Saturday 28th October

Went down to Maspalomas with the girls today. The weather is definitely becoming more autumnal. There were bursts of really strong sunshine but generally it’s quite cloudy and it tends to rain in the evenings. It was odd being surrounded by tourists – especially English speaking ones. Although I speak English with the girls it doesn’t seem the same. Hearing English spoken around me felt very odd and I disliked speaking English in the south because I didn’t want people to think I was a tourist. I feel very separate from them…I live here! As we walked down the parade of restaurants waiters touted for our custom and asked us where we were from. It was a bit of a tricky question cos we had Connie with us too and no-one believes she’s German. She is. The waiter was talking German with her and I joined in and then he didn’t believe that I was English. Apparently I look German.

Anyway, we had a nice day at the beach down there though we spent most of our time sitting in a restaurant chatting. Sasha and James had had some time together without us and had been camel riding. Connie was very envious when she found out.

We headed back as the sun was setting and rode home on the bus in the dark. It began to pour with rain – my favourite kind of bus ride. There’s something really romantic and almost clarifying about driving through the dark. I was just texting Rob telling him I loved him when my phone went off. It was Rob. J There are moments when I’m thinking of him and my phone goes off. I love it. I know we’re always thinking about each other.

Ricardo - Eugh

Well last Monday I advertised English Classes with me up around the uni building opposite my flat. Just gave a price per hour and a contact number. The first call I got was from a guy hoping to learn English. He asked to meet that afternoon by San Telmo to get to know each other and to arrange how to go on from there. I was surprised from the start as he was 42. I found it impossible to tell ages, especially over the phone, but I had just assumed this was going to be a student not an adult. Anyway, it didn’t really matter I thought, it’s still money. His English was pretty ok but he was odd. His eyes crossed slightly so I was never quite sure where he was looking and generally I just felt really uncomfortable under his gaze. Also, his conversation was odd. He seemed quite awkward and kept talking about music and quoting song lyrics and stuff. At the end of the hour we had agreed that rather than my flat I would go to his office three times a week to teach him for one hour. This would be enough money to pay my rent each month. He showed me his office – I was a little concerned that no-one else was there at the time as this would be the time that I would go to teach. Then he asked me if I wanted to be shown the cinema which was about 2 minutes from his office. I was feeling pretty weirded out by this point so declined and headed home. I got a text from him as I was on my way to work the next morning asking me if I wanted to go to the beach in Maspalomas with him on Saturday “Caroline – you enjoy very much” I didn’t reply. I was meant to be teaching him later on this evening, I decided that if he brought it up I’d just say “I don’t think that’s very appropriate but thanks for offering”. Turns out there was no need as later in the day I got a text from him saying “Caroline I pay to you 200 euros to fuck with you im hn hot y I getting deep you exeting I eat all your body your sex I want yotr sex”. Eugh. I was amazed. So gross.

I think what upset me most about it was that he obviously thought he stood a bit of a chance if he bothered to send the text. I don’t know whether it was because he thought I was a student, and needed the money, or because I’m English and the English are easy, or what. But I didn’t take kindly to the implication that he half expected a yes out of me – and for the grand old price of 200 Euros. Nothing like having a bit of worth is there. LOL. If I saw him in the street and he tried to talk to me I would wallop him one.

13th-14th October

What a funny couple of days. School has been good and it’s now the weekend – HURRAH! Went to salsa on Friday night and one guy really offended me but getting arsy at me in English. Stupid man thought he was so good speaking English to me. I got really angry. Anyway, after that we went and had Japanese in town. It was amazing, there was a massive stainless steel table, which was the cooking surface, and everyone sat around it. There were about 6 of them in the restaurant and food was cooking directly in front of you. I ordered a noodle dish and first he fried an egg then chopped it all up and (we’d seen this happen on another table too) then with the chopped up egg he flicks a bit at you with his knife and you’re meant to catch it in your mouth! LOL. It was impossible. That was really good fun, and the food was amazing. After that we decided to go for a drink which turned into 6 hours of stupid dancing and having a wicked time in a bar called La Estacion. We got a taxi home at about 5.30 and crawled into our respective beds. I woke up at 10. Boo!

