Busy, busy, busy

Leave it to me to turn the peaceful, tranquil Spanish lifestyle into a race against the clock. My schedule is packed. I feel like I’m running all day long. I went from having SO much free time during Christmas break to being super busy overnight.

Today I had classes at the infantil all day. I almost had to teach the 5 year olds by myself but luckily Sebas showed up. I don’t mind that I have to plan lessons…but planning a lesson with 30-45 minutes notice? My lesson planning abilities aren’t THAT strong. The teachers were telling me during recess that I need to talk more. This has been an interesting challenge to try and overcome. I totally understand where they are coming from…I am after all an “auxiliary de CONVERSACIÓN (conversation).” It’s hard to incorporate myself into lessons that I didn’t plan. There’s always a place for me, but not really to talk very much, especially if the kids are working on a worksheet or some other quieter activity. I’ll have to think of what I can do.

After classes I went home to do the incredible amount of dishes that have accumulated. Luckily my private lesson cancelled because he’s sick and I got to take a nap.

At 6:30 I had my intercambio with Pacolmo and then I ran to the gym at the very last minute to squeeze in a quick workout (9-10pm). Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days that are hardest for me to get to the gym. If I leave the intercambio at 8:15 or 8:30pm it’s usually ok…I have time to walk to the gym and at least get a decent chunk of my workout done. I never want to be rude though, or seem like I’m in a rush to get out of there though, so frequently I’m at Paco’s house until 8:45 or 9.

Now I need to get my lessons planned, my blog updated, my books read…the list of things I was hoping to accomplish while I’m here has barely been touched. I can’t believe I’ve already been here 3 months. How can it already be halfway through January?!

Gym, Letters and a Visitor

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this in my blog yet, but during Christmas break a gym opened up here in Siles. I started going because I had so much free time and it was something to do. Originally I was going with Almudena, and she would pick me up in her car but our schedules aren’t meshing very well anymore. That means I get to walk to the gym and back. Really, it isn’t that far. It is however the worst part of going to the gym because after working out my body is hot and it’s really cold outside. The contrast isn’t fun, comfortable or good for me. However, I am loving going to the gym 4-5 days a week. The gym isn’t open on the weekends so I feel more motivated to make sure I go Monday through Friday since I automatically get 2 days off.

Today I did 5 miles on the treadmill. Several years ago I used to love to go run 3 miles but I haven’t been able to do it in a long time. My knees, motivation and time restraints seemed to give me a plethora of reasons not to get it done. I also did 10 minutes on the bike and my entire weight-lifting workout (upping the weight for lots of the machines). Needless to say it was a good workout day (with the exception that dropped a weight on my pinkie and am a little afraid I might lose the nail). It’s really nice because the two guys that run the gym are basically my personal trainers, except I don’t have to pay extra for them. The gym is, of course, smaller than the YMCA I go to in the US but I like it. I still have everything I need and the smaller, tighter environment leaves me more accountable and the trainers more accessible. They know when I show up and when I don’t.

It was also a good day because I got mail. Sadly it still wasn’t my long-lost Christmas packages but I was still very happy. I got Grace and Espen’s wedding save the date and I got a Christmas card from Stephanie and Kyle with the letters that Stephanie’s students wrote my students. I love seeing little envelopes in front of my door when I get home.

Also, Inés stopped in today to say today. She didn’t even know it was her last day until it was her last day. I can’t believe the turn around in those situations is so fast! It was really good to see her. The guy who replaced Inés is already gone. A new teacher named Eugenia is here now and will be teaching Inés second graders as well as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade English classes. Like I originally thought the Ministry of Education was supposed to send a replacement for Inés that speaks English, so “New Antonio” couldn’t stay. At least that makes mentioning Antonio(s) in my blog a little easier!

