Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Marja
I get to see Marja around 7:30 on Friday! I am going on a field trip with my students to Montserrat Monastery in the mountains here during the day and then taking the first bus I can catch in to Barcelona to meet up with her. :)
Final Timetable
Anna returned to school today and she said the Comenius Project meeting in Germany went very well and I will hear all about it at the meeting tomorrow at 1PM. We also spoke today about my final schedule (or timetable as they call it here and in Britain). The Mothers and Fathers Association (AMPA) has decided that they would like to pay me to do extra hours in the school so that I can also help with 3rd grade classes. So far I am only going to be with 4th-6th grade. I was also asked to attend Wednesday afternoon music class to help the students with their pronunciation for the English songs they're doing in the musical Grease. The lines are all in Catalan, but the songs are in their original formats. It looks like I may be making an extra 200+ euros per month! :) In addition to the extra four hours per week in the school, I will be doing 3 hours a week of outside instruction: 1 with Montsei, a teacher at the school. One with another teacher, Gisella's children, but this one is just play and talking, because they are 2, 4 and 7 years old. And at last an hour with our landlords' son, Pol, who is 15 years old. I now have a relatively more full schedule!
More good news, although the Catalan classes in Igualada are full, our house is about 15 minutes walking distance to the next town - Vilanova, which may have space. Carles is going to speak with me tomorrow about it. :) Hooray!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Reading
It's been getting colder this last week, so I set out yesterday to buy a couple of necessities.
My jackets are well suited to California weather, but not to low 50s during the day here. I also brought a winter coat, but it's not quite cold enough for that yet. So I went to buy a thick knit sweater. I also got a warmer blanket for my bed while I was out and was very happy last night because I feel asleep much easier than the night before when I was laying awake in bed, too cold to fall asleep for about an hour. While I was out, I decided to step in to the local bookstore, around the corner about a 5-minute walk from our house. I asked the storekeeper nicely if they had a section with English books. She led me to the back of the store and pointed to two shelves. "Are you looking for something specific?" she asked me. "No," I said, "just something to entertain me." After weeding through the Twilight Saga and Harry Potter books, I found some bestsellers: Lovely Bones, To Kill a Mockingbird, and finally, just about every book Ken Follett had ever written.
Perfect! I had been meaning to read Pillars of the Earth for over a year now and it was a perfect 1100 page opportunity to occupy myself until I find more work or extracurriculars to do. In the last two days I have read over 150 pages. I'm afraid it won't last me as long as I'd hoped, but I think once I'm ready to spend another 9.95 euros, the next Follett novel will be waiting for me. :)
And now I'm off to delve back into the story of 12th century England!
My jackets are well suited to California weather, but not to low 50s during the day here. I also brought a winter coat, but it's not quite cold enough for that yet. So I went to buy a thick knit sweater. I also got a warmer blanket for my bed while I was out and was very happy last night because I feel asleep much easier than the night before when I was laying awake in bed, too cold to fall asleep for about an hour. While I was out, I decided to step in to the local bookstore, around the corner about a 5-minute walk from our house. I asked the storekeeper nicely if they had a section with English books. She led me to the back of the store and pointed to two shelves. "Are you looking for something specific?" she asked me. "No," I said, "just something to entertain me." After weeding through the Twilight Saga and Harry Potter books, I found some bestsellers: Lovely Bones, To Kill a Mockingbird, and finally, just about every book Ken Follett had ever written.
Perfect! I had been meaning to read Pillars of the Earth for over a year now and it was a perfect 1100 page opportunity to occupy myself until I find more work or extracurriculars to do. In the last two days I have read over 150 pages. I'm afraid it won't last me as long as I'd hoped, but I think once I'm ready to spend another 9.95 euros, the next Follett novel will be waiting for me. :)
And now I'm off to delve back into the story of 12th century England!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Pictures of my apartment
In case you don't have a facebook to see my pictures there, here are some pictures of my house!
News of Work and Play
Hey guys!
I talked to Anna and the other English teacher today about my presentation. I'm going to do a half an hour presentation followed by an activity. I get to tell the 4th, 5th and 6th graders about my family, my town, and my state. Then we get to do a small geography lesson. Afterward we will do an activity that I will plan with Maurici - the other English teacher. We may color the American flag. I was thinking I could tell them what each part stands for - the 13 colonies, the 50 states, etc. I hope they will like it!
