puna,
i so thank you for your wonderfully kind words. both missmadrid and i share the passion and determination to make things work. the unexpected or poor luck may occur... leaving one or the both of us staying for only a short while. more importantly, we know that we've done what's so inherent in who we are. to try and make a life for oursleves in spain. i'm certain the 30 die-hards you speak of understand. we're a very esoteric group i must say.

i too will be trying my hand at the esl market. i've taught esl privately for two years, worked as an in-class tutor to students for the american domestic peace corps(americorps)and in my spare time worked as an aid to european history instructors. all done while attending college. the experience and love of teaching is certainly there, i simply hope i have the ability to transcend this.

to answer your question, i will be in madrid. as i'm sure you're aware, missmadrid will be setting herself up in her TRUE home of el escorial. she'll be working on her tefl certificate in madrid and hopefully continuing her study of flamenco. all of this, and hopefully at least one of us will be granted the dream we hold so dear.

i know that she has promised to keep all of you updated on how her life goes. i certainly make the same promise. it would be inconceivable for either of us to lose contact with all of you. this little message board is like a second home...i would miss all of you too much.

p.s. i certainly will pass on what you say to missmadrid. she'll hopefully be on here again soon to check in and say hello to all of you. and no, i certainly cannot speak for her. i feel terribly uncomfortable doing so as it is. the last thing i could ever do is be the amazing contributor that she is. for now, i'm just her volunteer p.r. department while she's away.

[This message has been edited by nicholeye (edited 12-02-2000).]