chicagoland

Tomorrow I go to Chicago!! Isma flies in at 6 pm, and hopefully no one will mistake him for a terrorist or anything, and let him into the city. And so for the second time in a row I will be picking him up with one of my uncles (a different one this time) and taking him to a home not my own. Three things to be excited about, all at the same time. Isma is coming here, I'm spending the weekend in Chicago, and I get to see my cousins (cross fingers) and Aunt Linda and Uncle Sonny. That's like having your cake, eating it too, and then finding out that you won 1 million dollars. Perhaps not quite that dramatic, though. It's supposed to be hot, about 90 on Monday, so I hope we don't wilt! After making a few visits to people and walking through downtown, we'll be heading to Fort Wayne, and next weekend to Coldwater Lake before Isma has to leave.

Manyana voy a Chicago! Isma llega a las 6 de la tarde y con suerte nadie le confundira con un terrorista ni nada asi, dejandole entrar en la ciudad. Por la segunda vez (pues, es solo la segunda vez que Isma ha estado aqui con mi familia) voy a recogerle con uno de mis tios (uno diferente esta vez) y llevarle a una casa que no es mia. Tengo tres motivos por estar emocionada: viene Isma, voy a pasar el finde en Chicago y voy a ver a mis primos (espero) y Tia Linda y Tio Sonny. Es como tener todo lo que quieres y mas. Preveen que va a haber calor, como 33 el lunes, asi que espero que no marchitemos como flores! Despues de visitar algunas personas y andar por el centro, embarcamos para Fort Wayne y el fin de semana despues al lago Coldwater antes de que Isma tenga que irse.

Back from Outer Space

I feel like I've awakened from a month long hibernation. Not that I've been sleeping, doing nothing. I've been working a 5 day week at an adult "day care" (though I hate how that sounds), spending time with my family, helped translate and do VBS in Picaihua, Ecuador, ran in a 5K race (first in division...maybe I was the only 20-30 year old girl courageous enough to run it), and spent 4th of July with my mom's family at the lake. The hibernation I guess refers to responsibilities and my life in Spain, except for phone calls to Isma. But I've woken up now, back to the world, which is a good thing, and hopefully will make better use of the rest of my time back here in the states, without ignoring everyone back in Spain. It feels good to be grounded, back on Earth again. Now if only I can stay here.

This week is "Summer Camp" week at work, and so we're doing crafts and games reminiscent of camp back when everyone was a kid, drinking bug juice and eating hot dogs, singing camp fire songs over a fake campfire (unfortunately someone responsible nixed the real fire idea), and reminiscing about camp days long past. Today most of the clients are away at baseball game, our home team Tin Caps. The name comes from Johnny Appleseed, who's a pretty important man around here. I'm left with a few others to hold up the fort here. We'll see how the game went this afternoon. Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the park.....

Can't wait till Isma flies in to Chicago this Saturday!!
----------------------------------------------------
Siento como si fuera un oso que acaba de despertar despues de hibernar durante un mes. No quiero decir que he estado durmiendo, haciendo nada. Trabajo 5 dias a la semana en un programa que acoge adultos discapacitados durante el dia (como se llama eso??), paso tiempo con mi familia, acabo ayudar interpretar/traducir y hacer una escuela biblica vacacional en Picaihua, Ecuador, corri en una carrera de 5K (y gane primera en mi division...quiza fui la unica chica de 20-30 anyos que tenia bastante coraje competir :P ), y pase el dia de Independencia con la familia de mi madre al lado del lago. Supongo que quiero referir, con eso de la hibernacion, a las responsabilidades y vida en Espanya, excepto las llamadas a Isma. Pero ahora me he despertado, he vuelto al mundo, lo cual esta muy bien, y espero utilizar mejor lo demas del tiempo que me queda aqui en EEUU sin ignorar todos en Espanya. Siente bien estar mas arraigado, estar con los pies en la tierra otra vez. Ahora, si tan solo puedo quedar aqui.

Esta semana es "Campamento de verano" en el trabajo, asi que estamos haciendo manualidades y juegos como los que hicimos en campamentos de ninyo, bebiendo "zumo de insectos" (si se llama asi) y comiendo perros calientes, cantando canciones sobre una fogota de papel (desafortunadamente alguien responsable denego la idea de una fogota de verdad), y compartiendo cuentos de campamentos pasados. Hoy la mayoria de los clientes estan en un partido de beisbol de los Tin Caps, el equipo de Fort Wayne. El nombre viene de Johnny Appleseed (Johnny Semilla de Manzana), quien era un hombre bastante importante por estas partes. Me he quedado aqui con unos pocos. Ya veremos como fue el partido.