I have been in touch with Marja, the daughter of one of my Uncle Don's friends from Holland. I am going to meet her and her family in Barcelona on Friday evening and then on Saturday they will take me with them to Banyoles. I am excited to see some more of Catalonia! It is about an hour and a half drive from Barcelona, just past another major city called Girona. I will be sure to post pictures and some stories about the weekend!
Much love!
Christi
I talked to Anna and the other English teacher today about my presentation. I'm going to do a half an hour presentation followed by an activity. I get to tell the 4th, 5th and 6th graders about my family, my town, and my state. Then we get to do a small geography lesson. Afterward we will do an activity that I will plan with Maurici - the other English teacher. We may color the American flag. I was thinking I could tell them what each part stands for - the 13 colonies, the 50 states, etc. I hope they will like it!
I have been in touch with Marja, the daughter of one of my Uncle Don's friends from Holland. I am going to meet her and her family in Barcelona on Friday evening and then on Saturday they will take me with them to Banyoles. I am excited to see some more of Catalonia! It is about an hour and a half drive from Barcelona, just past another major city called Girona. I will be sure to post pictures and some stories about the weekend!
Much love!
Christi
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rain in Igualada
It's thunderstorming in Igualada tonight. I don't know how easily I will be able to fall asleep. We went out with Emily's friend Agnes tonight and she brought her boyfriend and some other friends. We were all having a good time and then it started to rain when we left one place to go to the next. We went to this amazing spot where it is decorated to look like an enchanted forest and there are fairy and bohemian decorations everywhere. I wish I had brought my camera, but I left it at the house. I'm sure we will go back and I will take and post photos. I loved it. There was a very relaxed atmosphere. All the furniture was low to the ground - couches, cushions, short tables etc. The more I see in Igualada the more I realize that you cannot judge an establishment by its street view at all. There are so many surprises inside the shops and venues here that you would not expect from seeing the front door.
On the walk home, knowing that I would soon be back inside, able to put warm dry clothes on, I decided to walk without my umbrella. Rain is such a rarity in So Cal that I think it's nice to take pleasure in the experience of walking in it once in a while. I am now home and dry and warm inside, listening to the thunder and seeing the sky light up with each strike of lightning. This is one night that I am truly grateful for my blackout shades because I will be able to sleep when I shut them! ...As long as the sound of the thunder doesn't keep me up...
Goodnight!
On the walk home, knowing that I would soon be back inside, able to put warm dry clothes on, I decided to walk without my umbrella. Rain is such a rarity in So Cal that I think it's nice to take pleasure in the experience of walking in it once in a while. I am now home and dry and warm inside, listening to the thunder and seeing the sky light up with each strike of lightning. This is one night that I am truly grateful for my blackout shades because I will be able to sleep when I shut them! ...As long as the sound of the thunder doesn't keep me up...
Goodnight!
Friday, October 8, 2010
My first work week
07/10/2010
Today was my first full day at the school. Yesterday I was there from 9 til 1. I met most of the faculty and administration. I met the 4th grade class and I spent some time with the 5-year-olds. I loved it. The children’s accents in English will take some getting used to. I feel bad sometimes when I don’t understand the children, but with clarification from Anna, at least they can hear me repeat and work on their pronunciation. Once I get more comfortable I can begin to correct some of their speech.
I met the 5th and 6th grades today as well as some 3rd graders. I will normally be just with 4th through 6th graders, but the first week’s schedule differs a bit, so I am meeting more of the school. I have been invited to help the 5th graders with their musical production – Grease. The songs will all be in English, so it is an opportunity for me to assist them in pronunciation. The rest of it will be in Catalá. Hopefully by the time the perform it I will know more. One of the teachers’ husbands is connected with the government in Igualada, so he is able to get me into a Catalá class even though the inscription period has passed. I’m so excited to start! I have also been asked by one of the teachers – Montsei – to help her with her English for one hour a week, and by another teacher to “au pair” for her children an hour or two a week – not with lessons, but just for interaction in English so that they can be more conversational. I think it will be a nice opportunity to make some extra money and fill my time a little better.
My roommate Emily is already putting together a resume to find extra work in the private English academies here. I don’t think I am ready to do that. I would rather fill my time up with the students and teachers from Ódena first. Then, if I have extra time, try to contract out. Montsei is also going to ask at the parent teacher association meeting today if any of the parents would like to sign their children up for an after school class with me with about 5 to 6 students at a time. That would be wonderful!
I am still a little flustered in the classroom, but I think I am adjusting quickly. Anna is doing an instructional method with the children for Geography where they visit a new continent for each unit. She’d like me to help her with the unit on the Americas. I told her I could help with some cultural things for the Americas and for Africa because of the anthropology classes I’ve taken. She was very enthusiastic about that. We are going to do some planning together in the next couple of weeks.
