Friday, January 15 2010
Today, we celebrated Diego’s 20th birthday. His actual birthday is at the end of December, but as everyone had already left for vacation, we decided to celebrate late. In keeping with the birthday tradition that has developed, we had to do botellon (buying alcohol and drinking with a group of friends rather than at the bars) in our apartment and bake a cake.
Diego and Kathleen came by and we headed to Mercadona to buy some food and booze. On the way, Ionut met up with us and we stopped at Diego’s mom’s pub to say ‘hi.’ As in typical Spanish fashion, we ended up staying for a few hours. During a second round of pool, suddenly I remembered a bet that Ionut and I made the last time we played. The terms were: if he won, I had to help clean his car for two hours; if I won, he had to dress like a woman one night. Incidentally, we both lost a game and both had yet to fulfill our end of the bargain. This seemed like a good night for a transvestite.
After a quick run to Mercadona (finally), and the gang at my apartment – Alex, Charlotte, Kathleen, Diego, Ionut, and even Drew- the festivities commenced with drinks, home-made tapas, and cross-dressing. A very reluctant Ionut followed Diego and me into my room to change. And we really took advantage: dress, bra stuffed with socks, tights, boots (the only shoes of mine he could fit into), jewelry, scarf, and make-up, the whole nine. We could not stop laughing. He was a real trooper: posing for pictures, letting us go all the way with the make-up (I’m talking eye shadow, mascara, lipstick and all). The thing was, I think he got a little into it. Icing on the cake: after I rubbed his cheeks with blush, he took one look in the mirror and said, “but you can’t really see it.” My lord, the blackmail I could do with the photos we took…
A few days before, Alex and I got the bright idea to make Diego special brownies for his birthday. Great idea, in theory. Unfortunately what transpired was not theoretical. A short time after munching on some hot delicious, brownies, I realized we had munched our way through the entire pan. Uh oh. The short version: after an incessant bout of giggles followed by a voracious appetite, came a seemingly-unending and intense full body experience (or out-of-body experience?). Some drama, philosophical talk, more drama, and fifteen hours of sleep. Buenas noches, Albox.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Te voy a llevar al huerto, chato!
Thursday January 14, 2010
My favorite class to work with is still my first grade class. But how well each lesson goes can be a crapshoot, depending on my students’ behavior. Today was a pretty good day, though. This week, we’ve moved on to a different unit: family. I don’t know if it’s an easy theme, or if the kids are beginning to learn more quickly, but they seem to be catching on to the family vocab at a fast pace. I like seeing their faces light up when I ask a question and they actually know the answer. Andres always gives my favorite reaction: it’s like this moment of realization right before he spits out a word; you can see his eyes get really big like he’s going to explode the response “grandpa!” And I love Jose Maria’s pronunciation: sometimes I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He stares at my mouth when I talk to try and imitate my pronunciation. He’s always so close, but no cigar. Example: Me, “sister”. Jose, “Shistow.” Que mono…
And then there are always the stinkers: I really have no idea what to do with Pedro and Josefina. Pedro just does whatever he wants whenever he wants. When I countdown “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, quiet,” Pedro adds, “yeah, quiet!” Uh, that includes you, Pedro. Josefina just never listens. I swear, Arancha will chastise the kids in a five minute rant about sitting down, and there she is standing by her desk sharpening a pencil. -??-
Half the time we don’t know whether to laugh or fume; so we usually settle for eye rolling from across the room.
Anyway, the day is Thursday. Which means I anticipate tapas at el Mirador followed by copas at el Laberinto. This day especially; it was the first week back after almost a month of vacation, and I hadn’t experienced a Thursday at the Mirador in too long.
