Just another day...

Oh what a long day I had yesterday. Wednesdays are always the worst. I have 5 hours of teaching and two consecutive classes from hell. One are full of ornery preadolescents and the other are just 'littles' aged at an average of 6. I have a whole new respect for elementary school teachers, and I respected them a lot before. The good news is tomorrow is jueves which in translates to Friday for me but it is really Thursday. Plus there was no work Monday. As I understand it, Monday's holiday was due to the celebration of the immaculate conception of baby Jesus... but I really don't understand how that could be since Monday was the 8th and he was allegedly born on the 25th... any takers on this one?

I have to say though, it was a really interesting day. Even though the early bus I was trying to catch whizzed right passed me this morning completely neglecting to stop for me.... I managed to make at least part of my private Spanish lesson with my new teacher, Belen, a colleague, a Special Education teacher and una amiga. Sometime I will get into what I have learned about Special Ed. in Spain... there isn't much to tell because it is all but non-existent, but I will speak of it. Back to the point... Belen drilled me this morning, making me repeat verbs, conjugate, repeat orally, with my eyes open, then closed. She had me write, create small dull sentences and repeat it all over again... OMG it was just what I needed. A basic understanding and usage of how to make the verbs work for me. My vocabulary isn't bad at this point... not bad at all for a beginner, but I can't seem to get out of the present tense and pretty much only about yo... For those who don't know.. .that's me... I. So I can talk about me, here and now but that makes for very dull conversation after the first few lines. So today I learned how to memorize what I need to to talk about others in the present tense too. Too bad I didn't learn this sooner. I can't tell you how bad I hope it helps.
At lunchtime, Ramona and I had a deep conversation about Spanish, learning languages and then about our home countries. We spoke of how we are sometimes both proud and ashamed of the things our homelands have done and/or do. We talked about how sometimes it's hard to be proud of where you are from if you know the trouble the country has caused. She from Spain, me from the US both having similar feelings of love and shame for our own countries as well as each others. More and more I enjoy our lunch time together and her company.

It's really cold here this week. I am a bit tired of it already and winter hasn't even officially started... hehe, but I heard it snowed in NY already. I won't see snow this year unless I head for the mountains (which I would like to do) but I definitely won't be shoveling. May this day end soon so I can hit my new little version of happy hour con mí amigos... in the meantime I will try to enjoy.

It's 11:11 PM, that's good luck right?

Anyway, a funny thing happened to me on my way to work. I was in the elevator, same as every morning, though today I was running late and in fear that my Metro ride wouldn't get me to the bus on time. The elevator has a large mirror and so usually I check myself out a bit making sure I am ready to hit the world. Instead today, I was rumbling through my bag in search of my keys. When I found them, I started to look for my car key... this is strange because I don't have a car and for a split second I was trying to figure out which was my car key.

Now, I have had a car since the age of 16 and have since not been without one until this past July 1, 2008. When I sold the car, affectionately called Salsa because of the color, I was a little freaked out but was left with a feeling of liberation. One less thing I don't have to be responsible for, one serious deduction in expenses, and less reliance on the oil, we people use to destroy the planet, get around, heat homes, produce goods, etc... Instead of the responsibility and independence of a car, I now have to be responsible to leave myself ample time to get to the bus stop by 11:20AM. For peace of mind and so that I am not the only one in Valencia rushing to get somewhere (these people seem so relaxed about getting from point A to point B) I should leave at 10:50, if I plan to have breakfast out than even earlier than that, but not much. I usually enjoy the commute it is a peaceful ride that goes passed two or three towns and the highway runs along the sea so for at least 10 minutes, I get to see el Mar Mediterráneo which pleases me.
Sometimes I share the ride with a friend on the phone which kind of feels like I have company with me and is nice. Other times I practice Spanish, occasionally I even read out loud and pretend no one can hear me. Still other days I just gaze out the window and do nothing, which is unusual for me. Most days I don't miss having a car but today I did. I can't have a car here in Spain because I can't register it, I don't have a driver's license here, I can't really afford to keep a car with insurance, garaging, gas, etc... and the truth is I don't really want to rely on a car. I like feeling like of contributing less to the consumption of oil that, as we all know, is a major source of the evils that take place in this word. I know taking the Metro and especially the bus still contributes, but less so... I keep reminding myself of that and try to remember that my day doesn't have to begin by putting my key in an ignition. It begins when I open my eyes and go from my bed to the door in my room that overlooks Valencia, and even if it is raining, as it has been so many days in this month, I smile and feel the fortune that I have found.