The weekend is approaching quickly! Tomorrow I have just morning classes and then Anna and another couple of teachers will come have lunch in Igualada. Wednesdays I will have lunch at home when Anna drops me back in Igualada. Thursdays I will have lunch with her and another teacher and Fridays we will all lunch in Igualada. I am becoming fast friends with the other English teacher Maurici. More news to come! Dinner with the flatmates is approaching. ☺
Ciao!
Christina
Oh, PS I get to prepare a presentation about California and the United States to give to the 5th and 6th grade children in two weeks. Anna is going to help me with deciding the themes so that it is familiar vocabulary, for example: the environment, animals in the area, etc. Yay!
PPS
I need pictures from La Habra and Brea, and Los Angeles. I will look for some online, but if you have any, please email them to me at
Christi.marie88@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Today was my first full day at the school. Yesterday I was there from 9 til 1. I met most of the faculty and administration. I met the 4th grade class and I spent some time with the 5-year-olds. I loved it. The children’s accents in English will take some getting used to. I feel bad sometimes when I don’t understand the children, but with clarification from Anna, at least they can hear me repeat and work on their pronunciation. Once I get more comfortable I can begin to correct some of their speech.
I met the 5th and 6th grades today as well as some 3rd graders. I will normally be just with 4th through 6th graders, but the first week’s schedule differs a bit, so I am meeting more of the school. I have been invited to help the 5th graders with their musical production – Grease. The songs will all be in English, so it is an opportunity for me to assist them in pronunciation. The rest of it will be in Catalá. Hopefully by the time the perform it I will know more. One of the teachers’ husbands is connected with the government in Igualada, so he is able to get me into a Catalá class even though the inscription period has passed. I’m so excited to start! I have also been asked by one of the teachers – Montsei – to help her with her English for one hour a week, and by another teacher to “au pair” for her children an hour or two a week – not with lessons, but just for interaction in English so that they can be more conversational. I think it will be a nice opportunity to make some extra money and fill my time a little better.
My roommate Emily is already putting together a resume to find extra work in the private English academies here. I don’t think I am ready to do that. I would rather fill my time up with the students and teachers from Ódena first. Then, if I have extra time, try to contract out. Montsei is also going to ask at the parent teacher association meeting today if any of the parents would like to sign their children up for an after school class with me with about 5 to 6 students at a time. That would be wonderful!
I am still a little flustered in the classroom, but I think I am adjusting quickly. Anna is doing an instructional method with the children for Geography where they visit a new continent for each unit. She’d like me to help her with the unit on the Americas. I told her I could help with some cultural things for the Americas and for Africa because of the anthropology classes I’ve taken. She was very enthusiastic about that. We are going to do some planning together in the next couple of weeks.
The weekend is approaching quickly! Tomorrow I have just morning classes and then Anna and another couple of teachers will come have lunch in Igualada. Wednesdays I will have lunch at home when Anna drops me back in Igualada. Thursdays I will have lunch with her and another teacher and Fridays we will all lunch in Igualada. I am becoming fast friends with the other English teacher Maurici. More news to come! Dinner with the flatmates is approaching. ☺
Ciao!
Christina
Oh, PS I get to prepare a presentation about California and the United States to give to the 5th and 6th grade children in two weeks. Anna is going to help me with deciding the themes so that it is familiar vocabulary, for example: the environment, animals in the area, etc. Yay!
PPS
I need pictures from La Habra and Brea, and Los Angeles. I will look for some online, but if you have any, please email them to me at
Christi.marie88@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
My address
05/10/2010
Last night I got to talk to mom. It was a short conversation – about 4 minutes, but I was sooooo glad to hear a familiar voice. I am getting homesick. Today I had a good amount of time to myself while everyone else was at work. I realized that I am going to have to come up with some things to keep myself occupied. I slept through a good portion of the afternoon. Then I called Jonathan and I felt so recharged. I think the distance is getting to me because I haven’t been able to talk to anyone much. Once we have internet in our house it will be much better.
Anna is going to pick me up at 8:30 tomorrow morning so I can come to the school for the first time. During the first hour I get to see the school and talk to her about my schedule etc. Then from 10 to 1 I get to go to the English classes! I am just going to introduce myself and observe.