I stayed in bed being really lazy all day and emailed a few people. Met Vicci in town at 3.30. There was a painting competition going on down Avenida Mesa y Lopez, the art was really impressive. Anyway, Vicci and I decided to try a shopping centre up at the port which was nice but not amazing. Lots of shoe and clothes shops but few little nick-nack shops. We sat and had a coffee on the terrace when a little old lady and her son approached us. They started chatting away to us and then asked us if we speak Spanish. The little old lady was saying how much she loved getting to know people and talking to girls – and how beautiful we were. Then they asked to sit down. LOL. Vicci and I didn’t know what to say and for the next 25 minutes we were being told – quite a few times – that she was 80 “You’re 90” her son corrected her…over and over again. Then she tried to take her false teeth out!! We didn’t know what to do. As Vicci said we ought to be going they asked if they could show us a photo. It was her surrounded by McDonald’s staff – random! Then they asked to take a photo of us, so we obliged and then the son asked for our email addresses so he could send us a copy. Haha. What a weird day. We’re off out tonight as well – going to have a bit of a nap first otherwise I’ll never survive through til 6am!

Thursday 12th October - Fiesta!!

Last night I went to Salsa class with Vicci. The silly cow let me think she was a beginner so I went along with her and the whole “trying something new thing” turns out she’s a bit of a pro! Anyway, it was still really good fun. They have classes on everyday of the year. Saturdays and Sundays, and fiestas. It’s 25 euros a month for students, which isn’t bad, and I think there’s a discount if you join up for more than one month at a time. It was really good fun though and I’m very tempted to go back because even as a complete beginner I didn’t feel like a complete idiot.

Not sure why today is a special day but it’s a day off so I’m happy. Met up with the English girls at the beach at 11.30 today and walked home with Vicci at about 5pm. It was so beautiful at Las Canteras today. We were further north up the beach than I had been last time and there’s a reef you can swim up to. Vicci and I did. Well we all set out but the girls got tired and turned back and only Vicci and I carried on. As you swam towards it, it gradually got more rocky until you had a floor beneath you. Then there was a step of rock which ran about 100m wide but wasn’t very deep. Waves just cascade over the step and you can sit on the rock floor with your back to the rock step and the waves crash around you like a little waterfall but when a really strong wave comes it shoves you along the rock floor and leaves a bubbly Jacuzzi behind. It was such a special feeling. Felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist for a little moment whilst we stood on the shelf looking further out to see with the beach behind us.

Walking home with Vicci we got accosted by an English guy asking us if we were English and “thank god” if we were. Turns out it was the guy that Vicci had met on Saturday who had begged her for some money (20 euros) saying the bank machine had swallowed his card and that he was waiting on a money transfer from his sister but that he would meet up with her later on Saturday and pay her back. He didn’t show up. He had given her a name, address, email and phone number as well but the phone number was one digit short and the email address went something like www.tom_bloggs@hotmail.com which obviously isn’t valid and Vicci asked a taxi driver if he’d ever heard of the pension that he had told Vicci he was staying at and he hadn’t. So Vicci was like “where’s my money?” and he was really quite rude – considering she’d supposedly done her a favour. I think it was a usual con that he tries on with tourists (wonder how much he makes out of it!) and never expected to see her again! I wonder how many times they’re going to bump into each other over the next 8 months!!

Tonight we’re going to Vicci’s for a little flat warming but it’s not going to be a late one as some of us have to work tomorrow. Boo! But then I do have 3 days off after tomorrow…hard life.