Back to Spanish class in the morning. Ahhhhh, 9AM!!!
Eckkkk.

Found the pic via google, it's from US 1942 WWII propaganda posters... anyone see anything like this now? Funny how conserving oil is considered propaganda (propaganda=propaganda in Spanish, I love when that heappens!!)... I try to do those things too.
Made it through Monday, just three more days left!

a bit

It's late and I should be sleeping as I have two more long days ahead of me. I don't feel as tired as I thought I might, maybe because I am feeling motivated or maybe I just feel like someone has lit a fire under my ass and I am once again the popcorn kernel waiting to hit her head on the top of the lid before crashing down again. I don't know. It's hard to tell.

In the first hour of my two hour Spanish class yesterday, I felt completely lost and I was really disappointed. It took me a bit to get in the groove, but I got it a bit. We were practicing speaking in the past tense and I have a real hard time getting out of the present tense, but I think I'm ready. After a while, and some very handy verb charts, I understood what was being said and was able to respond a bit. Today however rocked. We were did a crossword puzzle and I worked with a partner from Germany. We had worked together yesterday too and her knowledge of verb conjugation was much stronger than mine. But today, when we concentrating on vocabulary, I was able to do a lot more and helped her with some of the answers... I was so psyched. I love that I find myself using my dictionary less and less, though I still never leave the house without it and I fear I may never be able to speak without my verb charts.

I find throughout this whole experience, that I must learn to be patient with myself. It's funny, because I have always considered myself an extremely patient person. The truth is I am patient, but mostly with others. Sometimes it's easier to accept other peoples’ difficulties and to see the reasoning behind them than it is for to accept and reason through my own. Poco a poco... a phrase I have heard dozens of times... it means step by step or little by little...or the most part, that's what the Spanish say to me when I try to speak to them... it's like reminding me to relax and take it step by step. The good thing is they have been very friendly about it for the most part. Ah yes, and the thing about my not starting every conversation with an apology for not being able to speak the language has worked wonders, probably for me as much as the people I speak with.

Another small step for me.

I keep meaning to write about Valenciano, I haven't but I will.

Three days into the new job and I am totally exhausted. The kids are great, some more of a handful than others, but I feel like I can learn as much from them as they can from me. The learning is one of the things I love most about teaching.. Language aside, there is such a difference between these kids and kids I have taught in the past. For one thing, generally speaking, they are so organized. I know it's the first week, but I can already see that they take better care of their things. Each child brought in a notebook and pencil case with his or her own supplies. They all use erasers and actually carefully erase every little mistake. Even the little ones... it's unbelievable!!!

As of right now, I have classes Monday through Thursday from 4-7:30. Then I have another another hour or so of tutoring before I catch the bus at 9:10 PM. This gets me home about 10... Beginning in October, I will have to go in earlier for a 12:15-1:15 class, then have the break for nearly three hours before I teach the afternoon classes. Going home is not really an option because of the bus schedule. So 4 days a week I will be working long days, but three days a week I will not be working at all. I hope it works out ok... I think it will if I can use my time properly. So now I have to try to find Spanish classes (that don't suck) in Puerto de Segunto during my three hour break. I am hoping this will work otherwise there is a possibility of my getting private lessons from another teacher for a half hour each day I am there.

