Hola todos!
So I just got back last night from my Teaching Assistant orientation. I took a 20 euro train ride from Seville to Granada, and the train I was on hit and killed a man. So we ended up being stopped in the train for almost 3 hours, without anyone telling us anything. After awhile, though, 3 buses came to take all the passengers to another train station. Only the bus driver had no idea where we were, so at one point we were driving around aimlessly in far out dirt roads. Finally we arrived at the train station, and I later arrived 4 and 1/2 hours later than anticipated. It would have been really easy to be frustrated in that situation, but luckily I saw it for what is was- sooooooo Spanish! The whole man-dying thing was a freak accident, but the delay in the situation was something that happens alot in this country. Spaniards have a more relaxed notion of time, and it's something that I've accepted, strangely enough. All I can do is laugh it off- if not I'm gonna find myself constantly impatient here.
The orientation itself was boring and non-informative. It was all information that I already knew. Perhaps the most important part of the orientation is when teaching assistants from last year talked to us (all 500 of us) about the position. Both guys are in their 3rd year of doing the program, and they basically told us not to be worried and that we will basically have the time of our lives this year. Also, they told us to NEVER speak Spanish to your students in the classroom. That's gonna be tough for me since I'm now used to reverted to Spanish all the time.
The hotel they put is in was AWESOME. It's called Hotel Abades Nevada Palace, and it was really nice- kinda futuristic. I posted a few pics of my room above. Pretty sweet, huh?
The Ministry also provided us with dinner on Monday night and breakfast and lunch the following day. All of the meals were 3-courses, super chic and very good. On Monday night we had an interesting chicken with caramel sauce dish. An English girl I met later told me that it was supposedly pidgeon that we ate. I don't know....i tasted like chicken to me!
I went this morning to my school. My academia is a secondary school of about 1000 students located in a nearby town called Brenes. It's about an 18 minute train ride from Seville, but I decided that on my first day I would go with one of the professors I already knew, Jorge. Jorge is a really young teacher (28 years old) and he is super nice. I went with him in his car this morning 7:30 in the morning. It was still dark when we left Seville- the sun doesn't rise until 8 a.m. here.
We arrived at the school and I promptly met the school coordinator, Almudena. She was sooooo nice to me, but she informed me that since the Ministry hasn't sent my Medical Insurance information yet, I can't actually start work. So I have to wait until it arrives- hopefully it's soon. Once again......that is sooooooo Spanish! They did, however, assure me that I will get paid, even for these days that I don't work. I met the better part of all 84 teachers that work there. Everyone was so happy to have me there- it made me feel so good. It was a very chill, informal environment. Everyone I met kissed me on the cheeks, which is a common everyday social practice but many times but normally it doesn't happen in the work place. They showed me around the school, and man, is it big! There is a hall that is only for teachers, and we have a cafe too! Every morning your can eat a little breakfast there- I had a cafe solo (espresso) and a tostada (a toasted baguette). I met one of the other English professors, who also happens to be quite young like Jorge and I. He was in the middle of a class, and they brought me in and introduced me. Jorge told the kids that I can't understand a little bit Spanish but I can't speak it. They all kept on saying, "well, we're going to teach her Spanish!" They all said "Hello Obri!" in their best accents. They all yelled "goodbye!!!!!!!!!" after me which made me feel like they were excited to have me there! That took a lot of nervousness away from me.
So anyway, I meandered home and here I am! I'm havin such a great time!
Some more observations:
1. Flamenco is really important here. Whenever you go to a coffeeshop for an afternoon cafe or an outdoor bar to drink a copa (cerveza), you can always here someone singing a bar or clapping out a rhythm. Flamenco is so imbedded in society here. It is so passionate- I love it SOOOO much!
2. Comparing people from San Sebastian in the north (where I studied 3 years ago) and here in the south, I would say that the people are more friendly and open here. Start up a conversation and people welcome you with open arms. Many conversations from random people have led to invitations to have a coffee or even offering to take me to whatever destination I need to go. I am more amazed every day at the compassion that has been shown to me. Most people seemed to be impressed by a young american girl who moves across the world without knowing anyone for a long period of time.
3. Carpet is virtually non-existent in Sevillian homes. Because it gets so hot in the summer (120 degrees and up) most floors are marble, so I always have to wear flip flops in the house and sweep my room almost everyday, or else there's a dustmite fiesta.
that last one was pretty random.
anyway some noteworthy new people I've met that I haven't mentioned yet:
1. A french girl named Marion. She may possibly be my closest of friends here. She is an Erasmum student and she's so nice, and she loves to giggle, so you can imagine how we get along well together! :)
2. Yair, a Israeli friend of Kaya's who is staying at our apartment with him for the time being. He's an amazing flamenco guitar player- he came to Seville to take private flamenco guitar lessons (just like Kaya). He's really well-traveled and I really enjoy talking to him about Israel and his opinions of such things. He's a big fan of the U.S. :)
3. Maritheresa, who is the Director of CIEE Seville (a study abroad program that I worked with back at the U of Iowa). She is one of the nicest people I have met here- she has made a point to check up on me and see how I'm doing, if I need anything, etc. I am so thankful to have her help me so much, and the staff that works at the CIEE Study Center have been amazingly welcoming to me.
Anyway that's all for now. I leave you with a few pics of my Hotel room in Granada, some pics of the Andalusian countryside, and a pic of Yair.
Besos!
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