Lo and behold, we’re not going to Mirador. Tonight is Sandra’s last night in Albox (she works with all of the other professors at Martin Garcia Ramos) before transferring schools. To celebrate, we head to a restaurant called La Zaranda – I only remember the name because it sounds like Sarandon, as in Susan Sarandon. (Hey, you do what you have to in order to keep random Spanish words from flying in one ear and out the other). It’s good to finally see all the professors again: Sylvia, Maria Angela, Gustavo, Aurora, Luis, and of course Sergio.
Thirst-quenching cerveza: check. Delicious food: check. Raucous behavior and inappropriate table conversations: check. Halfway through dinner, as usual, we begin exchanging how-to-says in our respective languages. ** Quick preface: earlier in the week, Alex and I made a bet to see who could recall the most Spanish idioms and use them nonchalantly in conversation with our Spanish friends.** So, I’m talking about how clumsy I am (as I spill salad all over my lap), and Alex is trying to explain “bromance” to Gustavo in English. Somewhere the conversation turns to a more promiscuous topic, and we learn the expression, Te voy a llevar al huerto, chato! Translation: I’m going to take you to the orchard, baby (to, you know…). Or: I’m going to have my way with you. So, in a quiet moment, Alex shouts to Sergio, “Te voy a llevar al huerto, chato!” for all to hear. Damn, point for Alex.
All in all, a great dinner - Croquetas (fried breading filled with cheese-kind of like mozzarella sticks but way better), salad with goat cheese, bacalao (which I recently learned is Cod fish), mmmmm. But it still left me wanting more. At el Mirador, the food is better, and less than half the price. There’s something inexplicable about the environment; it’s smokey, loud, and cramped from having to shove four tables together and squeeze in the corner. There’s really no menu so it’s always a surprise what food comes to the table. And I love it. I like the familiarity of a weekly ritual, a common meeting place where the waiters know us and I recognize other regulars. Until next week…
After la Zaranda, el Laberinto. Unlike the norm, this week it’s not packed full of people. I guess after the holidays, fewer people have it in them to make it to the bars. Bueno, a few copas, lots of laughs (I love drunk Sergio), and even some philosophical conversations (although, Lyndsey if you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re thinking that the latter is a common occurrence with me). Had a heart-to-heart discussion with Gustavo about religion. He confessed that I’m the first Jew he’s met, which is kind of a strange sensation since my world is so full of Jews back home. I hope I can represent our people well (yeah right, great Jew I am after eating a ham-filled dinner…). Another great Thursday in Albox, buenas noches.
My favorite class to work with is still my first grade class. But how well each lesson goes can be a crapshoot, depending on my students’ behavior. Today was a pretty good day, though. This week, we’ve moved on to a different unit: family. I don’t know if it’s an easy theme, or if the kids are beginning to learn more quickly, but they seem to be catching on to the family vocab at a fast pace. I like seeing their faces light up when I ask a question and they actually know the answer. Andres always gives my favorite reaction: it’s like this moment of realization right before he spits out a word; you can see his eyes get really big like he’s going to explode the response “grandpa!” And I love Jose Maria’s pronunciation: sometimes I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He stares at my mouth when I talk to try and imitate my pronunciation. He’s always so close, but no cigar. Example: Me, “sister”. Jose, “Shistow.” Que mono…
And then there are always the stinkers: I really have no idea what to do with Pedro and Josefina. Pedro just does whatever he wants whenever he wants. When I countdown “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, quiet,” Pedro adds, “yeah, quiet!” Uh, that includes you, Pedro. Josefina just never listens. I swear, Arancha will chastise the kids in a five minute rant about sitting down, and there she is standing by her desk sharpening a pencil. -??-
Half the time we don’t know whether to laugh or fume; so we usually settle for eye rolling from across the room.
Anyway, the day is Thursday. Which means I anticipate tapas at el Mirador followed by copas at el Laberinto. This day especially; it was the first week back after almost a month of vacation, and I hadn’t experienced a Thursday at the Mirador in too long.
