I miss your floppy ears. Your smelly farts. Our walks. Your greetings. Most of all, your companionship.
On a brighter note...
I am off to Budapest tomorrow! I'll be back in March... (wow! its already March!)
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
hard to believe it's been 4 years...
I was thinking about Tipper the other day and I realized it is almost the four year anniversary of when he died. Some may think I am silly for this post, but then again most of you know how hard it was for me to lose Tipper who was my friend and part of my family.
I miss your floppy ears. Your smelly farts. Our walks. Your greetings. Most of all, your companionship.
On a brighter note...
I am off to Budapest tomorrow! I'll be back in March... (wow! its already March!)
I miss your floppy ears. Your smelly farts. Our walks. Your greetings. Most of all, your companionship.
On a brighter note...
I am off to Budapest tomorrow! I'll be back in March... (wow! its already March!)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
...it's just "different," right mom?
Almost every day I can hear my mom saying something like, "It's not bad, it's not weird, its just DIFFERENT..."
funny stories that make me love Spain:
- one day last week in one of my 2nd grade classes, my teacher stopped the class to allow a girl to read a list she had created of "mis amigos;" so of the kids in the class which of them were lucky enough to be considered her friend. You can only imagine how confused I was that this was okay...
- one of the 3 girls i give private "lessons" to, lost a tooth. she explained to me how the "RAT" would come that night to bring her a present... i told her that in my house, a FAIRY comes and she got upset and said she would rather a fairy come than a rat, and that is just not fair. I was also explained to by the girls that in Spain on Valentines day, it is a day for the boy you like to show you that he likes you, too.
VS. 
- I realized that the teachers I work with only work 20 hours a week. Of course this does not include the HARD, HARD work I am sure they do at home... but in the school: 20 hours. They arrive at 9am, leave at 2pm.
- this week I had a field trip to the theater. It was with the 1st and second graders to see an ENGLISH "play" -- Frankenstein. I knew this was going to be a crazy experience and of course Spain did not let me down. We walked with probably more than TWO HUNDRED 5-7 year-olds across Motril to the theater. There were MAYBE 2 chaperons per class (25 students). I was terrified. My coordinator explained to me that "Here in Spain, we have confidence...how funny it is that people require all of this paperwork to allow kids to go somewhere..." Yes, how funny... The play was even funnier because of course the kids had NO idea what they were saying but somehow this English pair kept them entertained. I also loved that the teachers did not sit with the kids, rather in the back and just let them misbehave during the show...
...i love Spain!
Walking through the streets and then inside the theater!
the 2 people that put on the "play"
two of my favorites: paula and carmen and other students in the theater!
funny stories that make me love Spain:
- one day last week in one of my 2nd grade classes, my teacher stopped the class to allow a girl to read a list she had created of "mis amigos;" so of the kids in the class which of them were lucky enough to be considered her friend. You can only imagine how confused I was that this was okay...
- one of the 3 girls i give private "lessons" to, lost a tooth. she explained to me how the "RAT" would come that night to bring her a present... i told her that in my house, a FAIRY comes and she got upset and said she would rather a fairy come than a rat, and that is just not fair. I was also explained to by the girls that in Spain on Valentines day, it is a day for the boy you like to show you that he likes you, too.
VS. - I realized that the teachers I work with only work 20 hours a week. Of course this does not include the HARD, HARD work I am sure they do at home... but in the school: 20 hours. They arrive at 9am, leave at 2pm.
- this week I had a field trip to the theater. It was with the 1st and second graders to see an ENGLISH "play" -- Frankenstein. I knew this was going to be a crazy experience and of course Spain did not let me down. We walked with probably more than TWO HUNDRED 5-7 year-olds across Motril to the theater. There were MAYBE 2 chaperons per class (25 students). I was terrified. My coordinator explained to me that "Here in Spain, we have confidence...how funny it is that people require all of this paperwork to allow kids to go somewhere..." Yes, how funny... The play was even funnier because of course the kids had NO idea what they were saying but somehow this English pair kept them entertained. I also loved that the teachers did not sit with the kids, rather in the back and just let them misbehave during the show...
...i love Spain!
Walking through the streets and then inside the theater!
the 2 people that put on the "play"
two of my favorites: paula and carmen and other students in the theater!
the gift of meeting new people
In the past few weeks I have discovered how lucky I am to have met so many different and great people. I would like to mention my good friend Jessi who has unfortunately left Spain early to start a new chapter of her life back in the US. I am sad she is gone -- she is someone who I immediately felt connected with and although she was living in Granada it was a comfort to have her close by and someone who I felt like I could talk to. I am happy for her new adventures coming up (including getting engaged!) and hopefully I can visit her in Colorado soon. (Also a wonderful thing -- having people to visit all over the world!) Jessi I miss you guapa!
