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