I was in class the other day, playing a question game. Where each of the students asked the person next to them a question and the person answered the question, then asked another question and we kept it going in a line. They could as anything they wanted, but I wanted them to practice using question words.
One boy asked the girl next to him about the mark on her neck, accusing her of having a 'love bite'. They asked me the word in English, and so, that is where they all learned 'hickey' and I had to explain it. I am an awesome teacher.
Later tonight when I told the story, Mike's sister told me that they brag about them here. I just laughed because that is the exact opposite reaction at home in which girls try and hide them with make-up, a side pony-tail, a scarf, etc
We all laughed a good while over it. I am really enjoying time with Mike's sister, Lauren, she reminds me of my friends back home.
Until Next Time
Tori
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Paper memories
I have many private English lessons here in Spain, ages ranging from 2 to 17 (and sometimes adults). I like working with the older ones because they know more English and it is easier to come up with activities for them. The younger ones, I have learned a lot from and hopefully next year will do an even better job at lessons with them (songs and games). The 9 year old I have is in between - he HATES singing and songs so we don't do things like that but he has a wicked memory and learns vocabulary pretty fast.
The younger ones have filled my drawers with paintings and drawings:
I treasure these so much. I have some sort of understanding as to why my mom has kept all the things I made in preschool, although I am still confused as to why she still has a lock of my brother's hair from his first haircut :P
These mean so much. Irene has made me the most, and even made one with glitter! The main one in the picture is from her painting. She lights up when she gives me these - and she says Victoria with such enthusiasm. It reminds me of my Brother when he was little, and he couldn't say "Tori" so he would follow me around and say "Torti! Torti!", I wish he was still that cute.
You think it's funny but it's snot: (This part is gross)
Yesterday was a bit hard because Irene has a cold. She sneezed and snot went flying. It was sort of comical, but I gagged and ran to get some tissues and told her I couldn't help her because I would be sick, so I just handed her some tissues.Then the little boy was jumping up and down and sneezing at the same time, making snot hit the floor. OMG SICK. Her mom came in and laughed at my reaction and told me it was alright. To my future husband and father of my children - I can't do snot. That will have to be a prerequisite for sure.
My lesson after that is with a 6 and 7 year old, the picture of the girl on the left is from Silvia (the 6 year old). The 7 year old, Paula, has a great memory and seems like she likes to learn English, so she is pretty easy to work with (although she wants to play the color game where I say a color and they have to run and point to it ALL THE TIME!) Silvia, poor Silvia - I don't know what to do with her. We were practicing fruits and vegetables and she was doing fine. Then we read a book, and then we practiced fruits and veggies again and she forgot everything! Even simple things like tomate, naranja. So I asked her what happened and what was going on. She looked at me with her big brown eyes and couldn't tell me and almost cried! I felt so bad! I told her I wasn't mad, I just wanted to help her! She said she was dumb/silly. I said "No, no you aren't!". So I have no idea, I talked to her father about it and we don't know exactly what to do...so that will be a work in progress.
Carnival is this weekend and we have Monday and Tuesday off, so I am thinking about making a trip but who knows. Then the following week, I leave for Italy for 9 days. I find out the full itinerary this week! I know we are driving to Barcelona, then taking a huge ship to Italy! Need to keep saving up to buy things :)
Until Next Time
Tori
The younger ones have filled my drawers with paintings and drawings:
I treasure these so much. I have some sort of understanding as to why my mom has kept all the things I made in preschool, although I am still confused as to why she still has a lock of my brother's hair from his first haircut :P
These mean so much. Irene has made me the most, and even made one with glitter! The main one in the picture is from her painting. She lights up when she gives me these - and she says Victoria with such enthusiasm. It reminds me of my Brother when he was little, and he couldn't say "Tori" so he would follow me around and say "Torti! Torti!", I wish he was still that cute.
You think it's funny but it's snot: (This part is gross)
Yesterday was a bit hard because Irene has a cold. She sneezed and snot went flying. It was sort of comical, but I gagged and ran to get some tissues and told her I couldn't help her because I would be sick, so I just handed her some tissues.Then the little boy was jumping up and down and sneezing at the same time, making snot hit the floor. OMG SICK. Her mom came in and laughed at my reaction and told me it was alright. To my future husband and father of my children - I can't do snot. That will have to be a prerequisite for sure.
