Today I woke up late and only got to one of my classes. I missed the first two. Javi, the director (principal), told me not to worry about it (probably because he knows I haven’t made a habit of just not showing up). At least I made it to the third class of the day. The first two I just help out in with the other teacher present. The third class I prepare completely…so of all the classes for me to wake up for that was the right one. Luckily I only live a few minutes away from the school.
The Day of Peace is tomorrow. Yesterday I tried teaching the 4th graders how to make origami cranes with instructions in English. They at least seemed to pay a little more attention but as an activity it really wasn’t a success. We didn’t have enough time, the kids wanted to finish even though they had to go to PE and we screwed up one step so the cranes didn’t really open very well. I reassured the kids that we could try again next week or later so they would let it go. Today we continued working on our MLK Jr. mini books in the 3rd grade class. I was really naïve to think we’d get it done in one class. We spent two cases working on it and kids still didn’t get it done. Also, a bunch of kids lost their book from last week so they had to start over. Apparently it doesn’t matter how many times I say “Don’t Lose it!” in either language. The books have about 7 pages and each page had a drawing for them to color and part of MLK Jr’s hope for the future. (MLK Jr hoped one day we could all work together. MLK hoped we could all pray together, etc, etc.) I was going to have us translate the text as a group but we didn’t have time.
During recess I spoke with Javi and Sebas. Javi mentioned in the past that the hardest part for the auxiliares is usually Christmas. It’s reassuring to know I’ve probably gotten over the hardest part. I also mentioned in my frustration that although I seemed to have made friends they never call me or invite me to do anything. He explained that’s just not how they do things around here…that he’s never called someone to ask if they wanted to do something. People just always run into each other and happen to decide to do something. That makes me feel better. At least it’s not me. I thought they just didn’t want to invite me to things and felt obligated to include me when they saw me. It also gives me a clear way to improve the situation without feeling like I’m imposing on people. I have to be the proactive one that calls people and tries to make plans. Good, good, good to know.
I went home and had hot soup and risotto because it’s COLD. There is snow in the mountains just above us. People are predicting that we probably have snow in the next few days. Daaaaaaaang it. Last week’s nice weather was such a tease! I can’t wait for spring!
I had juuuust laid down to take a nap when I got a call from Ben and Eve (I don’t usually take naps…I like the idea but usually end up trying to finish other tasks during the siesta time. It would figure the one day I try to take a nap someone actually calls me to make plans.). They were in Siles having lunch at the high school (the Thursday fancy lunch with the culinary students that I went to with the teachers a couple months ago). When they were done with lunch I met them at my school. They had come over with one of my adult pupils. Pilar, the wife of my adult pupil and a nurse who works in Puente Genave, also came with them because she is learning English. We all headed towards Mezquita to have a coffee. On the way Erika Martinez (the infamous mannequin head actress starring in their web series Pueblo) took some pictures with a dog. There was an old lady on the other side of the street giving us the evil eye, probably wondering who these freaks were carrying around a mannequin head in their backpack and then bothering a poor dog with their antics. Haha. At Mezquita we chatted, practiced English, made paper cranes, had a coffee and talked about projects. Pilar mentioned that Spanish people don’t have “projects” besides getting coffee. Haha. Eve and I talked about doing photo projects together. I would really like to try to go through my Artist Way book again and take on some photo projects. I have such amazing scenery at my disposal, and so much to take pictures of, and I just haven’t been able to make time to do it. Ben and Eve pointed out that maybe I have too many projects and to-dos running through my mind and I should focus on one a week. It’s a good idea…we’ll see how successful I am with it. I do have a habit of trying to multi-task to the extreme. They also mentioned that they choose not to give private lessons during their stay here because this is the one year in their lives they will have to relax…that they prefer not to make much money and have more time. Sometimes I wish I’d taken on that mentality, but I think it’s also impossible for me to have too much free time. At least Ben and Eve have each other in La Puerta…if I have too much time alone, not doing anything I get bored and depressed.
Having three Americans in Siles was pretty crazy. I told them they have to come back when Laura and Chelsea get here. 5 Americans would probably be some sort of record!
Around 7pm Ben and Eve went back to La Puerta. I left and tried to go to the grocery store. There were a couple guys outside of Mezquita (not Spanish guys…immigrants) who started shouting random words at me in English to get my attention. Sorry, I don’t respond to “Yes! Yes!” or “Rubia!” I can have an intelligent conversation. I’m a human being and I don’t respond to physical descriptors. Sorry.
I ran into Thomas and Silvia. I stressed again that next time they go out they should give me a call. Thomas also reassured me that I could call him anytime I was bored or wanted to “tomar algo.”
After that I ran into Maria del Mar and Eva (guess it’s true what Javi said about just running into people). We chatted briefly and they told me that apparently we’re doing Day of Peace activities tomorrow, but there’s no schedule and it depends on the weather. I knew we’re having a race at 12:30 but I didn’t know about any other activities.
I ran into Casa Gregorio to put a few euros on my phone, grabbed a small pack of M&Ms and headed home. I changed my clothes, went back to Mezquita to pick up the umbrella that I forgot and then headed to the gym.
Today was a good day. Some days feel really hard and others I’m just in a groove. Today was one of my ‘groove’ days. It was awesome…another 3 miles on the treadmill. Tomorrow is squats day though…we’ll see how that goes. Last week Javi told me I should do the squat machine once a week to start. He asked me yesterday if I wanted to do the machine. I explained…well…if you think I should I will…but I prefer to do it Friday so I have Saturday and Sunday to recoup (the gym isn’t open on the weekends). He laughed at me and said ok.
My walk home is always to longest and hardest part of going to the gym. I really can’t wait until I go to and come home from the gym when it’s still light outside and isn’t so cold. When I got home I made tortellini for dinner to warm up.
I added another private lesson today. That’s 2 more for the week. 8 private lessons a week and 2 intercambios, plus my normal classes and my adult class. I’m planning on taking a break from private lessons when Laura, Chelsea and Amy are here. I am going to really miss the extra income but I don’t want to spend all my time giving private lessons when they’re here. I’m afraid they are going to be bored enough in Siles as is!
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