-Wake up
-Run to school to print my lessons and start classes at the elementary school
-Run to the university for my business Spanish class
-Run home to make something to eat, clean my room and drop off the stuff I don't need from the elementary school
-Run...literally...in the gym
-Run home to shower...well...not even a real shower...10 minutes to shower, dress and get out the door
-Run to the university for my Spanish class
And in today's case the running stops there because I showed up at the university and my Spanish class was cancelled. I got home, basically fell on the couch and there I stayed the rest of the evening. There were so many things I wanted to get done, but it just wasn't going to happen.
Tuesdays I have to leave the house by 8:15-8:30am and I don't get home until around 10-10:30pm. Yes, generally Spanish life is more relaxed, but just like life anywhere, there are things you can do to fill the time.
Today at the elementary school I went to the two 1st grade classes and we made indian and pilgrim hats. It was quite the success. One class made the pilgrim hats and one class made the indian "hats." They have also been learning the phrase "I am thankful for..." On Thursday the students from one class are going to go to the other and say what they are thankful for, and I'm pretty sure they are planning on taking a picture of the indians and pilgrims shaking hands. haha. I didn't want to put my examples in my backpack and ruin them, so I had them in my hand when I showed up to my Spanish class. Of course everyone was asking about them and thought it was super funny.
In my business Spanish class we talked about resumes, ads about jobs and how to respond to them, writing a cover letter, and interviews...really practical, helpful information. It's AMAZING the things they ask you in Spanish job interviews. First of all, it's basically required to send in a photo of yourself with your resumé. In addition to that they ask you whether you're single/married/divorced, etc...in one interview the interviewer asked my professor why she was living with her boyfriend. They can also ask what your parents do, what your family and friends think of the occupation you're pursuing,etc...I wish I could remember more of the examples she used...it was really personal stuff! She said sometimes they ask you things just to see how much information you'll be willing to give...where you're breaking point is. They can also say they only want men to apply, or only women, or classify a specific age range. They don't think twice about a lot of things we consider discrimination.
I'm so glad to be back in the gym again. Yesterday was my first day back and it was great. I told myself "No more excuses. It doesn't matter how many other things you need to do or how tight money is. Today you HAVE to get to the gym" and I did. Manu, the guy that works there, was super nice and helpful. He walked me through a tour of the gym and the workout he wanted me to start with. I like it, but it's also a lot different than what I did last year. He currently has me on a strictly cardio workout. I think he's trying to feel out my athletic ability.
This is what he has me doing for now:
15 minutes stationary bike
15 minutes treadmill
15 minutes eliptical
10 minutes stair stepper
10 minutes rowing machine
10 minutes crazy spinning wheel thing to tone my abs
3x15 abdominals
He asked if I wanted to do the weight lifting machines eventually and I said yes. I like doing them, and tend to have fewer problems with my knees when I lift weights as well. I've felt kind of off lately, and I can already tell after 2 workouts that this is going to help keep my spirits up and my head clear. I feel so good when I make myself go to the gym. Today I was cooking through my workout. I had a little less time than I needed to get through the whole workout, so I didn't get the stairs done. Yesterday the stair stepper machine said I did 32 floors in 10 minutes. Maybe I should do the Columbia Center stair climb. haha. It alway sounded so crazy before. Of course the hardest 3 flights of stairs are the ones that I have to climb at the end of my workout when I get back to my apartment building...you always think you're done until you open that door, see the stairwell and have to sigh as you begin climbing again. Since I got to Spain I've already dropped 9 pounds. I can't wait to see how much more I'll lose now that I'm back in the gym and have 5 more months here. I've been doing a little research about the Camino de Santiago. It's such a Spanish experience I would really like to do it since I don't know when/if I'll be back after this stay, but I have to see if I can make it work financially. The Camino de Santiago is approximately a 500 mile walk in northern Spain and everyone I've talked to says it's an absolutely life changing experience. That would certainly be a good goal to help keep me focused in the gym and a good way to have a fresh mindset as I re-enter my American life.
Ben (from La Puerta last year) confirmed today that he's going to go visit our little towns the 10th and 11th of December. I'm going to go as well. I'm curious to see what it will be like to be back. My stay in Siles last year almost doesn't seem real because it's so different from any other time in my life. What a crazy life.
On another note, Spain just had it's presidential elections on Sunday (20-N...the 20th of November).
Meet their new president, Mariano Rajoy...
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