Weekends in the Park

Two weekends ago I went to Retiro Park to go for a tour with my friend Carmen of the park, with an emphasis on the history. Unfortunately, she came down with the flu and couldn't meet up with me. I think that her elementary kids probably passed it along to her. I learned a lot during the 2 hour walk around the park. For lunch, Isma met up with me in the park, and I can't say that I complained about having a picnic just the two of us. I've got some pictures of the rose gardens and the park with fall leaves.

The Thursday after, those of us in the youth group had to say goodbye to two of our friends, Anderson and Israel (Isra), who left to go back to their home country, Brazil. We went out to a Brazilian restaurant to "celebrate." I suppose it was a celebration of our friendships, though most celebrations don't end in tears. Friday they left for Portugal, and by Saturday afternoon, they were on the plane for Brazil. Their presence is missed so much in youth group and Sunday morning. I think we all miss hearing Isra's beautiful voice and both of their powerful prayers and encouraging words and Anderson's samba dancing.

This past weekend Isma took me to see the Templo de Debod, which I know Amy saw about a year ago. Okay, more than a year ago. We were going to go on the teleférico (cable car?) above Madrid, but it was really windy, a little cold, and the line was long. An authentic Egyptian temple seemed like the better option in the moment. Afterward we went to eat at an Indian restaurant nearby. I'd have to say that the last two Saturdays have been wonderful.

This Thursday I went to eat with some of the other teachers at a pizzeria down the street from the elementary school. I'm enjoying the new atmosphere this year with more young teachers and some new attitudes.
This weekend is English Camp. I went last year, but this year I'm going to be leading a workshop about Thanksgiving. I'll let you know how it goes!

Retiro and Templo de Debod

Of friends and students

You know how good it feels to be wanted? Tuesday, upon my arrival at my students' house near the school, Marta burst out of her room with an anticipatory smile, ready to greet me with kisses and hear about my summer and tell me about hers. Sergio also, came out to say hi, a little bashful but happy to see me. Marta and Sergio are siblings, preteens I taught private English lessons to last year, and thankfully am continuing with this year. Last year I went to see the family in a play at their church and it's delightful to work for them. They also contract someone to help out with the cleaning in the house a few days a week, and she used to make an orange juice for me every Friday when I went to give Sergio a lesson. On my way from school to their house, I ran into the woman, Lucia, and we got to catch up in the 3 extra minutes I had. Then, I walked as quickly as I could so I wouldn't be late for the classes.

Wednesday was the third Bible Study. We're studying Mark, noting how Jesus mentored the disciples and how he interacted with the people, learning to be mentors ourselves. It's been delightful so far, and I've noted changes in me as we've gotten into the word more. It's great having a group of people to study with, and since we have "homework" for each day, it's creating a habit of reading and praying every day. I notice the difference when I spend more time with God...we're better friends. Funny how that works.

At school (work) we're working on classroom management and preparing to give the science test next week. I'm relating to the kids well, even better than last year, a good consequence of being in the main classroom the whole time and co-teaching. Some of the kids' lives really depress me, so with them I'm trying to give lots of love while balancing it with the needs of the whole class. At least there are two of us in the classroom. There is always so much to learn, and then some things that can be improved but never mastered, and then others that are new every time and so a mystery.

Back in Spain

Okay, I've been back for almost a month now, and shamefully haven't written or posted anything. My way back to Madrid was fairly uneventful; no running in airports to my delight. Dad and Mom drove me to Chicago where we played multiple rounds of Skip-Bo before I left to go through security. In the airport in Chicago, I met a young woman from India and we sat together during the long flight, during which I don't think I slept a wink. I was a very sleepy girl by the time Isma picked me up the next day at the airport and took me to his home for lunch. In bed that night by 8:30, I slept a straight 12 hours. Since then, I've connected up with old friends for picnics, started with a Bible study which is a formation for mentors, and investigated a Spanish class that ended up not panning out. October 1st was my first day of work, and last Wednesday I finally ironed out the last details in my schedule. I work Monday through Thursday, Friday for working on my private classes' lessons and housework. Two weekends ago the youth had a retreat in Camarma and last weekend I went to a church "yard sale" with my friend Carmen. At the later, I of course bought books. Four. I swear I tried, but just couldn't resist.

