1st week of school!

Hola mis queridos amigos y familia! It's coming up on one month in Spain and I am having the time of my life! I just finished my first week of actual school. All of my co-workers have been so welcoming; one of my feIlow teachers gave me a huge coffee-table book of Santander. Another teacher gave me a huge map of the city. I've already had two teachers ask me about giving private lessons to their children. And I'm meeting another teacher tonight for coffee to help her with her English! Whew! I teach 11 one-hour classes during the week, of mainly 12-16 year olds. I especially enjoy the 12 year olds; they are so eager to learn! On the first day of each class, I showed them a map of Oklahoma, a city-scape of Tulsa, and a picture of Native Americans dancing. We also had a question-and-answer period where they coud ask any question they wanted about the US or about me. The most popular question was: "Where is Springfield (from the Simpsons)?" Ha! The second most popular questions was: "Do you have a pet?" Aww.

I also teach one secretarial class of 23-27 year old girls! I actually went out for drinks with a few of these girls last night. We were able to learn much more easily than in the class room! For the most part, they would speak in English, and I would repeat and correct them. Then, I would speak in Spanish, and they would repeat and correct me. It's much more fun to learn when drinking calimocho (half red wine, half coca-cola) or una clara (half club soda, half beer)!

These are my two new Spanish friends/students. The girl on the left is Sonia, 23 years old. Sonia went to college for social work and knows sign language. She bought me my first clara! The girl on the right is Angela, also 23 years old. Angela studied abroad in Ireland for a month, but only hung out with Spaniards so she didn't learn much English. I'm trying so hard to limit the time I spend with other English speakers!



My friend Marilyn introduced me to my first calimocho! She's a really amazing person. She is 27, has a 7-year-old, takes care of her disabled mother, has a boyfriend, works as a secretary, goes to school, speaks Spanish, English, and French, and still manages to have time to have some fun!

I'm still getting used to what I would refer to as "inefficiency" here. We don't have a clothes dryer, we don't have a dishwasher, and we take the bus or walk everywhere. I walk approximately 3-4 miles a day! All the stores are closed from 2-5 pm for siesta and NOTHING is open on Sunday! All of these "inconveniences" are really gifts though, because they force you to just relax and enjoy life!

Next weekend, Jessica S. (a girl from OU, teaching in Ciudad Real) and Katie D. (a girl from Kentucky, teaching in Toledo) are going to come visit me in Santander! The three of us spent some time together in Madrid after the orientation. They both really cool girls and I can't wait to show them my beloved Santander!

Well, I'm about to hang my clothes up to dry and then go explore the city, but I would like to close with a profound thought in light of the impending OU/Texas game:

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!

Your favorite Spanish-Okie,

Madeline