La bici y los alumnos - dos cosas que hacen mi vida aun mas guay

October 20, 2011

These weeks, I have had the pleasure of teaching a class of the second of baccalaureate. In Huercal-Overa I never had this level of class because the bilingual program only lasted up until the penultimate year of studies (which is the first of baccalaureate). They are wonderful! My students crack me up. I think that these know that I speak Spanish, but sometimes they go off on rants in their language anyway. Today we were talking about the smoking laws that were passed January 2, 2011. So in this discussion of rights of tobacco consumption, Maica, the teacher alongside whom I am working, asked the students if they imbibe. Some hesitantly admitted to it, as most of them are around 17 and not yet of legal drinking age (which is 18 here in Spain) and only one did so readily. He is of legal age, but he somewhat surprised his classmates with his ready response. He said in his defense, in Spanish, “Well, I don’t like to pass out on the floor! But yes, I like to drink.” I have a private lesson with three of them from the class, Maria, Nuria, and Cristian, which is probably the best part of my Thursday afternoon.

Swim team continues to go well and as of this week I have officially joined. This Monday an exciting addition was made to my life with the purchase of an Orbea mountain bicycle second hand, now complete with helmet, lock, and night-time riding lights. What a joy the sensation of cruising down the streets of Valdemoro in the exhilarating pre-Matias Bravo morning air. Sometimes I get lost here and it takes me a bit to find my way back, but I hardly notice. What is that about a bike ride that is just the release, just the thrill that I need? I feel have become exponentially more mobile in the last three days, and my life is thus exponentially more awesome.

This week I have moved. It is not the first time I have had to move because of a roommate situation, but it is the first time the situation has been bad. I won’t tell you everything, but it was a situation from which I simply had to dismiss myself. I am quite happy here with Daniela and Ilie, my room is the cutest thing ever, and I feel at home at last.

I am on my way to sign up for Sevillanas. One of my students is a real Sevillanas dancer and she has given me a little application for the center. I’ll become a Spanish lady by the end of the year, you’ll see.