A little peace and quiet

Today was a peaceful day. I slept until 1 or 2 and then Luis came over to make lunch. We watched a couple movies (Signs, Miss Congeniality and part of Tormenta Magnetica-Magnetic Storm?), all of which were in Castellano (Spanish). Later on that evening Luis went to go watch the Madrid football game in Nicols (his weekly tradition) and I stayed home to try and find the Seahawks playoff game online. I didn’t have any luck, although I saw via msn.com and everyone’s Facebook statuses that it didn’t go well. I guess I’m not too upset that I couldn’t watch it then. I also got a chance to video chat with my parents but that was about it…a very relaxing day…probably a good thing after my little visit to La Puerta and the fact that I have classes tomorrow!

A night out in La Puerta

Yesterday I went to La Puerta to visit Ben and Eve (and Erika Martinez). We started off by going to Tejera for tapas and wine. While we were there we shot a small clip for the web series that Ben and Eve are working on (that I got to be in!). Their web series is called Pueblo and inspired by their experiences with small town living in southern Spain. You should check out their website and/or Facebook page. I think it’s going to be pretty awesome.

http://www.pueblotheseries.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pueblotheseries

You can also be friends with Erika Martinez (the main actress) on Facebook. She loves befriending new people.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/erikamrtnz

To clarify, the wonderful and glamorous Erika Martinez is indeed a mannequin head. She frequently rides around in Ben’s backpack and makes frequent appearances in public. I’m really surprised at how many people go out of their way to cater to our crazy requests involving a mannequin head, video camera and microphone. I like to joke around with Ben and Eve that as the only 3 Americans in Siles and La Puerta (combined!) we just don’t stick out enough…we really need to carry around a mannequin head to up the ante a bit.

While we were at Tejera they made us some special tapas to use in the video clip. Everyone also wonders what the heck is going on at first but then people really tend to get into it. It’s hilarious.

Alberto (a friend of Ben and Eve and the guy that drove us to the party in the country house a couple months ago) met us at the restaurant. After tapas and wine at Tejera we went to Paco’s Pub. Ben and Alberto hopped in the car and drove over and Eve and I walked (it was really close). We had one drink there to check it out (Paco’s Pub just recently opened) and then we went over to Trujal. Trujal is Ben and Eve’s to-go hangout spot because it is right next to their apartment. I stayed at Trujal until 6am with Eve (Ben went home around 4 or 4:30). It was quite the night. A group of guys at the bar made a “body” for Erika Martinez out of things they had with them and things they found in the street. They took turns giving her drinks and kisses. (Like I said, it’s really funny to see how people get in it). Alberto also tried to teach me how to clap “properly” with the music. I don’t think I really ever got the hang of it, mostly because I don’t know how what I was doing was any different than what they were doing…but apparently it was. They also put me behind the bar for a short while and let me pour a round of drinks. We paid around 4am thinking we were going to head out shortly, but then we were “invited” to 2-3 more for free. I’m still not sure if a bartender who gives you free shots of tequila is really nice or really cruel.

We eventually headed back to their apartment and I slept in their spare bedroom. Ben and Eve’s apartment is quite a bit bigger than mine. This morning we went for a walk down to the “boat.” There is a big boat constructed in the middle of the river connecting the two sides. The weather was absolutely incredible. It was sunny and warm enough not to need a coat…a BIG change from the weather we’ve had lately. After awhile we continued our walk, explored a new street and then headed to Chapman (a café) for coffee, Nestea and patatas aliolis. When the sun sunk behind the mountain we headed back to their apartment and watched Black Swan. Throughout the day we tried to figure out when there would be a bus to Siles so I could go home, but eventually we just got a hold of Pedro. He agreed to let me go with him at 9:45pm when he was going to work.

When I got home I made some pasta for dinner and then went to 1900 (a bar) with Luis. The other teachers were also there. We hung out with the teachers and played darts. After two games some went home, some stayed, and some went to another bar. We stayed for a short while longer and then I headed home.

