Theater and Thanksgiving

Today I went with the EOS (high school) kids to the theater. Initally there was a bunch of confusion about whether I was going with them or not, because we didn't know what time I would be back and I had 2 classes with the younger kids in the afternoon. Eventually one of the people in charge made the executive decision and said if I wanted to come, I could, and it didn't matter if I missed some of my other classes.

As we went walking to the theater Ana (the teacher I'm working with) was describing the landmarks we passed by. One of them was an area next to a church that they tried to turn into a parking garage. "Unfortunately" they found archeological remains and construction was halted. That happens all the time here, and is something that would  never happen in the US. They have so much history here.

When we got to the theater we had to wait outside for awhile so we started taking pictures. The kids have no concept whatsoever of organized photos, but it was fun anyways. At one point Ana told me "one of the students came up to me today and said 'Maestra, Erica is soo pretty." It's flattering, and I love that the kids don't hold back with compliments like that.

This theater was actually really close to my house and I didn't even know it was there. I'll have to see if there are any other good activities/events in the future.

A couple classes from other schools showed up and we finally got to go inside. We had to try and wrangle all the kids into their seats and get them to be quiet. One of the boys in the row in front of me was absolutely enamoured with a blond-ish Spanish girl from one of the other schools and kept trying to get her attention, get her to come over and kept telling her how pretty she was. Sounds cute, right? In theory, yes, but this kid was annoyingly persistent. Ana and I kept trying to get him to leave her alone but he wasn't having any of it.

The play was about 3 guy friends and 3 female cousins and 2 of the cousins and 2 of the guys were trying to set the remaining girl and guy up, so they tricked them into thinking the other was head over heels for them...of course they end up falling in love even though they were both adamant against it in the beginning.

Graffiti from the other side of the street

I ended up getting back in time for both of my other classes. I was only a little late to class with the 4th graders. We made pilgrim hats, which Irene and the students really liked. It was a good idea for Thanksgiving, minus the fact that I forgot to consider the lice problem. Supposedly we're getting it under control, but there are a couple kids that either have lice or dandruff based on what I saw when trying to help them with their hats...gross.

Next I had class with the 2nd graders. This class is always a little different because I'm not with the English teacher in this class. I'm with their normal teacher and I'm still not totally sure how much English he speaks. They are always excited to see me, but it's hard to keep them focused. In today's class one table made pilgrim hats and one table made indian hats, then they came together to shake hands and say "Happy Thanksgiving."

The pilgrim table

The indian table

Happy Thanksgiving pilgrims and indians!

Here instead of saying "cheese" they say "patatas." It doesn't seem to work very well because instead of looking like a smile it just looks like they are screaming...which they are...

We did something similar with the 1st graders earlier this week. Here is their photo...

Off and running

Ufffffff. Tuesdays are something-else. The run down (key word being run) of my day goes like this...

-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...

I'm not generally a political person, so I honestly can't tell you much about him, except that he's from the Partido Popular (the conservative political party in Spain). These are their basic ideals (if you can read Spanish)...http://www.pp.es/nuestras-ideas. And here's some information on Rajoy (again, if you can read Spanish)...http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Rajoy. The Partido Popular totally wiped out the competition this year. I think Spain just needs some sort of change. Everyone is restless about how bad the economy is, so it's out with the old and in with the new. As far as I can understand, he takes office in December or January, depending on how long it takes the Spanish king to transfer power from the old president to the new one. Mariano is trying to get that moved up so he can start helping the disasterous state of the country right now. Nice optimism, even though I'm not so sure that extra couple weeks is going to help *that* much. Good luck Mr. President...

Castillo de Lopera

Today I went on another excursion for my business Spanish class. Today our destination was the castle in Lopera, that archeologists are in the process of studying and starting to restore.

The guide said that the experienced guys can clean up a skeleton in a day, but it takes the newbies about a week. The tools they use are so small so they can dig out the dirt without doing damage to the bones.

