative word to “shard” like a shard of glass or pottery. I made a hilarious joke which Mum and Dad both missed and, through my tears, I had to repeat. I said “a pot sherd is a pot halved”. Hahaha.

Monday 25th September

What a hectic day. Woke up in my room at about 9am to sunshine and blue skies. Got up to change rooms. Had an interesting chat with the boss of the hostel. Turns out Mum and Dad are moving rooms too. They’re moving into the one I had last night and I’m moving into a single room. My room isn’t ready yet so my key is going to be left in their room during the day. We had our passports photocopied too and paid for the rooms for the week. 7 nights for 3 people totalled 350 Euros. Discovered later in the day that this hostel is recommended in our guide book. Groovy.
Headed into Telde to the tourist office. The hostel lady called us a taxi and it dropped us off at the Tourist Info office. I showed them the paper work for my school but they couldn’t locate it for me. Just gave me the general direction. Anyway we picked up a paper folded map of Telde and headed for the more central areas. Stopped at a supermarket on the way “Dino something” to get some breakfast. Ended up having a nectarine each, some OJ, some water and shared a lemon sponge cake. Yum! Sat in a park.
Carried on up heading for c/ Jose Velez where the Ayuntamiento was meant to be. Found the girl who’s living at the address given in my British Council correspondence but apparently they moved 2 years ago!! To the other side of Telde where the National Police station is…so off we toddled that way. Got there and queued for a while, then got sent to another queue. Filled in my form and (feeling all prepared) told the chap there I already had a photocopy of my passport for him, turns out I also needed photocopies of all the pages of my passports with stamps. Random. So off we trotted for a photocopier – not really understanding their directions – we asked first at a petrol station and they directed us to a place called “Copy Telde”. Headed back and finished the admin for my NIE. I have to go in on Thursday to collect the certificate for it. Hurrah. Mission 1 accomplished.
From outside the police station whilst waiting for Dad to have a wee I decided to phone the school to see if Toni Oliva had had any success looking for or thinking about property for me. She wasn’t there so we decided to get a taxi to take us to the school just so I could have a nose around.
On the way we headed for some inmobiliarias in search of a property to rent. Many, many, many inmobiliarias around but the market seems to only be for selling/buying rather than renting.
We jumped in a taxi and I showed him the BC info with the school address on and he set off in the direction he thought was right, whilst questioning people on his radio. He kept asking me if it was in Telde and whether it was a language institution or a normal school. It’s a normal school I kept telling him. The address is Carretera Antigua Gando. S/N. Turns out the road GC-100 is that road and it’s HUGE! The school is on one end of it and we started from the other end. We drove around and about and had some lovely views of the island and I was starting to think “Christ, they’ve sent me to the middle of nowhere!!” The road he dropped us off on seemed only accessible by car and as we sent him away I was thinking “how are we gonna get back!”
I walked in the school – very conscious of all the school kids leaving at the end of the day. They all look quite old for their age and quite fashionable so I’m not sure what they’ll make of me when I turn up to boss them around. I got in the school and went to the secretary kinda place to say who I was, that I had called and was anyone from the English department around. It turns out they weren’t but I had a brief chat with the headmaster and one new member of the English department who suggested we come back tomorrow at 10am. They know I need help looking for somewhere to stay, that I don’t have a car and now they know my face too which is reassuring. I’m going to get a tour of it all tomorrow.
Upon leaving the school we saw loads of the kids walking up the main road and round a corner. Our taxi driver had told us it was only a few minutes walk in that direction back to Telde and seeing as the kids were doing it we decided to brave it and walk that way too rather than get another taxi. Turns out as soon as you turn the corner a pavement appears and crossings and shops and you’re slap bang back in town straight away!! The school is really in an ideal location and if I can find an apartment semi-central to Telde I’ll be perfectly ok to walk everywhere.
Next stop was something to eat so we found a café and had some baguettes and something to drink, then a Danish and some coffee. Loads of old men just bumming around chatting and sitting outside. Little dog running around. We waited until 4.30 when another Inmobiliaria we had seen was re-opening for the afternoon and went and asked about flats. He had 1 one bedroom flat just outside Telde for 350 Euros a month plus bills. It’s new and is walkable distance from Telde. We managed to establish that I was really still looking and not about to commit to anything but got details of it from him to take to the school tomorrow to discuss with someone local. Ideally, if they know of something private rather than through an agent that would be best.
After that I popped into a Movistar shop to ask about buying a SIM card. When I bought my German one they asked for my passport, my current address and it was all a bit scary. Here the girl was really lovely. She was French and we started in Spanish but it all ended up a bit Spanglish. I got my SIM and she activated it for me. The good thing about GC is it’s like the channel islands and it’s a bit of a tax haven. Petrol is about 50p a litre, my sim card should have cost 25 Euros but only cost 21.50 and each time I top up 5 Euros I actually only pay 4.30 but still get 5 Euros credit.
Headed back to the hostel and Mum and Dad went out for some supplies of water whilst I wrote about today. Texted Rob from my new number (first message sent) but not sure if it arrived. He’s probably driving home from work.
Went out for dinner with mum and dad on the beach again. Different restaurant. Lost my rag at mum again cos I ordered a salad and scrambled egg and Mum said it would probably come as a starter and main separately but I had asked for them at the same time when I ordered and she wouldn’t accept that I’d sorted it. Made me feel inadequate again. Just cos that’s what happened before when she ordered a salad. Slept badly this night.