Hope to see you soon Inés

Today was a crazy day, and kind of sad. Inés got a new job in Orcera and is no longer working at the school. I found out on the day of the field trip to Jaén that she had received the new job and that she would be replaced sometime in January. No one knew though exactly when she would be replaced. They were just waiting for her Ministry of Education assigned replacement to show up on our school doorsteps. Inés was at school on Monday, I was at the infantil on Tuesday and today when I went to school she wasn’t there. I’m assuming she probably said her goodbyes at the staff meeting last night. I’m not required to go to the staff meetings so I got the not-so-fun surprise this morning. I was thinking that at least her replacement would probably be someone else that speaks English, since Inés is responsible for some of the English classes, but that’s not the case. Since the new teacher, Antonio (yes, we now have 2 teachers named Antonio at the school) doesn’t speak English there was a bit of shuffling with the schedule today. When I showed up in the English classroom with Sebas he told me that I needed to go to Antonio (not the new teacher)’s classroom and that he was going to be teaching the 3rd grade English class from now on. Huuuuuuh? They are reassigning Sebas to something different for that hour (but they don’t know what yet) which really baffles me. Inés leaving doesn’t impact this class at all and Sebas is still at the school and available to teach the class, so I don’t know why they switched. Anyways, after the 3rd grade class with Antonio I had class with the 6th graders with Sebas. After that it was time for recess. During recess I finished preparing a game of Memory using the new science vocabulary words for the 4th graders. They are starting a new chapter about the muscular, skeletal and excretory systems. Antonio and I talked and thought we would try restructuring that class so the kids could have more time practicing with me in a smaller group. Instead of doing the class all together we split the class in two 30 minute chunks. Antonio taught the new material in one classroom with 10 students and I played the Memory game to practice vocabulary and pronunciation in another room with the other 10 kids. I really thought it would be fun…and to a certain extent it was but the kids are so disobedient. It really took the fun out of it. They would not participate in saying the words with me, they would secretly move the cards to new places or turn over multiple cards, or sneak peeks and cheat…I was fed up by the time both groups had come through. Theeeeeeeen I had to go to the 2nd grade classroom. Inés was the 2nd grade teacher so I was with Antonio (again, not the new teacher). Antonio is responsible for teaching the 2nd graders English now. However, because Inés was replaced so quickly Antonio had to immediately step into this role without knowing where in the book the kids were, where the materials in the class are, what Inés usually does with the kids or how to incorporate me. It was chaos and after such a long day Antonio and I were wiped. I’m sure in a week or so we’ll get it all figured out, but I was seriously so tired by the end of the school day.

I went home and sat in bed for awhile, but a little after 4pm I had to head back to the school for the adult class. This was my first time going to the adult class in weeks and the first time going since Fernando left. Sad day. Seems like all the teachers I connect with the best end up leaving! The first hour (with the first group of adults) went pretty well. We talked about our Christmas vacations and then did a grammar exercise. The second group was more challenging. They can’t speak English as well so their descriptions of their vacations were very short and didn’t take up all the class time. We had to improvise from there. It was slow going for awhile, but eventually we clicked and got conversation rolling a little. Fernando’s replacement is from Granada. She invited me to go on walks with her and some other people on Mondays.

After class I was planning on going directly to the gym but decided to go to the grocery store first. I went to Día, then to my apartment to drop off the food. I changed my clothes and headed off for another workout.

I ran into Diego on my way to the gym. Diego is another new teacher that started just before Christmas break. He was actually in Siles at the beginning of the school year (and living in my apartment!) but got a leave of absence until now. I stopped and chatted with him for a bit. We were both frustrated with how hard it is to get to kids to behave and how hard it is to plan lessons that they can learn from and also think are fun.

Anyways, off to the gym I continued. I have two preset workouts that the trainer made for me that I alternate through. It’s interesting because some days it seems so hard and other days it seems so easy, even though the weight, repetitions and exercises are the same. I stayed a little extra time on the elliptical after finishing my lifting exercises because I knew there were Oreos waiting for me at home. :)

