Sun-shiny Sunday

What a wonderful weekend. Yesterday, I must truthfully say, was a wonderful day. I went downtown Madrid with a friend to look at camera lenses, relax in Retiro Park, and watch the Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino. It's March, but the temperatures are almost in the 70s. The summery weather makes a body want to stay outside, strolling, lying in the grass, playing catch...which reminds me that I should buy a ball. At the end of the day I was so so tired, but there are moments when the state of the physical body doesn't matter much, because a sleepy happiness is still happiness. On the way home from Madrid, I got to change the gears in the car from the passenger seat. Maybe someday I'll drive a manual...maybe...

Today there is a potluck at the church. I forgot (until yesterday morning) that I needed to make food, so I will buy an empanada or a tortilla on the way to church to share. I have some chicken in cream of mushroom soup to eat myself. After the potluck there is youth group. I think I'll slip away between the two to read and write a bit, to recharge my people friendly battery. Being around so many people all day is enjoyable, but quite tiring.

Dad, I read this in a book that I'm reading, and thought you'd enjoy the sentiment:

"There is no more thrilling sensation I know of than sailing. It comes as near to flying as man has got to yet--except in dreams. The wings of the rushing wind seem to be bearing you onward, you know not where. You are no longer the slow, plodding, puny thing of clay, creeping tortuously upon the ground; you are a part of Nature! (...) Your spirit is at one with hers; your limbs grow light! The voices of the air are singing to you. The earth seems far away and little; and the clouds, so close above your head, are brothers, and you stretch your arms to them." (apologies to Jerome K. Jerome. "Three Men in a Boat")

Can't wait to go sailing with you when I get home!!

Wind storms and snails

About a week ago Spain was having very high winds, and a huge sign was knocked loose from a building near a highway, making the road dangerous. They couldn't take it down until the winds calmed down, and the highway was blocked off (perhaps partway, I'm not sure). All this is fine and dandy, but when I arrived at the bus stop that morning, I knew something was wrong when I saw the line, as long as a freight train. Oop, the buses weren't running well, I thought. I had planned to buy minutes for my cell phone at the tobacco stand that day after work, but it turns out I needed them sooner than that. Luckily, I had enough to send an instant message to a friend, who called my school for me. I ended up walking/running to the train station, and made the 30 minute walk in 20 minutes, arriving before the first bus. Everyone was very understanding, since the traffic jams were all over the news. I got to school and substituted in the first grade class, enjoying the day and not yelling at the class even once. They must have been all sleeping, since I had no problems whatsoever.

Last Sunday, I went with Kristen and her friend Carmen to el Retiro to relax and eat lunch in the park. It was about 70 degrees, weather which has stayed with us throughout this week as well. After eating and taking a stroll through the paths crowded with lovers and baby strollers, we went to the Prado to see the Francis Bacon exhibit. His paintings are interesting and good, but I can't say that I enjoyed them because they are quite disturbing. The carnality, violence, despair, and confusion of the artwork makes me utterly thankful for the hope that I have in God. Later, during the evening, I got to talk to Colin this afternoon for almost an hour. Colin, that was a wonderful end to my week (or beginning according to English calendars).

This week I have enjoyed walking outside in t-shirts and talking with other assistants and teachers during breaks outside in the sun. This week I talked with Oscar, another assistant at my school, and he said that he would like to be with the first graders next year. I love the first graders, but I also immensely enjoy my time with the fourth graders. It would be wonderful to be with the fourth graders alone, especially since I like to work with the fourth grade English teacher. We have a good relationship and I feel like I would have more freedom to be creative and contribute to the class and instruction.

My last news (very important!!) Last week I ate snails. And...they taste good! I was writing something on the computer, probably an e-mail, and Angelita poked her head into my room. "Do you like snails?" she asked me. How was I to know? It's not common the American that has eaten snail. So, I went to the kitchen and tried. Here's a list of things that I have learned to eat/have eaten in Spain.

snails
unpeeled shrimp with their heads
octopus
squid
rabbit
all varieties of fish (with heads and all the bones...each one uses a different technique to cut it)
sardines
cow stomach

Substituting and such

This past week the first grade English teacher's mother has been in the hospital, and just got home a couple of days ago. So, I got to substitute in the class. Sometimes I think that the whole class is easier to teach than the small group. I really enjoyed knowing that I was going to teach ahead of time, so I could plan the lesson (and not have it changed on me last minute). The kids giggled as they put on my clothes to dress in warm clothes for winter and flip flops and umbrella for rain. Waterproof is another fun word to teach. I bet they've never seen a teacher spill water on her gloves (on purpose) and then on the floor (not on purpose) to demonstrate that it's not waterproof (but my plastic folder is). One of my fourth graders came down with something for me to write for the fourth grade English teacher, and while I did that, I had him lead the class in a "Simon Says" type game. It was fun to see him interact with the kids. He's one of the good ones (of which there are many).

Tonight some friends and I went out in downtown Madrid to celebrate Kristen's birthday. We ended the night with some of the best ice cream that I have eaten. Mmmm. You know, I really enjoyed the time with friends, relaxing and talking and eating tapas. I just wish that my body and brain didn't shut off before we were done, telling me, in a robotic annoying voice...it's bedtime...sleep now...need sleep...no funciono...powering down...zzzzz. But, tonight is Friday, so I can spend a little more time in my bed tomorrow morning before waking up to make pancakes and raspberry syrup for a late breakfast. And that is a comforting thought.

Crash Course in Sledding

Last Saturday, a group from the church and friends went to Cotos, which is about 2 hours by train, to sled and enjoy the fresh air. Each time I leave the city, the fresh air revives me. I need to leave civilization more often, I think. I was the first one at the train station that morning, arriving at 7:50 AM after having only slept six hours the night before. Around 8:25 the rest arrived and I forced my drowsy self to stand and greet the others. I took advantage of the trip to get to know a couple new people. In Cercedilla (Amy, we changed trains here to go to Segovia and met that Puerto Rican and Russian), we transferred to an ancient, sluggish, and charming train that took us as far as Cotos. The slopes were jam packed with kids sledding, so we pulled our four sleds to a slope a little more removed from the action. I understand now why it wasn't as populated. They were few the runs that didn't end in a spectacular crash due to the many large bumps. I got about six runs in total. My final run was with Guille, and we took a flying start, racing down the hill. It ended in a complete wipe out. I left my DNA on the slope, and my nose is still a little sore from where I bonked it on Guille's head. He took the brunt of the fall though, since I fell on top. I'm quite proud of the blood stain I left in the snow...like in the movies! Well, maybe not that spectacular. I'm very happy that no one was seriously injured.

After getting back to San Fernando, I helped cook for a dinner at the church in Canillejas. It was a late Valentine's Day dinner with entertainment, a fund raiser for the youth retreat during spring break. At the end of the evening, I was so tired I could have slept standing up, but I was also very contented. Sleepy and happy. The snow and fresh air combined with working in the kitchen made a full day, but a very good day as well. I had a lot of fun in the kitchen working with the others and I always enjoy work that brings visible results.

Sledding