In one of my advetures, I went to Alicante with some friends. We climbed to the top of the castle and saw a GREAT view. So I had to make a video. Sadly, there is no sound (my camera doesn't record sound and I don't know why!) but we compensate for it! See if you can tell when we are saying 'Background' and 'Mediterranean Sea'! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQ5lV5RFnM
Monday, March 17, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Go Back To Your Country!
In my pueblo, and most of Spain, there is a mix of Spaniards and Moroccans. There are some Hispanic and Romanians mixed in there, but in general it is Spaniards and Moroccans. There is an obvious separation between these two races. The Moroccons are leaving their repressed country to look for a better life. Many Spaniards think they are just too many of them (they make about 40% of the population) and have an underlining fear that they'll take over some day. Because of this and other fears, there is very strong prejudice and separation going on, but that topic is for another blog. This blog, however, is about a British man. I’ve never met this British guy, but I couldn’t believe what happened to him. So I had to share his story.
In general, this British guy married a Spaniard and, like a lot of married couples, had a son. They lived in England for a little bit and for whatever reason, came back to Spain to live in the tiny pueblo of Almorox. Now their son goes to my school (and I get to speak English with him all the time! :-) ).
One day, the British guy went outside of his house and found a group of Moroccans. They started yelling something at him in Spanish, but he didn’t understand them at all. After all, Spanish wasn't his forte. So he turned to his wife and asked, “What are they saying?”
And she said, “They are telling you to go back to your country.”
He turned and looked at her incredulous. “What? No way. You must have heard them wrong. Listen to them again.”
“Ummm… They are definitely telling you to go back to your country.”
When I heard this story, I practically fell off my seat laughing! Moroccans, who are in general not welcomed in Spain, were telling the British guy to go home. I couldn’t believe it!
Guess they are at home enough to feel they can kick someone out.
And as for the British guy, well… I guess what they say is also true: What goes around comes around. :-)
In general, this British guy married a Spaniard and, like a lot of married couples, had a son. They lived in England for a little bit and for whatever reason, came back to Spain to live in the tiny pueblo of Almorox. Now their son goes to my school (and I get to speak English with him all the time! :-) ).
One day, the British guy went outside of his house and found a group of Moroccans. They started yelling something at him in Spanish, but he didn’t understand them at all. After all, Spanish wasn't his forte. So he turned to his wife and asked, “What are they saying?”
And she said, “They are telling you to go back to your country.”
He turned and looked at her incredulous. “What? No way. You must have heard them wrong. Listen to them again.”
“Ummm… They are definitely telling you to go back to your country.”
When I heard this story, I practically fell off my seat laughing! Moroccans, who are in general not welcomed in Spain, were telling the British guy to go home. I couldn’t believe it!
Guess they are at home enough to feel they can kick someone out.
And as for the British guy, well… I guess what they say is also true: What goes around comes around. :-)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Kids Say The Darnest Things #2
This story did not happen to me but to one of the teachers in my school. It is a little in the dark side, but what the kids say is interesting. This is what happened:
This teacher has one specific kid in class who has a LOT of troubles at home and has emotional problems. He gets psychological help, but this specific day seemed to be a bad day for him.
The teacher was lecturing and she happened to look over towards the kid. She saw him take his scissors (which are those baby-safe scissors) and start to pretend to cut his wrists, saying, “I’m cutting my wrists! I’m cutting my wrists!” Then he took his scissors and started stabbing himself in the stomach, saying, “I’m going to kill myself! I’m going to kill myself!”
And what do the kids around him say? Did they cry out for him to stop? Tell him not to hurt himself? Or let him know everything would be ok? We wish! Instead, they started saying things like: “You can’t KILL yourself that way!” “If you really want to kill yourself, you should jump out the window!” “Does scissors won’t kill you.” “Yeah. You need to use the teacher’s scissors! They will do the trick!”
…
…
So in the end, the kids gave him advice on how to kill himself. Isn’t that crazy?? Kids definitely say the darnest things!
