25 AND OVER CLUB! The Older Auxiliares of 2011

[Rmarie]

I'm 27 now but when I came here I was 25.  I didn't feel too old...... and my coworkers were all around my age.
The only difference for me was that the younger crowd likes to party A LOT.  don't get me wrong, I like to go out and have fun but my life doesn't revolve around drinking (anymore hah).

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[Farmgirl]

WOW! I am happy to see this thread take off. I will be 40 in July and I just got my school placement in Madrid, THROUGH ANOTHER LANGUAGE ASSISTANT PROGRAM, and this will be my 5th year as an English Language Assistant. Age is relative and it depends on what you want to do in life.

Cheers,

Shawn

Amen Shawn to that.  I'm nearly 50 going on 25 (in body and spirit -- sometimes the mind is over 50!)

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[SRedw]

Amen Shawn to that.  I'm nearly 50 going on 25 (in body and spirit -- sometimes the mind is over 50!)

Good for you, Farmgirl. Make your dreams come true, no matter what the age. Please keep us posted.

Shawn

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[Farmgirl]

Good for you, Farmgirl. Make your dreams come true, no matter what the age. Please keep us posted.

Shawn

Will do...plus we're doing this as a family.  I've got some girls willing to give a year in Spain a go. 

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[dixiedee19]

Thanks for starting this thread, mdechelle! I feel you on this one.

1.) If you want to hang with the 22-year-olds, invest in 5-hour energy shots (or the Spanish equivalent). The youngsters are going to want to go out (late); if that's where we're looking to base our friend groups...we're going to need some extra juice.

I'm 25 and I don't spend much time with the "younger crowd" if you will.  There definitely seems to be a clique already, which isn't a bad thing.  It just isn't my scene.

But I'm quoting you because I want to make you aware of the Spanish tradition of staying out until the wee hours on weekends.  My main group of friends is made up of Spaniards in their late 20's and I sometimes have to drink a couple of glasses of Coke in order to stay awake with them until 3 or 7 in the morning!  Sometimes it's as simple as sitting in one of their apartments watching movies and talking.  It's always fun though.   

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[Mugarie]

Good Call! I am 26 will be 27 when I start in País Vasco. I am assigned to a town outside of Bilbao and plan to get a flat in the city and commute an hour each way via train/bus.
If any of ya'll come to the Guggenheim, let me know!

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[dixiedee19]

Good Call! I am 26 will be 27 when I start in País Vasco. I am assigned to a town outside of Bilbao and plan to get a flat in the city and commute an hour each way via train/bus.
If any of ya'll come to the Guggenheim, let me know!

That's awesome!  Bilbao is a really cool city, and it's near the ocean!  FYI be prepared for hills, and lots of them.  The night life is very vibrant though, regardless.   

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[kayjayrob]

New to the site here. Just got a city placement in the program (any info on Huelva would be appreciated!) and you guys are helping me feel better about being 26 and entering this program (27 when it starts).

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[Nieves28]

New to the site here. Just got a city placement in the program (any info on Huelva would be appreciated!) and you guys are helping me feel better about being 26 and entering this program (27 when it starts).

Huelva!! That means placements are going out for Andalucia! How were you notified? Email or by mail?

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[Christine]

Hi Christine -- it's nice to see that there are "older folks" (although I don't think of myself as an "older folk") doing this program.  Do you know where you're going?

Hi sorry for the late response, I will be in Malaga in a barrio called Huelin, about 10 min for the city center.

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[kayjayrob]

@Nieves Notified via email but I went through a third party, so it's a bit faster.  But I know other folks are getting their placements also...slowly coming in.

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[spainbound]

Has anyone over age 35 been place? I was number #1167 and I know off others who are over 35 that have not been placed yet either and had lower numbers than me. I hope applying was not a waste of my time. I love Spain so much and I did the program 2 years ago.

My number was in the 2000 and I was placed in Galicia.  Have you heard yet?

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[spainbound]

I just got all my placement information and qualify for the OVER 30 club and wanted to see if there is anyone else that will be in Galicia.

Christy

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[a.lizabeth]

New to the site here. Just got a city placement in the program (any info on Huelva would be appreciated!) and you guys are helping me feel better about being 26 and entering this program (27 when it starts).

I was in Huelva the 2009-2010 school year!  Are you placed at a school right in Huelva???  Super excited for you! I loved it. 

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[shadowbrook]

WOW! I am happy to see this thread take off. I will be 40 in July and I just got my school placement in Madrid, THROUGH ANOTHER LANGUAGE ASSISTANT PROGRAM, and this will be my 5th year as an English Language Assistant. Age is relative and it depends on what you want to do in life.