I am feeling really really frustrated about my Spanish... I am tired of saying that I only speak a little bit. I want to be able to speak more and move on. Being around the kids this week really inspired me to learn again for a variety of reasons. For one, it would be nice if I could understand them better when they did speak to me in Spanish and it would be nice to explain some things to them too. But mostly because I am so impressed with their courage. Most of them just go for it. I love it.

Goal for this week is to get a concrete schedule that includes lessons for myself again, lessons that will actually be helpful and not as scattered as the school I attended this summer. I really was not impressed, though I did learn. I don't want to go back there... though I really had a great time!!

I wrote this last week and just edited a bit so I could post something... I know it's been a while. The job is getting a little easier each day I am having fun with it. The kids range in ages from 5 to 15. It's funny teaching the little ones, I not used to it, but for an hour each class, I enjoy it. They are so cute and curious. I know they only understand a bit of what I say to them but usually the watch very attentively and I become extremely animated.

As much as I enjoy working, I really did like taking 2 1/2 months off. I have never taken that much time off in my life.

My thought are scattered because I am tired. I'll have to write more about it soon, though finding the time to do so is becoming more and more difficult.

¿¡ Antwerp en españa !?

Things I want to write about, but don't seem to have the time...

• my new job, which starts today... I'll go in to set up the classroom and get things ready and help with some curriculum development. I will tell more about it soon.

• how bad my new roomie, Julie rocks this world!!! She is the bomb and the cat's meow all wrapped in one.

• the fact that I just spent the past two days with a basketball team and owners from Antwerp, Belgium and laughed so hard... so hard my face actually hurt last night... seriously... it hurt... and the funny part was I only understood half of what they were saying... but they were drunk and telling jokes and just so funny, "they" being the owners, sponsors and coaches... the boys, or players, were quiet in comparison, though still funny as hell.

• that while hanging out with these wonderful Belgians I was treated to several fine meals, a catamaran trip, dancing, tapas, countless drinks.... oh yes and two basketball games, one against Ibiza and the other against Valencia... Ibiza won, Valencia lost... Julie and I cheered on the players with the men... really...

• ¿me? How on earth did I get here?... and how many times was I asked that question this weekend? Why are you in Spain?... lol... ¿Why not?

¿¿¿Maybe I just came for the upside questions marks???

• The meals were outrageous, and I really wanted to write about that... but I have to get ready for my new job which I already mentioned I wanted to write about, but...

Thinking of you... all of you.

¡¡¡ Yo tengo WiFi, yipppeeeeee !!!

Click on ¿¡ Antwerp en españa !? for a link to the team...

Today was a strange day. I went to 4 hours of Spanish classes then decided to pay a visit to my Spanish Bagel friends. Serg was the only one there and he pretty much only speaks Spanish and Valenciano so I got to talk to him a bit which was nice. Luckily I was already a bit "warmed up" from class. I find it very difficult to get into the mindset of speaking Spanish, but once I get warmed up I can say a lot more. Anyway, they still don't need any help but he said he would let me know when they do. Afterward, I went for a rather enjoyable bike ride and whistled a lot, which is something I never do... I was also humming rather loudly and the people I was passing could hear me and I knew it, but I didn't care... also something I never ever do.


When I got home, I sat down and spent two hours looking over my CV (resume) and sent a few out to different companies. I also called the man I interviewed with in July. He said he would be making decisions over the weekend. I need to start working in a large part because of the money, but also I feel like if I don't go back to work soon I may never want to go back again. Obviously retirement isn't really an option... at all.... plus I miss working... there I said it, I really do.


Sending out resumes always makes me anxious.... then sad. Then I got more sad when I realized today was the first day back to school. Something inside of me felt very lonely, like how could I be missing it? Yes, this is what I want and where I want to be right now, but still... So now I feel like a crazy manic person who whistles on the street then goes home and freaks out. As my dad would say, "What a whacko!". Though he would never say it about me of course... I don't think... at least not to my face... as of yet... would he?¿?¿


Afterward Julie and I met in el centro for tapas and a couple of clara con limón... yummers, beer and lemon soda. This is something I was introduced to by a friend back in December when I first came here. The tapas were simple, homemade potato chips and some tuna on bread... patatas fritas y pan con altún. I love Spanish food, I really do.