Here's some photos from a birthday party and the camp two weekends ago.

Birthday and Youth Retreat

September at Lindley

After the kids went back to school, I went to visit Flor, Ana, and the rest of the teachers and kids at Lindley, where I student taught. I ended up coming three times, visiting the classrooms, putting up a bulletin board, and the last time going out for a milkshake with Flor and Ana and talking about teaching, family, and love. I thought it amusing what Monica, one of the assistants, told me jokingly me during lunch the second day I visited: "La primera vez vienes a visitar, la segunda a trabajar, y la tercera a cobrar." (First time is to visit, the second to work, and the third to get paid.) One of my favorite parts was telling the kids about Spain, taking the kids' questions, most of which were actually statements about where their families were from or that they have an [insert object or family member, fictitious or not] from Mexico, and getting hugs from my old students.

Here's Flor.

Here's Ana.


Después de que los niños volvieron al cole, fui a visitar a Flor, Ana, y los demás de los profes y niños de Lindley, donde hice mis prácticas. Al final, fui tres veces, visitando los aulas, poniendo arte estudiantil en un tablón de anuncios, y la última vez saliendo con Flor y Ana para tomar un batido mientras hablábamos de la enseñanza, familia, y amor. Pensé que era graciosa lo que me dijo en broma Monica, uno de los auxiliares, durante la comida: La primera vez a visitar, la segunda a trabajar y la tercerca a cobrar. Una cosa que me gustó mucho era de contar a los niños acerca de España, responder a las preguntas, la mayoría de que no eran preguntas sino declaraciones sobre de donde eran sus familias o que tienen un [insertar objeto o pariente, ficticio o no] de México, y recibir abrazos de mis estudiantes antiguos.

Johnny Appleseed Festival

A few weeks ago, my parents and I celebrated the beginning of fall and apple cider season (which, sadly, I haven't drank this fall) by attending the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Johnny Appleseed Park. Bean and ham soup, corn bread baked on a wood fire served with homemade butter, apple dumplings, antiques, pioneer costumes, colonial music, antiques, crafts...fun! Mom didn't want to walk much on account of her foot hurting, so we spent a lot of time watching the dancing and listening to the music...pioneer days, folk, fiddle music, and a drum and fife corp. I marveled at the traditional crafts in between chasing down the bagpipers. Kilted people playing Scottish melodies is not to be missed.

Johnny Appleseed Festival

Fish Story

Above is the picture of the infamous fish who, about a month ago, graced the floor of our boat. His (or her...fish gender is a little fuzzy to me) fragrant perfume wafted up from the boat, greeting any approaching visitors. Putting our heads together, we brainstormed various ways that the fish could have gotten there. (1) A raccoon. Highly unlikely as they can't swim to the nether regions of the lake. (2) A bird. But the fish was so big! (3) Malicious teenagers. I liked this one. (4) Apprehensive fishermen being approached by DNR officers and needing to get ready of evidence of illegal fish.
It wasn't until about a month after the unfortunate incident that we got our answer. Swooping down from the sky as we watched, a great blue heron ducked under our neighbor's canopy and into their boat with ease that would have seemed prohibitive with their size. He must have taken his fish to our boat to eat, been scared away, and couldn't lift the fish out of the boat to fly to safer waters. We spent the entire weekend trying to get rid of the stain left by the decomposing fish. Soap. Scrub. Bleach. Blanch. Blech. Our neighbors will be laughing for quite awhile.

