Stop by Home Style Saturday today for lots of fun inspiration!

The post Home Style Saturday 179 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 2/22/2020 | February 22nd, 2020

Teaching overseas is one of a great way to earn money while you travel, stay in one place longer, and get to deeply experience another culture. I spent years teaching in Thailand and Taiwan and they were some of the most impactful experiences of my traveling. Living in a foreign culture, trying to get by day to day, and learning to create a life for yourself is a surefire way to become a more confident you and give you a deeper understanding of yourself.

I get a lot of emails from people about teaching overseas and one of the most asked about destinations is Spain! While we’ve written about the destination before, I wanted to add in another perspective from someone who just did it last year.

Natasha is a local Austinite who graduated from school and moved to Spain for a year. Here she is explaining how she did it and how you can too!

Tell us about yourself!
Natasha: I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but my family moved to India when I was two months old. After a year, we moved to Australia, where I grew up until I was 9. Then we moved to Vancouver where I stayed until I was 15.

I consider myself to be from Australia, Canada, and the US in almost equal parts, and ethnically I am Indian and Pakistani. I double-majored in international relations and Latin American studies at UT-Austin.

In my free time, I make YouTube videos about travel and I am devoted to health and fitness. I also cook and practice yoga.

You recently spent some time teaching in Spain. Tell us how you got started doing that. Was it easy to figure out the process and find a job?
I studied abroad in Madrid in college. While I was there, I met some people who were English-language assistants and kept in touch with them after I returned home. I knew I wanted to take a gap year and travel after graduation, so I reached out to them and they told me about different programs I could apply for.

I looked into a few, but the government program “Auxiliares de Conversación” was free and had good reviews, so I chose to apply to that one. It allows foreigners to visit and work as teaching assistants. You’ll be paired with a teacher and help the students learn English.

The application is quite daunting. It required an essay, two letters of recommendation, a lot of legal paperwork, and other forms. The essay I wrote was about a page long, essentially a letter of intent explaining why I was interested in the program and the qualities that make me fit for the position.

The program also requires an official college transcript as well, but it accepts applicants from diverse educational backgrounds. so as long as you show keen interest, have good letters of recommendation, and have decent grades you should be fine!

I didn’t decide to join this program until the beginning of March, but I would suggest starting the process as soon as it is available in January. That will give you more time to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops. After receiving your acceptance, I suggest booking your visa appointment immediately, as these fill up fast!

Did you have any prior teaching experience? Is experience necessary?
I didn’t have any teaching experience, and the Auxiliar de Conversación program doesn’t require you to. As long as you have (or are completing) your bachelor’s degree and are a native English speaker, you are eligible.

What was an average day like?
You are only required to work 12-16 hours a week with this program, so a workday is typically about four hours. Since we’re English-language assistants, we are paired with an English teacher and don’t have to create a curriculum for the whole class.

On an average day as an auxiliar, the teacher I worked with would mostly have me walk around and assist students with the activities she had assigned them to do. Since I was an assistant and not the main teacher, my job mostly consisted of providing help like that.

The teacher for the younger grades would have me work one-on-one with students that were falling behind or had special needs, to give them more attention, but we usually worked on the same activities as the other students. For about 10-15 minutes of the class, I would sometimes give a presentation or play vocabulary games, such as Bingo or Hangman.

I was never required to teach an entire lesson, but I would occasionally have to manage small groups of students. This allowed them to participate more since they would not be as shy to speak English (and it’s easier to control a few students than a whole class).

Regarding the actual teaching, it was the easiest and smoothest part of my time in Spain. As long as you can keep the students interested and engaged you won’t have any issues.

Did you have any unexpected challenges?
Many! I lived about an hour’s walk from my school, which was inconvenient and isolating. It took me a while to figure out the bus system, so adapting to my location was the first challenge.

However, the biggest challenge I faced was having to come back to the US for a month, because I didn’t have a visa. I was informed that I didn’t need a visa prior to entering Spain, but upon arrival, I would need to get my NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and I would be set.

Well, when I arrived, I was the only applicant without a visa. I went to eight different foreign consulates, and no one knew if I had to leave Spain to get a visa. Ultimately I had to fly back to the US, score an almost-impossible-to-get appointment with the Spanish consulate, and get my visa. The bureaucratic system is slow and very tedious, so try to talk to former auxiliares if you can (there are lots of Facebook groups for this).

