Here, in Spain, I get the feeling that things are a little… backwards. When it is summer, grass and plants are all yellow and brown. In the middle of winter, everything is lush green. What in the world is going on??
I’m in the Twilight Zone. ;-)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
My Name is Justina
“Hola. Me llamo Justina.”
That’s what I would have said a long time ago… about 80 years ago if I had been born in Spain. Turns out that Spain was (and in some degree still is) quite a Catholic country. It was thanks to the dictator Franco who was an extremely religious guy. Since he ruled all, he used the Catholic calendar where each date had a saint’s name on it. What ever date you happened to be born on… WHAM! You ended up with that saint’s name. Like it or not. So if you were born on Saint Julia day, then your name would have either been Julia or Julio, depending obviously on your gender.
I was born on Saint Justo day, which means my name would have been Justina.
…
…
Thank goodness Franco didn’t pick my name! I like my name just the way it is. (Thanks Mom and Dad! :-) )
P.S. If you would like to know what your name could-have-been-but-never-was, tell me your birth date and I will let you know! :-)
That’s what I would have said a long time ago… about 80 years ago if I had been born in Spain. Turns out that Spain was (and in some degree still is) quite a Catholic country. It was thanks to the dictator Franco who was an extremely religious guy. Since he ruled all, he used the Catholic calendar where each date had a saint’s name on it. What ever date you happened to be born on… WHAM! You ended up with that saint’s name. Like it or not. So if you were born on Saint Julia day, then your name would have either been Julia or Julio, depending obviously on your gender.
I was born on Saint Justo day, which means my name would have been Justina.
…
…
Thank goodness Franco didn’t pick my name! I like my name just the way it is. (Thanks Mom and Dad! :-) )
P.S. If you would like to know what your name could-have-been-but-never-was, tell me your birth date and I will let you know! :-)
Thursday, February 7, 2008
My Schedule/Timetable
Some people have asked what my daily schedule looks like in my little town of Almorox. By popular demand, I have written my schedule! (Or 'timetable' like they like to call it here (British influence!)) You will find it below. It is a general schedule because not every day is the same. However, the idea is there. Enjoy!
8:40am: Wake up, eat breakfast and take a shower.
9:50am: Walk/Run to school (depending if I´m late (And I’m usually late!! :-) )).
10:05am: (I’m already late!) Go to class. - I work with 3 year olds to 6th graders. I assist in either English, Music, or Science classes. Each class is about one hour long.
12:00pm: Snack Time! - Kids go to the playground and eat a little snack, and so do I. Usually I go to the Teachers' Lounge with the other teachers and eat a fruit and some nuts (or any of the snacks the teachers leave on the table!).
12:30pm: Back to class! - At this point, there are two classes left, each one 45 minutes.
2:00pm: School Ends. - The kids either go home and eat lunch or stay for the cafeteria. Only those who are low-income or who's parents pay are able to stay for lunch. The rest go home. I usually stay and either eat lunch (usually a Wed.), lead an English discussion group for the teachers (mandatory), or play in the internet and wait for my roomies to finish their hours.
3:00pm: Go home and Lunch Time! - I usually get a ride from my roomies at this point. Per Spanish costume, I make a BIG meal to fill me up for the rest of the day (usually the meal is made pretty quick b/c by then, I´m starving!).
4:30pm: Start Extracurricular Activities. - Depending on the day, I either play tennis and tutor English (2 to 3 kids, depending on the day an hour each), or Arts and Crafts class (Thurs.). Arts and Crafts days are on another town so one of my roomies usually drives. Then we usually go food shopping in the town's food store since it is in general a lot cheaper than the food store in my town.
8:30pm: Return home.
9:00pm: Eat dinner and chill with the roommies. - Dinner is late and so should be light, like a small salad. With the roomies, we usually watch TV. Right now I have two favorite shows: a comedy show with police officers (which USA bought the rights for so we should be seeing it soon!) and a great Karaoke show (I hope USA buys the rights because it is so much fun! Imagine in English! The 80's!! :-) )
12:00pm: Bed Time! - I still and have always needed about 9 hours of sleep to feel refreshed for the next day! :-)
On weekends, I try to go somewhere. I usually go to Madrid because there are a lot more buses that go to that city than the other closest city, Toledo.
That's pretty much it! Hope that gave you a little glance in my present Spaniard life. :-)
8:40am: Wake up, eat breakfast and take a shower.
9:50am: Walk/Run to school (depending if I´m late (And I’m usually late!! :-) )).
10:05am: (I’m already late!) Go to class. - I work with 3 year olds to 6th graders. I assist in either English, Music, or Science classes. Each class is about one hour long.
12:00pm: Snack Time! - Kids go to the playground and eat a little snack, and so do I. Usually I go to the Teachers' Lounge with the other teachers and eat a fruit and some nuts (or any of the snacks the teachers leave on the table!).
12:30pm: Back to class! - At this point, there are two classes left, each one 45 minutes.
2:00pm: School Ends. - The kids either go home and eat lunch or stay for the cafeteria. Only those who are low-income or who's parents pay are able to stay for lunch. The rest go home. I usually stay and either eat lunch (usually a Wed.), lead an English discussion group for the teachers (mandatory), or play in the internet and wait for my roomies to finish their hours.
3:00pm: Go home and Lunch Time! - I usually get a ride from my roomies at this point. Per Spanish costume, I make a BIG meal to fill me up for the rest of the day (usually the meal is made pretty quick b/c by then, I´m starving!).
4:30pm: Start Extracurricular Activities. - Depending on the day, I either play tennis and tutor English (2 to 3 kids, depending on the day an hour each), or Arts and Crafts class (Thurs.). Arts and Crafts days are on another town so one of my roomies usually drives. Then we usually go food shopping in the town's food store since it is in general a lot cheaper than the food store in my town.
8:30pm: Return home.
9:00pm: Eat dinner and chill with the roommies. - Dinner is late and so should be light, like a small salad. With the roomies, we usually watch TV. Right now I have two favorite shows: a comedy show with police officers (which USA bought the rights for so we should be seeing it soon!) and a great Karaoke show (I hope USA buys the rights because it is so much fun! Imagine in English! The 80's!! :-) )
12:00pm: Bed Time! - I still and have always needed about 9 hours of sleep to feel refreshed for the next day! :-)
On weekends, I try to go somewhere. I usually go to Madrid because there are a lot more buses that go to that city than the other closest city, Toledo.
That's pretty much it! Hope that gave you a little glance in my present Spaniard life. :-)
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