Today was my first day here in which I actually felt comfortable. Maybe it was because I said a big, fat EFF YOU to my uncomfortable shoes and just wore my Uggs instead? Whatever triggered it, it was delightful.
While alone in the teacher's office, working on my online Master's course, a teacher came in, said the usual "Hola" and left with a "Hasta Luego." Two minutes later, he was back in the office and saying, "Hola" again. I must have either given him a weird look or just giggled and kept doing what I was doing, because he broke out into a song and a dance, to the tune of Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time" and sang, "Hello Hello One More Time!" And just as soon as his song and dance began, he was back out the door with the notebooks he'd forgotten.
I was talking to a friend the other day about it and we were giggling about how, as students, we'd always held teachers to be super-human, but once we became teachers ourselves, we quickly realized they were just like the rest of us. I know this shouldn't be shocking... but it TOTALLY is. Every day there is SOME teacher talking shit about SOME student. Every day SOME teacher says they're really rather be sleeping than be at school. One teacher told me she thought religion was a waste of time and couldn't believe she had to teach it to these poor kids. :) And today's crazy dance/song moment just sealed it for me - teachers are people... really amusing people who seem like they should "know better" but - thankfully - do not and are hilarious at some points.
The cutest part of teaching today was definitely when I got to teach my favorite teacher's 1st grade class how to say their names in English. They all were so enchanted by it and it was way adorable. :oD Another teacher also gave me free reign today and it was a nice adventure. I had the students write a letter to my cat in America about themselves and asking her questions. One turd just wrote "miau miau miau" and I wanted to slap the crap out of him... but the others did a good job. :)
I totally see why nuns used to beat students up. If only Spain were still that Catholic. ;)
After school was tutoring with the two kids - which actually didn't suck today! I let each of them pick a game and said we could only say it if we practiced English. For the first time I wasn't worried about how much English they were speaking (goose egg), but instead was narrating just about everything in basic English. By the end of our time they didn't want me to go and were actually volunteering some things in English without me prompting them. Might be a breakthrough. We'll see...
Also! At lunch I had a teacher come up to me (one I don't work with) and ask if I'd be interested in having private lessons with her 6 year old twice a week. She was wearing my dream pair of mint jeans and so I was already going to agree to whatever she asked me! ;) She said that she was shy growing up, like her son is now, and wants him to have chance to really learn English, instead of end up like her. She wants me to come over and just play games with him, but only using English. I think without the pressure of parents being around, and with the kid already in one of my classes, it might actually work out. He already would see me as an authority figure, and I know where his classmates' levels are at, so I wouldn't have to guess. She said I had the weekend to think of a price, etc., so I think I'll highball it to make up for lowballing it with the other two I tutor. HA.
On the way home I stopped and purchased some cute, cheap black heels for my black skirt (I have no black shoes - this always happens to me!!), an umbrella (it's starting to rain, what!?) and took a stroll by the Taste of America store and totally ended up buying a can of A&W Root Beer and a bottle of ranch dressing for those garbanzo beans I bought the other day. :oD So weird Caesar dressing exists here but not Ranch. Wtf, Spain!?
Home life with the roomies continues to be ducky - except for the fact one is bailing on the program and moving out this weekend - WHAT!?!?!? - and I feel really grateful to have ended up living here and with them. <3 For the past few nights Abby has shared her bottle of wine with me, and right before bed tonight, we had a discussion about Daria and Jane totally being lesbians. :) Haha. I really like living with Abby. I never thought I would be able to stand having a roomie, but I feel like we're really well matched. We both stay on our computers 'til really late at night. We both like our French doors open to the balcony for a breeze. She's super quiet when she gets up (quieter than me for sure!) and we always ask if we can turn a light off/on, etc. I like being able to tell her my stories from the day, and hear about hers, as well.
Laura wrote to say her grandiose dream of coming to visit was squashed by her mom, so I'm thinking I'll go to Granada in a few weekends with Abby and her friend to check it out and see the Alhambra. :oD Excited!
All in all, actually a really decent day. YAY!
XOXO
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