What is one thing you wish you knew before you started teaching?
I wish I knew that one person’s experience could be very different from the next. I had an amazing overall experience; however, parts of my life didn’t go as I expected.

I went in expecting to make great connections with my colleagues more than anyone else, but the environment at the school I worked at wasn’t very welcoming. A lot of teachers at my school didn’t live in the community (they commuted from pueblos as far as an hour away). This made it hard to form close friendships. Moreover, my school was comprised of teachers who were still completing their exams, so every year the teachers changed schools. That meant that the sense of community was not very strong.

Fortunately, I became friends with other auxiliares in my area and was welcomed warmly into their community. I became friends with teachers at other schools, took trips with them, and received lots of help with life in general in Spain.

What kind of salary can auxiliares expect?
Auxiliares earn a “scholarship” rather than a salary. I was paid 1,000 EUR/month ($1,100 USD) during my contract. I would say that one should expect around 700-1,000 EUR per month ($770-1,100 USD) (or about 15 EUR/hour ($16.50 USD). Auxiliares in Madrid received the same “scholarship” as I did, but the cost of living in that region is much higher.

If you are paid 700 EUR, you usually work 12 hours a week instead of 16, and you can definitely try and teach private English lessons to earn more.

What are your top three tips for someone interested in teaching in Spain?
1. Arrive with at enough to live off of for at least three months. I was fortunate to live in a city with decent prices for accommodation. I had two roommates and spent around 250 EUR/month ($275 USD) on rent. Groceries, rent, and transportation were my main expenses, around 650 EUR ($715 USD) for all of those (plus some miscellaneous things). This left me with just a bit of money to use for travel.

In the Valencia region, the government was three months late to start paying us and always late by at least a few days to a week after the first paycheck. Since it’s not a lot of money, you’ll want to have a lot of savings. That way, if you’re paid late, you will have enough money to get by.

2. Research where you want to work. I chose Madrid as my first choice and Andalucía as my second. I would have also liked to live in Barcelona, but that wasn’t an option. I applied late to the program and existing auxiliares have priority for where they are stationed. As a new applicant (and a late one), I was sent to Valencia.

When choosing regions, be aware that a region does not necessarily mean you will end up in the city it’s named for. By that I mean, the “Madrid” region does not only mean the city of Madrid but rather the entire region around the city. Regions are like states, and so you could end up living two hours (or more) from the capital of the region.

You should also take into account the language spoken in the region. Where I lived, people spoke Valenciano just as much (if not more) than Spanish, and school was conducted in valenciano (a dialect of Catalan). Luckily, Valenciano has similarities to Spanish.

However, if you’re placed in the Basque Country (northern Spain), they speak Euskara, which has no similarities to Spanish. So if your goal is to practice or learn Spanish, make sure you choose to live in a region that speaks it.

Weather is another aspect to consider. While in the summer it is warm almost everywhere, winters can be quite cold (more so in the north). If you’re not a fan of cold weather, consider living closer to the south and the sea.

There are auxiliar Facebook groups and blogs that have plenty of information and anecdotes about different regions, which can help you make your decision.

3. Learn some Spanish. Understand that you could be placed in a pueblo very far from a big city, so brush up on your Spanish a little. It isn’t mandatory to teach English, but it will really come in handy if you’re in a smaller location and want to connect more with the locals (and your colleagues).
 

Want to Learn More About Teaching Abroad?

Here are some helpful posts about teaching English overseas to help you learn more:

• The 9 Best Places to Teach English Overseas
• Can You Teach English Without a TEFL?
• How Emily Taught English to Fund her RTW Adventure
• How Oneika Gets Teaching Jobs Around the World

For more teaching tips and advice you can follow Natasha on Instagram and YouTube.

P.S. – Want to meet other travelers in real life? This year we launched The Nomadic Network, a platform created to help travelers connect, learn, and get inspired in real life! Here are our upcoming events if you want to take part: Seattle (2/17), Austin (2/18), Fort Lauderdale (2/19), Portland (2/19), San Francisco (2/20), Los Angeles (2/23), Detroit (2/24), Boston (2/24), Dublin (2/24), San Diego (2/24), London (2/25), Chicago (2/25), and NYC (3/10).

Ready to Teach Overseas? Get My Comprehensive Guide

This digital guide will put you ahead of your competition, help you land a high-paying job with a reputable company, and give you first-hand knowledge from real teachers! Get started today with this downloadable PDF (for your computer, e-reader, or mobile device) with the book PLUS 12 interviews about life as a teacher, plus job advice from one of the industry’s top recruiters!

