Where to start, where to start. 9 days has gone by without a word from me. How rude am I? Last Monday, February 28th is where I'll start. We spent the weekend before in the country as well as Monday since it was a holiday for the family. Nothing of real consequence happened on Monday. I helped the younger children with their homework and we left the country around 5pm. Tuesday also passed without much notice. I did laundry, went to the supermarket, helped the children with their things. That night Carlos and I had a run in, which I believe is only natural, he was testing me to see what he could and could not get away with. He had a tantrum and kicked the table and the Bible off the table to which I told him he could have a time out or shower, to which he responded I couldn't tell him what to do. When the parents got home, of course they told him I could tell him what to do and since then we haven't have a problem, which is very good.
I started working at the office on Wednesday. Its really nice to have something to do during the day and to feel productive. At work I make phone calls to travel agencies to get information. Luckily I call Scotland, England and Ireland (the United Kingdom). I am absolutely in love with their accents, they're really cute and remind me of my favorite book, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. (I am listening to it again on audiobook because I love it so much). Work is pretty much all I did from Wednesday and Friday. Although Wednesday's and Monday's I have class, so I have to leave early from work. And this Wednesday I tried to take a taxi from work to class, which did not go as planned. The man took me to the wrong place, then I had him take me home. So with ten minutes to walk a 30 minute walk and 12 euro poorer, I missed class. I wasnt mad about the money, I was mad that I feel he took advantage of me because I cannot speak much spanish. I think that is one of the worst faults of human beings, taking advantage of others in a weaker position. Maybe that just me...
Friday night I went out for the first time since having been here, which was really nice. Andrea, a girl at the office who is 23, took me out to the downtown and we met up with one of her friends, Alejandra. We had a soda with her because she had jaw surgery and couldnt eat and she could have any alcohol because she was driving. While having our sodas, they told me about the history of some of the spanish buildings and we met a Canadian who was there alone. We didn't talk long, but I have to admit its nice to hear some other native english speakers. When her friend drove home and we had tapas and wine. After dinner, we called it a night, agreeing to go out again sometime soon. Nothing much else happened during the weekend. The children fought amoung themselves. Sunday night Pedro and I played Padel at Pineda which I enjoyed. I have since bought a tennis skirt so that we can play more often.
Yesterday I went to class, learned a minimal amount of spanish and worked. It was the perfect temperature all day, so I went shopping a bit to get the skirt and a textbook for spanish. Last night Ale, Pedro and I went to the Parque de Mary Louisa to walk Finda the dog. She is the silliest dog. I wish I had my camera so that I could upload a video of how she runs. She hops a bit on her back legs as she takes off so she makes this hilarious motion. We can let her off the leash because she doesnt run away. That is a treat because we can let her run as much as she wants without her going away.
Today its raining and gross. I don't like rain, especially since I dont have my rainboots here and only have one jacket (much to young Pedro's horror). I made over 100 calls this morning, so I hope to finish my first task of 800 calls by next Monday. Well I am going to relax since the kids come home in about an hour. :)
Buenos Tardes, mis amigos!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
the weekend in words
Buenos Dias!
I am about to go to the Universidad de Sevilla and buy my spanish textbooks for tomorrow, woo! Very exciting indeed. I thought I'd start off this post with saying how much I love my mom. I got to talk to her last night and I have to say it was refreshing. The culture in Spain is very different from that of the US and I am missing home for that reason. I have been oscillating between loving it here and struggling here. I don't think I've ever appreciated the acceptance that america allows until coming here. Not that I am not enjoying myself here, because I am, but the Spanish people are not as accepting of people being different. I have found myself in the past two weeks at the receiving end of criticism because of my "american-ness". None the less, I am learning.
Friday was a holiday, but I forget which one, I think it was student day? The kids did not have any school, so Pedro, Carlos and I went to the centro de Sevilla (center of sevilla) and went into the tower of Grinalda (spelling?). I will post photos from this later because my poor little camera's battery is dead and the charger is MIA in my apartment... Its very cool though because the tallest building in Sevilla is 15 stories, so from the tower we got to see the entire city. After we went trough the cathedral and tower we ahad lunch just outside the tower. Our lunch consisted of sandwiches I made and soda from the store. The children love Fanta, so we have had many a fanta these last two weeks. While we were eating lunch, Pedro told translated for me what this crazy man was saying to a homeless man with no leg. While I told the man to leave, in english of course because my espanol es no bueno, he did not. Finally he did leave. It was a horrifying sight and I wish I could have/would have do something more. After that all ended, we went to get gelato from "Marcapone" the shop.
