SPAIN PART 2: My life como una profesora!!

HOLA TODOS DESDE ESPANA!

I am in Spain...once again! I am living with Daniel, who is taking classes and learning tons of Spanish. It's funny, I just figured out how to use this blog again. I forgot my login name but it was so easy to figure it out. I read some of my blog from Alicante (1 1/2 years ago) and was inspired to write again. This time, I'm in Asturias, only an hour or so away from the Picos de Europa, where I hiked for a week when I was last in Espana. It's a lot more my cup of tea than Alicante---mountains, green rolling hills, etc. Absolutely stunning scenery. We went hiking once so far...but we will make sure to go again soon. Dan and I went to get our NIEs today which was a pain but worked out in the end. Spanish bureaucracy, aaahhhhhh!!

Some highlights so far:
Finding Flying Dog IPA down the street from us in the coolest bar in Oviedo
Gijon!! Shitshow. Siempre.
Hiking with Jorge, Lissa and their friends, the mountain hut and the mystical flute!!
My gym, because I love it. Pilates, pool, etc. And I'm getting back in shape! Yay!
Recreo (break) with the teachers in school- all smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee in the quick 25 minute break, hahaha
Opening up a bank account, getting my NIE, generally doing things that require a very high level of communication. My Spanish is improving so much!
Dinner with Lara and Felix, Dan's birthday with Lara and Felix---our Spanish roommates!!
7 course cena with Carlos, Felix, Lissa, Jorge
Our "fondue party"
Walks around the city with Dan
Cangas de Onis- caving!!! Hiking los lagos, Covadonga!
Llanes with Dan, los cubos de la memoria, the beautiful beaches



I am living in Oviedo, Asturias, teaching 12-16 year olds English in an instituto secundario. It is quite fun, yet can be a pain as some of the children are difficult. Some just can't sit still. I am grateful that I had some experience in Hartford this summer for six weeks teaching 30 kids. It helped enormously. Despite the jobs challenges (I do not have a degree in education), is very rewarding as I am constantly challenged creatively.

Overall, my life, right now, consists of the following:

private lessons, preparing for lessons, going to the school and working/teaching, going to the gym. I have done lessons in the classroom on some interesting things: Jonny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, Thanksgiving, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, we also carved a pumpkin, the Monster Mash, Connecticut, Vermont, idioms/sayings, etc. I gave them a survey in the beginning to see what they wanted to learn and of course holidays, food, music, movies, etc. I am showing American Teen to the older kids (15-16) right now and we are discussing it. I am also going to show Supersize Me soon to the same group after American Teen is finished. I hope to do a lesson soon on the National Parks.

Oviedo is absolutely beautiful. Right now the mountains in the distance are covered in snow. Film festival in Gijon this weekend so Dan and I are going to make sure we spend all day in the movie theater. We are also having a Thanksgiving potluck with some of our friends this weekend! Thank god, I want stuffing so badly!


Will make sure to post things in this blog....Espana parte dos!! I will definitely start posting funny things that occur during the day with the kids!

(Salamanca, Toledo, Madrid, Dublin to follow soon!)