Wednesday 11th October

Had a couple of new classes today but nothing of note really as I'm still introducing myself to them. I showed them some photos too of my family and Rob and English beaches. They all want Lizzie's phone number haha so then I show them a picture of Joe. That usually shuts them up.

Tomorrow is a national holiday - though I'm not sure what for, and I'm going to the beach with the other english girls.

Saturday 7th October

Woke up sometime before my alarm, which was set for 9.30. Enjoyed just lying in bed listening to how quiet my area is on a non-school day. At about 10 o clock, after reading in bed for a while, I got up and went off to find the post office to collect my missed parcel.

Easy, you might think, considering I got a card through the door with the address of the post office on…120 Tomás Morales street. However I got to 120 and it was an opticians. Brilliant. I asked a guy on the street if he knew and he said it was best to ask in the Opticians so in I went and he looked at me like he’s always answering that question! I certainly didn’t get the impression I was the first person to ask. He pointed off down the street back the way I came and said there was a little gate that I had to go through. I did and there was a courtyard with a few little businesses in it. I wouldn’t have said it warranted the address Tomás Morales…but there you go. Got there and it turns out it wasn’t my grammar book that mum had sent me, but a card from Sarah. I know that this was on the way but she told me yesterday that she posted it on Wednesday so I can’t believe it made it here by Thursday and was waiting for me to collect at the post office. Anyway, they were sure they didn’t have anything else for me so no idea where my grammar book is.

I popped to the shop on the way back and got some Papas, (spuds to you and me) eggs, bread, juice and milk. I like doing a couple of little shops each week rather than one massive one cos it’s hard, hot work carrying everything back up to my flat.

I’m meeting up with Vicci (English girl) at 2pm today. On my way to the post office I found bus stops that will take me up into that area of Las Palmas. I’m going to head up that way a bit before 2 so that I can swap a Spanish language dictionary I bought for a Spanish-English one. Then we’re off to the beach.

Bought myself a Joanne Harris novel in Spanish too for after I finish my German one. It’s rather well known but as yet, unread by me. Chocolat. Bought some face wash too and that’s about it. Met Vicci at 2pm at Plaza de Espana. We had some lunch there and then headed to the beach. She seems really nice. She’s at uni in Newcastle and went to the training weekend in Madrid. Was a bit worried at first that she was quite a quiet girl but she swore quite quickly into us meeting and her personality shone through from there. She’s full of stories and perfectly pleasant. There’s a chance that she and I and some of the other English girls are going to meet up this evening to celebrate surviving a week and to warm someone’s flat. I put the water heater on and I’m waiting to have a shower. Bit worried about Rob as he cut a bit of his finger off with the angle grinder today. Not so clever baby!! Hope you can still count to ten!

Got a number 25 bus into Las Palmas and a number 2 back home. It cost one Euro each way. Got home by 7pm. Had a shower and chatted online to Rob for a bit. Could have chatted all night but had texted Sasha to see if anyone was going out tonight and she invited us all around to her new flat that she’s sharing with Alex, and English girl and Connie a German girl. Vicci and I went round. They’re paying 600 Euros between 3 of them, which is fine, and it’s a nice place. It’s on the 11^th floor and has beautiful views of the south of Las Palmas, though I get a bit giddy just looking straight down! We sat about and chatted about the different schools we’re at and the staff and how we’re finding everything. It was really good to touch bases with others in the same or similar position to me. I stayed until 1am then left with Vicci. They live really close to me, and Vicci will be close too once she moves into her flat tomorrow. I think it’s a good little base to have around but not something I want to spend too much of my time on because we really did just sit around talking English and that’s not really what we’re here for.

