"Loca People (La Gente Esta Muy Loca)" -Sak Noel
"Ai Se Eu Te Pego" -Michel Telo
"Nina Bonita" Chino & Nacho
"Loca" -Shakira
There's a lot more, but I'll put them up little by little. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Music
Every time I'm in Spain I always have the best intentions of keeping track of the popular songs that I hear all the time, but so far, I've failed. I didn't do it in Murcia or Siles, so I'll keep track of the songs here and there on this blog. Some are popular in the US as well. Some aren't.
There's a lot more, but I'll put them up little by little. Enjoy!
There's a lot more, but I'll put them up little by little. Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Christmas is a'coming, plus language lessons and foooood
Today was both crazy and exhausting, and uneventful at the same time. As I've mentioned before, Tuesdays are just plain madness. Working in the morning, off to my business Spanish class at the university, to the gym, then off to my other Spanish class. I leave the house at 8:30am and besides the 15 minutes I have to shower and get ready after going to the gym, I don't get back until 10pm. Sitting in my Spanish class (7:30-9:30pm) I just had this vision of my extremely heavy head being filled with advanced Spanish knowledge clunking down on my desk like a giant paperweight...that's about how good I felt. I was wiped. There was definitely a feeling of disconnect between my brain and my mouth. I basically felt like doing nothing but staring blankly the entire time I was there. I would like to take this Spanish class again in the spring so I can take C2 (the highest level) but if it's scheduled this late again, I don't think I can do it. I've taken late classes before...but not typically when I've spent the rest of the day running around.
Anyways, on a totally different note, I have my flight booked to come home for Christmas!!! "¡qué rollo!" The prices were outrageous, and the choices of connections were awful, but I'm really excited that I get to come home for Christmas this year. I can't believe it's already the end of November!!! Time is absolutely FLYING by. The trip home should be quite the adventure. I'm planning on taking an evening bus or train from Jaen to Madrid on December 20th (Tuesday). Once I get there, I'll either check my bags, put them in a locker at the airport, or leave them at a friend's house for a couple hours (anyone want to volunteer their house?). Then into the city I'll go to see the Madrid Christmas lights and get some dinner. One website says that the Christmas lights get turned off at 10pm on Tuesdays, so after that I'll head back to the airport and hang out until my flight leaves. Yuck. I'll probably be really screwed up since I arrive in Seattle around noon, but will probably be completely exhausted after traveling for so long.
Today we started Christmas lessons. It's still a little bit early, but since I only see each class every 2 weeks, and we have Monday, Tuesday and Thursday off next week we have to get started now. To be perfectly honest I had no idea what to do with them. I like doing the fun artsy stuff with the kids, but I need to find a way to include more conversation in it. That didn't really happen today. In one of the classes the kids got a piece of green paper and they had to cut out 2-4 hand prints and we made a Christmas tree out of their hand prints. We'll add decorations with vocab words next week. We're also planning on making a Christmas tree out of recycled products (probably boxes), Christmas cards and each class is singing a Christmas carol, which I'm supposed to record and make into a video for our eTwinning international project. Sounds like it will be a busy couple weeks.
In the other class I had today (with the 1st graders) they each took turns recording an introduction of themselves..."Hello! My name is ____. I'm ____ years old. I love _____." Lorena (the main teacher) recorded them while I practiced with the kids who were getting ready to record.
Some of the most common mistakes the kids make are these:
-any word that starts with 's' they will pronouce as 'es' (examples: espanish, eschool)
-however, if a word ends in 's' they just won't say the 's' at all (example: friend(s)...oh, you only have 1 friend. That sucks for you. Many times we have to emphasize it "friendsssssssssssssssss" until they say the 's')
-any word that ends in "e" they will say "a." The Spanish 'e' is pronounced like our 'a' and the kids try to sight read, which really doesn't work. Almost makes them sound Canadian, eh. (Examples: love=love-eh, live=live-eh)
-I. The pesky one letter word that is EVERYWHERE. They pronounce "I" like "E." (Examples: I'm=EE'm).
-I's and E's get mixed up in other situations too...Example, sheets...with Spanish pronunciation? Shits. Beaches? Bitches. There have been some other good ones too. I'll have to start jotting them down for a good laugh.