Jessi & Me
A few weeks ago Jessi and I were graced with the presence of our Australian friends whom we met in Scotland. It was SO good to see the 3 mates and show them around Granada and Salobrena. They all are incredibly funny, nice and SO fun to be around. It was a treat to have them here for a few days and to share many many laughs. Hopefully someday I can make it down under...
Me, Tom, Jessi, Josh & Nath
Recently I have had the opportunity to get to know one of my teachers, Ana, better. We had talked before about being each others "intercambio" where we could meet once a week and talk in both English/Spanish and help the other improve conversational skills. Finally, last week Ana asked me if I wanted to get together and asked if I would like to come over to her house for lunch. Of course I said yes! I had no idea what to expect and of course it was a funny experience... I showed up to meet Ana and she said "Wow, we have quite the afternoon planned!" It turns out it was her son's birthday (1 year old) so we were having a birthday lunch with her whole family. I was confused as to why I was invited to this...? Although I felt awkward and confused I was excited for the cultural experience. Ana's mother in-law made Paella (of course a typical Spanish dish eaten often for special occasions) and it was delicious. I had just recovered from getting over a stomach bug so it was a lot to handle -- especially once I discovered I was eating rabbit... At first I felt shy and did not contribute much to the conversation (among 6 family members) but then I warmed up and it was really fun! I love meeting more people here in Motril and I still am amazed at how welcoming everyone has been to me. The food was delicious and it was even better surrounded by great company. After lunch Ana's mother in-law showed me her artwork (beautiful paintings) and the view from their roof. Ana and I continued to chat afterward until I had to leave for a lesson. I was so giddy with excitement about my afternoon and the amazing food I had eaten, the new wonderful Spaniards I just met, and the new level of friendship I was creating with one of my teachers. We are going to try to make it a regular thing (whether it is coffee, paella, or whatever!) so that will be nice.
Again, I feel blessed to have meet wonderful people during my time here so far whether it is the people in this program, the people I am working with, or other travelers exploring the world.
Jessi & Me
A few weeks ago Jessi and I were graced with the presence of our Australian friends whom we met in Scotland. It was SO good to see the 3 mates and show them around Granada and Salobrena. They all are incredibly funny, nice and SO fun to be around. It was a treat to have them here for a few days and to share many many laughs. Hopefully someday I can make it down under...
Me, Tom, Jessi, Josh & Nath
Recently I have had the opportunity to get to know one of my teachers, Ana, better. We had talked before about being each others "intercambio" where we could meet once a week and talk in both English/Spanish and help the other improve conversational skills. Finally, last week Ana asked me if I wanted to get together and asked if I would like to come over to her house for lunch. Of course I said yes! I had no idea what to expect and of course it was a funny experience... I showed up to meet Ana and she said "Wow, we have quite the afternoon planned!" It turns out it was her son's birthday (1 year old) so we were having a birthday lunch with her whole family. I was confused as to why I was invited to this...? Although I felt awkward and confused I was excited for the cultural experience. Ana's mother in-law made Paella (of course a typical Spanish dish eaten often for special occasions) and it was delicious. I had just recovered from getting over a stomach bug so it was a lot to handle -- especially once I discovered I was eating rabbit... At first I felt shy and did not contribute much to the conversation (among 6 family members) but then I warmed up and it was really fun! I love meeting more people here in Motril and I still am amazed at how welcoming everyone has been to me. The food was delicious and it was even better surrounded by great company. After lunch Ana's mother in-law showed me her artwork (beautiful paintings) and the view from their roof. Ana and I continued to chat afterward until I had to leave for a lesson. I was so giddy with excitement about my afternoon and the amazing food I had eaten, the new wonderful Spaniards I just met, and the new level of friendship I was creating with one of my teachers. We are going to try to make it a regular thing (whether it is coffee, paella, or whatever!) so that will be nice.
Again, I feel blessed to have meet wonderful people during my time here so far whether it is the people in this program, the people I am working with, or other travelers exploring the world.
top headlines
NEWEST UPDATES:
2. I am going to BUDAPEST in 10 days (from February 25 - March 1st). I am officially invited to Kime's cousin's wedding there and I feel incredibly honored and excited. I have heard wonderful things about Budapest as a city and I am excited to spend more time with Kime and be apart of a special day for her family.
3. I have a new private lesson that I have not yet mentioned. The mother of the other 3 girls I teach recommended me to a friend of hers who has two daughters that she would like to improve their conversational skills. The girls are 13 and 15 and not at a high level of English whatsoever but it is okay...it is another source of income (small, but something) and of course an interesting experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