I guess I feel more sane now than I did this afternoon. I also have resigned myself to the idea that I am not getting WiFi..,. at least not until I get a job and can afford to pay for someone to hook it up and get me the proper technical crap that I need. I bought I bought a router but doesn't work at all and apparently there is an activation fee involved.. blah, blah, blah. So WiFi is just one of those things I have to give up. Could be much worse than be attached to a wire... I remind myself to be grateful for everything I have, because sometimes I forget how fortunate I am.


I also discovered that if I open Blogger in Explorer rather than FireFox, my spellcheck and photo uploader thingy work. I figured this out on my own too which felt good, though I was feeling a bit betrayed by my machine earlier today.... another example of what I can choose to let make me crazy or to be grateful for... I will continue to try for the latter always.

The above photo was taken two weeks ago in Benidorm about an hour south of here. The place was run down, but I really love the shot and the message... I don't think a translation is needed.

Spanish Bagels!!!

My apologies for not having written in a while. I have had an incredibly busy week, especially for a girl without a job!! I am loving that, but have been preparing myself to go back to work. Schools don't start here until October and the hiring begins in September so..... things should start happening for me soon.

I haven't time to write much, but I will tell a funny story and leave you with some pics to ponder.
Stacey is here from NY visting and we are having a great time!

Today, Stacey and I were walking home, enjoying the sights and enjoying each other when I saw it!!! The sign!

¡¡¡Spanish Bagels!!!

I though I was going to die and just had to stop and check it out. There are no bagels in Spain, or so I thought! I went in and saw two guys working behind the counter, so I asked... "How are your bagels?". One guy, Mike, explained to me that one of the machines was broken, but he thought they were pretty good usually. So, of course, I had to go into to my whole song and dance..."I am from NY and I grew up on bagels and I am so curious to try yours!!" So we spoke for a bit and it hit me!!! This is the perfect place for me to work while I am searching for a teaching job. I know bagels... lord knows I know the restaurant business and, most importantly, I can practice my Spanish!!!!!

So I asked if they needed any help. He said, "Well kinda, how is your Spanish?" Off the tip of my tongue rolled out the words, "Yo hablo español un pocito pero necesito a practicar. Yo voy escuela para español y quiero a hablar mejor." HOLY SHIT!!! I said that! in English it means I speak Spanish a little, but I need to practice. I go to school for Spanish and I want to speak better!!! He said good... not knowing that I couldn't really relay much more than that.. but hey who cares.. that rolled right off my tongue... pretty much! I was so psyched. So, long story short, we exchanged numbers and he seemed interested. I told him I was only looking for part time work and that I was hoping to teach teach English soon, but meanwhile I would love to work some place like this and I know bagels!! Maybe while teaching I could still work part time.

He said he was one of two bagel shops in Spain.... Life is so funny sometimes... I just can't even believe it!
I mean really... a bagel shop in Valencia!!! Tengo que trabajar allí... yo tengo!

And now... some pics.. well a lot of pics... I think 93 or so... look at what you like and enjoy.

http://picasaweb.google.com/danerlyn/ValenicaDeAgosto/photo#5238875307123943058

Muchos besos... I am well and very happy... thanks for all the concerns and questions about when the next blog is coming.

PS... I am saving the bagels for the morning, we are going to la Tomatina Fiesta por la mañana!!!! Look it up or wait for the next entry, either way you'll laugh... I promise.

blogger is screwing up again.... grrrrrr

It's late, but I am wide awake. Today was a weird day. I was in a pissed off mood when I woke up, but I made the best of it. I started packing and looking through paperwork to get ready for the upcoming move. This will be the easiest one this year... just a taxi ride away. I blew off class today because there have been from 10-13 students in the class. It's just too big and there aren't enough opportunities to practice reading, writing and speaking in that time. The seat time can be made up later in August when the school slows down. Now is the time for Uni. students to come from all over Europe. They tell me n a few weeks there will be less people and a bit older too. That'll be nice, though most of the people I have met have been great.