Lo and behold, we’re not going to Mirador. Tonight is Sandra’s last night in Albox (she works with all of the other professors at Martin Garcia Ramos) before transferring schools. To celebrate, we head to a restaurant called La Zaranda – I only remember the name because it sounds like Sarandon, as in Susan Sarandon. (Hey, you do what you have to in order to keep random Spanish words from flying in one ear and out the other). It’s good to finally see all the professors again: Sylvia, Maria Angela, Gustavo, Aurora, Luis, and of course Sergio.
Thirst-quenching cerveza: check. Delicious food: check. Raucous behavior and inappropriate table conversations: check. Halfway through dinner, as usual, we begin exchanging how-to-says in our respective languages. ** Quick preface: earlier in the week, Alex and I made a bet to see who could recall the most Spanish idioms and use them nonchalantly in conversation with our Spanish friends.** So, I’m talking about how clumsy I am (as I spill salad all over my lap), and Alex is trying to explain “bromance” to Gustavo in English. Somewhere the conversation turns to a more promiscuous topic, and we learn the expression, Te voy a llevar al huerto, chato! Translation: I’m going to take you to the orchard, baby (to, you know…). Or: I’m going to have my way with you. So, in a quiet moment, Alex shouts to Sergio, “Te voy a llevar al huerto, chato!” for all to hear. Damn, point for Alex.
All in all, a great dinner - Croquetas (fried breading filled with cheese-kind of like mozzarella sticks but way better), salad with goat cheese, bacalao (which I recently learned is Cod fish), mmmmm. But it still left me wanting more. At el Mirador, the food is better, and less than half the price. There’s something inexplicable about the environment; it’s smokey, loud, and cramped from having to shove four tables together and squeeze in the corner. There’s really no menu so it’s always a surprise what food comes to the table. And I love it. I like the familiarity of a weekly ritual, a common meeting place where the waiters know us and I recognize other regulars. Until next week…
After la Zaranda, el Laberinto. Unlike the norm, this week it’s not packed full of people. I guess after the holidays, fewer people have it in them to make it to the bars. Bueno, a few copas, lots of laughs (I love drunk Sergio), and even some philosophical conversations (although, Lyndsey if you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re thinking that the latter is a common occurrence with me). Had a heart-to-heart discussion with Gustavo about religion. He confessed that I’m the first Jew he’s met, which is kind of a strange sensation since my world is so full of Jews back home. I hope I can represent our people well (yeah right, great Jew I am after eating a ham-filled dinner…). Another great Thursday in Albox, buenas noches.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
As part of my New Year's Resolution, I present a MUCH needed update
January 10, 2010
Ok, so I FINALLY returned to Albox after what seemed like a very long travel home. I just got back from Christmas vacation with my dad and Sue. We had a great time on our vacation, which started in Madrid on December 31, and just ended in Barcelona on January 9th. I left for Albox from Barcelona, and the result was an entire day-and-a-half of traveling. More on this later.
Anyway, one of my new year’s resolutions is to be better about blogging. It’s obvious that up to this point, I have been terrible. I really couldn’t have neglected my blog any more than I did, seeing as I wrote roughly two or three posts the entire first three months of my stay here in Spain.
So, I will now attempt to recount and summarize my experiences up till now, while at the same time continue to write about my life as it occurs in ‘real time’ (umm, relatively…). Buenas suerte
January 11, 2010
First day back at school after winter vacation. It was hard to get up, but I was excited to see all the students and teachers. Everyone greets each other with two kisses, one on each cheek, and a cheerful “feliz año.” It was really good to see everyone again. My kids greet me with hugs, and “hello, teacher” which is great. Just as usual, they’re like bouncing balls of energy. But it seems as though nothing has changed in the ways of behavior. I suppose it’s normal kid stuff: first day back after a holiday, and everyone is still in “break” mode. No one listens or pays attention. Arancha and I spend more time castigating than actually teaching. After school I almost lose my voice from yelling “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Time!” a million times.
