Why is it that my top 3 most popular posts on this blog are the ones that are the most controversial? Are you guys trying to tell me that you like my biting sarcasm and wit and when I get sassy and borderline inappropriate? Or maybe is it because you like reading something painfully honest, wait…..EVERYBODY HALT! OMG a blog being CANDID AND NEGATIVE?!?! Shocking.
ALL of us bloggers (with the exception of Will Peach) are guilty of creating a fantasy travel bubble filled with rainbows and unicorns, where our lives are literally picture perfect; where we journey around the world without a care in the world and if anything does go wrong, it ends up as a cutesy-comical-learned-my-lesson anecdote on our blog, if mentioned at all. Hey, I’m equally guilty of this. I want my blog to be a happy place, where I share the best experiences I’ve had traveling and show others how to achieve the same.
But there are three things I can’t tolerate in life: unfairness, bullshit, and mayonnaise (nothing ruins a burger or sandwich like that nasty white stuff in a jar). And if something has been nagging me for years, I’ve gotta stand up and say something! Maybe I am just on a high from the success of a recent article I wrote about how Kaplan Killed the Hopes and Dreams of 42 Bloggers. Maybe I’m just bitter and hormonal from my breakup with Spain. Either way I am about to break it down for you.
I have been living in Spain for the past two years with the English teaching assistant program through the Spanish Ministry of Education (auxiliares de conversación), and you know what? IT EFFING SUCKED! Not the living in Spain bit, that was awesome, rather the program itself.
I literally have hundreds of emails, messages, tweets and comments asking me questions about working in Spain as an auxiliar, whether about visas, apartments, taxes, money or even if they should apply or not, I hear it all. And I almost always give the same answer, “yeah this program is great. I love living in Spain. Bulls. Flamenco. Paella. Sangria. Yada yada yada.” But here it is, my REAL, uncensored, unedited thoughts about coming to Spain with the auxiliar program.
AND I am going to break the cardinal blogging rule here and put HATE in the title of this post. I’ll put in all-caps for good measure. Maybe I’ll lose a few readers. I’ll probably get enough hate mail to make me want to off myself by tomorrow (seriously, you anon readers can be wicked harsh!) but I feel honor bound to share how I really feel about this program on my blog, especially since such a large part of my audience are past-present-future auxiliars. Someone needs to say it. Might as well be me. And according to my stats, this is the kind of stuff you like to read. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Just remember guys, I’m not a hater, really I’m not! If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting me, I am bubbly, blonde and happy. Just indulge me this one time on my tirade.
Here are My Top 5 Reasons Why I HATE the Auxiliar Program in Spain (you know, top 5, because I can think of more than 5)
1. It’s a disorganized clusterfuck
To put it mildly. In fact all the things I hate about this program are so disorganized in my head from all my problems dealing with the disorganization with the Ministry, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll elaborate in bullet points:
- The application process. Who actually understands it? 3 years down the road and I don’t! Don’t even get me started about renewing. What if you’re switching regions? What if you are renewing for a third year and switching regions? Where do we send the documents? Wouldn’t it be nice if we had all of these answers available to us on the application page? The only information we get from the Ministry are monthly newsletters in comic sans font sent every three months to half of the mailing list that don’t say anything valuable and look like they were designed by my 11 year old sister. Why are all the regions in Spain listed on the application when the program has been cut from several of them? Oh that FBI report you had to get for your application? Yeah, you have to get a whole new one for your visa because they expire and we didn’t tell you! Do we have orientation? Who gets to go? Where is it? When is it? Also, everyone is assigned a number upon submitting an application, first time renewals get placed first, then first year applications and third year renewals. Except the Ministry doesn’t always follow those rules and places people willy nilly. I can go on and on
- Hey remember that one time thousands of people didn’t get paid for 3 months? Oh wait, that’s every year!
- It is not unusual for ministry officials to give out conflicting information about everything, if you can get a hold of them at all. In fact, many of the schools aren’t informed about what your role as an assistant is, leaving you open to all mannars of interpretation. You could spend your year sitting at a desk in the back playing solitaire or you could be left alone in the room with 25 screaming 3 year olds. Hopefully you end up somewhere in the middle.
- Pretty much the people who run this program don’t know what they are doing, so don’t expect clear answers. Inconsistent information is the name of the game with the auxiliar program in Spain. Get used to it.
- Have you read my post about how I spent over 4 months being jerked around by the guys who run this program in Madrid and why I ultimately left Spain?