I hope I sleep better tonight. The last couple nights have been awful. I’ve had this stupid cough for several weeks now, but starting last Friday it got significantly worse and has been keeping me awake (or waking me up). The last two nights I’ve actually ended up throwing up because the cough is so strong and persistent. Lame. I went to the doctors yesterday to get it checked out. I really like the socialized medical system, but at the same time I left the doctor’s office a little wary and unsatisfied. Both times I’ve gone in the doctor asks me what’s going on and will maybe ask a couple questions from the information I give him and then he writes me a prescription. No, that doesn’t sound so bad, but especially this time my main concern was my lungs. I feel like I’ve just had fluid sitting in the very bottom pit of my lungs for weeks and he didn’t even listen to my chest or breathing. No examination whatsoever. He told me it’s the season for being sick, take the medicine he prescribed and I should feel better, but if not I could take the medicine from the second prescription he was giving me ‘just in case.’ He didn’t even know what “Hand Foot Mouth” disease was went in with it last month. He just prescribed me a medicine for a skin infection that wasn’t going to do anything. At least medicine is super cheap! I got both of my prescriptions for 3 euro and some change, with no co-pay and a free doctor’s visit. That part is pretty sweet. I feel like the medicine is helping, but not in a way that is giving me immediate relief. The medicine is just supposed to help me expel the mucous in my lungs. Yes, ultimately that is what I need, however, it doesn’t stop my cough, it encourages it. At least my coughs do seem more effective. C’mon cough, just take a little break so I can get some decent sleep and have the energy to deal with all those kids!

Side note…my goal of going out everyday to work in my Spanish workbooks and sit in Mezquita…not going to happen. Not a chance! My life went from being super relaxing, with too much free time, to absolutely jam-packed overnight. I’ve added a bunch of new private lesson students, the intercambios with Paco and books I’ve received from him to read, the trips to the gym and classes are back in session which means lesson planning. At least I can’t say I’m bored anymore!

Also, a group of 4th grade girls asked for my autograph today. Haha. They were actually asking for all the teachers’ autographs, but I still thought it was pretty funny. Ohhh kids.

Doctors, kids and clowns

Today’s highlight: all of the 5 year old students in one class spontaneously decided to run up and give Sebas a big hug, resulting in a big group class hug and moment of cuteness. I wanted my camera SO bad.

I missed my first two classes today. I had a doctor’s appointment to get my cough checked out. I was a couple minutes late to my appointment and was still filling out paperwork when I heard my name called in the other room. I wasn’t too worried though. I knew they would still see me. What I *didn’t* know was that those couple minutes were going to end up costing me 30-45 minutes. I finished up my paperwork, then went to the waiting room. The doctor finished up with the patient he had seen instead of me, then did a consultation for a patient with another doctor. When he came back out of his office he was dressed in his street clothes and had his bag. He saw me, said “You can wait, right? I’m going to go have a coffee.” Hmmmm…well…yes…I can wait…I don’t really have a choice. But really??? The doctor’s office opens at 8am I think and closes at 2pm. My appointment was at 10am. 6 hours…that’s not even a full workday! And you need a coffee break in the middle? That’s why so many Americans have their giganto cups of coffee with them at their desks! So we don’t have to leave in the middle of the work day to get a coffee in a restaurant. He eventually came back, saw me first, got me a prescription and sent me on my way.

From there I headed to the post office and the pharmacy. I realized that you never want to try to go to either of these places around 11am. Apparently that’s peak time for running errands. Both places were packed (ok…well… “packed” in a Siles, small-town way). I decided to deal with the post office first. I tried to get the lady there to clarify some of the charges, or see if she could call the main Correos or the customs people to talk down the charges a bit. She thought the charges were absolutely ridiculous but could do nothing about it. She gave me their phone number and recommended I call them to try and explain person to person the situation and see if they would waive the importation fees. Grrrr. The pharmacy was a little more uplifting. I was worried a little bit when I realized that I only had 20 euro with me. I wasn’t sure how much these two prescriptions were going to cost and no one in this town takes debit or credit cards. Cash only! Silly me…both prescriptions together, TOTAL, cost a little over 3 euros. I thought I had misunderstood the cashier. Sweet deal! It makes it seem even better because the 1 euro is a coin, not a bill, so I paid for my entire prescription in coins. Seems like nothing!