Later, everyone came over to our house just like old times. Kathleen arrives first to use the internet. It’s so great to see her. Then Diego arrives and finally Ionut. We’re all huddled in my room, the seven of us including Charlotte and Alex, with the calefactory blowing on high. Everyone shares stories of their holiday adventures. Of course, it’s Spain, and the electricity can’t handle more than one thing, so the power keeps going out because we’ve got the calefactor on at the same time as the light… oh Spain.
Took a shower at night, and at first it felt great. I was standing there in the hot water thinking, “Oh this feels fantastic, finally we’ve got hot water that works.” Guess I spoke too soon. Mid-shower, the water pressure begins to wain, until finally it’s just a few drips and then… nothing! Se fue el agua! The water went out. While I was in the shower. With shampoo in my hair. What the fuck to I do now?!
I call Alex and he comes back in a few minutes to tell me that the dueña says the water is out in the whole building. Of course. And, we don’t have any more bottled water. Of course. Luckily, Christelle has a small bottle, so I’m standing over the sink, wrapped in a towel, while Alex pours freezing water over my head to rinse the shampoo from my hair. Oh Spain…. buenas noches.
January 12, 2010
I felt sick today. I think all of the traveling with little sleep has finally caught up with me. It’s Tuesday, but I skipped the Mercado (still have no food) and just slept. Oh siestas, I love you.
Today seemed like a day for new beginnings. I started the re-application process to do the Auxiliares program another year. Everyone seems curious as to whether I’ll repeat the program and come back next year. Good question. I still have no idea what I’ll be doing with my life at this time next year. But hey, that’s the exact position I was in at this time last year, and look where I am now…
I figure for now, I’ll at least apply. I have nothing to lose by applying. Then, I can decide later if I want to accept or not. So far, I’ve enjoyed the program; and not just the teaching part. I love the culture, the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had. Part of me would love to do it again (but if I do, it’s got to be in a bigger city. Sorry, Albox). But the other part of me is thinking, why ruin a good thing by trying to repeat it?
Anyway, another beginning: I worked out today for the first time in probably 3 weeks! Afterwards, I felt so energized and happy. It’s amazing what a little exercise will do. Still hoping Sergio will teach me to play squash soon…
Still no water in our apartment. After the gym, I went to Kathleen’s house to shower. It was a pain having to trek all the way over just to shower. But, I got to see Gema and Marie Carmen. We sat around the heater table and talked like normal Spain-fashion. I learned a new word, too: Pica Piedras, which means The Flintstones! Funny context: We were joking about how primitive we all seem to be living; water that’s rarely hot and sometimes fails to work at all, houses that maintain a colder temperature inside than the actual temperature outside, and faulty electricity. Gema and Marie Carmen said something about Pica-Piedras. Kathleen and I had no idea what they were talking about. After about 5 minutes of explanation and looking on the internet, we realized that’s the name for Flintstones.
Tonight, Alex had to sleep in the extra bed in my room. Apparently, our power can’t handle both heaters; when Alex and I both use our heaters in our rooms at the same time, the power goes out. Temporary solution: sleep in the same room and use one heater. Emphasis on the temporary, because this isn’t going to work for the rest of the winter. Buenas noches…
Ok, so I FINALLY returned to Albox after what seemed like a very long travel home. I just got back from Christmas vacation with my dad and Sue. We had a great time on our vacation, which started in Madrid on December 31, and just ended in Barcelona on January 9th. I left for Albox from Barcelona, and the result was an entire day-and-a-half of traveling. More on this later.
Anyway, one of my new year’s resolutions is to be better about blogging. It’s obvious that up to this point, I have been terrible. I really couldn’t have neglected my blog any more than I did, seeing as I wrote roughly two or three posts the entire first three months of my stay here in Spain.