I really hope I make friends with some local people soon. I love my roommates, but I’d also like to be able to branch out and really practice my Spanish and learn some more Catalan. I’ve been using my self-teaching materials and have learned how to introduce myself, say good day, afternoon, and night, say where I’m from, say I don’t understand (very useful in the first few weeks) and some numbers and the alphabet. I have a long way to go!
…
I’ve realized before going to bed today that I told many of you that I was planning on sending postcards to you with my address on them. Unfortunately, among all the commotion with getting settled and hanging out with the other auxiliaries, I forgot to purchase some in Barcelona, and Igualada is not such a touristy town that they would sell them here. In case any of you want my address it is:
Passeig Mossem Jacint Verdaguer 126 6e 1a
Igualada, Barcelona, España 08700
Hopefully when I go on a trip somewhere I will be able to get postcards and send them to some of you a few at a time. There is talk about a trip to Andorra this weekend. More to follow.
Much love!
Christina
Last night I got to talk to mom. It was a short conversation – about 4 minutes, but I was sooooo glad to hear a familiar voice. I am getting homesick. Today I had a good amount of time to myself while everyone else was at work. I realized that I am going to have to come up with some things to keep myself occupied. I slept through a good portion of the afternoon. Then I called Jonathan and I felt so recharged. I think the distance is getting to me because I haven’t been able to talk to anyone much. Once we have internet in our house it will be much better.
Anna is going to pick me up at 8:30 tomorrow morning so I can come to the school for the first time. During the first hour I get to see the school and talk to her about my schedule etc. Then from 10 to 1 I get to go to the English classes! I am just going to introduce myself and observe.
I really hope I make friends with some local people soon. I love my roommates, but I’d also like to be able to branch out and really practice my Spanish and learn some more Catalan. I’ve been using my self-teaching materials and have learned how to introduce myself, say good day, afternoon, and night, say where I’m from, say I don’t understand (very useful in the first few weeks) and some numbers and the alphabet. I have a long way to go!
…
I’ve realized before going to bed today that I told many of you that I was planning on sending postcards to you with my address on them. Unfortunately, among all the commotion with getting settled and hanging out with the other auxiliaries, I forgot to purchase some in Barcelona, and Igualada is not such a touristy town that they would sell them here. In case any of you want my address it is:
Passeig Mossem Jacint Verdaguer 126 6e 1a
Igualada, Barcelona, España 08700
Hopefully when I go on a trip somewhere I will be able to get postcards and send them to some of you a few at a time. There is talk about a trip to Andorra this weekend. More to follow.
Much love!
Christina
Monday, October 4, 2010
My first couple days
29/09/2010
I tried using my power strip for my plug in today and I blew out the outlet wall in the hostel lobby; so much for that idea. I was so embarrassed and scared I had melted something. I don’t know what to do about using my appliances now. I’m afraid to plug in my computer, but I think that the MacBook has an automatic voltage converter in its power cord. I would absolutely HATE myself if I broke my computer, though. I’m not sure what to do…
Chrissy is still asleep. It’s 9:30am and I’m not sure what to do with myself now. I WAS going to go online, but now I’m afraid to show my face in the lobby for fear of being asked about what happened or if the power doesn’t come back to those outlets. I can’t believe I did that!
We’re going to get phones straightened out today, but we’re not meeting until 12:00, so I’ve got quite a bit of time. I was thinking of going for a walk, but I don’t know where I’d go. All the transportation is off today because Spanish government employees are on strike all across the nation. Emily was supposed to arrive today, but there is a rumor going around that there is only a 1 in 5 chance that she will make it. Hopefully she will be in by tomorrow.
29/09/2010 (2)
Today was very crazy. Once we left the hostel we realized that most everything was closed. Duncan and Sam overslept – until 1:00! We met with them around 2:15 and walked for hours and hours. Finally around 6:30, Helena and I decided to leave the group which had aggregated members up to a number of 10. The two of us had dinner at a restaurant on the Rambla. It was a little expensive, but we were so ready to eat and to rest our feet that we didn’t care. It was an American time for dinner, but I am still adjusting and we hadn’t had lunch, so I was okay with it. Tonight I am going to bed early so that I can try and wake up on time to talk to Jon before 12AM his time. Hopefully I will wake up early enough. I haven’t got an alarm to rely on. Hopefully tomorrow after talking with Jon and having a breakfast, Chrissy and Emily and I will ACTUALLY get to a phone store and get me a phone. It looks like it’ll be around 50 Euro to start, but the rates are cheap – 10 cents a text and 8 cents a minute for calls in Spain.
