El final dia en el colegio

Today is my LAST day of school here at Orippo. I have the last hour of the day free on Wednesdays and I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I don't have to come back here on Monday. I have lived in Sevilla and taught in Dos Hermanas for a full eight months. Even though I have complained about my school (and I am not really THAT sad to go) everyone has been really nice and said how much they will miss me, especially my little niños. They had a party for me yesterday and alot of them brought me presents! The girls brought a vareity of fashion pastic jewlery and one boy brought me a little angel statue. I thought none of the teachers really even knew why I was there but today la directora (who as of last month couldn't remember my name) presented me with a gift from the whole staff and proceeded to serenade me with "Porque es una chica stupenda..." Turns out Noelia got the gift of course, but hey, I'll take whatever good juju I can get.



I have learned so much this year, but I as I continue travelling and learning, the more discover how little I have seen and how much there still is to learn. Since February I have been debating the idea of renewing my teaching contract and staying here in Spain for another year. It has taken me months to decide what I want to do because both lists of pros and cons are long. (And we know how I feel about lists.)

Cons:

1. Not exactly getting the whole career/money making thing off with a bang. I make enough to get by and to travel on the weekends but I can't really save anything... or pay those pesky student loans... love you mom and dad!

2. I MISS MY FAMILY

3. I MISS MY FREINDS

4. Although this blog may suggest otherwise, living and working in another country, even one as beautiful and wonderful as Spain, is not easy. You take for granted being able to handle problems that arrive in your own native language. Try arguing with Spaniards sometime; not for the timid. Plus, one always seems to forget appropriate vocabulary when under pressure, or at least I do.

5. It gets lonely sometimes.

6. Spanish buerocracy is the horror of the universe.

7. The big one:One of the main rules for renewal is that if you want to repeat, you must repeat in the SAME CENTER. Yes, another year with the gypsies, the shit administration, mi enemigo juan anontio, the terror directora, all of it. AND, Noelia is not coming back. I have been saved this year by essentialy being her classroom aide. That way I was able to get used to the kids, they got used to me, and WOW, they actually LEARNED a few things!!! On my own however, going from class to class for an hour at a time, would not only be horrible, but also completely pointless and fruitless. I have tried a little with the 6th grade this year and the results have been nil. They are freaking animals. They literally just scream and run around the whole time. How am I supposed to teach them if they are too busy beating the crap out of each other to listen?



Pros:

1. Spain is beautiful.

2. Sevilla is beautiful and a great place to live. It's a great city and I have had a wonderful time here.

3. Although my Spanish has improved a lot, I still have a LONG way to go toward fluency. Living with Americans this year has been great for freindships and moral support, but not so good for the Spanish. It's just easier to spend time with people that understand you and make you feel comfortable. Next year I want to live with Spanish speakers AND take Spanish language classes at the University of Sevilla.

4. I have the travel bug. I have seen this year that I can make it work moneywise and I have big ideas for next year. I want to take less trips, save up and go farther. Greece. Ireland. Brussels. Prague. Rome....

5. This year I have gotten the hang of life here. The city, the people, what to expect and what not to expect. For example, something that one would THINK would take 10 minutes..... try 40. etc. The restaurant opens at 8, .... well they don't actually serve food until 9, feel free to wait though. Stores open at 5.... so they may or may not come back from seista... maybe 5, maybe 5:30, 6... The conversation of the two dudes behind the desk at the train station is MUCH more important than the train you are missing as a result.

I have learned that you can't uptight here. It's pointless. You just need to go with the flow, and accept the fact that things you want to accomplish today, may very well not happen for reasons beyond your control. But there is always tommorow.

6.I also have a few freinds Here. Well... like 2.5 really. Maybe 3.5 but hey that is a start, and way more than I had coming in this year. My freind and language partner Macarena has been an amazing help to me. She has been helping not only with Spanish vocab, but also with whatever other questions I have. Last night, she went with me putting up flyers for apartments next year (all in her neighborhood which is of course the best one). AND next week we are going to London together! I have been helping her with her English so next week she is going to get to practice a LOT and for once I can be the one to guide her through a city. Not that I know my way around London whatsoever but hey, I do know the language! Also, my very good freind Hayley Salvo is staying in Puerto, which is only an hour train ride away. We have some big plans for next year. I am also going on family vaycay with her later this month! Hooray!

7. STILL have not found the Spanish boyfreind yet!!! I do not know WHAT the problem is. Last time I was here, I literally had more novios than I knew what to do with but this time.... I just dont know! What, am I used goods at 22?!! Well, I am not having it. Next year, it's on. You know, for the language practice ;)

7. I MAY still be able to switch schools. It's actually not looking particularly good for switching lately, but, they have told me that if it is bad next year that they will switch me then. What I am saying is that it I already KNOW the situation there, and that it isn't good.... pero bueno, vamos a ver....

8. ....Basically, I'm set. I have so much left to learn and do, I'm so young, an it's just too easy paperwork-wise and just because now I am used to things, I have jobs, freinds, etc. to pass up. I feel like I have made most of the mistakes this year so I hit the ground running next year. I have 10 hours a week of tutoring already from this year, I am going to get a bike, I know where I want to live, I am going to take a class.... I'm just set. I have the rest of my life to work at the career that I will have for the rest of my life. So it basically came down to......

WHY NOT???


But don't fret too much everyone. I will be home for a full 3 months this summer, Christmas, then I will be back next june, for good. (well, you know, most likely ;*) I figure 2 years of langauge acquisition, life experience, and general enjoyment of one's youth, has got be worth waiting until age 24 to start grad school and then a career. Yeah, I think it will be just fine.


Just in case you are still not convinced.... check out my pics from this past weekend:
My favorite americans in Spain at the beach! ...what can I say.... life is GOOD!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mclauerman/SurfSUpDude

I will be home in just about 3 weeks!
besos,
mc

Alycia came to visit!

Hello all,

My how time flies when you are having fun! I can NOT beleive it is May already! Time flew especially fast the past two weeks because Alycia came to vist! We went out in Sevilla some, then we went to the feria in El Puerto so that Alycia could experience probably the most typical Spanish thing that there is, with the flamenca dresses, the tapas, el rebujito, dancing sevillanas and general revelry por todas partes.

Then had to come back to work, and I brought her in to meet my little gypsy darlings. Haha and she survived, although after 20 minutes we were literally running out the gate to catch the train back to Sevilla.

On Friday we caught a bus to Lagos, Portugal! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! The most gorgous beaches have ever seen. It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend. We went to the beach traquilamente, went to delicious dining establishments, we partook of the culture via the local pubs. Actually, there is nothing to be found of actual Portugese people or culture in the bars or restaurants n Lagos, since they are all filled with European tourist, mostly British, with the occasional aussie surfer thrown in. Even most of the people that work there are not locals. But we still enjoyed ourselves very much, none the less. We actaully ran into some other teachers from Sevilla there, without even planning on it, thus showing that Lagos is quite the place to be.

All in all, Alycia said that her trip was perfect because she got to do the authentic Spanish thing, but also got to go to an entirely new country. I'm good, what can I say.

As always, pictures are much better at explaining than words : http://picasaweb.google.com/mclauerman/ALYCIA

Hope all is well at home!
I will be back in SIX WEEKS! Get your party shoes on!!!
Besos,
Mary Claire