My lesson after that is with a 6 and 7 year old, the picture of the girl on the left is from Silvia (the 6 year old). The 7 year old, Paula, has a great memory and seems like she likes to learn English, so she is pretty easy to work with (although she wants to play the color game where I say a color and they have to run and point to it ALL THE TIME!) Silvia, poor Silvia - I don't know what to do with her. We were practicing fruits and vegetables and she was doing fine. Then we read a book, and then we practiced fruits and veggies again and she forgot everything! Even simple things like tomate, naranja. So I asked her what happened and what was going on. She looked at me with her big brown eyes and couldn't tell me and almost cried! I felt so bad! I told her I wasn't mad, I just wanted to help her! She said she was dumb/silly. I said "No, no you aren't!". So I have no idea, I talked to her father about it and we don't know exactly what to do...so that will be a work in progress.
Carnival is this weekend and we have Monday and Tuesday off, so I am thinking about making a trip but who knows. Then the following week, I leave for Italy for 9 days. I find out the full itinerary this week! I know we are driving to Barcelona, then taking a huge ship to Italy! Need to keep saving up to buy things :)
Until Next Time
Tori
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Train Vs. Bus: the great debate
I have been doing research for my Morocco trip in which we depart from Sevilla at 4:45am. So I had to book a hostel for a few hours.
After searching online, I found that the train is an AVE train - a high speed train. I would take a train to Ciudad Real (40 minutes, 6 euros) then wait about an hour and get on the high speed train to Seville (1.5 hours, 50 euros, yes, 50 euros - I get a discount of some sort, but am not crazy about the price). Giving a grand total of 50 euros more or less, and about 3 hours of my time (including the wait time)
Today I walked to the sketchy bus station (the street lights has just turned on making it even more eerie that it is in the daylight). There is not a reliable website for the buses, so it is necessary to walk to the station and bug them with questions. When I got to the train station, the main overhead lights weren't on, just the tiny light in the ticket office. The woman behind the counter was about to leave and I am probably annoyed her with all of my questions, which now that I think of it I missed a good one because I later found out that Seville has 2 bus stations, and it matters which one I am dropped off at...oh well. The bus leaves from Manzanares at 4:15am, and gets in at 9am. So we have an early early early morning and I wouldn't be able to check in to my hostel until 12 or later. (That is almost 5 hours on a bus. 15.09 euros, much cheaper) and the return bus is 8:30pm and gets in at 1:45am ( Again, about 5 hours on a bus, 15.09 euros, much cheaper) So we have a grand total of about 31 euros and 10 hours of my time.
No idea which to pick. Maybe I can do the bus one way and the train another. Hostel is booked just need to figure out how to get there...
Opinions welcome!
After searching online, I found that the train is an AVE train - a high speed train. I would take a train to Ciudad Real (40 minutes, 6 euros) then wait about an hour and get on the high speed train to Seville (1.5 hours, 50 euros, yes, 50 euros - I get a discount of some sort, but am not crazy about the price). Giving a grand total of 50 euros more or less, and about 3 hours of my time (including the wait time)
Today I walked to the sketchy bus station (the street lights has just turned on making it even more eerie that it is in the daylight). There is not a reliable website for the buses, so it is necessary to walk to the station and bug them with questions. When I got to the train station, the main overhead lights weren't on, just the tiny light in the ticket office. The woman behind the counter was about to leave and I am probably annoyed her with all of my questions, which now that I think of it I missed a good one because I later found out that Seville has 2 bus stations, and it matters which one I am dropped off at...oh well. The bus leaves from Manzanares at 4:15am, and gets in at 9am. So we have an early early early morning and I wouldn't be able to check in to my hostel until 12 or later. (That is almost 5 hours on a bus. 15.09 euros, much cheaper) and the return bus is 8:30pm and gets in at 1:45am ( Again, about 5 hours on a bus, 15.09 euros, much cheaper) So we have a grand total of about 31 euros and 10 hours of my time.
No idea which to pick. Maybe I can do the bus one way and the train another. Hostel is booked just need to figure out how to get there...
Opinions welcome!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Soup for the soul
Clearly keeping up with my blog was an ill-fated New Year's resolution. (Have any of you kept yours thus far?)
First and most importantly: My two adult private lesson students passed their B2 English exam! They were so worried! I am so proud of them! This gives them many more opportunities job-wise, and they can make more money! It just reflects well on me - and can give me more lesson opportunities in the future.
Christmas (wow, I'm still on that) was something I cannot put in to words really. I have so many family traditions that I treasure - so going home was a blast (and it was needed). It gave me a mood boost and gave me some more inspiration. I still have no idea what I am doing with my future, just taking it a day at a time. I've noticed days here where I am happy - plain and simple!