The upside? You get a visa to live in Spain, which is nigh on impossible to get any other way as an American.
2. A total hit or miss
Your experience as an auxiliar can be a total hit-or-miss and you might not have any control over it. From my own observations, it seems applicant’s names, regional preferences, city and school type are all thrown in a giant jar, swirled around and plucked right back out. i.e., it makes no sense.
You could end up working at an amazing concertada (semi-private) modern school right in the city center with amazing goal-oriented teachers and well-behaved students. Or you might end up in a village of 5,000 people, in rural back country Spain where your students don’t know the difference between England and America, the English teacher doesn’t speak any English and you have to commute an hour to work every day. The range of possible situations you could end up with is HUGE and they will either positively or negatively impact your year, depending on how flexible and open minded you are.
For example, this year I had an amazing schedule. I worked Monday through Thursday, 9am to noon at 2 schools in the center of Logroño. I had to take a 10 minute bus ride to get to work every day. Totally feasible. I had other friends who were placed at schools in villages over an hour away, that they not only had to commute to, they had to pay the teachers to let them ride with them to and from work, over 100 euros extra a month, and they were given schedules with huge breaks in them so they were stuck in their villages for hours without classes.
I think my year would have gone a bit differently under those circumstances. My schools were generally flexible with my schedule if I wanted to travel, I could make up hours. Other schools don’t let the auxiliars miss any days or hours and some even give them schedules where you would have to work Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri. Complete hit or miss, you have no control over.
I’ve worked with 2 teachers who really wanted to take advantage of having a native speaker in the classroom to help the kids. They understood what a unique opportunity it was to have an American there helping the kids learn English. The other 10 teachers I’ve worked with ranged from they really didn’t give a damn to they wanted to use me so they could get out of doing their job.
Be warned, some teachers will take advantage of you in the classroom. Know your role. We are assistants, not the teachers. We provide supporting material and help, but we don’t plan the lessons. We’re not supposed to be alone with students. I’ve had friends who were forced to do everything, spend hours at home planning lessons and even forced to work more hours or face having a “horrible” schedule or be complained about. I had huge problems with this my first year and getting taken advantage of in the schools. Don’t let it happen to you.
You could get paid on time every month since you start. You could go months without being paid. Unless you are a trust fund baby, I expect that would make a BIG difference in how your year goes.
The upside? You could have the best year of your life! I am a true believer that experiences are what you make of them, so even if things don’t go exactly how you’d for them to, try to focus on the positive! You get to live in Spain!
Me and the lovely Liz of Liz en España and now A Midwestern Life
3. The funcionarios who work for the Ministry
Is it just me or is everyone who works for this program (from the Spanish consulates in the US to the regional coordinators to the directors in Madrid) a certified straight up d-bag?
Of all the people I’ve dealt with over the years with this program, I’ve known one, ONE nice, helpful person! And they fired her after a year!
In case you didn’t know, funcionarios are government employees in Spain, and they basically make a lot of money and can never be fired, simply put. Here is a video that explains them to a T. Ok, sweeping generalization but that’s how I feel about these guys, along with many Spaniards.
Not only do they generally have no idea what’s going on, they are also rude and unhelpful in general. I can talk to them for hours on the phone or in person and leave the conversation not knowing anything more than I did when I started! And on top of that they make you feel bad about it! I have even had them intentionally hang up on me when I was demanding to know when we would get paid in La Rioja last year, sparking my most popular post. I would go into a meeting with the program director’s to ask when we would get paid, and I would leave feeling like everything was my fault for not being ok with not being paid! WTF?!
“Normally we use Christians but in times of crisis, substituting funcionarios has been very successful.” Source
They are probably so unhelpful because they aren’t informed themselves. But last time I checked in the real world in a professional job, when you don’t know something, you say, “you know what? I am not sure. Let me check and get back to you” instead of “this is so-and-so’s responsibility, go ask them” that is, if you can get a hold of anyone at all.
I have scheduled meetings with coordinators and they have shown up an hour late, most of the time they don’t answer my emails or phone calls. In fact, the only time they call me back is when I threaten to go to the US embassy or I call them directly out on not doing their job. Then I get a phone call from some official all fussy and upset by my insinuations.
For example, my first year in Córdoba, we weren’t even provided with the contact information for the regional or city coordinator. If we had a problem, we didn’t have anyone to talk to except with our schools.