At about 4:00, I went to the beach too much earlier than that and the sun is wicked strong. I relaxed, chatted with friends and went for a swim. The swim was in part to wash off the mango that had dripped all over me and in part to float in the sea. I love to lie on my back and float.

A long bath and a little pedicure were the plans for the evening. My feet had been so blistered that my blisters literally had blisters. I had always thought this was only an expression, but it's not. I assure you. Anyway, they are mostly healed now so I did what needed to be done to make them feel normal again. I'll just have to wear different shoes everyday if I am going to walk a lot, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

It was a really kick-back kind of day. This is rare here, even for a girl without a job! In a way, it's all a job or at least work... even the fun parts. I mean seriously... you live in a beach town and you gotta have a tan!!

I even got to talk to my mom on cam.

bueno, bonito y bararo

It's kind of strange that it is getting harder for me to write.
Each day more words are popping into my head as Spanish mixed with English... well it's still mostly English, I just hear more Spanish than ever. It's a sounds little weird when I try to explain it, so perhaps I won't. I will say this though, I understand more everyday.

This weekend some friends and I went El Puig, a small Pueblo outside of the city. We watched the running of the bull. I was separated from the group for a bit when the bull ran into the square in which we had safely stationed ourselves. For almost an hour I sat and spoke with these two old men, yes in Spanish! Well, truth be told, they did most of the talking but I listened and answered. Sure I had to ask them to repeat and slow down, but in the end we all got a kick out of it and I am pretty sure one of them wanted to introduce me to his son the doctor...lol. They were lovely men, though a bit on the dirty-old man side, if you know what I mean..

Sunday, I went to a Formula One barbeque at my new place-to-be. There were about 20 people there from Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain, and one other from the US. It was a lot of fun. I watched and listened to people speak and attempted a wee bit of Spanish on my own, but it's really hard a large group. About half the people there were ESL teachers so I asked a lot of questions and made a few connections. Finally, I came home to relax for a bit before my friend Ed came over to say good-bye. His flight left Monday morning, but little did we know that he would miss it. Now I get 4 more days with my amigo... well now only 3.
Yesterday. I started to attend afternoon classes at the school because they wanted to move me out of the beginners class. I have a new teacher, Miguel, he is very nice to look at.. oh yeah, and he seems like an excellent teacher as well. What's nice is, the class is full of new students and while I miss the old group a bit, I know more about what's going on and was able to answer a lot of questions. Miguel asked me if I wanted to move to a higher group, but I decided I would rather stay here a bit to reinforce what I have been learning and to gain some confidence with my speech. I think this will help a lot. Everyone keeps telling me... poco a poco... little by little... I like that. I find that often that it is easier for me to have patience with others than with myself. So I try to keep in mind that I deserve a break too... sometimes it's not easy.

Between class yesterday I found a flea market in my new neighborhood which is just a few blocks from school. I bought 3 new pairs of shoes... they are all very comfortable. look great, were super cheap and 2/3 are made here in Spain... I love them!!!

My new favorite expression for shopping... bueno, bonito y barato.... good, pretty and cheap!!!
Pero suena mejor en españaol. But it sounds better in Spanish.

The dilemma today... which new pair should I wear????
Life is good and I am grateful.

Another lesson learned...

There are times when being here is so overwhelming and lonely. Class today sucked… I felt like I wanted to burst into tears. I didn’t understand what the hell my teacher was talking about and it was very frustrating. In the end, he apologized because I was not the only feeling confused. It scared me a lot though. There are moments when I think I am trying to do too much at once and fear I can’t handle it. Most of the time I feel quite confident but today is not one of those days… today I just feel like crying and I want someone to hold me and tell me everything is going to be ok… but there is no one so I only l can comfort myself. How lucky I was to be writing this when suddenly a friend calls and reminds me I am not all alone, and that things will be ok... Timing is everything.