The outside/courtyard area of the castle.

Another worker starting to uncover a skull.

One of the uncovered columns

Heading to the front of the church, that sits in the middle of the castle. The important people are buried in this area.

These head-honchos supposedly had to pay big bucks to be buried in this room.

One of our guides chatting with some of us.

Another shot of the column

More uncovered details

This guy was only half uncovered. He was buried in the middle room, so he paid for an upgrade, but not a big one. Unfortunately his other half is under the walkway, so he may be partially stuck there forever. Look at his teeth! He's from the 13th century...pretty good smile for being hundreds of years old!

Mr. Smiley and another mom with her 3-4 week old baby

The 2nd entrance for the church

Arches

Outside the entrance

Uncovering more bones in the courtyard

More outside

In the 20th century a guy in town bought the castle and made it into a bodega. Most of this random stuff in the courtyard is from the bodega.

Initially they thought this was just a defensive military castle. It wasn't until the archeologists showed up that they realized the center area was a church.

The back entrance. This door used to be really small, but they put in a bigger one so they could bring in trucks and such.

Remains of a cross in the wall

This is where the wine was stored for the bodega. They told us not to stand on them or there might be a 5 meter fall in our future.

Looking out from the bodega to the outdoor area

A church outside the castle walls

The main entrance to the castle, and an arrow if your confused about where to go. haha

The church outside again.

This is where they used to store wine, grain, flour, etc. They've restored it a lot and now use it for things like drawing and painting classes.

Puente Tabla and Porcuna

I'm required to go on at several excursions for my Spanish business class. We already went to the Christmas candy factory, and today's excursion is to Puente Tabla (an archeological excavation site where the Iberians lived in the 3rd-5th centuries) and to a necropolis (cemetary/tomb) in Porcuna. It's Semana de la Ciencia (science week) so they university has these excursions free. Even though they are focused on archeological stuff, it's supposed to tie into tourism, which we're starting to study in our class.

We were up on a hill and the view was incredible. The morning light was great too. We had to meet at the university at 8:30am, but of course we left late, so we didn't get here until probably 9:30 or a little later.

From the dig site you could see all of Jaén. The castle is up on the closest hill, and you can't really see it, but the cathedral is down below the left side of that same hill...and of course, olive fields.

These rocks (although you can't see the layout very well here) were the houses. They were all the same length and rectangle. Very orderly.

A little bit better view of the houses (well...their bases at least).

Stefanie and Luisa

It was pretty interesting because the tour was lead by people passionate about this subject. However, the language was really technical and specific, which was a little difficult for us foreigners.

There was also a group of high schoolers with us that were really inmature and 'pesados' (annoying). I certainly could have done without their company.

One of our guides explaining everything.

A "street" in between the two buildings

Their area of worship

The inside of the front entrance to the city.

One of the archeologists working at the dig site.

Jaén and it's famous olives.

Although some areas had some fog, it was a beautiful day.

There's me!

The outside fortress under the moon

Path leading up to the dig site. If you see a bigger version of the photo the moon is above the hill.

Here's some info about Puente Tabla if you're interested (and speak Spanish)...

I thought the excursion was supposed to last until 2 but around 11-11:15 we headed out. As the university came into sight, we ended the opposite direction. I was really confused. I thought some people were taking about going to a restaurant, but we ended up turning into a gas station with a cafe and getting out for coffee. I stayed there chatting with my Spanish prof, Fran, and a couple of German exchange students. About 15 minutes later we hopped back on the bus and headed to Porcuna, about 30-45 minutes away. We were *there* until 2pm. It was actually really warm today. The weather has been a little chilly lately, but today was beautiful.

These photos are from the necropolis in Porcuna...

The main tomb you see in the lower left corner had the 2 most important people in it.

And of course, olives! Before too long the workers will be out there in the fields picking them, bringing them in and making their world famous olive oil.

Here's some info about the necropolis if you are interested...

www.viajealtiempodelosiberos.com