Arriba está el pez infame que hace un mes, honró el suelo del barco de mi familia con su presencia. Su colonia fragrante nos alcanzó en cuanto acercamos al barco. Después de descubrir nuestro visitante muerto, intentamos dar una razón por su presencia. Damos con algunas posibilidades: (1) Un mapache, aunque no seria muy posible como no pueden nadar hasta las profundidades del lago, (2) Un pájaro, aunque pensamos que el pez era demasiado grande para eso, (3) Adolescentes maléficos, un chisme maliciosos; a mi me gustó a este, (4) Pescadores nerviosos que necesitaban esconder un pescado ilegal de la policia. Tuvimos que esperar un mes para descubrir que pasó de verdad. Una tarde, mirando a la puesta del sol, vimos a una gran garza azul descender, pasar por abajo del toldo del barco y aterrizar en el barco sin dificultades. Pensé que hubiera sido demasiado grande para caber bien, volando, abajo del toldo. Ha debido de poner el pez en nuestro barco para comer, ha estado asustado y no podía levantar el pez otra vez para escapar a un lugar más tranquilo. Bueno, pasamos todo el fin de semana intentando quitar la mancha y olor dejado por el pez podrido. Jabón. Fregar. Agua. Qué asco. Nuestros vecinos estarán riéndose durante mucho tiempo.



Later that day Colin took pictures of Dad and I in the captain hat he bought in Venice for Dad. Ay ay captain!!
Luego Colin sacó fotos de mi padre y yo con el sombrero de capitán que compró en Venice. A sus órdenes, capitán!

Muncie Visit

The weekend before Labor Day, I went down to Ball State to visit friends, Justine and Beth, who are still studying there. I stayed with Beth in her university apartment. As two nerdy and art loving girls, we enjoyed playing Banana Grams (like Scrabble, but more fun) and went to a pottery gallery to paint pottery. Hers was a pretty spoon rest, but mine will have to remain a secret till Christmas. The funniest part of the visit was the ice cream social at the university apartments. The resident assistant had brought the ice cream out 20 minute before the first participant showed up, without refrigeration. In the sun. With cones and one scooper. Imagine, scooping soupy melted ice cream into a small cone with a huge ice cream scooper, trying to keep it from dripping on clothes. I think that was more challenging than the hillbilly golf game set up to entertain us. And no, I didn't pass the challenge; the last bite landed on my pants as the cone split in two. It was kind of strange being back on campus and viewing the subculture from a outsider's point of view. A world where everyone is, for the most part, either teaching or between the ages of 17 and 26. I remember college being sort of like a limbo land, where you're not quite a kid but not quite an adult, not having a full time job. It's good, so far, being on the other side.

El fin de semana antes del Día del trabajador, fui a la universidad de Ball State para visitar a unas amigas que están estudiando allí. Me quedé con Beth en su apartamento, jugando a juegos de crucigramas, conociendo a la gente de allí. Él sábado fuimos a una galería de cerámicas para pintar. Ella hizo un plato apoya cucharas y yo pinté un plato para mis padres. Es un secreto hasta las Navidades! La parte más gracioso del fin de semana era la fiesta con helados para dar los bienvenidos a los estudiantes que vivían allí en los apartamentos. El organizador había puesto los helados en la mesa 20 minutos antes de la llegada de la primera persona. Afuera en el sol. Sin refrigeración de ningún tipo. Habría estado bien, normal, si hubieramos tenido cucharas y platos hondos de papel. Pero, solamente tuvimos cucuruchos pequeños y una cuchara grande. Imaginate, la gente intentando trasladar el helado de la caja a su cucurucho chiquitito sin dejar caer gotas de helado derretido en la ropa, el brazo, todo la mano. No aprobé el exámen. Cuando fui a terminar el mío, el último mordisco se me cayó a mis pantalones. Está bien, al menos no había notas. Estaba un poco extraño estar en la ciudad universitaria otra vez, observando la subcultura desde el punto de vista de una persona de afuera. Un mundo donde toda la gente, por lo general, tiene entre 17 y 26 años y si no, están dando clases. Me acuerdo que estar en la universidad era para mi como estar en el limbo, no estaba una niña o jóven viviendo en la casa con mis padres pero a la vez no estaba completamente un adulto. Está bien, hasta el momento, haber pasado por allí y estar al otro lado.