Things here are good but mentally exhausting. When everything is in a different language my mind has to work in ways it never has before and think in a whole new way. It's good, but tiring sometimes. Today was really tough at school, I came home and vented and cried for a bit then picked myself up and got back on the Metro heading for a previously scheduled private lesson with a different teacher. She spoke almost entirely in Spanish to me the whole time and when I didn't understand she explained without speaking English. In my class, we all say the English word for something when we realize what he means... anyway it was different to be in class alone.

When I left my lesson, it was 5:45 and raining but I had planned on walking home in the rain anyway, until I saw the Cine.... There were about 10 movies playing and guess which one I just had to see. Sexo en Nueve York!!! LOL... yes... it was dubbed so all I heard was español. I'm sure I didn't get all of it... but it wasn't exactly what I would call a "thick plot"... it was a good a experience good me. I listened to the pronunciation and caught words I recognized and knew the meaning of and others that I recognized but couldn't remember what they meant. I felt a lot better afterward. I walked home a different way again and didn't get lost for more than a block or two before I could figure out where I was. It's hard because the street names are so unfamilar seeing how they are foreign and all..lol...

Anyway, across the street from my home there is a place called Don Carlo Comida Italiana. They are hardly ever open (due to strange Siesta hours) but, I caught them when I was so hungry so I stopped and got a small pie. It was delicious... but someone fried an egg in the middle of it!!! Strange addition to what I am used to.

At the end of the day I broke out my inks and played with my colors for a while... it felt good too.

Jajajaja

Roughly translated, that's Spanish for hahahaha... lol

Ok so last night I decided I wanted to go see fireworks at the beach. From my house to the beach is simple, walk 3 blocks, catch tram, stay on tram for 10 minutes, get off and walk one block to beach. I have done this many times to enjoy a beautiful sunny day (which every day so far has been). Last night shouldn't be any different...but...

I get to the tram station and I was trying to read to find out what time the last tram was. Suddenly a bus pulls up and all the people at the station get on it. When I say pulls up I mean right on the tram track. I was confused about that, but the guy who worked on the bus kept yelling at me to get on, he was laughing and smiling and there were at least 50 people on the bus so I thought...ok. and I got on the bus. I was the last one on so I stood with the 3 workers one of which was driving, the other two were screaming to him which direction to turn.

Ever watch the Simpsons when they had that dog named Santa's Little Helper? The dog would listen to the humans and it would sound like blah, blah, blah, treat, blah, blah, blah, sit... That's how I felt last night. These guys were laughing their asses off trying to figure out how to get around the repairs of the tramline... I heard blah, blah, derecha, blah, blah, directo, blah, blah... etc. I still wasn't too sure about what was happening but I kinda got the idea when I saw the actual construction on the tramline. Then boooom... the bus gets a flat tire. They stop and try to fix it, but decided not to bother. We keep going and the driver is getting angry because, it seemed the stearing wheel was pulling to the right. So we stop again... everybody gets off the bus, so do I, two minutes later everyone gets back on the bus and so do I. Then it hits me, how will I get home?!?!?! So I ask best I can if the tram will be running later. "No"... the autobus? "No" Metro... "No metro here" ahhhh ok, taxi? "Sí". Muchos grasias por su ayuda!!! (thanks a lot for your help).

Eventually we made it to the beach, everyone on the bus was singing and having a good time. Wow did I feel like a foreigner, such a strange feeling. I mean I know I am, I feel it everyday, but last night I felt like a stupid foreigner... hmmmm? Anyway I decided to go enjoy the fireworks but to leave early to be sure I would catch a cab. I saw the display and it was beautiful, amongst the best I have ever seen and I made it home safely via a taxi. So I guess it's safe to say my mission was accomplished, but not as smoothly as I might have liked.

