I am not a water park

The title is a quote from one of my newest students. Although I didn't really understand it, my student cracked himself up for a good, solid minute with that one. Yes, the life in Spain isn't too shabby. I have four new students...two business students and two more kids. Of course, I'm still not making a billion dollars, but I am proud to say that we are continuing to pay all the bills. YEAH!

Being with my two newest students is like being at camp again. They talk at 90,000 miles and hour, sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes to each other, sometimes to me, and sometimes just in case someone is listening. During our first class, I withdrew from the deafening noise to just observe, and I have decided that those children are crazy. Thus, we should have a good time. We will most likely have a discipline chart, and some sizzling glares, but we will have a good time. :)

One of my adults also told me that I like the theatre. I told her to practice her upcoming presentation in the mirror. This is a valid suggestion that I have used many times and has been given to me to by Spanish teachers, as well. However, to my student, this was just another one of my "zany" suggestions. She replied, "Yes, but you like the theatre." Since this was utterly unexpected, I burst out laughing and she said, "Yes, yes, you like the theatre. I know." She seems to "know" a lot more than me, but I have my doubts. Well, back to my life of not being a water park.

ho hum

What up, g's. Greetings from 2009. It's a pretty good year so far and I've had some fun with it. Over the break I got to see a lot of free concerts and go to a few different events, like this squishy parade (by that I mean I was basically unable to move physically due to crowding) and some fireworks. I can't post pictures yet because most of my pictures were on my computer. As many of you know, my computer is dead (hopefully temporarily). My son, Timmy the Translator, has also died. Unfortunately.

Other than that, life is good. I'll post funny anecdotes as they come.

Suck Buckets

So, my computer is broken. I hope it's a problem that can be fixed by buying a new cord. Even if that's the case, it will take a few weeks for the cord to ship from a supplier to the parental's house and from there to Spain. I'll be away from Skype and the internet in general till then. I'll have some limited access at work, so I can respond to some e-mails, but other than that...

I'll be moping a bit.

Christmas in Madrid

Light Show

Let me tell you one thing—Christmas this year was the bomb. Now, it was no family Christmas with the knowledge that most of the rest of the people I care about live in the same valley or one state over. While the ocean did present its emotional difficulties, I still really enjoyed my Christmas. As mentioned 75,000 times before, Kristin and Jeremy came to visit for about five days and we had a blast. We walked around the city looking at old buildings and beautiful parks. We went to the Christmas market. We played jillions of games of Euchre, Rook, and Nerts. We cooked tons of good food. We went to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (technically Christmas Day, I suppose) in the gorgeous cathedral by the palace. We ate churros and chocolate. We went to a wild version of The Ugly Duckling—in Spanish and including break dancing along with ballet. We went to the Prado (and yes K & J found the lactating Virgin Mary painting). On Christmas day, we woke up really late (10:45), opened our stockings and then made a rad breakfast. Unfortunately for one sweet rolls recipe I read one tablespoon of salt instead of one teaspoon but they were salvageable…just pretty salty. We ate royally and then attacked the presents. Thanks to everyone for all the zesty items you sent! Um, seriously, between Astin and I, we got 11 boxes of tea. This is especially excellent because the tea here is awful. It’s the weakest tea in the whole world, perhaps. We’ve bought zillions of types and they’re all lame. But NOW we are enjoying cup after cup of full-strength almost-heaven. This has consequences later, at say 3:00 in the morning, but it’s fun while it lasts. After presents we all stumbled to various locations for a nap. Then later that evening we went to a free concert which was rocking. Okay, not literally rock music, but I am struggling with the adjectives today. No, it was an awesome opera-style singer and a string quartet. Salve for the soul. Then we went on a self-guided light tour. All in all, it was a beautiful time. Two extra people made all the difference in the world for what would have otherwise been a bleak holiday. I’ll post some pictures above. Woot!

Packages from The Girls, J.A., and S.B.A. are still in-transit but I’ll let you know when they get here! In the meantime, thank you so much to those who called, sent cards, sent packages, sent messages, etc. This week I begin the slow process of thank-you cards and walking off that Christmas candy. :D I hope you had a lovely holiday and I want to hear about it!

The last week before Christmas has come and gone. I hope you are all enjoying time with friends and family and writing ridiculous things on people’s present tags (Anne, carry the torch in my absence, please). I ended all my classes on a good note. Well, I have one more class on the 23rd, and then I will be home free for 2.5 weeks. Yessssss.

Well, this is just a pretty short blog to say that I'm excited for Christmas. Kristin and Jeremy are coming and we're basically going to have a pretty rad and wild time. Sugar cookies, Rook, etc. Feel free to call and wish me salutations during the break.

Other than that, I miss you and wish Spain were not quite so far from the U.S.