After this I headed up to the infantil. On my way I saw Luis’ dad who was pacing outside a café with his umbrella and cigarette. The new smoking laws in action! Luis’ mom was inside with Carlos (Luis’ nephew who is back in town visiting). He invited me in to have coffee with them but I had to get up to the school. I made two more quick stops to pick up a napolitana and something to drink. When I got to the school it was recess time. I could have had that coffee after all. I sat and chatted with the teachers, then it was time to work.

I was working with Sebas. I had seen him at the gym for the first time yesterday and today we chatted a bit about the gym and how sore and tired he was. Theeeeen we got to sing and dance with the little kids. I went over the days of the week and weather with them like normal. We taught them a song from their book about winter and invented some last minute dance moves to go with it. I don’t mind singing and dancing with the little kids when other teachers are dancing with me. It’s just when I’m planning and executing a lesson alone that I avoid it (even though I know it’s a good way for the little kids to learn). After that we did an activity in their book to try and teach them the number seven in English. The kids can count from one to at least ten without any difficulty. However, today we tried to get them to count backwards and they couldn’t do it at all. I thought it was very interesting. We tried to write the numbers on the board and even point to them in the correct order but they would always count up. 7…8…no, no we need six next…6….7….no, no, you have to go to five after that….5….6…ohhh geez. When the first class of 5 year olds was done Sebas and I took a quick breath in the hallway then headed in for round two (there are two classes of 5 year olds). We did the exact same lesson. The only difference was the random group hugs that happened 3 times
(twice to Sebas, once to me). Ahhh, yes kids, we love you too.

I also had my first intercambio with Pacolmo the clown today. It wasn’t what I thought it would be but it was still good. I met Paco at the ayuntamiento (city hall building) at 6:30 and was greeted by his big, friendly dog whose entire demeanor says “I’m happy and I want to be friends with you!” Several people had told me that Paco is “buena gente” (a good person) so I wasn’t *too* nervous as we walked down the long winding road to his house in the dark. He lives in the town, but on the outskirts. He showed me his stable, and the garden, and then his rehearsal room (which was of course filled with hats to juggle, unicycles and clown costumes). We went throughout the room and made little flashcards for him to put up so he could remember all the important vocabulary related to his job. We stayed there for quite awhile and then eventually headed into the house. Paco and his wife built the house a couple years ago using a lot of recycled things. For example their marble countertop was taken from a fabric shop that was doing some renovating. He has a room with a fireplace that is done in a Moroccan theme. It has a giant L-shaped sofa with tons of pillows and Moroccan hand sewn fabrics. Paco has done a lot of traveling so he has cultural decorations from all over the world inside his house. I got to meet his 10 year old son, and 14 year old daughter, but his wife wasn’t home. He let me look at his book collection and handed me two books he thought I should read. (I wanted to do some reading while here to improve my language abilities…looks like Paco is giving me the shove I need to actually get it done). I thought I was going to be there for about an hour, like my normal private lessons, but I was there for over two hours (maybe I should have rethought doing these intercambios twice a week). I really wanted to go to the gym so I brought my workout clothes with me to Paco’s house. I was planning on going straight to the gym from his house but when I finally headed out I realized I forgot my tennis shoes. It was going to take too much time to go home, get my shoes, change and still have time to walk to the gym before they closed. Oh well…I’ll have to make up for it tomorrow.

My Poor Lungs

Ok, I really thought that this never-ending cough would finally go away when the new smoking laws kicked in, but apparently that isn’t the case. For awhile I really felt like my cough was getting better but the last 24-48 hours I’ve spent nearly hacking up both of my lungs. That means another trip to the doctor for me tomorrow. I’m not really sure how I’m going to schedule that. I may have to miss one of my classes. I’m going to call and try to get an appointment but if I can’t I’m going to have to show up tomorrow after my classes and hope that they’ll see me anyways. Grrrr. Luis said I need to lay off the cigarettes. Ha…Ha…Ha. Lots of good it’s doing me to be one of the 4 people in this town that don’t smoke.