No puedo esperar hasta que venga Isma el sabado!!

Goodbye Hello

Tomorrow I'm heading home for part of the summer. First on the agenda is to give everyone a big hug and a pet for Chula, my family's new puppy. A few days later I'll start working at Turnstone, filling in during my vacation for Zlata, whose daughter is having surgery. Then the fourth of July with the extended family and the 5K race. Then missions trip in Ecuador, doing programs with the kids and meeting the church in Ambato. Then the first week of August Isma comes to visit...and before long I'll be back in Spain. My prayer for this summer is to take advantage of every minute, seize every moment, to not think further into the past or into the future than is necessary, and to love the people I'm with and without. Hope the trip goes fast tomorrow!

Ruminations

Two and a half weeks till I head back to Indiana for most of the summer. Perhaps the warm bread, salad and lamb chops settling into my stomach is reminding me of home? Probably not. Isma is in Granada this weekend with his cousin, setting up a sound system for a tiny church. And I am here, thinking that I should go run to be able to participate with my family in the Coldwater Fourth of July 5K without keeling over. Better let that lunch digest first. I've been enjoying training for the run, increasing the amount I jog slowly but surely, trying to fit it in before work or after the heat of the day wanes. Running after work at 5 pm in 90 degree heat doesn't really work for me. One morning I woke up at 6 to go before work. Roll out of bed, pull on some shorts and a t-shirt, stretch, put on some sneakers, step outside...brrrr!!! Through the park, past the young man with his dog, over to the highway, past the horse. HORSE? Never seen it before, never seen it again. My theory is that the gypsies put it there to graze, being so early in the morning and a little remote that no one would be bothered. It's been cool here, so I've been able to do some midday jogs this week. Strange, and though I welcome the cool weather, I would not mind the sun peeking out. Cloudy skies make cloudy faces, and it's time to see some light.

Wedding

A few weekends ago I went to a coworker's, Aurora, wedding with Isma. It was a happy time! And short, as it was a civil ceremony (which was good because we were standing...and for Isma because weddings aren't so much a guy thing).




I couldn't resist having someone take a picture of us out of the windows of the hall the wedding was held in. It was in the Plaza Mayor.

Shame on Us

Today Isma, Miki, Guille, and I went to eat at Cañas and Tapas in the mall near church. Pretty good food...croquettes, eggs with potatoes and peppers, and potatoes covered with sauces...but the best part was the waiter. By far. He practically bounced up to the table, told us how we could make our order better (which we were glad for the suggestion, not on the menu), and did it all with so much cheer that I couldn't help smiling. Some people grump about on the job, and what do they receive? A reflection of their attitude...a cycle that leaves them exhausted and grumpy at the end of the day. Our waiter, on the other hand, exuded energy and we gave it back. At the end of the meal, he brought us our "multa" or fine to pay. It's not traditional to leave tips here, but I think we left him about 3 euros.

After eating, we went over to VIPs to split two large cups of strawberries with ice cream and cream cheese between the four of us. We felt so bad about not ordering dessert at the first restaurant (remember, one-of-a-kind waiter), that we slunk around the long way to sneak unseen into the second restaurant. In all the four of us ate in three restaurants for one meal (Guille and Miki grabbed 1 euro burgers at McDonalds to finish filling up before dessert). Crazy. One of the best lunches I've had for awhile, not for the food, but rather for the companionship and fun.

Pet Peeves and Neat Treats

Classroom pet peeves:

= having no visual aids (if it's not my turn to bring them)
= when kids interrupt the explanation to say "I don't understand" angrily, when the teacher hasn't finished explaining
=when kids complain loudly about others' farting (and then blame the one whose stomach is upset on their inability to be quiet in class)
=when students walk to the front of the room to ask to go to the bathroom during a lesson
=moving desks
=students mocking others
=random standing up
="surprised" faces when they are scolded for talking
=incessant nose blowing at trash can

Here is a list of the good things I saw today:

=students helping others
=one of the compulsive talkers paying attention and participating
=a quiet boy who understands little English smiling and actively participating
=a good show-and-tell about pets
=talking with one of the 6th graders on way to school
=enthusiastic singing
=intelligent questions
=chocolate cake because of two teachers' birthdays. yum
=one of the girl's birthday...Happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo...

Let's just say that that was a rant about the day, and then the second list to remind me why I like teaching so much.