Today I must have walked about 10 miles. Sunday is free museum day in Valenica. We went to el Museo de Bella Artes. Gorgeous!! We also walked around the east western side of the city and walked through many streets and neighborhoods I hadn't seem before. It was a nice mellow day, I used my dictionary some to try to decipher but it was kind of nice to take a break from the studying. When I came home I studied a bunch of vocabulary and felt ok about it. Monday I will ask my teacher for extra help with conjugating verbs. We started future and past tense and I am sill trying to understand present uses... ahhhhh.

Last Dayz

School's out....
The last day of school. Good-byes, good hugs, lots of love.
It feels good to be finished. It feels good to be surrounded by people who, although complain about it, love their job. We do amazing work and I am proud to be a part of that team.

Also, I am happy and grateful to get the hell away from there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

My friends will always be my friends no matter how near or far, I love them dearly.

I'm guessing I have listened to this song pretty much every year since I was in about the 4th grade... a tradition if you will.
---------------
Now playing: Alice Cooper - Schools Out For The Summer
via FoxyTunes

Notes to self....

My alarm clock broke the other day, I don't want to buy a new one here. Shouldn't that mean I don't have to wake up early anymore?
Two more days until school is over... one week until I leave. :)

I got two replies to the CV's (resumes)I sent out this weekend. One from a guy in Valencia who is from Buffalo and went to SUNY Albany.:)

Last night I was laying awake in bed for what seemed like forever. As I lay there I could smell the faint scent of perfume and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Had someone been in my room, my bed? There has been no one here but me as far as I know. I decided to study some more Spanish since I wasn't sleeping anyway. When I opened my folder the smell got stronger and I still couldn't figure out why. Suddenly I realized it was from the envelope el hombre de Barcelona gave me.... I held it in my hand wondering, but didn't open it. Instead I wrapped a rubber band around it to remind myself not to be tempted. One more week until I can see what's in there. I'm intrigued.

Today was the last day I had to proctor Regents exams... no kids for me at all tomorrow or Thursday. Grades are in, paperwork notarized, all work related assignments completed and handed in... just a bit more cleaning and then... home free!!

Still though there is so much to do at home. Slowly, it seems, I complete each task. Poco a Poco; little by little I finish what needs to be and with each step there is a sense of relief. If only my car would sell... Craigslist don't fail me now!!

I am managing to stay pretty sane most of the time and writing more than ever, which feels really good. I look forward to a time when I can write more than a few words here and there in español... maybe someday even a whole entry with a link to babelfish for those who might like a translation... exciting.

I almost forgot the most exciting part... I got the address of the apartment I am renting for the summer in Valencia and the address of my school!!! I looked it up on google maps and they are only 3 km (<2 miles) from one another. It looks like the beach is only a little farther than that, but to the west instead of north/south. The coolest part was looking at the satellite and seeing places I recognized.

On a sadder note, I am already missing my friends. :-(

Schooling

Last weekend I attended a course to become internationally certified as an English as a Second Language instructor. The picture is of the folks I took the class with, what a great group!!

This week my leave of absence was officially approved. Things continue to evolve and happen. Though I don't believe much in luck, lately I am feeling very lucky.

change

It's been a while since I have written anything here. So much has been going on and I have been so busy, it's not that I haven't been writing, I have, I just haven't felt ready to share. This week was rather intense though and I guess it's time to write some. Tuesday, March 25th, Ken and I became legally separated. It was a strange feeling, we walked into that hideous city office building and found ourselves a notary. After signing all 4 copies, we sat outside on a bench for a bit, neither one of us knowing what to say..."thanks?", "it's been real?", "have a good life?"...ummmm so we left and hugged good-bye. What a bizarre feeling when both sides know it's for the best and the thing is we don't even hate each other... I mean I have no doubt we have our moments of anger or maybe even hate, but most of the time, we don't hate. I feel fortunate. We always said that if our marriage came to an end we would remain as amicable as possible and I feel like we are truly doing that.

