Una semana larga

It has indeed been a long week, and I will try to update on only the most important things.


The weekend was quick and relatively uneventful, despite a night out with a great restaurant (and way too much food) and good Cuban music on Saturday and an early morning Sunday to watch New Zealand beat France in the Rugby World Cup Final with Kate. I chose coffee, but did have a good sip of the Breakfast of Champions:

Followed that up with my first TRUE Spanish breakfast: coffee and toast with chopped up tomato on it. Not terribly exciting, but quite typical.


The week has been a LONG one at school. It was the first week my schedule has really been true and it has hit me hard. The rainy Monday morning was tough on the morale, but I am glad to be getting into something more regular. Five hours of teaching Mondays, four hours on Tuesdays followed by two hours of private English lessons for a family of 3 kids (aged 7, 5, and 3) in the amazing suburb of Majadahonda, two hours on Wednesdays with more private lessons for the 7 year old, and then Thursdays normally consist of 2 hours. This week was also a great time to share the wonders of a fabulous piece of USA culture: HALLOWEEN! Here is how I make my own photocopies at home (yes, we have a free copy machine at school, but sometimes it makes more sense to get out of school in the afternoon and do it at home):

I skipped my normal Thursday to accompany the principal and a teacher to Toledo with a group of six Greek and five Norwegian teachers as part of a teacher exchange program the school participates in.

It was a stressful day of trying not to get involved in the scheduling complaints of the visiting teachers while also trying to remain neutral as someone who has seen how disorganized and tough the times are for our school. It was a nice free trip with a great lunch, a visit to the cathedral, and some wanderings while the Norwegian ladies shopped. Here are a few of the fotos I managed to snap... apologies for none of the cathedral, but I have the same building from 4 years ago and how much can a 500 year old building change in 4? Plus, I discovered that there is a reference to Ohio there!

 It's so pretty, above the River Tajo. It was a natural moat back when those things were important. If only it could keep some of the crazy tourists out...

I also have wonderful friend updates: My best friend got a job through the program here and is moving into the city to start at her primary school next week! She has been working in the outskirts for the past year and I am so so glad to have her closer and with a freer schedule! I also have spent more time with a lovely Canadian girl who works in my town (at the school where my co-auxiliar spends his other two days) and am excited to spend some good time with her and friends this weekend. I always wished I were Canadian...