(Again, he is getting help. Thankfully. He’s a good kid, but obviously in a lot of pain. Poor guy. :-/)
This teacher has one specific kid in class who has a LOT of troubles at home and has emotional problems. He gets psychological help, but this specific day seemed to be a bad day for him.
The teacher was lecturing and she happened to look over towards the kid. She saw him take his scissors (which are those baby-safe scissors) and start to pretend to cut his wrists, saying, “I’m cutting my wrists! I’m cutting my wrists!” Then he took his scissors and started stabbing himself in the stomach, saying, “I’m going to kill myself! I’m going to kill myself!”
And what do the kids around him say? Did they cry out for him to stop? Tell him not to hurt himself? Or let him know everything would be ok? We wish! Instead, they started saying things like: “You can’t KILL yourself that way!” “If you really want to kill yourself, you should jump out the window!” “Does scissors won’t kill you.” “Yeah. You need to use the teacher’s scissors! They will do the trick!”
…
…
So in the end, the kids gave him advice on how to kill himself. Isn’t that crazy?? Kids definitely say the darnest things!
(Again, he is getting help. Thankfully. He’s a good kid, but obviously in a lot of pain. Poor guy. :-/)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Backwards
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. ;-)
I’m in the Twilight Zone. ;-)
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. :-)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Holiday Commercials
Again, pretend this was writen during the holidays! Never got a chance to post it. Better late than never! :-)
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The Holidays are here! There are Christmas lights all over town. The kids are talking about what gifts they want, and the television has… GONE INSANE!!! Why is there another commercial for a watch? For a perfume?? What’s going on????
Spain (and maybe all of Europe?) seems to have this fascination with two things: perfumes and watches. Or at least that’s what they try to sell the most during the Holidays. It is insane how many commercials are there for Armani colognes and Gucci watches. They show gorgeous men with fancy watches and sexy women spraying on perfume. I can’t believe how many perfumes and watches are out there. More, how many perfume and watch commercials are out there. This is all they play on TV between shows. And I am not exaggerating. That is ALL they play between shows! No signs of car commercials. No hint of cell phones anywhere. They just play the same commercials over and over and over and over. I practically became best friends with Armani.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but… Bring back my car commercials!
P.S. My roommate says that Europe in general is a big fan of colognes, perfumes and watches. There is also a BIG market for the fake stuff. (Though don’t walk around France with imitation because the cops will fine you!)
P.P.S. Ironically, this year, I didn’t get any of these items. Gasp! What would Armani (my best bud) think?!
P.P.P.S. The Holidays are now over and the television commercials are back to normal. Nothing like cars and cell phones coverage to make you feel complete! ;-)
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The Holidays are here! There are Christmas lights all over town. The kids are talking about what gifts they want, and the television has… GONE INSANE!!! Why is there another commercial for a watch? For a perfume?? What’s going on????
Spain (and maybe all of Europe?) seems to have this fascination with two things: perfumes and watches. Or at least that’s what they try to sell the most during the Holidays. It is insane how many commercials are there for Armani colognes and Gucci watches. They show gorgeous men with fancy watches and sexy women spraying on perfume. I can’t believe how many perfumes and watches are out there. More, how many perfume and watch commercials are out there. This is all they play on TV between shows. And I am not exaggerating. That is ALL they play between shows! No signs of car commercials. No hint of cell phones anywhere. They just play the same commercials over and over and over and over. I practically became best friends with Armani.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but… Bring back my car commercials!
P.S. My roommate says that Europe in general is a big fan of colognes, perfumes and watches. There is also a BIG market for the fake stuff. (Though don’t walk around France with imitation because the cops will fine you!)
P.P.S. Ironically, this year, I didn’t get any of these items. Gasp! What would Armani (my best bud) think?!
P.P.P.S. The Holidays are now over and the television commercials are back to normal. Nothing like cars and cell phones coverage to make you feel complete! ;-)
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