So that was Tuesday, Wednesday I saw my mom who was up from Florida just to help a friend move from Fort Lee, NJ to Florida. Arlene, mom's friend, has been a friend to my family since before I was born. She was a secretary to my dad back in the day. Funny how she and my mom have remained friends throughout all these years. She makes me laugh and I'm glad my mom has a good friend like that.

Thursday... the last day for my Len Ct house to be mine... the closing. Sadness and relief all rolled into one. I am grateful we were able to sell and I am pleased that the new owners seem so happy about buying it. They are a lovely couple, with two beautiful children. The children came to the closing and even though they are just 2 and 4, they were perfectly behaved... I was so impressed. I feel good knowing that such a lovely family will be living in my Len Ct. haven. I always thought that house deserved a family... any family would be lucky to live in such a wonderful place... funny how it's just not for me anymore, even though I still have love in my heart for it.

Friday... TGIFF!!!! What a week and I didn't even mention the chaos throughout my school day!!

But alas... Friday... on this day I handed in a letter to my Director requesting a one year leave of absence so that I can study Spanish and teach English as a Second Language (ESL). I've already signed up for language school in Valencia, Spain for July and am searching for the right online class to take for ESL certification. I'd need to do something different for a year, as much as I love my job, it's very exhausting and has an extremely high burnout rate... I'd like to go back, but for now I need a break before I get to the point of no return and wind up hating every day as some of the teachers I know. I couldn't bare that.... I need to love what I am doing otherwise how will I be any good to the myself or the kids?

Finally, happy hour amongst friends, colleagues, people with whom I have a mutual respect... Lots of laughs and positive thoughts... sure we bitch and moan, but when I'm at work and I need something, these are the people I know have my back... each one of them. We are there for each other like a well-oiled machine. We all bring something unique and important to our program. When we are out together, I can feel our strength and so can others (and not just because we are loud and rowdy)... we are warriors, fighting for the kids no one else will fight for. Loving them, respecting them, influencing them and sometimes even making a difference. I love my job and am so grateful to be part of this team..... but enough already!!!! I need a break!!!!

And through all this change, I found my hope stone, it had been missing for a while and I knew it couldn't be far. Ironically, Thursday night it was returned to me after having clogged Karen's washer... it was a bit battered, but still beautiful. I told her how many times this stone has come back to me. Including when I lent it to a man who really needed it. Although the man returned the stone to me, I hadn't seen that man again until last night, the day after I saw the stone again.... weird right? Well he, Eric, joined us for dinner and there were 6 of us and we ate lots and he, quite generously, picked up the tab... I was shocked, so I once again offered him the hope stone, assuring him I didn't need it because at the moment, I am full of hope!!!!!!! I hope that was thanks enough.

Whoa what a week! Is it July yet?

Happy Friday

Although it turns out I have to go to work today, much like the rest of the world, I am going with a smile on my face... 2 hour delays ROCK!!!
Anyway why waste a precious snow day when there is no school Monday anyway...???

to snow... or not to snow

My advice to my students who want the day off tomorrow due to the possibility of an impending snowstorm is the following:
1-Put on your favorite pajamas both inside out and backwards.
2-Grab a cup with a few ice cubes.
3-Stand at your back door (front might work, but there is more of a risk of other's seeing).
4-Open the door and turn your back to the great outdoors.
5-Throw the cubes, one at a time over your shoulder and into the universe
(or yard) while asking for a giant snowfall.
6-Get some sleep just in case this doesn't work... because we will have a test in life science class if there is school.

I predict a mere 2 hour delay, but hope for the whole day. If anyone reads this before morning... help me out ok?

Light snow his evening...then snow...freezing rain and sleet after midnight. Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Additional ice accumulation of up to one tenth of an inch. Near steady temperature in the lower 30s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
The only way to survive these wretched winters is to get the occasional snow day off from work.... :) BTW, it's not snowing yet...

Pave Paradise... Put up affordable housing?

The beloved view from my classroom window has gone from wooded beauty with deer and wild turkey... to a clear cut lot being prepared for "affordable housing". My dear woods are almost completely gone. I suspect I will mourn this loss for months to come.