On Friday, I went to school and only had two classes. My Fridays don't make a lot of sense, but I'm not complaining. I get to sleep in a little later and get out early. Today I again sang and practice Miley Cyrus's Santa Claus is Coming to Town and then I got to play/do arts and crafts with some kindergartners. Then, I went home. Ha. In the afternoon I just relaxed and got some things done at home. I have a long list of things that I need to get done before break which starts next Friday and yet I haven't done any of them. Also, the list is in my head and I really need to put it on paper, because I keep forgetting and remembering things at random times. I will start making an actual list soon, not just of things to do, but a list to give to Papá Noel, too! :)
In the evening, I went to a tapas place with Karin for a quick little language exchange and then we came back to my place ate a quick dinner and Lucia, Stephanie, Karin, and I went to the movies! It was technically for my birthday and the movie was my choice. We saw Frozen: El reino de hielo. It's the same name in English, Frozen. It was so good. :) I loved it! It made me really happy and I loved the music in it. Some of the lyrics were hard to understand in Spanish, but it was still easy to catch the meanings of the songs and the movie as a whole. :) Such a great movie and I would definitely recommend it. :) Below is a short film of two of the characters in the movie: Sven and Olaf. This clip is not in the movie, just a fun thing that Disney did on the side. :) Enjoy
This is also one of the songs in it. :) In Spanish, it is called Suéltalo and in English it is Let It Go. I suggest listening to both versions. The English one is sang by Idina Menzel and also Demi Lovato. :)
Also, here are some pictures we got after the movie. :)
Okay, today involved more Miley Cyrus. Probably a little too much Miley Cyrus, if you ask me. I sang that dang song in four out of five classes. GAHH! I no longer care about Santa Claus coming to town, but I will say that it is adorable seeing the students sing/scream and dance to Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It makes me really happy to know that I helped teach them the song! And they sing it excellently! Also, I got to use the Promethean Board today, which is an interactive whiteboard that the school has. I know I have mentioned it before because I remember talking about how I learned it's software while student teaching and I feel like it doesn't get used to it's fullest potential at the school here. But it felt so great to be using it. I know that probably sounds dumb, because HELLO it's just a piece of technology, but I love seeing how the students react to it. I wish we could use it more.
I wish I had more to tell you about my day, but I really don't. I had my two lessons after school and they both went well. And once home, I ate dinner and mostly relaxed. I had more planned for the night, but I spent the majority of the night trying to figure out this weekend. We are planning to see a movie and go ice skating! Yay! So fun!
On another note, I did think of two more random things to mention.
1. I find it interesting that all the students think I am SO old and all of the other teachers think I'm SO young! :) It is all about perspective, I guess. It just amuses me.
Number two is snot a good way to end this blog, but it will be amusing. Maybe.
2. Although it is not terribly cold here, it is still cold and flu season. That means a lot of snotty noses at the school, which means a lot of students are blowing their noses...or not blowing their noses. I have witnessed one kid choose to blow his nose first and then use the tissue...that was pleasant. And I saw one kid come in from recess with snot hanging way out of his nose. It both incidences there was some snotage in the mouth..gross. My reaction....
Snotty noses are worse than loose teeth.
And on that note, have a good night! You're welcome. :)
One of many drawings from the Happy Birthday book from the kindergartners. :)
Okay, so I forgot to mention that Lucia got me a Spanish book for my birthday, too! It's called Principito (The Little Prince). You might have heard of it. It's originally in French, called Le Petit Prince. Lucia said it's a pretty popular book in Spain and a lot of adolescents read it. I am pumped to start reading it, because I have never read it, even in English and definitely not in French. Anyway, it might as well have been my birthday today, too, because I got a few cards today from students. A few girls in one of my 1st grade classes drew me a picture and then the kindergarten class that I worked with today made me a book of drawings and sang to me. It was awesome! I really was not expecting it at all! I loved it!
The drawing from some 1st graders :)
Also, the day involved A LOT more Miley Cyrus! Haha, but it also involved some reviewing food vocabulary and getting started on some house vocabulary. I can't believe just how much gets thrown at them at once. Sometimes I think it's too much, but they usually surprise me! These students are sponges! For example, rather than just learning sofa, bed, bathroom, house, kitchen, sink, and the other basics, they are also learning words like glass, wood, tiles, basement, tent, igloo, etc. There is a huge list or words and it just surprises me because the chapters in their books have more vocabulary in them than a high school level one book would have. But, like I said, these children are sponges and many of them catch on and remember quickly! Also, there are enough birthday treats to last the rest of the week. :)
Anyway, I had some of my lessons tonight and they all went really well. The last two were my favorite because I walked up to the house and there were lights in the window and Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men were climbing up the side of the house! Also, as soon as I stepped into the house, I got a whiff of a Christmas candle. I don't actually think it was a candle, but whatever it was, it was Christmas-y and wonderful! Also, they had their tree up! AND they offered me Christmas candy and I took one and then it was followed by the mother giving me four more pieces. Haha. It was good though! Also, the younger girl sang me part of the song she learned at school. I actually have never heard it, but I like it. It's catch-y and she was so cute singing it. Also, I can't believe they learned the whole song! It's pretty long! Anyway, I figured this was a good way to end the blog because once I got home, I didn't do much. So enjoy the song. Love you all. Happy Holidays!
Today was my birthday, but really it was just like any other day, besides getting sung to and getting a lot of hugs and kisses. Many of the classes today dealt with the singing/learning/dancing to Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Miley Cyrus. Since I didn't post it before, I will post it now.
