My year in Lesson Plan format

As a primary education major, I have written countless lesson plans, always being sure to closely follow the model given to me by SUNY Cortland.

Well if my life were a lesson plan, it would look something like this:

Objectives:  All Fulbrighters will be able to (AFWBAT):
Survive in Europe, specifically in Spain for 1 year (or 10 months)
Develop independence from anything American. This independence may or may not hinder their social abilities
Accomplish grown-up things in a foreign language such as open a bank account, rent an apartment, buy a cell phone, buy internet and avoid being deported
Pretend they don't speak Spanish when at school
Teach students some English. How much will vary upon age group and other factors.
Travel to other foreign countries to discover more culture and language
Improve their Spanish vocbulary, and perhaps vocabulary in other languages as well
Make friends from all over Europe

Introduction: Explain to Chelsea that Congratulations! She won a Fulbright Grant! She will be living in Valencia, Spain for 10 months and teaching English in a primary school in a town called Alfara de Patriarca. Now book a flight, pack life into 2 suitcases, and meet us in Madrid on September 5th 2010. But before they can come they must get a Visa and get lots of certificates and pay lots of money for a sticker in her passport (2 months duration)

Demonstration: At the Fulbright meeting, give all Fulbrighters a little folder with all the information they'll ever need about the program. Provide them with seminars about Spanish banking, finding housing, life in Spain, the importance of being a Fulbrighter, etc. Supply them with people to network with and contact information of important people (3 days)

Group Activity: Let Fulbrighters run around Madrid and mingle with each other for a few days. Then break them off into small groups. Send a group of 10 to Valencia, then of those 10,  send four to search for a Piso and live together for 10 months. They must not cry, get lost, or get mugged. They must learn to navigate the city together and open bank accounts, get metro passes, young peoples cards, cell phones,  and internet access. And make friends. (1 week)

Individual Activity: Each Fulbrighter will then begin working at their school. Their responsibilities will vary depending upon their placement. For example, Chelsea will work in a primary school with students ages 4- 12. She will also assist in Physical Education and Arts and Crafts. She will also go on cultural field trips with the students and organize other activities or side projects such as a Cheerleading team.
Fulbrighters will also have the opportunity to travel throughout Spain and Europe. They may only take 30 days outside of Spain. But who is counting?

Closing Activity: At the end of June, they will say goodbye to their students and colleagues, and make promises to see them soon and to keep in touch.
They will also bid farewell to a lot of friends they have made throughout the year including small group members, large group members, side job families, and random friends they made in the city.

Transition: They will then be free to do what they want beginning more or less June 24th. Some will pick up where they left off in America. others may start new exciting lives in America. Some will go onto live in different countries. Some will stay put

For instance, Chelsea will be living in Valencia until the end of July. She will visit cities such as Barcelona, Tarragona, Castellon and other places that may come up. She will try to find new hobbies to keep her busy. Then she will go to Madrid to visit her NY friends, then together they will go to San Sebastian. On August 4th she will fly to Venice to start her Tour de Italia until August 14th when she flies home to New York...
But not for long.

Introduction to Lesson 2: On September 14th, Chelsea will say her goodbyes to America once again. She will arrive in Madrid, Spain on September 15th where she will start all over again. She must build a new life in Madrid where she must find a piso, renew her residency card, get a metro card, and work at a new school. She will be working at a Primary School in Coslada, very close to Madrid. Once settled in Madrid, she will be able to go visit her old life in Valencia, and to collect her belongings she is leaving at her Spanish families home.

Who knows what is to come next year?