If I had a euro for every time I got a runaround answer from a ministry official in Spain, I would be as rich as Iker Casillas.
The upside? You learn to take things into your own hands, I guess. Honestly, I can’t really think of an upside to this unless you miraculously end up working with amazing coordinators and directors. We’ll go back to the you get to live in Spain thing. Big upside.
4. The Visa Nightmare
I call it a nightmare because every time I had to think about my experiences with the visa and NIE, I want to die. The entire paperwork process from applying for the visa, applying for a NIE, renewing your NIE, and the details of living in Spain with a student NIE could not be more stressful and complicated!
I understand that this process is not really within control of the Ministry of Education, but at the same time, it is a government sponsored program, and one of the guarantees is a NIE. I think the Ministry needs to do two things:
- Provide a better guideline for auxiliars about how and when to apply for the visa and the NIE and how to renew it. Really, it cannot be that hard to put something together. In fact, it would be great if that was what they talked about at orientation instead of 2 hours of how the Spanish education system works in rapid-fire Spanish that I am sure half of the first years do not understand. Shouldn’t the English bilingual coordinators speak English?
- Coordinate with the local extranjerías about the auxiliar program. They need to understand this program, what dates should be given on the NIE’s, renewals, ect. It is not that hard to go meet with them and explain so that everyone is on the same page. This would avoid so many nightmares
This all goes back to the disorganization and hit or miss. For example, some people are given papers that expire exactly one year after they submit the paperwork, so September or October of the following year. Some people are given cards that expire exactly on May 31. The rest, somewhere in the middle. It makes absolutely no sense. You could end up completely screwed like with what happened to me. If I was given the correct papers with the correct dates, I could still be in Spain right now.
It gets even more complicated when you try to renew your papers, and if you try to switch regions. Some regions will let you renew no problem. Others make you go back to America and get a whole new visa. Hit or miss. Some regions even let you submit the paperwork in the fall to renew and then told you a month later you needed to buy a last minute flight to America and get a whole other visa. It’s actually ridiculous. Try buying a $1000 flight home when you haven’t even been paid!
Sometimes it takes so long for the offices to process your paperwork you can go the whole year without getting a NIE! Or they give you appointments after your visa has expired.
The upside? You (hopefully) get papers to live in Spain! It’s almost impossible to get a visa otherwise as an American. That is if you can survive the deathly obstacles thrown at you
5. Kept blind and in the dark
I think singlehandledly the thing I hated most about the program besides the disorganization is the fact that the Ministry did a terrible job of informing us of ANYTHING!
It’s one thing to be disorganized but at least tell us what’s going on. Here are the 3 main things the Ministry should keep in contact with the auxiliars about
- If there are going to be delays with payments, tell us! It’s not that hard. We shouldn’t have to complain and whine about it to the newspapers and American embassies into shaming the Ministry into paying us, or at least saying when we’ll be paid. Last year they weren’t planning to even tell us in La Rioja about the delays until dozens of us called and emailed and demanded to know what was going on.
- When the government cuts hundreds of auxiliar positions and even whole regions, it is their duty to tell us! You shouldn’t have to find out everything on facebook or through me. In fact, I think the government should be contracting me since I have been doing half of their work for them for YEARS!
- They should explain clearly what our job is, what it entails, our benefits, our rights, ect.
This lack of Ministry information directly leads to mass hysteria on the dozens of facebook groups and expat forums about this program. When I mentioned that to a director in Madrid he yelled (literally yelled) at me about how we shouldn’t listen to these things on Facebook. I kindly replied that it’s the only way we learn anything or know what’s going on, which led to awkward silence…
The upside? You learn to be patient or you just lose your marbles
The point of this post is not to whine and moan about the auxiliar program in Spain. It is to share an actual and honest opinion of a program that has been glamorized far too often. People have been asking me for years about what I really think about it, and I feel it’s high time for an honest answer. Negative hate and all.
Are you an auxiliar in Spain? What was your experience like with the program? Have or heard any horror stories? What did you hate the most about it?
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THANK YOU!!!
Oh yeah. That was a typo. I meant wrong way. Yes I think 2 and 4 dont really have much to do with the ministry but rather the person and or who is in the visa office at the time you go.
I too thought I would continue to get paid (by my school). So I say to myself, whoops! should have saved my money. If you read it on the forums and for second years if it happened before it maybe a good idea to plan for it just in case. Furthermore in the manual (subtly) and in orientation they practically tell you it will be a while before you receive payment.
