Up-to-date

Many things have been happening. I think my life here is starting to develop some kind of rhythm and I like it. I need it.

My NW friends came and visited me last weekend. It was awesome. We saw a weird parade from the cathedral. When I say parade, imagine crowds of people, cameras, and bands, but the atmosphere is pretty solemn. This "float" was of Jesus being flogged. Apparently it was the Day of Jesus being Flogged. I asked someone. If that was all I knew of Christianity, I think I would be very weirded out. After walking around for a bit, we came home and made dinner, watched a movie in English, and happily went to bed early. The next day was equally chill - we saw my school and they tried sherry. Mmm. I had Solera dulce which might be my favorite kind thus far!

On Sunday I went to church at an old, old church. It was a huge church and had an attendance of five people plus myself. I was the only one under seventy and I loved it. We sang "Old Rugged Cross" in Spanish and another one to the tune of the British national anthem. All a capella.

Monday I joined a sweet, sweet gym. It has every kind of work out equipment and programming you could imagine, plus more you couldn't imagine. Monday I lifted weights (still sore...) Tuesday I swam laps with the required swim cap and it was such an improvement! Today I took a belly dancing class. (Completing number 27 on my life goals list. Also, "belly dancing" in Spanish is "womb dancing"...) There also seem to be a large number of extremely good looking Spaniards at this gym - except no men in the womb dancing class. It makes being active even more pleasant.

Tuesday I hung out with my friend Maria and we went to an unbelievable tea shop. I bought some tea called "Mousse" that has actual chunks of chocolate in it along with mint. Oo so, so good. All the teas smell so good! You buy them all loose and there are maybe 100 different kinds. We also went to a weird store that sells crystals and I was rather uncomfortable there. I'd love to discuss it more.

School has been going really well this week. I have been explaining Halloween and how you don't have to dress up as a witch or vampire. Everyone also seems to be shocked to know that, when trick-or-treating, you don't throw eggs at the houses with no candy. Apparently that happens here and in Ireland? Odd. I bought a small pie-pumpkin for the week (and this weekend I hope to eat it) and keep it in my classroom. The students love it!

Last week, I had a great discussion with the ~8th graders about typical Spanish foods. Today, they brought me homemade tortilla and chocolate bizcocho (kind of like a dry cake, but it has a distinctive flavor... not sure what it is). I didn't even ask or tell them! What a great surprise! Both things were amazing, especially because I had a long day and this was my last class. I love them. I went from being ready to go home to being sad that the class period ended.

At school I co-taught gym class today. We played "indian baseball" which I explained was called "kickball" in English. Let me tell you that 6th graders pay so much more attention to physical movements than in class. I think they all know "run, out, strike, kick, throw, catch, bases, score, pitcher, and kicker" So good.