After correcting them 50 gagillion times I almost want to give up. Yep, I know what you're talking about. No other American that hasn't studied Spanish will understand you, but I get it. Ok...let's try it again.
One of the hard parts for them is connecting how English is written with how it is pronounced. Spanish is phonetic. You really can sound words out. They are written like they are spoken. English isn't that way. The kids can repeat after me just fine. They sound great when they do that, but give them a phrase on the board to say, and even if you tell them what it says and how to say it, them get totally lost.
As a side note, I made the pecan-crusted chicken recipe, except this time I used crushed almonds. I didn't think it would make that big of a different and the recipe said you could use other nuts. I was surprised at how much it changed the flavor. It was still really good, but it was much sweeter. Interesting...
Another random side note...did you know you can get a Master's degree in olive oil here? If I haven't made it clear yet, let me reinforce the point...these people are big olive oil fans. I've used more olive oil in the last 2 months than I think I ever have in my cooking. I finished off my first full bottle of it today. Time to go get another!
Anyways, on a totally different note, I have my flight booked to come home for Christmas!!! "¡qué rollo!" The prices were outrageous, and the choices of connections were awful, but I'm really excited that I get to come home for Christmas this year. I can't believe it's already the end of November!!! Time is absolutely FLYING by. The trip home should be quite the adventure. I'm planning on taking an evening bus or train from Jaen to Madrid on December 20th (Tuesday). Once I get there, I'll either check my bags, put them in a locker at the airport, or leave them at a friend's house for a couple hours (anyone want to volunteer their house?). Then into the city I'll go to see the Madrid Christmas lights and get some dinner. One website says that the Christmas lights get turned off at 10pm on Tuesdays, so after that I'll head back to the airport and hang out until my flight leaves. Yuck. I'll probably be really screwed up since I arrive in Seattle around noon, but will probably be completely exhausted after traveling for so long.
Today we started Christmas lessons. It's still a little bit early, but since I only see each class every 2 weeks, and we have Monday, Tuesday and Thursday off next week we have to get started now. To be perfectly honest I had no idea what to do with them. I like doing the fun artsy stuff with the kids, but I need to find a way to include more conversation in it. That didn't really happen today. In one of the classes the kids got a piece of green paper and they had to cut out 2-4 hand prints and we made a Christmas tree out of their hand prints. We'll add decorations with vocab words next week. We're also planning on making a Christmas tree out of recycled products (probably boxes), Christmas cards and each class is singing a Christmas carol, which I'm supposed to record and make into a video for our eTwinning international project. Sounds like it will be a busy couple weeks.
In the other class I had today (with the 1st graders) they each took turns recording an introduction of themselves..."Hello! My name is ____. I'm ____ years old. I love _____." Lorena (the main teacher) recorded them while I practiced with the kids who were getting ready to record.
Some of the most common mistakes the kids make are these:
-any word that starts with 's' they will pronouce as 'es' (examples: espanish, eschool)
-however, if a word ends in 's' they just won't say the 's' at all (example: friend(s)...oh, you only have 1 friend. That sucks for you. Many times we have to emphasize it "friendsssssssssssssssss" until they say the 's')
-any word that ends in "e" they will say "a." The Spanish 'e' is pronounced like our 'a' and the kids try to sight read, which really doesn't work. Almost makes them sound Canadian, eh. (Examples: love=love-eh, live=live-eh)
-I. The pesky one letter word that is EVERYWHERE. They pronounce "I" like "E." (Examples: I'm=EE'm).
-I's and E's get mixed up in other situations too...Example, sheets...with Spanish pronunciation? Shits. Beaches? Bitches. There have been some other good ones too. I'll have to start jotting them down for a good laugh.
After correcting them 50 gagillion times I almost want to give up. Yep, I know what you're talking about. No other American that hasn't studied Spanish will understand you, but I get it. Ok...let's try it again.
One of the hard parts for them is connecting how English is written with how it is pronounced. Spanish is phonetic. You really can sound words out. They are written like they are spoken. English isn't that way. The kids can repeat after me just fine. They sound great when they do that, but give them a phrase on the board to say, and even if you tell them what it says and how to say it, them get totally lost.