Tomorrow we get to go see our potential apartment too. We’ve all pretty much agreed that as long as Emily’s description fits what the house is, we’re all in. She looked at 6 different places and this was by far the best. 4 of the 6 bedrooms are furnished and there are extra mattresses to put in the spare rooms for company. We are all so excited and are getting out moneys together to pay the deposit and first months rent already. Everything seems to be working out perfectly. We should be able to move in on Saturday. ☺
04/10/2010
We are all moved in to our apartment! I made spaghetti today after we did our first joint shopping trip. Our fridge is full of mostly healthy food. Each of us has a room with an amazing view of the town and the mountains beyond and we’re all so happy to be living in Igualada rather than Barcelona. All of our paperwork is settled except for the NIE (identification card) which we have to go back into the city for. ☹ I think next Monday we will go since we’re all off work and can travel together. It will be at least an hour and a half journey each way, so it’s nice to have company.
As we are getting settled and the reality of us living here sets in, I realize how much I really miss home. We’re not just on some short vacation, but living here. It’s amazing, but sad at the same time.
I begin work on Wednesday. Anna will drive me in and show me around the school during our first hour since she has no classes until 10am. Then I will come to the class to introduce myself and begin my observation. I am a little nervous about beginning. What if the students don’t like me? What if they’re not excited to learn English? Well, I will see soon enough!
I tried using my power strip for my plug in today and I blew out the outlet wall in the hostel lobby; so much for that idea. I was so embarrassed and scared I had melted something. I don’t know what to do about using my appliances now. I’m afraid to plug in my computer, but I think that the MacBook has an automatic voltage converter in its power cord. I would absolutely HATE myself if I broke my computer, though. I’m not sure what to do…
Chrissy is still asleep. It’s 9:30am and I’m not sure what to do with myself now. I WAS going to go online, but now I’m afraid to show my face in the lobby for fear of being asked about what happened or if the power doesn’t come back to those outlets. I can’t believe I did that!
We’re going to get phones straightened out today, but we’re not meeting until 12:00, so I’ve got quite a bit of time. I was thinking of going for a walk, but I don’t know where I’d go. All the transportation is off today because Spanish government employees are on strike all across the nation. Emily was supposed to arrive today, but there is a rumor going around that there is only a 1 in 5 chance that she will make it. Hopefully she will be in by tomorrow.
29/09/2010 (2)
Today was very crazy. Once we left the hostel we realized that most everything was closed. Duncan and Sam overslept – until 1:00! We met with them around 2:15 and walked for hours and hours. Finally around 6:30, Helena and I decided to leave the group which had aggregated members up to a number of 10. The two of us had dinner at a restaurant on the Rambla. It was a little expensive, but we were so ready to eat and to rest our feet that we didn’t care. It was an American time for dinner, but I am still adjusting and we hadn’t had lunch, so I was okay with it. Tonight I am going to bed early so that I can try and wake up on time to talk to Jon before 12AM his time. Hopefully I will wake up early enough. I haven’t got an alarm to rely on. Hopefully tomorrow after talking with Jon and having a breakfast, Chrissy and Emily and I will ACTUALLY get to a phone store and get me a phone. It looks like it’ll be around 50 Euro to start, but the rates are cheap – 10 cents a text and 8 cents a minute for calls in Spain.
Tomorrow we get to go see our potential apartment too. We’ve all pretty much agreed that as long as Emily’s description fits what the house is, we’re all in. She looked at 6 different places and this was by far the best. 4 of the 6 bedrooms are furnished and there are extra mattresses to put in the spare rooms for company. We are all so excited and are getting out moneys together to pay the deposit and first months rent already. Everything seems to be working out perfectly. We should be able to move in on Saturday. ☺
04/10/2010
We are all moved in to our apartment! I made spaghetti today after we did our first joint shopping trip. Our fridge is full of mostly healthy food. Each of us has a room with an amazing view of the town and the mountains beyond and we’re all so happy to be living in Igualada rather than Barcelona. All of our paperwork is settled except for the NIE (identification card) which we have to go back into the city for. ☹ I think next Monday we will go since we’re all off work and can travel together. It will be at least an hour and a half journey each way, so it’s nice to have company.
As we are getting settled and the reality of us living here sets in, I realize how much I really miss home. We’re not just on some short vacation, but living here. It’s amazing, but sad at the same time.
I begin work on Wednesday. Anna will drive me in and show me around the school during our first hour since she has no classes until 10am. Then I will come to the class to introduce myself and begin my observation. I am a little nervous about beginning. What if the students don’t like me? What if they’re not excited to learn English? Well, I will see soon enough!
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