Paid At Last!

Last year in Extremadura, we didn't get paid until around Thanksgiving and it was a really trying time. But I had money from America and private lessons to get me through November. This year for whatever reason I couldn't find any private lessons. None of the teachers at my school seem to want them, and nobody responded to any of the flier I put up around town. 

Luckily I didn't have to wait until Thanksgiving this year. My school cut me a check on the Thursday before Halloween weekend, which was nice. I went straight to the bank to deposit it. BIG MISTAKE. The teller asked me if I wanted to cash it, or deposit it. I said deposit it. Surely I didn't want to be walking around with 700 euros in my pocket. After she was done running the check through... whatever that machine is that moves the check around, I asked her for some money to have for the weekend. She told me I had to wait three business days. My heart sank as I counted the days in my head. Friday, Monday, then Tuesday was a holiday, Wednesday. I'd have to wait practically a week to be able to use my paycheck! I'd have to go a long Halloween weekend without any money. WTF! 

So next time I get a paycheck, I'm going to cash it at the bank written on the check... then quickly run outta there like a bandit.

One of the first things I bought with my new-found riches was a plane ticket to Barcelona. But first I had to do some ninja moves to get around Ryanair's ridiculous €12 "administrative fee". I used my Google-Fu to find a bank that issues a pre-paid Mastercard, the only card you can use to get around the fee. Turns out La Caixa can give you one for free, and without even opening an account there. I went in, stood in line for a while, and got myself a card. €12 saved! Total flight cost roundtrip from Jerez to Barcelona? €24!!! I might have to go there every weekend!


My flight lands 5 minutes before the opening kickoff of a Barcelona FC soccer game (vs. Zaragoza), which breaks my heart because I totally would buy a ticket if it was just an hour later. As it stands, I might try to just go to the stadium and see if someone will let me use their ticket to get in at the end of the game if it's a rout.


I'm also looking forward to some of the other amazing things that Barcelona has to offer. the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, etc. Really I just can't wait to leave Jerez for a while too. I haven't left the city since mid-September if you can believe that. Jerez is really nice, and there are lots of people to hang out with and things to do, but sometimes I just gotta get away...

Last weekend I went out with my roommate and a couple of her friends. It was the first time we really hung out outside of the apartment. First we went to this place right by our apartment that has flamenco on Saturdays. I really liked it and I'll definitely be back there. The guy who played the box (he really was just banging on a box) was a friend of my roommate, so that was cool to meet a real flamenco artist. 

I'm starting to really love sherry. A nice cold glass of Tio Pepe fino hits the spot!