As a side note, I made the pecan-crusted chicken recipe, except this time I used crushed almonds. I didn't think it would make that big of a different and the recipe said you could use other nuts. I was surprised at how much it changed the flavor. It was still really good, but it was much sweeter. Interesting...
Another random side note...did you know you can get a Master's degree in olive oil here? If I haven't made it clear yet, let me reinforce the point...these people are big olive oil fans. I've used more olive oil in the last 2 months than I think I ever have in my cooking. I finished off my first full bottle of it today. Time to go get another!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Día de Santa Catalina
Today was a local holiday so we didn't have to go to work. It's the Dia de Santa Catalina.
The Santa Catalina mural at Alcala Venceslada. Santa Catalina is also the name of the castle here in Jaén.
A cortijo is a house in the country. Irene invited me to go with her and her friends and spend the day in a cortijo. Of course, we were surrounded by olive trees.
Starting to get the BBQ ready
Cooking gambas (shrimp) on the BBQ
Shrimp
Making a big pan of paella
More food...so much food all day long...pasta, cheese, bread, meat...
...empanadas, tortilla, beer, wine...
...and of course, paella. There was also panceta and chorizo.
La Carla aka La Gorda
Musical chairs...we also played "Password" which is vaguely like Taboo...a little bit more of a challenge for me than everyone else there. I was the only foreigner. The words weren't really the problem, it's just fast-paced and hard for me to understand that fast. They were planning on playing flip-cup (courtesy of some other American they know) but we never got around to it. There was also music going all day. It was so nice to be invited by Irene to this party. I was glad to be around a bunch of Spaniards. I really would like to make more Spanish friends. I also got to chatting with Irene's fiance who is in the photography association group I'm trying to be a part of. Everyone did a great job of making me feel included. I was very appreciative. It felt like day 2 of Thanksgiving!
Summary of the day?
Drink, eat, play, repeat.
Summary of the day?
Drink, eat, play, repeat.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A time to give thanks
Although they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain, I want to take the time to give some thanks...
To my parents: There will never come a day when I can say or do anything that will fully express my profound, never-ending appreciation for you. I cannot imagine where or who I would be without you and your unconditional love and support. What a blessing it is to have parents I can talk to, share anything with, and know on the other side of it all you'll still be there next to me. So often you know exactly what I need to hear on a bad day, when I need a hug, when I need space, when I don't feel well...and I don't have to tell you, you just know. I really (REALLY) couldn't ask for better parents. I hope someday I can follow in your footsteps, and be even half of what you've been for me for my own children. I LOVE YOU. Thank you for EVERYTHING!
To my sister: You are an inspiration. I love and admire the way you work with kids (and I must admit I'm a little jealous too about how good you are with them and how much they love you). I admire you for sticking to your convictions and making your own path in life. Whether we're living in the same house or thousands of miles away, whether we talk every day or once every few weeks, know that I love you and want nothing other than to have an incredible relationship with you the rest of my life. Thank you for being my sister.
To the rest of my big, crazy family: I love you. Thank you for being so interested and involved in my life, for our reunions, for our Norweigan traditions, old photographs and stories, and lots of rowdy softball games. For every card, present, phone call that I've ever received...thank you. I'm blessed to have so many people that care about me.
To my friends, including but definitely not limited to the Yellow Sub girls, the Fab 4 Snohomish crowd, my Spokane friends (like Jared and Juli!) and life-long family friends (like you Kennedys): You make my life rich. You've helped mold and shape me into the person I am. You've been there when I needed a reality check, a girl's night to gossip about our latest boy problems, a shoulder to cry on and oh so many joyous moments. You are my extended family. I can't thank you enough for the contributions each of you have made in my life. I am better for being around you.
To Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, thank you for providing a safe place where I can be so very imperfect and still feel welcome. Thank you also for pushing me to be the person I'm meant to be. Thank you for every cup of coffee, every outline, and every smile and "hello." Thank you for being a place I actually want to go. Thank you for providing an environment when I can go on my worst days and come out with a little hope.