Friday 6th October

Came into school today for 3^rd period under the impression that Herin wanted me in one of her classes. Sitting in the staff-room shortly after the bell for 3^rd period rang it seems I was wrong. I sat there looking up useful vocabulary instead – there was no sign of any staff. Anyway, Herin appeared and I went off to class with her. They were 3^rd years and I did my usual introduction thing. They were very well behaved and interested to hear what I had to say. After that we had break and I had “red tea” which was bizarre but tasty and then we had our little department meeting. They discussed the new readers they’re getting in for certain years and how suitable they were and we checked that everyone has a copy of my timetable. Angel brought up the fact that each member of staff needs to decide on the role I’m going to have within their lesson. With him I’m just going to be helping and picking out specific cultural aspects and aspects of pronunciation.

After that I went with Rita to do my standard introduction bit to her 3^rd years. This lot were interested but a bit more bolsterous – asking for my mobile number and my msn! I told them my phone number was secret but they could have my msn if they promised to talk to me in English! I think that’ll stop them.

After that I had first class with Amera* (still not sure of her name) and they were really quite as I spoke, and asked good questions in Spanish to me like where have I travelled to. They asked for my msn as well but I didn’t give it out. They’re a lot younger, there’s no real point. One kid at the front of this class was really shouty – keen to know stuff about me but shouting “me me me” unless I picked him. I tried ignoring him and I tried focusing on him but he was a bit annoying. Felt like smacking him round the head and telling him to let someone else have a go. Lol. One thing that was a bit mental about this class was that they asked me to talk German. So I did. Lol. There is German at this school but English and French are the first 2 foreign languages taught and the German department only teaches a few kids a few days a week. I’m not really sure how it works. Anyway, that baffled them and shut them up a bit.

After class Amera offered me a lift back as she was going to Las Palmas to pick up her kids. That was brilliant as we chatted loads in the car on the way and she said it’s no problem for her to do that daily. She leaves at 2pm everyday so every day I do as well I may as well go with her. The school her kids go to has a special name, it’s not private and it’s not a state school. The parents pay half towards it and the government funds the rest. Anyway, it literally backs onto my flat so that’s a really good arrangement.

When I got home, Amelia asked me if I would be willing to think about teaching 3 people she knows some English. I wasn’t sure how much to charge so suggested to her than they each pay me 10 Euros per hour. It’s up to them how often we meet and when but I have so much free time I don’t see it being a problem. In fact it will be a good time filler and also a good way to meet a few new faces. Got a text from Vicci offering to meet up tomorrow. We arranged to meet in the afternoon up in the north of Las Palmas to have a chat and go to the beach. I’m not sure what the weather will be like but it’s usually pretty nice in the afternoons, just greyish in the mornings.

Had a nap today and accidentally slept til 6pm! Chatted to Rob online then and later on in the evening, which was lovely. I am missing him loads but we’re getting lots of opportunities to chat, which are very precious to me. Mum rang as well this evening, which was nice. Kiwi is well. HURRAH.

Thursday 5th October

Don't get excited if you're reading this that I'm going to write something everyday for the whole year. I'm soon going to get bored and it'll just be snippets of what I'm doing.

Slept badly again last night. Heard Virginia arrive and then the bins were emptied at about 5am and traffic was noisy. Got up at 7.25 today and still managed to be ready 5 minutes early. I haven’t met Virginia yet, there was no sign of her or Amelia (as usual) when I got up for school so I left the flat in the dark and headed off. On the way I pass the sea all the way down the coast to Telde, and there was a boat in the water which was being rocked about I thought water was going to come onboard. It was a greyer day today. Sunny in places and certainly still warm but in the shade it was cooler. Maybe about 27 degrees today.

I arrived at school at about 8.55 and sat until 11.15 in the staff-room. That was hard work! Trying to keep myself occupied. I did managed to get my hands on a Spanish-English dictionary though and sorted out a few words that I’ve seen around that have been bothering me. Bumped into Toni briefly as well who gave me my timetable. Herin (I think is her name) came and asked me if I was free in 3^rd period. I said yes and went to a class of 2^nd years with her. Did my little presentation thing again. She left the room for quite a lot of the lesson because the kids didn’t like speaking in front of her and she had to deal with a couple of discipline issues. The kids were so keen to ask me stuff but not so keen to listen to the whole answer. As soon as I had said yes or no they were shouting out other things they wanted to know. Anyway it was a bit “loco” but successful. After that I went to a 1^st year class with her. Their English is a much lower standard but I spoke in less detail and with lots of gesticulation and I think most of it went in. They got the chance to ask me questions in Spanish but I only replied in English. It was fun. After that I went home.