And as for class experience. Yes, that’s true. As I said before it may work or “maybe not” but its just like with student teaching. A teacher could let you get involved or not. I will acknowledge that the M of Edu must accept a lot of responsibility for this. But even if they informed the teachers who is to say that all of them would follow a manual?
And maybe I am unintentionally pushing my own belief of tolerance and open-mindedness. This wasn’t my intention. But I simply feel that living in another country, amongst another culture takes a large measure of tolerance and open-mindedness; and yes it’s frustrating but I think when one becomes so critical people can sense the disdain and it can make the experience worse and people less willing to help. If a foreigner had written this about a program in America (and I not even a little ni un rato patriotic) I would think why not go home then (but I guess thats what you did). I don’t agree with a lot of the things that have happened to you and other auxiliars; but I also feel like we have to take some responsibility and that as long as I am here in Spain I have to look at everything openly (not necessarily 3 month wait on pay) but points 2 and 4. Something can be learned for everything.
But whatever I think you’re right agree to disagree. I think its starting to become similar to a are Catalans Spanish or not fight. Lol.
I don’t know. I feel like the post has some constructive criticism of the program and that that maybe was its aim, but because of its list format and title seems bitter and has rubbed may readers the right way. I’ve definitely had those I hate Spain, I hate the auxiliar program moments (maybe once a week during a good week). But hey you’ve got the blog, not me! I think its important to remember that the program gave you a gateway to Spain and to all of the good experiences that you also write and blog about. Given that you came back a second year it seems you were willing to put up with its faults for the opportunity to live abroad. And had you been excepted before you arrived home, I assume you probably would have stayed. For that reason it seems that the post is prompted partly by your unhappiness with how it worked out; your not being able to stay for a third year.
It isn’t wrong to state the reasons why you are unhappy with the program especially not on your own blog. But how you have responded to some of the readers for me personally, is a little upsetting. You preface your article with the statement that you know you will get a lot of flack for writing this article. So you expect it. But they when your readers write either constructive (or ignorant) replies that question or are simply in opposition to your own you become extremely sensitive and curt (I notice the fellow bloggers aren’t castigated as strongly though). I think maybe you should take all of these replies with a grain of salt. It seems you are taking them as attacks against your person instead of civil disagreements.
Spain is a hassle. I think everyone will agree it seems everyone loves bureaucracy and there can be a lack of responsability and accountability among some workers. However, from reading this post it seems (seems not necessarily true) that you are unwilling to take the responsability for some your own unhappiness while in Spain.
Commute: Its the same thing for teachers here. Did you know that (I cant speak for all of Spain but at least in Andalucia) teachers don’t even get to pick their schools? They too are assigned and can only move once theyve accumulated a certain amount of points (by years of teaching, projects, etc). So imagine how they feel when teaching maybe their only option in a crippling economy. Furthermore, commuting is the same as in the states. This issue isnt endemic to Spain. If you live get a job in a rural town in the states and you dont want to live there you commute. Done. You didn’t want to live in a town of 3000 (NO ONE NO ONE can blame you. Lol) so you live in the city. It was a choice. Commute or live in a ghost town. Hard choice; but it was yours nonetheless.
Pt.1 – You’re right their aren’t always clear answers
Pt. 2 – It’s not luck. It’s not destiny. It’s attitude. Yup you could end up with a horrible schedule. You don’t have to stay in a class with 30 undisciplined kids. You’ll get complained on? What are we 5? Complain first. Forced to work more hours? Impossible you’re an adult. Walk out get a cafe. Of course you may not have a job later but hey you can’t be forced.
IDK these are all observations. But it seems you had a lot of major problems with the program and with your school. I wont suggest they were all you. I feel like in Spain blame gets pushed around that way sometimes. Its enough to drive anyone nuts. But I also feel like the post and subsequent comments conveys a lack of open-mindedness, a lot of stereotyping and at times a condescending ethnocentric approach – whether intended or not. This isn’t written with malice just an addition to a lively discussion that you prompted.
THANK YOU. Best post in this whole post.
Hi NG thanks for your comment.
The title was for SEO purposes, and I think I have rubbed readers the right way, the majority of the feedback I’ve gotten has been very positive and constructive.
