Sometimes the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top...

For the past few months I have been here in Spain looking for a job.
I'm trying to work in the restaurant sector in preparation for my
cafe. It's been difficult going, and I gave myself until the beginning
of January before starting to look at my other options.
Enter other options.
A couple of weeks ago a Bahá'í in my community asked me to give her
English classes. I told her that I am not an English teacher and have
absolutely no experience teaching English. She said that she didn't
care and she wanted the classes anyway. She wants to learn English,
and she also wants to be able to read the Bahá'í Writings in English.
Now this is a tall order, considering sometimes the Writings are tough
reading for native English speakers. Anyway she talked me into it,
mostly with the naming of a price that she was willing to pay me if I
gave it a try, and so I did. Two lessons later, we're both happy with
the start we've made, and she wants to refer me to other people to
teach English. However, each class is a lot of work for me, in terms
of preparation, and I realise that I have a lot to learn about English
grammar... "because it sounds right" hardly works as an explanation
for why something is said this way and not that. A couple of months
ago, I had called around to a few places that were advirtising for a
native English speaker to teach English. The pay was good, the hours
were good, but when I called they wouldn't give me the time of day
because I had no certification. So last week I filled out an
application form for the CELTA course at International House in
Barcelona. They called me for an interview and have since sent me an
invitation to join the course starting February 21.
So here goes. After an intensive month of training I'll be qualified
to teach English as a Foreign Language. I chose a certification that
is internationally recognised. There are a lot of them that are only
valid if you work for a certain company or chain of language schools,
and a couple that are universally recognised.
It's kinda weird though. I had considered the idea of getting this
qualification before I came to Spain, as an option. I was going to do
one of the online courses, until I found out that that isn't enough to
qualify you as an English teacher. For months I've been battling with
this because it feels a little like I failed to do what I wanted to do
and this is plan B. However, I realise that it's more of a failure to
be here unemployed, and here is something that I can do and be good
at, and there are a lot of opportunities in Bilbao and all over Spain
for that matter.
I have fallen in love with Bilbao. I really want to stay here. I love
the city and the energy of it. I've been getting more and more invlved
in the Bahá'í community here and I feel like I can do something, I've
started a couple of study circles and I really want to see them
through. Also Sheida wants to become a tutor and wants to take
advantage of the fact that I'm here and available, and can do the
sequence of courses with her. For me, it's a big help because I can do
them in Spanish and she can help me, so we're really learning
together.
Next week I'm going to go and visit the language schools here and see
if I can secure a job before I go, or at least make an inroads.
The pre-course task is about 20 hours of work and it looks tough. It
gives me some indication of what the course itself will be like. The
lady who interviewed me, Vicky, explained that the vast majority of
the students pass because their entry requirements are pretty
exacting. That way, they can be sure that the people who are doing the
course are capable of doing well.
Anyway, the reason for the title of this blog entry is because the
first day I went to Carmen's house to give her her English class, I
was told that she lived on the 6th floor. I got in the elevator, and
pressed 5, which was as high as it went. I thought that maybe it was
the 6th floor if you count the ground floor as 1, or something like
that. So I get off the elevator and there are 3 doors. Now I know she
is supposed to be at 6th floor derecha, so I look at the door on the
left (which is on the right as you come up the stairs, which I've
figured out, is the way they do it) and it says 5 derecha. So then I'm
thinking, hmmmmmm I took the elevator to the top, but here I am on the
5th floor.... I head for the stairwell, and sure enough there's
another flight up! I go up, and there it is 6th right.... The elevator
didn't go all the way to the top! I thought that was just an
expression! Of course it's no reflection on Carmen or anyone who lives
on the 6th floor... it's the penthouse....