The post How to Find a Job Teaching in Spain appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Happy Friday! We are wrapping up the week and still working on the bathroom. Poor Mark has a case of shingles and we had no idea until it was well along. Who knew that shingles can mimic sciatica, that’s what he thought he was dealing with. He’s been on meds this week, so hopefully will be on the mend soon, but the bathroom is taking a backseat now. 

I’m headed out of town to a small travel conference in Thomasville, GA, so I’ll share a lot of that when I return. Also, I’m starting to run out of new shares for Feature Friday so for now I’m going to reshare some oldies but goodies from the past. Enjoy! 

I loved this article from Traditional Home, highlighting a newly built home in Atlanta.  This Atlanta interior designer worked with her architect to produce a beautiful new home, that looks old.  She wanted the house to appear as if it has been here forever and used architectural items in the house to achieve the look.

The post Feature Friday: Designer Decorating with What You Love appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 02/20/2020 | February 20th, 2020

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she explores the double standards that come with solo female travel.

I rushed to the gate at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As the agent checked my passport, he looked around me and, perplexed, asked if I was alone.

I’d just finished up four months of solo traveling up from South Africa, one of the best and most enriching solo trips of my life, and replied that yes, I was alone.

“Your husband lets you do that?” he asked incredulously.

I get it. In Tanzania, it’s unthinkable for a woman, especially in her late twenties like I was, to travel alone. I gently let him know that nobody “lets” me do anything, and that I’m unmarried.

While I take pleasure in shifting paradigms when possible, I still wonder what it would be like if I were a man. How would I be perceived when I solo travel or write about it? How would people treat me differently?

1. They wouldn’t ask me whether or not my husband “lets me” travel alone.

From Tanzania to the Philippines, I’ve been asked where my boyfriend or husband is. I bet almost nobody would ask me if my girlfriend lets me travel alone if I were a man.

I wouldn’t have to question whether or not I should lie about being single. I wouldn’t debate wearing a decoy wedding band. My safety wouldn’t be tied up in my singleness.

2. They wouldn’t question whether a boyfriend or daddy pays for my trips.

Is it so strange to believe that a woman can fund her own lifestyle? Why is there such a pervasive myth that women who travel solo are being bankrolled by someone?

When I travel, I pay for it, and when I travel with my partner, we split it 50/50.

I bet I wouldn’t have to state that if I were a man, though.

3. People might ask when I’m planning to settle down, but they wouldn’t do it with such frequency and entitlement to the answer

Maybe settling down with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog named Spike used to be the norm, but we have more mobility these days, and the internet, and too many people anyway. So why is it so darn important to people that I eventually settle down?

I think in a way it’s saying, “Hey, this was the only option I gave myself, and now you have to follow suit.” For those who conform to expectations, it’s uncomfortable when others deviate from the norm, especially women.

But I’m not worried about it. If and when I choose, I’ll do it, and if I don’t, that’s OK too. I’m approaching this more like a man, OK?

Also, get out of my ovaries.

4. I’d be called adventurous and an explorer rather than irresponsible and stupid.

If I traveled solo as a man, even if something unfortunate happened to me, I’d be called an explorer and lover of life.

Yet as a woman, I’ve been called stupid, warned I’d be “found dead and cannibalized,” and accused of leading other women to their death (just look at the comments on this video, the worst of which I actually deleted).

5. I wouldn’t be warned I’d “get raped” if I traveled alone.

If I were a man, I’d only have a 6.6% chance of being told I’d “get raped” if I travel alone, versus nearly 70% as a woman.

This is problematic on so many levels, it deserves its own post.

6. I’d be able to wear what I want.

In some places, I can’t wear what I want. I understand that modesty is built into the culture in many places around the world, and I respect it and assimilate when in those countries.

But that doesn’t mean I have to pretend that I enjoy wearing long sleeves and pants in 90-degree weather with 90% humidity while the boys get to wear shorts and tank tops.

7. I wouldn’t have had to wonder what the hell to do when cornered in an elevator in Santiago by two big men, saying salacious things to me in Spanish.

When I traveled through Patagonia with a male friend, nobody harassed me, assuming I wasn’t available. Yet when we parted ways so that I could solo travel — something that was important to me to do — the catcalls started pouring in.

Sadly, I’ve been catcalled in almost every country that I’ve been to, even the ones you’d least expect (yet not at all in southern and eastern Africa — points for Africa!). It ranges from “ciao bella” to being chased down the sidewalk.