Thank you for reminding me that the program gave me a gateway to Spain, I did occasionally mention that in the upsides section of this post, not to mention I have an entire blog with over 200 articles dedicated to how much I love Spain lol. One negative post shouldn’t cancel it all out. if you haven’t ventured beyond this post to read other things I’ve written, I’m sure my love of spain will shine through. Many of the problems didn’t surface til midway through my second year so I think it’s a bit unfair to play the whole I should have known card. I guess I hoped things would get better.
I’m also rather astonished that you accuse me of being unhappy in Spain! Have you read my blog?
I wholeheartedly agree that your happiness depends on your attitude, In fact many of the situations haven’t applied specifically to me, even with commuting, if you read it carefully you would see I wasn’t always talking about myself, rather close friends and all possible situations, which is why I wrote, “The range of possible situations you could end up with is HUGE and they will either positively or negatively impact your year, depending on how flexible and open minded you are.”
HOWEVER, there are limits to openmindedness, Can you really compare someone who works at an amazing school with a 5 minute commute paid on time with someone who commutes an hour to work everyday, has to pay the teachers for rides, has a horrible schedule and a horrible classroom experience who hasn’t been paid in 3 months? can you really blame someone for being negative? Don’t you think that future auxiliars should be aware of that possible scenario?
at the end of the day, do you really think my 5 points are way off base?
Liz,
Let’s not confuse what I wrote. So I’ll quote myself, “I think its important to remember that the program gave you a gateway to Spain and to all of the good experiences that you also write and blog about.” So I personally am not denying that your blog is full of your “good” experiences in Spain. I’m simply saying that that this post seems to have rubbed a lot of readers the wrong way NOT because of WHAT you said but more of the fact that these problems that are related to but not necessarily caused by the auxiliar program. Furthermore, by the fact that you seem to not want to take responsibility for some of the factors that you did have control over. I’ll use myself as an example. I too haven’t been paid by the M of Edu. However knowing the situation I saved. After receiving a pay check the first month I figured I had no need to save – that I would continue to get paid. Well I haven’t. And no its not fair that I havent. But I have to take responsibility for the fact that I chose to purchase a really expensive camera that could have paid my rent and made a trip to Madrid. So no it isnt justo that I havent gotten paid; but I was warned. I use myself, not to make a comparison between your situation of not getting paid and mine and how we dealt with it economically but of the need to take responsibility.
AGAIN my words were taken out of context in paragraph two. So I’ll continue to quote myself. You say “I’m also rather astonished that you accuse me of being unhappy in Spain! Have you read my blog?” But lets look at what I said, “For that reason it seems that the post is prompted partly by your unhappiness with how it worked out; your not being able to stay for a third year.
It isn’t wrong to state the reasons why you are unhappy with the program especially not on your own blog.”
Not once did I suggest you were unhappy in Spain, but with the program. Which after all is what this post is about right? Or with your unhappiness with how it worked out i.e. not being accepted to a third year until you returned to the states. The last part of which I can understand completely.
Commuting: It seems you were talking about yourself. Ill quote you,
“My first year I spent over 20 extra hours commuting and waiting around my school. It was awful, just awful” AND again, “there was no way I was going to live in my village of 3,000 people my first year, with only 2 bars and a bank. not gonna happen. and the commuting that year and not having to commute this past year made for a COMPLETELY different and happier experience.”
So I guess the point I don’t agree with is the hit and miss. Yes, I have about an hour commute. And I haven’t been paid for Nov. But I can honestly say the teachers at my school are the awesomeness and have really been extremely helpful and kind. But I also know that when I started and I was only reading English sentences all day or sitting in the staff room, I knew I had to do something else so I took the initiative to start making things for each lesson. And even though its not in our job description I would much much rather do this and be in classes then sitting in the staff room biting my nails and trying to stay awake and maintain a front of professionalism.
So I say all this NOT to make your day worse but just to explain without cursing and nationalistic fights what it seems like a lot of readers are trying to say. All of us who are broke have to take a measure (like 1/8 of a tablespoon) of responsibility and that we should be Consistent (and take other comments in context) in what we say of the program. Cause I have to say even with the pay thing if I get accepted Ill be here next year. I am cautious about recommending it now and I let friends no up front to save a million dollars. But even with the bad days (mira seno mira, I can do a cartwheel; no no puedo sentarme dame cinco minutos. really??) and no pay this has been a really great experience for me to learn castellano and travel with a visa. That said, if I dont get paid in January I’m callin it a 4 month vacation and I’m off to korea or somewhere else where they pay for your apartment.