I feel like coming back another year would do me some good. I now have a sense of what I am doing here and what I would like to do - and I would bring more things here and be prepared (I wish I had Candy Corn to share over Halloween, and conversation hearts for Valentine's day!) I would be more prepared for my job, but also more prepared for my private lessons! I did buy a memory game with words and pictures and that has worked well, so I need to buy more games like that.
Coming back another year to a pueblo also gives me a chance to practice my Spanish (which I am really enjoying). Hopefully that will lead to more job opportunities for me in the future - whatever that may be.
I haven't been feeling well in the past 2 weeks, which is super frustrating. I caught a virus and it is still lingering no matter how much vitamin C, or medicines I am taking. Even more frustrating is the fact that I can't just run down to the store and get some Campbell's Chicken Noodle. In fact, they don't have canned soup at all. Sometimes you can get chicken broth in a box - you still have to add to it to make it taste bearable. Recently Mike's sister had been sick, so he made her homemade chicken noodle soup, so luckily he gave me the recipe and I was able to copy from it. I didn't have chicken - but I had everything else. Although I would have rather opened a can of Campbell's - add a cup of water and heated it up in my sick condition - I was stuck making homemade soup. After g-chatting with a friend and crying because I felt so awful, I sucked it up and went to the kitchen. I had garlic, chicken broth, carrots, celery, seasoning, onion and some other leafy thing I got from the fruteria. I had to peel, chop, saute, and be patient. You have to make sure all of the veggies are cooked - and carrots take awhile. Finally I added noodles and chicken broth and waited some more. I felt like I was going to pass out, or cry again.
Finally after what seemed like eternity, the soup was ready - and it was possibly the best chicken soup I have ever had. I felt accomplished and the soup was good for my soul. I now know how to make delicious soup - just don't ask me to make it because I am tired just thinking about it!
Until Next Time
Tori
First and most importantly: My two adult private lesson students passed their B2 English exam! They were so worried! I am so proud of them! This gives them many more opportunities job-wise, and they can make more money! It just reflects well on me - and can give me more lesson opportunities in the future.
Christmas (wow, I'm still on that) was something I cannot put in to words really. I have so many family traditions that I treasure - so going home was a blast (and it was needed). It gave me a mood boost and gave me some more inspiration. I still have no idea what I am doing with my future, just taking it a day at a time. I've noticed days here where I am happy - plain and simple!
I feel like coming back another year would do me some good. I now have a sense of what I am doing here and what I would like to do - and I would bring more things here and be prepared (I wish I had Candy Corn to share over Halloween, and conversation hearts for Valentine's day!) I would be more prepared for my job, but also more prepared for my private lessons! I did buy a memory game with words and pictures and that has worked well, so I need to buy more games like that.
Coming back another year to a pueblo also gives me a chance to practice my Spanish (which I am really enjoying). Hopefully that will lead to more job opportunities for me in the future - whatever that may be.
I haven't been feeling well in the past 2 weeks, which is super frustrating. I caught a virus and it is still lingering no matter how much vitamin C, or medicines I am taking. Even more frustrating is the fact that I can't just run down to the store and get some Campbell's Chicken Noodle. In fact, they don't have canned soup at all. Sometimes you can get chicken broth in a box - you still have to add to it to make it taste bearable. Recently Mike's sister had been sick, so he made her homemade chicken noodle soup, so luckily he gave me the recipe and I was able to copy from it. I didn't have chicken - but I had everything else. Although I would have rather opened a can of Campbell's - add a cup of water and heated it up in my sick condition - I was stuck making homemade soup. After g-chatting with a friend and crying because I felt so awful, I sucked it up and went to the kitchen. I had garlic, chicken broth, carrots, celery, seasoning, onion and some other leafy thing I got from the fruteria. I had to peel, chop, saute, and be patient. You have to make sure all of the veggies are cooked - and carrots take awhile. Finally I added noodles and chicken broth and waited some more. I felt like I was going to pass out, or cry again.
Finally after what seemed like eternity, the soup was ready - and it was possibly the best chicken soup I have ever had. I felt accomplished and the soup was good for my soul. I now know how to make delicious soup - just don't ask me to make it because I am tired just thinking about it!
Until Next Time
Tori
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sophie's Choice
I am a bit stuck.
My Best Friend's Wedding is this October and I am a bridesmaid. I am stoked that my best friend is getting married, the groom is a perfect match for her. I was previously cleared to start my contract here in Spain late in November so that I can attend her Oct 29th wedding.