The students are also learning some Christmas vocabulary: Santa Claus, sleigh, stocking, reindeer, gifts, Christmas tree, etc. It's really fun to see them enjoying the Christmas season. On another note, I brought the scotcheroos to school and the teachers seemed to like them. Most of them said the same thing, "It looks like turrón," which is a dessert that is typically eaten during Christmas. I think they might have been a little heavy and sugary for them though. I actually agree, haha, but they are so delicious! I got so many "Felicidades" and "Feliz Cumpleaños" from the teachers, which was so nice. I got a lot of dos besos, too. Also, two of my classes sang to me AND, right in the middle of lunch, one of the teachers counted 1-2-3 and all the teachers broke out into "Happy Birthday" in English. I think my face turned red, but I appreciated it! :D
After school, I had the language exchange with the teacher at my school, which went very well. Then, I got home and had a birthday card from my grandma and grandpa in the mail. Thanks, you two! :) Then, as soon as I walked in the door, Lucia asked me if I was hungry. I, of course, was and I found out that she had made a cake. So, we blew up some balloons that my old college roommate sent, ruined our dinners with some cake, and I made a wish and blew out a candle. Then, Stephanie and Karin came over and we spent the night listening to Christmas music, eating cake and scotcheroos, singing, and playing the guitar. I don't play the guitar and I can't sing, but I was having fun listening to the other three. :) That was my birthday and night and now I am tired. Thank you to all of you who wished me a happy birthday near and far. :) Love you all! Good night!
Okay, so obviously I am not going to get to blogging about my weekend today, but I will talk about my day today. I slept in slightly, but would have slept in more had it not been for a girl coming to look at the apartment. Still no luck with finding someone. Hopefully, we will find someone soon, since Lucia and I won't be here over break to show anyone the apartment. We will see though. Not as many people are looking right now, but maybe more people will need a flat when the new semester starts at the universities.
After she left, I went to the regular grocery store for a few things and then I went to a store called Taste of America for a few things. You see, my birthday is tomorrow and I love scotcheroos and you are supposed to bring a treat to school on your birthday. So I decided to make scotcheroos, the only thing is peanut butter, corn syrup, and chocolate and butterscotch chips are not popular groceries here, so I had to go to Taste of America to get them. Thing is, EVERYTHING is ridiculously overpriced there, so I am slightly embarrassed to disclose just how much my double batch of scotcheroos cost me. But I think it was worth it for the one time. However, I will definitely not be doing it again. Also, those teachers better appreciate them. After making the scotcheroos and lunch, I finally posted my Valencia pictures on Facebook from when I went three weeks ago. I hope that doesn't mean I won't get my Bilbao pictures posted until three weeks from now...whoops.
Anyway, I also watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas on YouTube and skyped my boyfriend. Then, I blogged about last Thursday. After all that, I went to the library to return a book and then I had my Spanish class. It was really fun and this week I was the only student out of the usual three students, so it was like an individual lesson, which was good. :) I learned about the different senses in Spanish and we watched a short film in Spanish. That really doesn't sound like much, but we went on a lot of tangents and I learned a lot and I am so happy to be taking the class. :) If you want to watch the short film that I did, you can see it below. You don't have to know the language to understand the video. It's called Una celebración de los 4 sentidos (A celebration of the 4 senses). It's a good short film. :) Enjoy and have a great day!
Man, I am long overdue for a blog. I will try and write about Thursday and today first then I will get to talking about my weekend in Bilbao and San Sebastián eventually. On Thursday, I went to school and the students are still starting to get a head start on Christmas so they are learning a Christmas carol; specifically, Santa Claus is Coming to Town...even more specifically, Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Miley Cyrus. Not a horrible version, but I think the classic is better. So here is the classy version.
In the afternoon, the students got to do more workshops for decorating the school and classroom. It was quite comical at one point because the students (and I) had glue and paper sticking to our hands and it reminded me a lot of the end of this scene...haha.
Anyway, the time of day got a little less comical when I started to make a Christmas card for my parents. Karin and I have talked before about how it seems pretty easy for us to disconnect ourselves from home. And we have decided that it is almost necessary to do so or else it will just be too hard. Well, as it gets closer and closer to Christmas, it is getting harder to not think about home and while making the card for my parents in class, I had a minor breakdown. I realized just how much I will really miss home this Christmas. I will obviously still be having a good time and spreading Christmas cheer, but it just won't be the same. I was fine again after a few minutes, but it still is on my mind a lot, but I am thankful to have a wonderful roommate who is allowing me to spend Christmas with her family. I can't wait to still be in a family atmosphere.
After school, I had my two lessons and I knew I would be in a rush after the lessons because Karin and I were leaving for Bilbao on Thursday night. For those of you wondering: No, I did not skip school on Friday. Friday was Constitution Day, so there was no school. Anyway, I knew I would already be rushed and I knew that the train was having a strike again, so I asked the dad of my last lesson if he could drive me to the station. The strikes haven't been a problem for me yet, but this time they were. Right as we were pulling up, the train was too, but I just couldn't run fast enough to catch it and I had to wait 20 minutes for the next train! Ruh roh. Luckily, I had most of my stuff already packed, but I knew I would be rushed, especially because I still had to wait and take the metro, too. Also, my transportation card decided to stop working, so I just decided to cut in behind somebody twice to make it through the gate. I had no time to fix it at that point. Haha. Once home, I finished packing quickly and Karin made me a sandwich for dinner and then we were off. We weren't too late and we got safely to Bilbao and met Karin's friend, Lenny, who is from Germany and studying in Bilbao right now. :)
Karin and I made it safely to Bilbao. We will be up and and ready to explore in the morning. In other news, Bilbao is in Basque Country and we just found out that members of ETA, a terrorist group that wants independence from Spain, were released from prison after 20 years. So we should be safe here, but we probably should be scared to go back to Madrid. Ha. Have a good weekend! :)