That night we went to the countryside, the three of us again. We got there in the evening so we just watched a bit of TV and a movie. Around midnight, I ushered Carlos to bed (he'd already been sleeping on the couch), and found a few minutes later him asleep in my bed! ha! I made pedro go and get him out, and to my suprise carlos did not go nicely. he kciked and screamed and telled and then all of a sudden got up and went into his bed as if he hadnt been screaming. It was really funny.
On Saturday and Sunday, we went to a friend of the parents house and while there played Paddle. Paddle is like tennis with a smaller court and back walls that can be played off of. I posted a picture last night of that. I like this way more than tennis because you play only in doubles and the court is smaller, and it was just a plus that I had taken a year worth of tennis lessons. :) We also went on a dirt bike during the weekend, slowly of course because the ground was very choppy from last weekends rain. These opportunities that I have here are just amazing. They do things every weekend that I have never done in my life. I am very blessed to be with this family and included so kindly.
Thats about everything from this weekend... I had struggles within myself this weekend because of issues within the family here. I am not going to elaborate, but I am going to ask for your prayers for the family. And for myself, because everything came together so that I could be here, so I ask for the strength and clarity do what I am supposed to.
Buenos dias, mis amigos!
I am about to go to the Universidad de Sevilla and buy my spanish textbooks for tomorrow, woo! Very exciting indeed. I thought I'd start off this post with saying how much I love my mom. I got to talk to her last night and I have to say it was refreshing. The culture in Spain is very different from that of the US and I am missing home for that reason. I have been oscillating between loving it here and struggling here. I don't think I've ever appreciated the acceptance that america allows until coming here. Not that I am not enjoying myself here, because I am, but the Spanish people are not as accepting of people being different. I have found myself in the past two weeks at the receiving end of criticism because of my "american-ness". None the less, I am learning.
Friday was a holiday, but I forget which one, I think it was student day? The kids did not have any school, so Pedro, Carlos and I went to the centro de Sevilla (center of sevilla) and went into the tower of Grinalda (spelling?). I will post photos from this later because my poor little camera's battery is dead and the charger is MIA in my apartment... Its very cool though because the tallest building in Sevilla is 15 stories, so from the tower we got to see the entire city. After we went trough the cathedral and tower we ahad lunch just outside the tower. Our lunch consisted of sandwiches I made and soda from the store. The children love Fanta, so we have had many a fanta these last two weeks. While we were eating lunch, Pedro told translated for me what this crazy man was saying to a homeless man with no leg. While I told the man to leave, in english of course because my espanol es no bueno, he did not. Finally he did leave. It was a horrifying sight and I wish I could have/would have do something more. After that all ended, we went to get gelato from "Marcapone" the shop.
That night we went to the countryside, the three of us again. We got there in the evening so we just watched a bit of TV and a movie. Around midnight, I ushered Carlos to bed (he'd already been sleeping on the couch), and found a few minutes later him asleep in my bed! ha! I made pedro go and get him out, and to my suprise carlos did not go nicely. he kciked and screamed and telled and then all of a sudden got up and went into his bed as if he hadnt been screaming. It was really funny.
On Saturday and Sunday, we went to a friend of the parents house and while there played Paddle. Paddle is like tennis with a smaller court and back walls that can be played off of. I posted a picture last night of that. I like this way more than tennis because you play only in doubles and the court is smaller, and it was just a plus that I had taken a year worth of tennis lessons. :) We also went on a dirt bike during the weekend, slowly of course because the ground was very choppy from last weekends rain. These opportunities that I have here are just amazing. They do things every weekend that I have never done in my life. I am very blessed to be with this family and included so kindly.
Thats about everything from this weekend... I had struggles within myself this weekend because of issues within the family here. I am not going to elaborate, but I am going to ask for your prayers for the family. And for myself, because everything came together so that I could be here, so I ask for the strength and clarity do what I am supposed to.
Buenos dias, mis amigos!
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