Ahh I see the other part where I said, that you are unwilling to take the responsability for some your own unhappiness while in Spain.” I was talking about auxiliar related unhappiness as mentioned in this last post.
And another think I have noticed is that the more pro-active I become the more responsibility I’m given. Of course this isn’t what everyone is looking for a lot of people come to have the experience of living in Spain; hey I’m not knocking it. But for me, I love ESL and kids (esp. the ones doing cartwheels in class) so I have found the more I do on my own the more the teachers trust me. That was in relation to the teachers not letting you in class comment by you? or someone else? So there are lots of materials in the staff room, I just ask about the topic and start making content related stuff. So maybe it will work for whoever made the comment. Maybe not but if you want to be involved its worth a try.
I’m confused, first you said I rubbed readers the right way but now you are saying the wrong way. Was it just a typo?
I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree. You said, “these problems that are related to but not necessarily caused by the auxiliar program.” I think all of these problems, my 5 points, are directly result of disorganization and mismanagement by the ministry, i.e., the auxiliar program, with the exception of the visa, which incidentally you didn’t mention. Do you believe the auxilar program is organized and run well by helpful people? Do you believe that some people have great experiences while others don’t, and for those who don’t it’s their own fault and not the ministry’s?
You said, “Furthermore, by the fact that you seem to not want to take responsibility for some of the factors that you did have control over” and compared it to you spending your money on something risking that you might not get paid. Well, I think it’s rather unfair to hold me and other auxiliars to that standard, especially as last year I had no idea I about the payment delays in advance. What do you say to auxiliars in other regions who have never had a payment problem? What do you say to auxiliars at schools who initially said they would have the money to pay them and then changed their minds? What do you say to the fact that every year the government promises that they will fix these problems and they don’t. Not everyone is as skeptical or pessimistic about the payment situation, yourself included. I doubt that you would have spent all that money if you knew for sure you wouldn’t be paid on time. Ultimately, the government needs to pay us on time, end of story, and to blame ourselves for not accepting that just reinforces the idea that it’s fine to pay us 3 months late.
The fact that you were proactive worked for you and that’s great! I’m sure it worked for other people to. But if you read some of the other comments, Casey’s for example, sometimes the teacher wouldn’t let her in the room. Rather hard to be proactive that way. I worked with a teacher first year who refused to let me be involved or venture outside of her syllabus. I would go with some ideas for activities or songs, even holiday related stuff in the US that other teachers loved for me to use in the classroom, and all I got was, no sorry we don’t have time. This all comes back to organization within the program and the fact that the schools are not properly informed of what the role of the auxilar should be.
I feel like you are trying to hold people to your standard of tolerance and acceptance which isn’t fair, which is what I said in my original comment, and i think ultimately you agree with my about this post, though you have a very roundabout way of commenting about it. You say you would be cautious about recommending this program in the future too, I am rather curious what you would say about it though. Do you really think that my 5 points were way off base? Or do you think they are an accurate warning of the possible/probable problems auxiliars deal with?
I really hate the Brit vs American comments going on, I think both we’re out of line. It shouldn’t have a place in this forum
I’m sorry if you inferred that I was lying to auxiliars, something that was certainly not the case. I get an unmanageable amount of questions about this program along with many other blog related queries. Feasibly I cannot sit down and lay out all these thoughts in every email. I almost always say its a great opportunity to live in Spain but sometimes there are problems. But I mean look how long it took me to elaborate on just some of the negatives here! To elucidate on the positives is easy and pretty obvious to anyone applying, the negatives are where it gets trickier which why I was trying to create a resource for future applicants with this post, somewhere I can just direct them too to see for themselves my own opinion but also those of the 100 other people who have commented
My comment on Lauren’s blog is trickier and I can definitely see how you would think I’m a total hypocrite. I also want to add that is the one and only time I have posted a negative comment on some else’s blog, not that it probably matters.
Anyways, I don’t really consider this post I wrote as a rant, rather as an informative opinion about this program, something peoe need to read and know about the auxiliar program. I wrote in an intentionally sarcastic and borderline controversial style to draw readers bc above all I want people to know, like you said it’s not fair for people to have certain expectations only to have them crushed. I believe every word I wrote. I think this post is constructive criticism- you wouldn’t believe the feedback I’m getting from future auxiliars thanking me for sharing this so they can plan and prepare accordingly, which was my whole point.