To my tan animal farm plus Indy: Not that you crazy animals can understand this, but thank you for being such absolute loves. Baxter, your excited tailwagging and grunts when you have't seen me in awhile make me feel very loved. Tiki, you and your ridiculous sneezes, head butts and incessant touching, sitting next to my keyboard (or on top of it) and really loud purring are all things I will miss when you're not around. You're really the best cat. Indy, I kind of like being your favorite. It makes me sad when you climb into my suitcase and look at me like I'm not allowed to leave, but I'll always be back. Bella oh Bella, our little troublemaker...I love you too, even when you continuously drop your nasty tennis ball on my computer after I've already thrown it 300 times. Thank you pets, for all your snuggles and animal love.
To any stranger that has given me a smile, helped me when I'm lost, or given a few extra minutes to deal with a confused guiri, I thank you. You will never know the great extent to which your small acts of kindness matter.
God, thank you for your many, MANY blessings in my life. I haven't done anything to deserve it all, but I'm endlessly grateful for everything. Thank you for not giving up on me when I turn away and think I'm unworthy and undeserving of Your love. Hang with me as I seek you out.
"Your power, might, and love are seen in the bounty of this season. We gather this day around a table laden with food that you have brought forth. We gather as family and friends whom you brought into this world. We bow before you with humble hearts knowing we live because you brought us to life.
We celebrate this day as a nation of people who have been blessed more than any other people on the face of the earth and at any time. We acknowledge you as the giver of the good we so easily take for granted. Forgive us as we are a forgetful people. Grant us on this Thanksgiving Day, the time to reflect on all the ways you have blessed each of us who has gathered. Increase our understanding of your ways and remind us to love one another.
Thank you for providing all that we need for life and godliness. Make us to be a light and a blessing to the nations of the world.
We pray this in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen."
"You see the depths of my heart and
You love me the same
You are amazing God"
-'Indescribable' by Chris Tomlin
To my parents: There will never come a day when I can say or do anything that will fully express my profound, never-ending appreciation for you. I cannot imagine where or who I would be without you and your unconditional love and support. What a blessing it is to have parents I can talk to, share anything with, and know on the other side of it all you'll still be there next to me. So often you know exactly what I need to hear on a bad day, when I need a hug, when I need space, when I don't feel well...and I don't have to tell you, you just know. I really (REALLY) couldn't ask for better parents. I hope someday I can follow in your footsteps, and be even half of what you've been for me for my own children. I LOVE YOU. Thank you for EVERYTHING!
To my sister: You are an inspiration. I love and admire the way you work with kids (and I must admit I'm a little jealous too about how good you are with them and how much they love you). I admire you for sticking to your convictions and making your own path in life. Whether we're living in the same house or thousands of miles away, whether we talk every day or once every few weeks, know that I love you and want nothing other than to have an incredible relationship with you the rest of my life. Thank you for being my sister.
To the rest of my big, crazy family: I love you. Thank you for being so interested and involved in my life, for our reunions, for our Norweigan traditions, old photographs and stories, and lots of rowdy softball games. For every card, present, phone call that I've ever received...thank you. I'm blessed to have so many people that care about me.
To my friends, including but definitely not limited to the Yellow Sub girls, the Fab 4 Snohomish crowd, my Spokane friends (like Jared and Juli!) and life-long family friends (like you Kennedys): You make my life rich. You've helped mold and shape me into the person I am. You've been there when I needed a reality check, a girl's night to gossip about our latest boy problems, a shoulder to cry on and oh so many joyous moments. You are my extended family. I can't thank you enough for the contributions each of you have made in my life. I am better for being around you.
To Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, thank you for providing a safe place where I can be so very imperfect and still feel welcome. Thank you also for pushing me to be the person I'm meant to be. Thank you for every cup of coffee, every outline, and every smile and "hello." Thank you for being a place I actually want to go. Thank you for providing an environment when I can go on my worst days and come out with a little hope.