So, I will now attempt to recount and summarize my experiences up till now, while at the same time continue to write about my life as it occurs in ‘real time’ (umm, relatively…). Buenas suerte
January 11, 2010
First day back at school after winter vacation. It was hard to get up, but I was excited to see all the students and teachers. Everyone greets each other with two kisses, one on each cheek, and a cheerful “feliz año.” It was really good to see everyone again. My kids greet me with hugs, and “hello, teacher” which is great. Just as usual, they’re like bouncing balls of energy. But it seems as though nothing has changed in the ways of behavior. I suppose it’s normal kid stuff: first day back after a holiday, and everyone is still in “break” mode. No one listens or pays attention. Arancha and I spend more time castigating than actually teaching. After school I almost lose my voice from yelling “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Time!” a million times.
Later, everyone came over to our house just like old times. Kathleen arrives first to use the internet. It’s so great to see her. Then Diego arrives and finally Ionut. We’re all huddled in my room, the seven of us including Charlotte and Alex, with the calefactory blowing on high. Everyone shares stories of their holiday adventures. Of course, it’s Spain, and the electricity can’t handle more than one thing, so the power keeps going out because we’ve got the calefactor on at the same time as the light… oh Spain.
Took a shower at night, and at first it felt great. I was standing there in the hot water thinking, “Oh this feels fantastic, finally we’ve got hot water that works.” Guess I spoke too soon. Mid-shower, the water pressure begins to wain, until finally it’s just a few drips and then… nothing! Se fue el agua! The water went out. While I was in the shower. With shampoo in my hair. What the fuck to I do now?!
I call Alex and he comes back in a few minutes to tell me that the dueña says the water is out in the whole building. Of course. And, we don’t have any more bottled water. Of course. Luckily, Christelle has a small bottle, so I’m standing over the sink, wrapped in a towel, while Alex pours freezing water over my head to rinse the shampoo from my hair. Oh Spain…. buenas noches.
January 12, 2010
I felt sick today. I think all of the traveling with little sleep has finally caught up with me. It’s Tuesday, but I skipped the Mercado (still have no food) and just slept. Oh siestas, I love you.
Today seemed like a day for new beginnings. I started the re-application process to do the Auxiliares program another year. Everyone seems curious as to whether I’ll repeat the program and come back next year. Good question. I still have no idea what I’ll be doing with my life at this time next year. But hey, that’s the exact position I was in at this time last year, and look where I am now…
I figure for now, I’ll at least apply. I have nothing to lose by applying. Then, I can decide later if I want to accept or not. So far, I’ve enjoyed the program; and not just the teaching part. I love the culture, the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had. Part of me would love to do it again (but if I do, it’s got to be in a bigger city. Sorry, Albox). But the other part of me is thinking, why ruin a good thing by trying to repeat it?
Anyway, another beginning: I worked out today for the first time in probably 3 weeks! Afterwards, I felt so energized and happy. It’s amazing what a little exercise will do. Still hoping Sergio will teach me to play squash soon…
Still no water in our apartment. After the gym, I went to Kathleen’s house to shower. It was a pain having to trek all the way over just to shower. But, I got to see Gema and Marie Carmen. We sat around the heater table and talked like normal Spain-fashion. I learned a new word, too: Pica Piedras, which means The Flintstones! Funny context: We were joking about how primitive we all seem to be living; water that’s rarely hot and sometimes fails to work at all, houses that maintain a colder temperature inside than the actual temperature outside, and faulty electricity. Gema and Marie Carmen said something about Pica-Piedras. Kathleen and I had no idea what they were talking about. After about 5 minutes of explanation and looking on the internet, we realized that’s the name for Flintstones.
Tonight, Alex had to sleep in the extra bed in my room. Apparently, our power can’t handle both heaters; when Alex and I both use our heaters in our rooms at the same time, the power goes out. Temporary solution: sleep in the same room and use one heater. Emphasis on the temporary, because this isn’t going to work for the rest of the winter. Buenas noches…
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