However, what I criticized Lauren about was how much she was attacking other travel bloggers and people like us who have found happiness in Spain, critiquing and mocking writers and travelers who try to focus on the good and simplicity found in Spain. She offered no positive criticism and her post offers no constructive feedback. What do you learn from it? Lauren had a shitty time in Sevilla and is hating on those who didn’t. Her post was bitchy and condescending and extraordinarily unhelpful. I stand by what I wrote on it. She flat out insulted travel bloggers and implied that everyone who is happy in Spain is simple and cannot have real ambitions and goals in life. And you still think she’s a “poor girl?”
Please point out on my post where I attack other auxiliars or writers, the only people I criticize are the ones in charge of this program for not doing their job. Do you disagree with any of my 5 points? My post is negative to be sure but hopefully with a positive outcome which is what I intended, provide information! Keep people informed and aware!!! Not to whine and complain!
At any rate I’m glad you took the time to comment, no matter what! I want people to be able to look through all of this and decide for themselves
If you look through my other posts you might see more in depth the problems I’ve had with the bureaucracy in Spain. I’m no longer in Spain because of it, I was defeated by it in September, so I can’t console my beloved self with Spain as much as I wish I could since I’m back in the US
Thanks for the reply. I mentioned the fact I was British in response to another poster’s totally uncalled for comment that I took issue with – honestly, if it were my blog I would have deleted that comment. I also mentioned it because it is relevant when it comes to commenting on this post. You asked me if I disagreed with your five points. I’m not in a position to disagree with the last three because I have no first-hand experience of them – I have never had to deal with the Ministry, I don’t need a visa to work here (although getting an NIE number was hardly the smoothest process) and not being part of the programme I have no need to be kept in the loop. From what I’ve gathered from blogs and other auxiliares, the first two points are probably accurate.
I suspect we’ll have to agree to disagree but I feel as though you’re moving the goalposts. First, you say that you tell prospective auxiliares how everything is fantastic but when pulled up on it you say that you also tell them the negatives. I have read countless auxiliares’ blogs and most of them portray these amazing lives filled with parties and weekend trips to the feted European capitals. Very few dare to admit that in between their weekends in Paris or Prague and their puentes that life in Spain may not be quite the dream they had envisaged. And that was what (I felt) Lauren was objecting to.
Yes, she absolutely stuck the knife into fellow auxiliares, some of whom were probably quite identifiable, but it wasn’t those bloggers’ lives that she had a problem with so much as their portrayal of constant happiness – no one’s life is 100% awesome all the time. Strange then how some people are so afraid to admit it…
Like you I prefer to blog about the good times and the things that are going right in my life. However, life isn’t always good. I lived in Vietnam, Portugal and Poland before coming to Spain and while I’ve had some amazing times in each place I’ve also had some pretty awful ones. Though I have very few readers (my blog is private and you need to be invited to see it), I believe in accurately portraying my life, telling it as it is so to speak. And more often than not seeing a couple of moany posts on my blog spurs me on to go and find something good to write about.
I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time so I know about the problems you’ve had with bureaucracy, which incidentally are not so different to the ones we Brits have. I also knew that you were back in US and I couldn’t help but wonder whether you’d have written this post were you still in Spain. After all, one tends not to bite the hand that feeds them. That said, if Spain is your dream, I hope that you find your way back here one day.
Briona
This was recently brought to my attention. I might chime in with something more drawn out later. For now, just wanted to say thanks, Briona, for hitting the nail on the head:
“Very few dare to admit that in between their weekends in Paris or Prague and their puentes that life in Spain may not be quite the dream they had envisaged. And that was what (I felt) Lauren was objecting to.”
I realize I said my piece in terms that Liz found unsavory. I also wonder if Liz might have quickly read through my post without considering the context of the rest of my blog (which never pretended to be an advice blog; my blog was just as self-serving as any other). And even if she didn’t, her response to the post surely put her reading comprehension skills into question.
But hey, at least we can all agree that the auxiliar program is a disaster.
Best,
Lauren
Hi Briona, I’m really sorry but I am deleting this comment. It was a lovely but it belongs on Lauren’s blog, not mine. Like I said in my earlier response, I prefer to keep this discussion relevant to the post at hand.
If you guys want to continue that discussion about Lauren’s blog, feel free to email me.
Hi guys,
I don’t censor my comments unless they are way way out of line, people can say whatever they want, good or bad, no matter how much it depresses me. Literally today was the worst day ever.
