Winter Chaos across Europe

In the last blog, I talked about how I may never get home due to the flight cancellations. However, I was one of the lucky few who managed to get home on time without any problems. Returning back to Madrid also managed to be plain sailing.
At the moment, things are pretty quiet. I only had two children out of nine in my kids´class. As a result the kids were well bwehaved and didn´t speak Spanish throughou the whole class. The office is very quiet as many teachers are still stuck in England.
Bliss!!!!

Am I going to get home....

The bad weather across Europe has caused mass delays ewverywhere. Saturday saw Eurostar trains being stranded for 15 hours. Easyjet flights everywhere have been cancelled.
While it may be nice to see snow over the Christmas period, it is still a realy pain in the arse to those whose loves have been disrupted. My flight back to London Gatwick is due to leave at 7.30 tomorrow morning. However, I am admant that this flight is going to leave on time... If it does, then Jesus (and the easyjet crew and Civil Aviation Authority) will have performed a miracle.
Fingers crossed

Order out of Chaos

I have been given two junior classes at my academy. I have two groups of 8-12 year olds. I love it. I love the fact that the kids are highly motivated individuals who love being in a class with a chaotic, scatterbrained teacher like myself. I love the fact that they throw things at eachother, have no sense of discipline, and do as they please.

Welcome to the world of teaching kids in Spain.

Working for a well-known international academy

I´m fed-up with working for unknown outfits that advertise block-hours when you are lucky they only have three hours a week for you. I´m fed-up with the tedium of turning up to large companies when no-one is there. I´m tired of women from such agencies phoning me to say that my class has been cancelled, therefore, you lose money. I´m tired of having very boring conversations with business executives who I have absolutely nothing in common whatsoever. I hate having to make endless photocopies that are goinhg to be thrown in the bin by the student(s) at the end of the day.
I´ve decided to work for a well-known academy that offers me guaranteed classes with very little travel. I´m guaranteed good hours and don´t have to run around like a headless chicken on the metro all day. I don´t have to carry heavy bags in a backpàck that is gradually falling apart. I can put all my beloved books into one locker. I know I´m going to receive the same amount of money every month.
However, the hours can be quite unsociable. When all my pals are down the pub on a friday night, I´m stuck in a classroom till 9.30pm. Afterwards, I can´t go out like most teachers, get blind drunk and whinge about the state of academies in Spain. No, I have to be up to teach 10-12-year-old kids who´d rather be somewhere else? So, why do I do it? I like the lifestyle. It beats the rat-race at home. I have more light in the winter in Madrid and am more likely to run into people I know than I am in my hometown.

Digging up Madrid

Madrid is getting ready for the possibility to host the 2016 Olympics. It is reorganising the city and installing new fast rail connections. What's more they are digging up every single space and taking ages. Calle Velazquez is a great example. It is now almost impossible to walk on as there aren't many pavements left.

Madrid:The Noisiest City in Europe?

I find very difficult to get to sleep here, especially with the endless noise I have to put up with. I hate having to deal with the vibrations of the metro under my floor and the endless noise of people talking ´normally´next door.
When I play frogger´ in the traffic in Paseo de Castellana, trying to get from one side of the street to another, I find myself covering my ears to blot out the drivers horns. In Madrid, it seems that people love the sounds of their horns, even though they have no effect when the road is totally gridlocked. The police try and deal with the gridlocked street by blowing their whistles and throwing their arms into different directions. This doesn´t solve anything. It just makes my ears bleed. An ambululance and Civil Guardia patrol car whail their sirens to try and get through the daily disaster zone.
On the number 27 bus, there are 3 old-age pensioners talking extremely loudly to eachother as if they´re having a big argument. No, they´re not arguing. They´re having a normal conversation. Next to me, there is a man on his mobile revealing his entrire plans and life story to the whole bus..
The Production Line (Line 10 or the dark blue one) has its fair share of irritating buskers who disturb your pleasurable read or tune on your mp3 player.
I try and get some peace in the tranquility of one of Madrid´s parks. Again, my peace is disturbed by a Romanian playing When the Saints Go Marching in and pestering people for money afterwards.
So, why is it that Madrid is noisier than any other city in Europe? What can be done to eliminate some of this noise? How many Madrilenos are deaf as a result??





http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/out-of-spain-worlds-noisiest-city-turns-deaf-ear-to-acoustic-alarmists-1485957.html

You´ve gotta pick a pocket or two

Madrid is rife with sneky robbers. Not the kind you would find in the Bronx in NY or the ruthless maniacs you would find in Tranchtown. Satistically, you are less likely to be a victim of violent crime in Madrid than you are in most cities in Europe. However, Madrid is one of the cities you are most likelty to get pickpocketed. The most touristy parts and the busiest parts are pickpocketers´meccas.
Pickpocketers are real sneaky ****s. You won´t know you´ve been pickpocketed until you need to go into your wallet. The rush hour is the worst. Morning and Night. They know that people are are at their most tired at these times and less vigilant. What´s more, they will have to cram onto a crowded Metro carriage like sarines. Pickpocketers love this as they can easily slip their hands into people´s front pockets.
After nicking your wallet, they will get what they want out of it and bin the rest. I was told that if I return to the station that the slimey thieves got off, I could at least retain my wallet. I got my wallet back OK without my J and J books loyalty card, my debit card and my Metro pass.
Despite the fact that the ticket office knew my Metro pass had been stolen, they still stung me for 55 Euros for another mothly pass.
So what can people do???
Being vigilant is never enough. These people are professionally trained to nick your contents.
1. Try and avoid the centre carriages of the Metro. They pack out the most.
2. Try a money belt and keep the thing under wraps. That said, pickpockets have been known to rob moneybelts.
3. The FCO website asks people to avoid places lie Lavapies, Sol and Atocha on busy days.
4. Carry a dud wallet with no money and a strong message.
5. Never speak English on the Metro and don´t hang around reading Lonely Planet guidebooks at station platforms.




You see, Oliver...
In this life, one thing counts In the bank, large amounts I'm afraid these don't grow on trees, You've got to pick-a-pocket or two You've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys, You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.

Large amounts don't grow on trees. You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
Let's show Oliver how it's done, shall we, my dears?
Why should we break our backs Stupidly paying tax? Better get some untaxed income Better to pick-a-pocket or two. You've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
Why should we all break our backs? Better pick-a-pocket or two.
Who says crime doesn't pay?
Robin Hood, what a crook!Gave away, what he took.Charity's fine, subscribe to mine.Get out and pick-a-pocket or twoYou've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
Robin Hood was far too goodHe had to pick-a-pocket or two.
Take a tip from Bill SikesHe can whip what he likes.I recall, he started smallHe had to pick-a-pocket or two.You've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
We can be like old Bill SikesIf we pick-a-pocket or two.
Stop thief!Dear old gent passing bySomething nice takes his eyeEverything's clear, attack the rearGet in and pick-a-pocket or two. You've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
Have no fear, attack the rearGet in and pick-a-pocket or two.
When I see someone rich, Both my thumbs start to itchOnly to find some peace of mindWe have to pick-a-pocket or two. You've got to pick-a-pocket or two, boys You've got to pick-a-pocket or two.
Just to find some peace of mind
We have to pick-a-pocket or two!