LEO de CHAB

I just wanted to quickly reflect on the academic week before my FIVE day weekend. I LOVE BEING HERE AND DOING THIS. As much as spreading the English language is a bit obnoxious, slightly ignorant and perhaps lazy of us, the world is moving that way and thus for the opportunity to connect to more people, I'm in. Plus, I like to think I'm doing my part by learning a new language and absorbing the world around me when I'm not in the safety net of California. And for personal satisfaction, I am very happy to live in Spain PLUS I'm getting more out of this experience then simply learning a new language.

I was nervous to be placed in a high school, forgetting however that teenagers are way more uncomfortable and insecure then I am in my position. I'm speaking my native language and they are not. They are dealing with peer pressures, fitting in and all that icky teenager stuff I would never want to go through again. Either way, this week was a blast. Who knows how I'll feel at the end of May but I am very seriously considering doing this program next year...I just have to find something to do during the summer months!

Anyways, my first day of school I spent some time with the secretary signing papers, touring the campus and other introductory stuff. While I was filling out forms, José Luis, the secretary, said that before I arrived in Calatayud, he and the English department staff googled my name. They found all of the basketball write-ups and pictures from high schools and couldn't believe that was me. He doesn't know how small town the Auburn Journal is and I'm not going to tell him because he thinks I'm a star! Not only did they google me, they saved the articles and pictures on his computer to show me! He said I looked like I was 12 in the photos, which is true. One of my classes guessed I was 15 today thinking I was a braniac child who entered college at 11...??? Well I'm surprised I am still served glasses of wine. Wait, no I'm not, this is Europe. Can you see over the bar? Ok, you're of age.

So, the English department is made up of 5 ladies, I've only met four and 2 speak excellent English, 1 speaks alright and the other speaks enough. I work with all of them in various levels once a week per class. High school is set up like this:

1st cycle
2nd cycle
3rd cycle
4th cycle
1st ctcle Bachillerato
2nd cycle Bachillerato

They enter at age 12 and graduate age 17/18. Many of them understand English very well and others don't. From my experience in a foreign language class, there will always be at least one person who understands. So I like to put that person on the spot and have him or her attempt to explain WHAT THE HELL THIS CRAZY BLONDIE IS TALKING ABOUT in English. They think it's a bummer to be the one that always understands but really I think it benefits everyone. For the one person because they learn how to articulate and explain because speaking is always the hardest part. I hope it benefits the rest of the class because in my experience, I have always learned the most from my peers.

Anyways, first week was mostly introductions. Each teacher had the same routine: I introduce myself and give a little background and they write 3-5 questions to ask me. They are all very general, obviously and sometimes personal:

How is California?
How are the parties?
Do you uh like ehSpanish boys or American boys?
How old are you?
What music do you uh-like?
Where do you stay in Calatayud?
Why did you come here to ehSpain?
Do you like uh Hannah Montana?

I've gotten pretty good at turning questions around on them, making them think on the spot and explain themselves because if I don't make them speak, they never will. It might be scary but I honestly can't see why... there are 20-30 of them and 1 of me. Not to mention the English professors usually just use the translate method which is of zero help. EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN until they truly understand. I've picked up drawing, acting and improv so I'll be a changed woman when I come back to the states. Ha.. Anyways, they all want to visit New York the most, but the boys all want to meet a Hawaiian girl.

Today in my last class we played a word game. First person says one word and the next person says a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. Ex: dog, grass, soda, apple. I was blown away with the vocabulary when Jorge said "acrobatics," others said "astronomy" and "achievement," and of course Adriano said "fuck." I was surprised because they were all very shy at first, didn't respond to any yes or no questions and just gave me that glare like WHAT THE HELL IS THIS CRAZY BLONDIE TALKING ABOUT? Probably didn't help that I sounded like a 75 year old chain smoker (Adiós voz...) but my voice will be recovered by next week and we'll see what other surprises they give me.

I get stared at in the halls and the rumors are flying. Half of them don't know I speak Spanish which is fun for me and in the future will be embarrassing for them. Today I met my last class but they all already knew who I was so I was greeted with "hallo Karli from California."

I have a really sweet deal here only 'working' 12 hours a week but for now it's my job and I'm getting by just fine. I'm meeting a couple mom's from the other high school to work out private tutor lessons for their kids. Also, other professors at my high school, Leonardo de Chabacier, are interested in having a teacher's English language session once a week. They are just waiting for funding so they can officially pay me for the extra lessons. It's seems too easy for me to get paid for speaking English but so far everyone seems very appreciative so I guess I'm doing some good. Hopefully some of them will come to California one day and I can offer them just a little more than language.

My five day weekend has officially started so away I go. I wish everyone had a blog so I could keep up with life around the world. Miss you all, but not so much the U.S. Have a beautiful weekend....