Cheers,

Shawn

Just out of curiosity, what other language assistant programs are available in Spain? 

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[eandrés]

Not to beat the bush too much more, but I really wouldn't worry too much about the age issue. I am going on 29 this fall myself, and having previous experience abroad with other 'younger' study abroad classmates, co-interns, co-workers, friends, etc., has never fazed me any more than having a similar group of older friends around, too. The key thing to remember is that you are going through this insert your favorite word experience teaching English abroad with a lot of other intriguing people probably going through the same roller coaster ride as you who can sympathize and relate in any number of ways without respect to age.

Still, glad to be a member of the 25+ club as well as the even bigger Auxiliares one.

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[sehawk99]

Will there be any other 30+ at the orientation in Caceres, Extremadura?

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[Farmgirl]

Will there be any other 30+ at the orientation in Caceres, Extremadura?

Yes - my husband and I will be there.  We won't be spending the night there thought...I don't think...unless we can bring our daughters with us.

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[sehawk99]

Great, I will look for you guys. 

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[Farmgirl]

Hi - we'll just be there on Friday...

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[Kimberly]

Hi! I am trying to apply to do this for 2012-2013 and I will be 33 next year. I thought they gave preference to people under 35, or so I read. And I also thought there was a 2 year limit to doing this. If I am lucky enough to get accepted, I would like to know some older people doing this also. How do you manage to repeatedly renew this position for a longer time? Let me know! Thanks

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[pittel]

There are lots of older people, so don't worry about that. Last year where I was there was a 60 year-old man. I've heard that sometimes they have to approve people over a certain age (35 maybe?) with the comunidad, but regardless of age you'll get a placement if your inscrita # is low.

Renewing multiple times depends on the comunidad, I think. Renewing twice is no problem, the third time you get bumped to the bottom of the list, behind all the 1st and 2nd years. A 3rd year is possible, you just have to be flexible about where you're placed.

Hi! I am trying to apply to do this for 2012-2013 and I will be 33 next year. I thought they gave preference to people under 35, or so I read. And I also thought there was a 2 year limit to doing this. If I am lucky enough to get accepted, I would like to know some older people doing this also. How do you manage to repeatedly renew this position for a longer time? Let me know! Thanks

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[Future Diplomat]

I am so very glad this post has continued to go strong, and has even diverged a bit to talking about folks who are traveling with children and spouses and...! The possibilities seem limitless

I did not end up going to Spain after begining this post a year ago, as I opted to stay in the States and more stateside job expereience.

Now, I am geared up to go to Spain as a new 27 year old (birthday was just last month)! I am excited, and don't feel so hesitant about my status as an"oldie".

Thanks again, everyone, for all of your advice and your stories! Please keep them coming!!!

  -M

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[beachp]

Hi! I am trying to apply to do this for 2012-2013 and I will be 33 next year. I thought they gave preference to people under 35, or so I read. And I also thought there was a 2 year limit to doing this. If I am lucky enough to get accepted, I would like to know some older people doing this also. How do you manage to repeatedly renew this position for a longer time? Let me know! Thanks

Just turned 26 and doing the program for a 3rd year. What is stated about a 2 year limit is in writing only, but not in practice for all regions. Is it Spain, and people tend to do make their own rules. It is pretty much 99% true for the region of Andalucia that you won't get a 3rd year there. I have friends up north who received letters asking if they wanted to renew for a 3rd year from their regions, and they were not placed at the bottom of any list. They were asked about renewing before new people were even placed. I had to leave Andalucia in order to get a 3rd year. I just emailed the main office in Madrid around June or  July and asked if they could use me. A week later I was given an assisgnment in Madrid for the 2011-12 school year. 

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[tgc]

Hola,
If anyone currently in the program with kids is still monitoring this thread, please get in touch with me if you have time. I'm currently admitada for 2012-2013 and plan to take my 6-year-old twins along to Spain.  I have loads of questions as you might imagine. They are already in Spanish immersion school here in the States, so we are trying to get geared up for this adventure.
Thanks

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[kyky22]

Hi

Hola,
If anyone currently in the program with kids is still monitoring this thread, please get in touch with me if you have time. I'm currently admitada for 2012-2013 and plan to take my 6-year-old twins along to Spain.  I have loads of questions as you might imagine. They are already in Spanish immersion school here in the States, so we are trying to get geared up for this adventure.
Thanks

,Hi, I'm a current assistant in Madrid with two kids. You are more than welcome to pm me with questions!

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