Take off

Taxi man decided to arrive at 7.30am rather than 8.00. We also were expecting an estate car and got a Rover posh thing that looked like a Jag. Still, he managed to fit all our cases in – even if it meant one in the middle between me and Mum. Got to the airport in record time, about 45 mins even with a bit of traffic and some slow sections of the motorway.
Security was interesting. I managed to smuggle my brand new Carmex lipbalm through security in mum’s bag. Haha. Should have been a bomber.
We had to take our shoes off, and my laptop had to go through in it’s own special little tray but everyone was calm and it was quite quick moving.
Sitting in the airport I really didn’t feel like I was going anywhere. I was desperately texting Rob, trying to make the most of our last little bit of contact. I met his mum’s neighbour’s cat and saw his little collection of cars. Amazing stuff. I’ve promised to text once I’m in Madrid and again from Gran Canaria.
I feel like I’m going on holiday. I’ve had so long to think about moving away yet it still doesn’t feel like it’s happening. Hearing Spanish being spoken all around me is a weird sensation. It’s familiar yet hard to follow, I just catch odd little words and the rhythm of it sounds right. I’m reading all the signs like “fasten your seatbelt whilst seated” and wondering why they used the subjunctive. I should have brought “Exacto” out with me, my grammar book. Dictionary might have been helpful too. Ah well, I’ll buy what I need to out here.
Sat in Madrid for a few hours and then got on a plane to GC. Much smoother journey so no risk of vomming. As we touched down I could see a nice blue sky out the window, a very blue sea (it was nearly 7pm) and a more built up area than I was expecting. Especially considering I know that the airport isn’t in a very touristy area. It looked lovely. We collected all our baggage and headed for a taxi. Frustrating being with parents who comment on every little obvious detail like “landing gear is going down now” when it’s already obvious we’re landing. I think I was in a pretty foul mood anyway. Tired of sitting on planes and a bit anxious about arriving.
Asked the taxi driver in my best Spanish if he knew where “c/ Padre Cuerto, 4 Playa de Melinada” was. He said yes, we jumped in, then he spent ages asking me and phoning people and stopping on the street and accosting other taxi drivers. Turns out there are 3 streets of that name in very different parts of GC. I told him it was the Telde one. However it turns out that my notation of what was said over the phone to me in England wasn’t very accurate. The hostel was actually called “Albacar” not “Al Barca” and the street was “Padre Cueto” not “Cuerto” and the beach is called “Melenara”. Oh well. So far my Spanish has been ok.
We arrived at the hostel and it was locked. Asked a guy going in where the pizzeria was so we could collect our keys. I had been told it was next door. Hmmm. Mum and I left Dad with luggage and wandered off. I was concentrating on little goals at a time at this point. Get keys. Move luggage in. Find food. Chill out. We took a walk in the general direction we had been told but to no avail. Rang the number on the hostel door and a guy answered, told me there was no-one here, he was no-one in particular and said sorry he couldn’t help. Turns out he was inside the hostel not the pizzeria. So got more directions for the pizza place and headed that way with Mum. Found it this time! Went in and said we’d made reservations. He asked us if we had reservations but we heard “have you got a receipt” and I said “no”. He said “they’ll full…no room” so I went “eeeek”. LOL. We worked out the misunderstanding and got our keys. Whilst sitting there one of the waiters filled me and Mum in on the time he had spent in Doncaster. I tried to explain what a bassoon was in Spanish and then we headed to find Dad. We sorted ourselves out then went down to the pizzeria for some grub. Chatting at dinner it turns out Dad thought we were on a Balearic Island and wondered why it had taken a further 2 and a half hours to get there from Madrid! For those of you who don’t know I’m living off the coast of Africa on GC, one of the Canary Islands. Discovered our first local beer – Tropical. Nice lager.
The place we’re staying at this week is lovely. Not too far from Telde I’m told. We’re heading into Telde tomorrow to get our bearings a bit more but this area is nice for bumming around and to have as a base. There are about 8 restaurants and a few promenades along the beachfront – which is quite small and it’s very non-touristy which I like. Lots of locals and residential areas. Think that’s about it for now. I’m missing Rob like crazy. Every other thought is of him. Good thing: GC time = UK time.

In Gran Canaria

Just a quick note to say sorry to everyone who´s been expecting reams of Blog from me and hasn´t seen anything since I left the UK. I have been writing it...on my laptop...but I´ve had no chance to get that online or to USB it onto any other computer. Hopefully that´ll all change soon. Desperately searching for a flat. saw a woman get run over today. LOL. That´s about it. Bye for now. x

Eeek

This time in 2 weeks I'll be sitting in the airport waiting to get on a plane to LPA - Gran Canaria for my year abroad. Eeek. Had my last few days with Rob over this weekend - which was lovely but ultimately soul destroying. lol. He'll love me saying that. I just know how much I'll miss him and leaving him behind hurts. But I've decided to look at this completely selfishly and I know that this year coming is going to be "my year". my chance to get to know the island like it's my own little world and my chance to do my best at teaching, learning spanish and maybe trying something new as well.
Must remember to get some passport pics done before I go. Must phone the school to check they still know I'm coming. Must still find somewhere to live. Hmmm. Think that's all the important bits. These next two weeks are going to feel odd. I'm literally just waiting to leave now. I'm going to try and see Rob again for a day but the rest of the time I'd better sort out what I'm taking with me!

Thanks for reading - - - - assuming anyone is reading. LOL!