I left my piso today at 11:30 and let me just say the Andalucían sun is HOT. Now that I think of it, I do not think I have seen a cloud in the sky since I got here. It has been hovering around the upper 80s-low 90s (today being 86 degrees). In the sun, the temperature is sweltering, but I could live outside forever in the shade BECAUSE there is no humidity! I'm loving it!
Ok so as I was saying above, I left my piso at 11:30 and made my way to the bus station to get to my school. I hopped on the bus and actually got off at the right time and got to my school on time! But then I walked into my high school and I was like a deer in headlights. There were sooo many teenage students running around (because I am teaching in a high school). And let me just say, coming from an all girls catholic high school, it was eye opening to see a ton of Spanish students scurrying around the halls. The receptionist was very nice and helpful and led me to the classroom where I found the bilingual coordinator of the school. And let's just say I was thrown into a full class of students as I heard my bilingual coordinator say "Bridget, these are your students!" Yes, I was scared. I just stood there like, "Um, Hi, I'm Bridget!" I felt kinda scared and awkward but the students were very welcoming. And then my coordinator said, "Ok, I am just going to finish up the class and I will meet you outside to discuss your schedule."
So I waited outside...in the hall...being the awkward Americana that I am while my coordinator went down the hall to grab another teacher I would be working with. While he was away, two of my students came up to me and started talking. They were two high school aged boys and I was so surprised at how fascinated they were about my life and the United States. I also gave them a lot of credit because they came up and spoke to me in English and really wanted to practice. I was warned that some of my students would be afraid to talk to me because they might feel ashamed, but these students were great! I was so happy that they felt comfortable talking to me right off the bat.
After talking to the students, I went into the teachers' lounge and discussed my schedule. I have Fridays off (score) and I will work Monday-Thursday from about 9 am - 12 pm (some days more, some days less, just as long as they add up to 12 hours a week). I switched from English to Spanish and back to English while talking to two of the teachers. I will be in the classroom with one teacher in her English conversation course and then I will be in helping our with the specialty area of "comercio y transporte" (trading and transport) in the high school. I still have a lot to learn about that industry!
All of the teachers at my school seemed wonderful and I am looking forward to working with them! I think I might even have some tutoring jobs lined up tutoring the professors' children. Things are looking up and I cannot wait to start a full week on Monday! Now it is time for a run along the río under that Andalucían sun!
One observation...Spanish schools run from 8:15-9ish til about 2 pm. Get on that United States. Oh, and stop being so ignorant with your views on language learning. The people here value learning language so much and I feel like in the States, people are like just learn English and that's all you need to know. Open up your minds people! Language is a beautiful thing...and not just the English language! Just a little bit of my opinion ;)
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