It is not a compliment, it’s an assertion of power, and it’s exhausting.

In Santiago, it crossed the line into terrifying when two huge guys got into an elevator with me, hovered over me, and harassed me. It was the perfect place, because who could help me in there?

Would that have happened to a man?

(On the positive side, if I were a man, locals might not be as concerned with taking care of me as many are. People might also not trust me outright the way they do. Right or wrong, women tend to be perceived as more peaceful and gentle and in need of protection.)

8. Nobody would have assaulted me in public in Nepal.

In Pokhara, Nepal, after a random power cut, the sun was setting and I realized I needed water to drink to get through the evening. Though I prefer not to walk alone when it gets dark, I had to do so in that instance.

I heard myself scream before realizing that a local male had grabbed my breast. I whirled around and saw nothing but the back of his head as he ran away like the coward he is.

Everyone nearby just pretended like they hadn’t seen anything, of course.

9. But maybe the police would have taken me more seriously.

I wonder, if I’d been a man demanding the police take notice, would they have listened to me? Would the officer still have rolled his eyes and acted like I was ruining his night by demanding an escort back to my guesthouse?

I can only wonder if it would have been different.

10. Insulting my ass would not be the topic of discussion on a post about road trips.

When women share about something like travel on social media, why is body shaming still a thing?

Why, on a post about road trips of all things, does someone feel the need to inform me that my ass is flat? Does that happen to guys too? I think not.

11. I wouldn’t have had an internet stalker demand a naked selfie from me for months on all of my social platforms.

If being a solo female traveler is tough at times, try writing about it. Have any of my male peers ever been harassed for months on end, on every platform, by a stalker demanding a naked selfie?

Unfortunately, women are targeted online way more than men. According to the BBC, one in three teenage girls have been sexually harassed online.

Why can’t we just share our travel pictures in peace?

12. I wouldn’t get a flood of comments from fragile males on posts like this.

It always happens, but I’m curious: Why should any egalitarian male, who has the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective, ever take this personally? Why does pointing out issues in our society automatically equate to blaming men?

Louder, for the ones in the back: it doesn’t.

***

Obviously, there are drawbacks for male solo travelers too — and benefits that only women who travel solo get to enjoy. There can be an implied trust factor between women that transcends cultures, and time and time again, people have been generous towards me in ways that I didn’t expect.

In the end, I still love and champion solo female travel and believe that every woman should do it. I’m just sick of all the double standards and think it’s high time to call them out.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over eight years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

The post Let’s Talk About the Double Standard in Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Hopes for a second Cheltenham Gold Cup win and a stab at the Grand National for Native River have been dashed after it was announced this morning (19 February) that the popular Colin Tizzard-trained gelding has picked up an injury.

The 2018 Gold Cup hero was a 10/1 chance in this year’s Festival renewal, which takes place on Friday, 13 March, but the 10-year-old will now be out for the rest of the 2019/20 season after he sustained “a little tear” in at the back of his knee.

Colin’s son and assistant trainer Joe Tizzard described it as “really disappointing” but “not a major injury” and said the team is hopeful the horse will be back in action next season.

The extent of Native River’s injury was revealed in a scan by vets after he showed some soreness during his work yesterday.

His regular jockey Richard Johnson, who has been on the sidelines while nursing a broken arm, said on social media: “Gutted to hear that Native River is out for the rest of the season. But he’s in good hands and hopefully back for more again next season.”

Continues below…

Day four at the Cheltenham Festival: Native River is the Gold Cup hero, lady jockeys on form and outsiders triumph

Check out all the action from the final day of the Cheltenham Festival (Friday, 16 March)

Tendon injuries *H&H Plus*

Horse & Hound shares the latest advice on treating tendon injuries, which can potentially end a horse’s athletic career

Horse & Hound special Valentine’s offer: save 35% plus extra 5%

Take advantage of our sale on Horse & Hound magazine subscriptions today

Up-and-coming rider Jonjo O’Neill Jnr deputised for the champion jockey aboard Native River on his last run, in the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury on 8 February. The pair went off as favourite and were victorious by 2 3/4 lengths, beating the Paul Nicholls-trained Secret Investor.

The chestnut son of Indian River has won 13 races from 26 runs under Rules, which included triumphs in the 2016 Hennessy Gold Cup and the Welsh National in the same year.

Don’t miss our Cheltenham Festival preview (5 March issue) and report (19 March issue) in Horse & Hound magazine.

Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free

Today’s post is way different than my normal fashion over 50/60 post, but I thought I’d share what I did recently as a treatment on my face. Now mind you, I’m no expert on any of these sorts of treatments. I have had a handful of facials in my life and don’t consider myself a real spa girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting pampered, but honestly the cost of pampering is not inexpensive so it’s been few and far between in my world for the most part.

As I’ve gotten older I have started looking at my face in particular to see what I might be able to do to slow things down and to treat myself to a little bit of anti-aging on my face besides just anti-aging skin care routines. I haven’t been really unhappy with the aging process on myself all that much. It’s part of life and we all have to deal with. I think we as women are so accustomed to looking a certain way and our faces are a huge part of our natural external beauty and how we feel about ourselves. Am I right? I have tried to take care of my face and skin and have used a lot of different skin care lines over the years. I have not stuck to anyone in particular, but right now I’m using some Neutrogena products with hyaluronic acid.

The post Beauty over 50: IPL Treatment appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Spring in Asheville, N.C. in 2020 is peak exploration time! Dive into Asheville culure with creative local tours that offer experiences from classic to unexpected, from guided to DIY. These tours will take you to nearly every corner – and touch on most any facet – of this vibrant Blue Ridge Mountain city.

Why visit Asheville in the spring? Sitting along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounded by 1 million acres of protected wilderness, Asheville’s backyard has the highest mountain peaks east of the Mississippi. In these storied mountains

It was Fernando Farrier day!   (Sorry that I missed Monday… I had to work on Sunday and it was sooooo crazy busy, I was exhausted and just wanted to go to sleep.  So, I did.)

HERE WE GO!

Wrigley. As long as he has hay, he is a good boy.

BG, always tries to be as polite as possible. But, with her splaying in the mud last year, her back end is still a bit tender. And, now her Spring allergies are back. With all that, she was still a good girl.

Finn was perfect. He is always perfect.  (Can you believe how big that tree is in front of him?!  I only planted that coming upon 2 years ago! Black Diamond Vermicompost is THE BEST.)

Gwen. She is older so one hip hurts a bit, but she was good. I had just braided her hair…

Missy Miss was surprisingly calm and quiet. Usually, she fusses for the first foot. Not today. She was an angel.  It is Amazing how well her feet have healed since she first came here.  She’s got mustang platters now. )

On the other hand, Dalton was not a patient boy today. So, I didn’t get any photos as I was keeping him steady. Dalton was upset because he knew it was his turn to be in the big field and he wanted to get there. As soon as we were done, I turned him out and he ran to the furthest corner. Dalton LOVES being in the big field.

Dodger. 40 years old and doing well. I give him green grass as often as is healthy for him, and it really perks up the old boy. He loves to eat near the paddocks. He thinks he likes to go into the big field, but it intimidates him once he is there… so in front of the paddocks is his favorite, safe, grazing area.

Norma always waits her turn. She comes up and stands there quietly. Mostly, she supports Dodger. Or she just wants to get it over with; I’m not sure. She is Such a perfect donk.

February Bucket Fund: WE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR THIS ONE WILD HORSE!  She looked fine this summer… but now CALLIE, a lead WILD mare, IS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. Her Wild Horse mentors think it is her teeth. LET’S HELP THIS BEAUTIFUL MARE get back on her feet so she can RETURN to her Virginia Range family to continue to guide them!

All donations are 100% tax deductible!  THANK YOU.  To Donate, click here!

The post PICTURE DAY! appeared first on Horse and Man.

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We are on the home stretch of finishing up the bathroom soon. Can’t wait to get this thing finished. Week 5 is this week and we are so ready to get back to normal in there and the entire upstairs which has been disrupted. 

Today I’m sharing more inspiration from my friends to I hope you enjoy this Style Showcase and go by and visit them all. 

The post Style Showcase 17 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

I’m sharing two posts today, so please visit both of them!

I’ve been longing for spring the past month and doing a bathroom renovation hasn’t helped that at all. The house is feeling a mess, with the dust and chaos going on. When a project happens it definitely affects the whole house. Today I’m joining a great group of ladies and we are sharing some early Spring inspiration for you. Spring decor ideas are fun this time of year!

I have to say I felt an immediate lift just bringing these gorgeous flowers in the house. Simple grocery store flowers can elevate the mood, can’t they?

The post Early Spring Foyer Table appeared first on Southern Hospitality.