I wrote this post in an intentionally sarcastic, short style, but I think it’s a bit unfair to chastise me for not adding a sentence about oh yeah this program sucks. What a post this would be if I added a “but” to everything I say!
I never said I told them the negatives, this is what I wrote: “I almost always say its a great opportunity to live in Spain but sometimes there are problems.” literally word for word that is usually the sentence I give when asked and then elaborate if questioned further, which most people don’t.
I’ve had this post drafted since before March, when I started to go through the same problems again. I held off for 2 reasons, I was really hoping things would work out and I would not go through the same bureaucratic hell from the year before and two because I knew it would be controversial and contrary to popular belief, I hate drama and I am uber sensitive. Ever the optimist I was hoping Spain would get its shit together.
My old post about the auxiliars not getting paid rather bit the hand that fed me big time. Or rather was it the hand that starved me for 3 months? I also thought this would be a good time since the application period is opening soon, and I am getting a fresh slew of auxiliar related emails.
To be honest, I never read Lauren’s blog until that post and I didn’t read any of the comments after I posted mine, left a unsavory taste in my mouth. I only heard about through other bloggers who felt like you personally insulted them, though I would prefer not to drag that issue into the comment section here any further than it’s already gone.
At any rate this point of this article was not to create drama, It was to lay out 5 very real issues I have with this program, 5 things I cannot stand about it.
1. It’s disorganized
2. Your year could be a big hit or miss
3. The people who run this can be helpful jerks
4. The visa and NIE process is a nightmare
5. The program doesn’t keep the auxiliars well informed
I question anyone, ANYONE who has commented or might comment if they think any of these 5 conclusions I’ve drawn are inaccurate, false or incorrect. Ultimately that was the point of this post, end of story
Without doubt I should be the bigger person and just walk the hell away from this conversation and consign your blog to the bin where it obviously belongs. But I can’t.
You repeatedly state that you stand by everything you say, the irony being that you are so inconsistent that couldn’t possibly be true. Take this ‘Brits vs Americans’ thing for example. You seemingly chastise me for daring to mention my nationality and thus somehow dragging up this whole nasty business which you insist has no place on this blog while conspicuously failing to remove the original inflammatory comment. Only after I had posted my response did I notice that you had stoked the fire further by accusing Bex of “living up to the stereotype that Brits are negative douches”. And this from the girl who “hates all this Brits vs Americans comments going on” and claims that “it shouldn’t have a place on this forum”?! So now I’m confused – is this Brits vs Americans stuff acceptable or not?! If it is, why chastise me (though neither Bex or I resorted to name-calling)? And if it isn’t, then why add fuel to the fire by painting us Brits as negative douches?!
Then, as further proof of your utter inconsistency, when challenged on having left the inflammatory comments online, you sweetly state that you don’t censor your comments unless they are “way way out of line”. In fact, you go on to say that “people can say whatever they want, good or bad, no matter how much it depresses me”. Except that yet again it’s complete and utter bullshit (ironically from the girl who professes to hate bullshit). And you know how I know it’s bollocks? Because you censored not one but TWO of my posts and certainly not because they were ‘out of line’. First, you remove the link to Lauren’s blog from my first post and then you delete my short but nice and polite response to her comment. And for no other reason than they weren’t to your liking. Or perhaps you were afraid that people would read your bitchy comment on Lauren’s blog (the one you claim to still stand by) and sympathise with her? Either way, it’s yet more proof of your double standards.
No doubt this post will be quickly deleted too – after all, you can’t run the risk that the odd person might agree with me, though I’m not looking for or expecting support. No matter – this is certainly not a blog I shall be visiting again – I simply wanted you to know that you can present any kind of front you want, I for one can see through your bullshit. But you just keep telling yourself ‘haters gonna hate’.
Over and out.
Thank you for your comment and your feedback; I’m really sorry you feel that way about my blog
I always try to delete links in my comments, it’s nothing personal-it’s a professional decision. Yours was only one of several I removed from this thread.
I told you I didn’t want to continue discussing someone else’s blog on my comments section, it’s not the point but you continued. I’m sure Lauren would love to hear your comments concerning her post on her own blog, where they belong.
You’re right, I was angry when I wrote that comment; it was in response to one of the rudest comments I have gotten on my blog. I agreed with you when you pointed it out though.
Contrary to your opinion, I don’t delete comments that aren’t to my liking, something I think is fairly obvious in the comment section of this post.
Anyways, like I said, I’m sorry you feel that way about my blog. It was not the point of this post.