Today they told me the Ministry of Education does have a problem with it because they pay for 8 months of an Auxiliar, and I would only be here 7. (I don't understand the problem, they would be saving one month of pay to me)
Anyways, they have a problem with it, so if I renew I have to start Oct 1st. ONLY option would be to pay for a plane ticket back on the 26th or 27th of October, and then come back. Which sucks considering flights aren't cheap and I would have JUST gotten here and used to jet lag. Not to mention if I go back then I will miss out on a lot of festivities and I would probably have to give up being a bridesmaid since I would need to have my dress fitted and everything. UGH.
I don't know what to do.
Do I miss out on my Best Friend's Wedding and the chance to be a bridesmaid to her?
Do I try and find another job?
Do I not go out at all ever over summer to save money to pay for another plane ticket home?
Do I give up the honor of being a Bridesmaid?
This would be a little simpler if I had a ton of money...
I have no idea on where to begin on the pros and cons of my decision. All I want to do it cry over it.
I promise a better update on my blog this weekend!
My Best Friend's Wedding is this October and I am a bridesmaid. I am stoked that my best friend is getting married, the groom is a perfect match for her. I was previously cleared to start my contract here in Spain late in November so that I can attend her Oct 29th wedding.
Today they told me the Ministry of Education does have a problem with it because they pay for 8 months of an Auxiliar, and I would only be here 7. (I don't understand the problem, they would be saving one month of pay to me)
Anyways, they have a problem with it, so if I renew I have to start Oct 1st. ONLY option would be to pay for a plane ticket back on the 26th or 27th of October, and then come back. Which sucks considering flights aren't cheap and I would have JUST gotten here and used to jet lag. Not to mention if I go back then I will miss out on a lot of festivities and I would probably have to give up being a bridesmaid since I would need to have my dress fitted and everything. UGH.
I don't know what to do.
Do I miss out on my Best Friend's Wedding and the chance to be a bridesmaid to her?
Do I try and find another job?
Do I not go out at all ever over summer to save money to pay for another plane ticket home?
Do I give up the honor of being a Bridesmaid?
This would be a little simpler if I had a ton of money...
I have no idea on where to begin on the pros and cons of my decision. All I want to do it cry over it.
I promise a better update on my blog this weekend!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sadly, I am feeling a bit under the weather. So this weekend has been filled with drinking fluids, taking vitamins and not being able to taste my food. I would kill for some Campbell's chicken noodle soup. So it has been a movie watching weekend.
Today is San Antonio (or tomorrow is but we still have school). The big bonfire at the church is tonight so I am hoping to be well enough to go so I can witness this. I have learned so much about the catholic faith since I have been over here.
My trip home was indescribable. I had such a great time and laughed so much. I love spending time with my family! I'm glad I was home for our many Christmas traditions. We always get a real Christmas tree and every year it is always an experience in picking just the right one. I feel that the tree grows on the drive home because every time we get home we have to shorted it a little bit. As always Dad put on the lights on the tree and then we decorated it. I was a little sad that my Brother has seemed to outgrow the tradition and went out with friends. But we had Chocolate Claus and Christmas music so it was still very special. Most of our ornaments have special meaning - I love that.
We went and did out Christmas Trip to the Galleria in Dallas, and I got my traditional chocolate covered strawberry from Godiva. This year it meant even more since we don't have strawberries in Spain yet...not until April. Love that freshness stuff...Oh how I want some strawberries!
It was a great family day, I don't think I will ever grow too old for things like that.
I'll update the next installment soon. Time for some tea...
Tori
XOXO
Today is San Antonio (or tomorrow is but we still have school). The big bonfire at the church is tonight so I am hoping to be well enough to go so I can witness this. I have learned so much about the catholic faith since I have been over here.
My trip home was indescribable. I had such a great time and laughed so much. I love spending time with my family! I'm glad I was home for our many Christmas traditions. We always get a real Christmas tree and every year it is always an experience in picking just the right one. I feel that the tree grows on the drive home because every time we get home we have to shorted it a little bit. As always Dad put on the lights on the tree and then we decorated it. I was a little sad that my Brother has seemed to outgrow the tradition and went out with friends. But we had Chocolate Claus and Christmas music so it was still very special. Most of our ornaments have special meaning - I love that.
We went and did out Christmas Trip to the Galleria in Dallas, and I got my traditional chocolate covered strawberry from Godiva. This year it meant even more since we don't have strawberries in Spain yet...not until April. Love that freshness stuff...Oh how I want some strawberries!
It was a great family day, I don't think I will ever grow too old for things like that.
I'll update the next installment soon. Time for some tea...
Tori
XOXO
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