Popped into Spar on the way back for some more cereal and tomatoes. Thrilling stuff. Then met Virginia. She’s much younger than Amelia and her mum is here too. I introduced myself and did the typical Spanish kissing on the cheek and she seems very friendly. I had a siesta and when I woke up about an hour later I could hardly move. Was so keen to just sleep the rest of the afternoon but knew I’d never get up again if I did let alone be able to sleep tonight. Went into the bathroom and as I walked back to my room Virginia waved at me from her bed. She’s all settled in now. Amelia let me know that my post from England arrived but no-one was home so I have to go collect it. That can be a job for Saturday. Virginia came into my room and offered me some cake earlier and I attempted having a chat with her. Lol. It soon fizzled out. She’s a student too, studying some kind of business. She’s not at the same institute as Amelia though. She and her mum are in the kitchen cooking up a bit of a feast! But it’s nearly 5pm. It’s getting a bit late for lunch and still too early for dinner!! Maybe it’s something to stock up the freezer with.

Wednesday 4th October

Slept so much better tonight. The bins got emptied at 23.50 and I had already been asleep an hour. The rest of my night was undisturbed! Hurrah. My alarm pissed me off at 7.15 though and typically I was ready far too quickly. Think I´ll set it for 7.30 tomorrow. Left the house at 7.55 and was on a bus at 8.15. Got to school just after 9 and bumped into Angel and went to class with him. It was with his nightmare 4th year group but they were much better behaved today sitting down doing book work. I think as soon as you give them the opportunity for wider exercises or less structured work it just descends into chaos. After that Angel had a free and no other teachers were around to ask to follow so I just sat in the staff room with him, flicking through the resource books each year uses and thinking about planning something. I wrote my sis a letter too. Will try to remember to post that this evening. Have no faith in the spanish postal system though. As far as I recall from 2 years ago it takes about 2 weeks for anything to get from A to B.
After the break, Rita appeared so I asked her if she had class and she did. I offered to sit and help out and she asked me if I´d talk to the class about Reading and England and English things and my life in general so I said ok. lol. Totally unprepared. They were a 2nd year class. I´m not sure how old that makes them, about 13 I think. Anyway I stood in front of this class and started going on about Reading and who I live with and where my bro and sis live now and that I study in Exeter. They loved it. lol. Apparently they´re usually a really raucous class but they must have really enjoyed having something different cos while they still talked over each other a bit they were all trying to form questions and asking things they wanted to know. Like did I have a boyfriend and do I have a car. lol. I really enjoyed it.

After that I went to another 4th year class of Angels. They´re totally different to the troublesome 4th years he has. There is only one girl in his troublesome class and there are many more in this other one. I think that´s why they´re better behaved. They had fewer questions for me than the 2nd years but it wasn´t just that. They were shyer in asking. They asked me if I thought spanish was hard and I said yes. But I´m glad I don´t have to learn english! Anyway today really reinforced what a novelty I am to them and I think I´m going to really enjoy being at school, especially once I have a routine in place. I´m getting my timetable tomorrow but only starting it on tuesday I think.

I think next monday I´m going to go to the beach in Las Palmas. Or I´ll get a bus to another area. Maybe La Garita and Las Salinetas. I dunno. The world is my oyster.

