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