To my tan animal farm plus Indy: Not that you crazy animals can understand this, but thank you for being such absolute loves. Baxter, your excited tailwagging and grunts when you have't seen me in awhile make me feel very loved. Tiki, you and your ridiculous sneezes, head butts and incessant touching, sitting next to my keyboard (or on top of it) and really loud purring are all things I will miss when you're not around. You're really the best cat. Indy, I kind of like being your favorite. It makes me sad when you climb into my suitcase and look at me like I'm not allowed to leave, but I'll always be back. Bella oh Bella, our little troublemaker...I love you too, even when you continuously drop your nasty tennis ball on my computer after I've already thrown it 300 times. Thank you pets, for all your snuggles and animal love.
To any stranger that has given me a smile, helped me when I'm lost, or given a few extra minutes to deal with a confused guiri, I thank you. You will never know the great extent to which your small acts of kindness matter.
God, thank you for your many, MANY blessings in my life. I haven't done anything to deserve it all, but I'm endlessly grateful for everything. Thank you for not giving up on me when I turn away and think I'm unworthy and undeserving of Your love. Hang with me as I seek you out.
"Your power, might, and love are seen in the bounty of this season. We gather this day around a table laden with food that you have brought forth. We gather as family and friends whom you brought into this world. We bow before you with humble hearts knowing we live because you brought us to life.
We celebrate this day as a nation of people who have been blessed more than any other people on the face of the earth and at any time. We acknowledge you as the giver of the good we so easily take for granted. Forgive us as we are a forgetful people. Grant us on this Thanksgiving Day, the time to reflect on all the ways you have blessed each of us who has gathered. Increase our understanding of your ways and remind us to love one another.
Thank you for providing all that we need for life and godliness. Make us to be a light and a blessing to the nations of the world.
We pray this in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen."
"You see the depths of my heart and
You love me the same
You are amazing God"
-'Indescribable' by Chris Tomlin
Thanksgiving Dinner
I didn't originally have plans for Thanksgiving, even though I wanted to do something. I don't have an oven, so having Thanksgiving at my place was out of the question. Finally one piso of Americans send out a Facebook invite for Thanksgiving dinner at their house. Yay! There was turkey, stuffing (with raisins...first time I've had it that way. It was good!) and mashed potatoes with gravy. This is my 3rd Thanksgiving in a row that I've spent in Spain so I was glad to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Apparently they ordered the turkey from the grocery store a few days ago and when it came in they asked what parts we wanted.
"All of it."
"All of it?"
"Yep."
"You must be Americans."
All we needed was cranberry sauce (cranberries aren't available here), sweet potatoes and lefse and it would have been totally complete...pretty good considering how much harder it is to get ingredients here. There were probably about 15 of us there, including some English people that were giving us a little friendly crap about wanting their Thanksgiving dinner.
I hung out with Rebecca and Maude quite a bit. Rebecca is from the US and Maude is from Montreal. Rebecca and I were kind of looking at each other funny when she first showed up. We knew that we knew each other, but didn't know where from. Finally I remembered she was one of the girls I met at Colombia 50, getting coffee before orientation. They're a lot of fun.
I stayed until around 1:30 then headed home so I wouldn't be exhausted at the cortijo party tomorrow with Irene.
Chowing down
turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and stuffing
Hanging out
Oh, and did I mention a little wine with dinner? haha
Food!
Maude, me and Rebecca
Rebecca and Maude
Notice the amazing wall art in this apartment. haha.
Rebecca and I immitating the Popeye and Olive Oil picture.
Maude, me, Rebecca
Pilgrims and Indians
Like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, my 1st grade classes at AV made indian and pilgrim hats. We actually made female and male pilgrim hats in this class (both of which are super easy to make). The pilgrims from 1stA "traveled" to the indians from the 1stB class to shake hands and say "Happy Thanksgiving." It was a big success. So cute.
My pilgrims from 1B
Me with my pilgrims
A hat for me too!
The indians working on their hats
Coloring feathers
I helped make all of their headbands.
The kids WILL KNOW the words "cut" and "color" and "name" by the time the year is over!
This guy was the first one done. He's such a good kid and he did such a good job!
Getting ready for the pilgrims to arrive
So cute!
My little indians
We had some time to kill so they also colored a picture of a pilgrim and indian sharing a turkey.
Re-explaining "I am thankful for..." and "Happy Thanksgiving!"
Love her facial expression
And the pilgrims arrive!
Here are the patterns for our hats...
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