Went to the bank after school to pass on my new address. I´d also been told I could go and collect my card this week. They shut at 1.30 and I left school just after 1 and started the walk there. I popped into Movistar first to ask about selecting 5 international favourite numbers so texts are cheaper, but my chum Helen wasn´t there so I said I´d go back this afternoon. I headed to the bank and got a number 10 mins before they closed. They ended up still serving people until 2.10 so I didn´t really have anything to worry about and I passed on my address and got my card without a problem. Apparently they´re going to post me a little gift too for opening an account: I´m not really interested though. It´s just a little bag. lol. Never mind, thought that counts.

Tuesday 3rd October

Slept terribly, was woken up more than 5 times between 12 and 6am. Ended up sleeping in another hour and heading to school on an 8.55 bus. Realised that was mid-lesson time so hung around in the park until a good time to go in. Found some English teachers straight away and had a nice little chat. Started looking at the course books they’re using for each level and then asked if I could sit in some classes. Toni had a difficult class lined up and asked me to ask someone else and Angel said no probs so I went with him to his upper level class and then to a 4^th grade class who were much more troublesome. I didn’t really do much in that second class but I felt quite involved in the first. He introduced me and then I sat at the back and he got me up to the front once to explain a few phrasal verbs and then a bit later on he sent students to me one by one to do a little speaking exam about their daily routines. They were pretty good. Some better than others, some just lacking confidence, some just not bothering. But yeh, I felt quite useful.

Called in at Movistar on the way home to ask why texts to England are costing me 70c a time and it’s cos it’s a base of 60c and then tax gets added! Outrageous. It was closing time as I arrived and Helen (the French girl) shut all the doors and shut me in to help me. We decided it’s best to go for 5 favourite numbers which will reduce my rates and she started going on about how nice it is speaking English and made me promise to go back so she could practise!

Then I went to the National Police and HURRAH got my NIE. Got on a bus back to Las Palmas, came in and had some lunch and a shower, now it’s time for a siesta.

Monday 2nd October - Happy Birthday Catherine!

I had a rubbish nights sleep in my new flat. Made the mistake of sleeping with the window open and I was woken several times in the night, particularly at 5.30 this morning, by Spanish rubbish men emptying the recycling containers opposite my flat. The huge glass bin disturbed me most. They must have been using a crane or something to lift it and it kept banging around and they were all shouting at one another.

Anyway, got up at 8.30 and went to the bank to pay in some more money and then did my weekly shop. It was quite exciting really...got some baked beans and English breakfast tea in teabags! It took me ages to find a few things, like rice and there were a few things they didn’t have like red lentils. Anyway, got pretty much everything I wanted and headed back to the flat. Amelia was sitting at her desk working in her PJs. I unpacked my stuff, had a shower, put some washing on, checked my emails, just vegged out really. Got to decide what time to go into school tomorrow. They said anytime to me but I’m going to need to leave early to go to the police station before it closes at 2. Eugh. Wish they could just hurry up and give me my NIE.

Amelia went out at midday and came back for lunch then went out again. I guess that’s her routine while she’s studying. I sat at home a lot today. Hopefully I’ll have more to do on my subsequent days off. Popped out in the afternoon to get some more phone credit and buy my bus ticket for the week. No reason why I couldn’t get it tomorrow, just thought it would be another thing done.

Hung around in the flat the rest of the day. Watched some CSI and chatted on msn in the evening.

Sunday 1st October – Moving in Day

Woke up at half 8 today. Had fallen asleep with the tv on. Mum and Dad are up in the sky by now hopefully. I had packed all my stuff yesterday so just had a shower, got dressed and watched tv until I had to go. I really was just killing time. I didn’t think I ought to arrive before midday at my flat so had to kill a couple of hours in Melenara.

Just wanted to get there really and sort out my room though I don’t know what I’m going to do the rest of the day. Get my bearings I suppose. Find out what there is around me. Most of the shops will be shut though I expect.

