Here's how our days usually go: We wake up between 7 and 7:30. (as in I hear them giggling and running through the house so I get up) I help the kiddos get dressed and give them breakfast and we try to be out the door by 8:50 so that we have plenty of time to get to school which is only 3 miles away. Once I drop them off I come back here, clean up breakfast and just hang out until 12:15 when I head back to school to pick them up for the midday "siesta." I give them lunch when we get home, put Anna down for a nap and play games with Roger until 2:45 when we head back to school. When Anna is sleeping I try to work on English words and phrases with Roger. We play games like hangman where I have him spell out English words, describe what they are and put them into sentences. He LOVES it! Then we either play Tic-Tac-Toe or Uno for approximately an hour because they're his favorite haha Now I don't know if any of you have played either of those games for that long but after the first 15 games of tic-tac-toe and making loads of hand prints on the chalkboard from our chalky fingers..I usually try to suggest a different game to play. I taught him what to say when he wins so he really enjoys saying "Tic Tac Toe! Three in a row!" after we finally got down how to say "row" and what it meant :) After awaking the snoozing bear from her slumber...and a bear she IS when she wakes up!....we go back to school, but typically not without some alligator tears flowing. I'm free on most days after 3:00 but since Susagna has been gone I've been helping out with baths (7:30), dinner (8:30), and bedtime...and sometimes they don't go to bed until 10:00. Right now it is 10:25 and Anna is still not sleeping...I can hear her laying in bed singing Catalan songs to herself which is adorable. I'll definitely let her sleep in tomorrow!
After dropping them at the school I have been going out to take a 45 minute walk around the village. It doesn't take long to get anywhere here! It's super tiny, but it's so nice. Matadepera is what they call a "rich" village....and you should SEE some of these houses. I need to take pictures but haven't yet of some of the mini-mansions around here. It's a friendly place which is so great. I don't go anywhere without seeing someone I know...whether or not they speak English, I always say Hola! Como Estas? (how are you?). I usually have no idea what their response is but if they're smiling I assume that's good! :) I've really been loving these walks. This place is just beautiful! Not to mention it's going to give me the best calves around - the hills are killer here! I have been trying to scope out the big hills to climb so that I can get awesome views of the valley and the surrounding mountains. We have a mountain behind the house that I'm going to hike once Susagna gets back. Can't wait to do it! Here are some pictures of where I'm living. ...more at the bottom of the blog :)
I took the car for a cruise the other day to snap pictures. Plus try to drive around and find my sense of direction from different points in the village.(and we all know this lady needs a little help with the directions...okay a lot of help) Speaking of driving- it's going super well! :) I make it through entire days now without stalling the car - whooo hoo! and have even learned how to shift, sing, and listen to the kids (talking in their Catalan to me) all at the same time!
Last Friday I went out with a group of ladies to Angie's which is a pizzeria here in Matadepera. The only pizza place in the village.... and mmmm is it good! These four ladies have all been taking English classes for a couple of years so they wanted to meet me so that I can help them improve their English and so that they can help to teach me Spanish. It was really great! The two ladies who are closest to the camera have little babies that are 6 and 7 months old. I'm really looking forward to meeting them :) We had some good laughs and they were all so sweet and so patient with me as we tried to communicate for the 2 hours we were eating and drinking wine.
On Saturday night I went with Rosa to see her boyfriend play in BOTH of his bands. We met up with the girlfriends of the other band members in Terrassa (10 minutes away), had dinner and all rode together to a town about 40 minutes away from here outside of Barcelona.,,,no idea how to pronounce or spell it. :) We had a few problems finding the place and once we did we didn't know if we were at the right place. We saw a staircase and a sign for a business but there was no sign of the bar where we were supposed to be or any traffic going in and out.. but then we heard the music. After wandering up 4 flights of stairs and wondering if where we were going was an illegal place, we made it to the bar....which was a total hole in the wall and had US paraphernalia EVERYWHERE! It was a biker's bar so it came complete with men with ponytails in leather serving drinks and a Western Theme? haha not to mention the Confederate flag hanging on the wall and a sign saying "Stars and Stripes Forever." I felt RIGHT at home! :) and of course the one night I don't have my camera. Over the music Rosa shouts "Do you feel like you're at home?!" and I replied "You really have no idea!" haha The beer was cheap! (2 Euro) and the entertainment great. The 2nd band Jaume (Rosa's boyfriend) played with were so excellent! I requested a CD from Rosa and can't wait to get it. My head didn't hit the pillow until 4:30 AM. It was a great night :)
I'm happy tomorrow is Friday - I'm hoping to do some exploring this weekend! Maybe go to Barcelona to sight-see or find someone else to hike up the mountain with me. I have an "interview"/coffee drinking planned tomorrow morning with Frank, from the UK who is interested in seeing if I'm cut out to teach English here, so I'm excited about that! I really don't know any details so not too sure about the situation I would be in...whether I'd be going to different schools, teaching one-on-one, etc.? That is IF I get the job. After having to search through my piles and PILES of my "possessions" that are being stored in my room, Mom saved the Day! She found my resume...somehow and emailed it to me :) She's pretty terrific, I mean I wouldn't even want to look through all of that stuff. Anyway- I sent it to him and he suggested that we meet for coffee--so cross your fingers! I'll let you know how it goes.
Alright I'm signing off for this week. Thanks for checking in and I hope you're all having a wonderful week! Adios!
Love from Spain
My home for the next 6 months :) |
Bedroom |
View from the porch |
Mountain behind our house |
Matadepera :) and the place I've had coffee a few times |