So I arrived. Had quite an amusing taxi driver. I rang for a taxi, one appeared then he disappeared again telling me to wait for another. Bizarre. Anyway, the guy who came was really sweet. He was helpful with my luggage and chatty. He was from Cuba and spoke to me about what I thought of Canarias and put on a CD of Cuban music and asked me what I thought of that. I paid him and dragged all my cases upstairs. Tried my key in the flat door and couldn’t open it. The door opened from within (must remember to try my key later to check it works!) and a guy answered the door. Amelia was inside on the phone. I said hello to everyone and excused myself to my room to unpack with the door open. It was hot, hot work having dragged 5 cases up 3 flights of stairs. I moved the bed and desk over and found a little space for everything. The walls look bear but apart from that it’s fine. I need to find some blu-tack really and get my poster up. That’ll help.

I feel a bit like a guest in someone’s house. Like an exchange student. Amelia is studying with a friend in the front room and I’m pottering to and from my room sorting things out. Haven’t spent long in the kitchen. It’s small. Haven’t got anything to move in there and I don’t know what “my space” in there will be. Need to get Amelia on her own to ask things like that. Feel a bit intrusive at the moment and don’t want to interrupt. Need to sort out some lunch. Got some pasta and sauce and I’ll do my first main shop tomorrow. Think I’m going to have to shop little and often because fridge space is limited. Freezer space and cupboard space seems ok.

I wrote Granny a letter.

Went for a wander in the afternoon and discovered a few local shops and the main high street. It’s very German looking with a Pimpkie and a Bijou Brigitte. I feel nice and local to everything. It’s a nice area with plenty to see and do and it’s not far for me to get on a bus to work. As I walked back in the afternoon I walked under a tree with loads of squashed plums or something similar under it, and as I passed under one plummeted to earth and hit me smack on the back of the head. Wasn’t a nice squidgy one though, was hard as a rock. In the afternoon I came back and started brainstorming first lessons. It’ll be good to get to watch the students first to see how confident they are and what their level of English is.

I was sitting watching TV when Amelia and her boyfriend were in her room and the phone rang. PANIC! Do I answer it, when it’s bound to be someone Spanish or what?! I answered. J Very proud. It was Amelia’s brother after some computer advice.

Amelia and I sat watching tv later in the evening when we heard trumpets like a little brass band. Looked out the window and there was a church procession heading down our little road. Must look into what special day October 1^st is for Catholics. I know November 1^st is special. Maybe it’s the day of the dead today.

Saturday 30th September

Got up at 8.30 today and after bumming around a bit went over the road to the supermarket with mum to get something for breakfast and lunch. We picnicked on the beach until about 4pm then I left them to go back to the hotel for a shower and to chill out a bit and pack up for moving tomorrow. Did all that then went for dinner. Back to Pizzeria Venezia for the last time. Normal kinda dinner. I was feeling pretty tired to be honest. Had a lovely text from Rob after my pizza ;) Not a lot to write today. It was very laid back. Played Boggle again after dinner with mum and dad. Won. They’re leaving in the middle of the night to get back to England, saying goodbye felt like saying goodnight. I’ll see how I feel about it all tomorrow.

Friday 29th September

I got up and got in a taxi with Mum and Dad to Telde. We had breakfast in a café next to our usual haunt and then parted ways. They went off to see the caves in the middle of the island and I headed to the bank to pay in some Euros. The queues were huge first thing in the morning so I popped onto the internet after another worrying text from Rob and decided to go to the bank again after I’d been to school. I got to school in perfect time and found Toni and another English teacher straight away. We went to the English staff-room, which is joined with maths and all sat down. I was offered tea or coffee and we all began. There are 6 English teachers and I know 3 of their names for sure. Rita, Toni and Angel. Angel is the only male teacher. He lives in the south of the island. The other 3 are all women, 2 slightly older than the other but all with families. We discussed my options for accommodation. They hadn’t heard anything back from the fax they had sent out so either I had to ask around places like Playa de Melenara for winter flats that were free or I had to look into the 350 a month flat I had found in La Herradura (alone) or I had to live in Las Palmas with students or something. This sounded so far away and impossible to me that I just didn’t know what to do. So we tried to sort out a timetable. Which was also pretty impossible as I didn’t know where I was going to be coming to school from so wasn’t sure how early each day to start. We decided to rule out 8am lessons so my school days go from 9-2. I have a maximum of 3 hrs a day and Mondays free. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?!

The school has a 2 week timetable and I’m only really pencilled in at the moment. I’m observing next week and then we’ll get rolling with participation. One of the teachers lives in the village/town next to Melenara and offered to drive me into school on days when our timetables match if I ended up in a flat there. Another teacher has children who go to an Institute in Las Palmas and she was heading there at 2pm after school and offered to give me a lift to go and look at an area which is usually thick with housing offers and advertisements for flatmates. I declined as I was meeting Mum and Dad at the police station to finally pick up my NIE.

I left school just after 12 and headed to the bank to pay in the 600 Euros I was carrying around with me. On the way I popped into the Inmobiliaria where I saw the flat and asked exactly where it was and if there were buses to Telde from it. She wasn’t able to show me exactly where it was or where to get a decent map so I left my number and they’re going to call me when I can view it.

After the bank I headed to the police station where Mum and Dad already were, wondering what to do about accommodation. I popped in to get my NIE – they’re starting to recognise me in there – and she said “come back on Tuesday”. I couldn’t believe it. If it drags out to Thursday it’ll be a week late.

I told Mum and Dad the situation with accommodation and asked for a bit of advice. Was feeling quite frayed by this point and really just wanted to curl up in a ball and let it sort itself out. Dad peeved me by starting to work out the financial implications that living in Las Palmas and travelling to and fro would mean. This was pointless as we had no idea of the difference in living costs nor travel costs as we’d only travelled by taxi. I tried to tell him so and it ended up in raised voices…mainly mine. We headed for a bus stop. I knew the number 80 went to the right area of Las Palmas and I knew where the bus stop was, just the other side of the main square in Telde, but Dad insisted, not on following me, but on going and asking where the nearest stop was. All I wanted to do was get on a bus from the area I would be everyday to see where it went and how long it took etc. All Dad wanted (it seemed to me) was to dispute what I was saying, imagining that he knew best and would fix it all. I got mad. It all got a bit much, me being here, Rob being in England, Dad being here, not having anywhere to live, having struggled to understand the Spanish at school earlier on that day…anyway, we got on a bus and headed to Las Palmas.

Arrived at the square and had another paddy. Dad wouldn’t accept that where I had been told to go was suitable and wanted first to find the tourist information office on the map. This took some doing as it wasn’t where it said it was and no-one he asked seemed to know where it was either. This all just wasted time in my mind, what was wrong with going where I had been told was a good place to look…by people who know what they’re talking about?!

We headed for Thomas Morales street and found the big obelisk. The institute is just behind this and we went in and found notice-boards full of flat sharing advertisements. I rang 3 and 2 had already been taken and one of my calls didn’t connect. The 4^th I tried was for a room in a flat with 2 other girls right on the street we were on. After a bit of a confusing phone call between me and the Spanish girl I arranged to go round in 15 minutes to have a look at the flat. Quite a timid looking girl opened the door and I introduced myself as Carolyn. Obviously. Lol. She was quite smiley but a bit taken aback by the fact that this was all happening quite quickly and that I had my parents in tow. We saw the room, the bathroom, kitchen etc and asked some questions. I paid a months rent as deposit (returnable) and got my set of keys. Amazing. 120 euros a month, plus bills. I have a flat! I’m moving in on Sunday after Mum and Dad have gone. Perfect. After all that was arranged we went to El Corte Ingles to get some bedsheets and a map of the area. Then we headed into Telde. I popped on the internet for a bit and then we headed straight to dinner at the beach. Huge steak with pepper sauce. It was delicious!