Brrrr!

The Spanish skies are grey and bleak as Winter steadily rolls in, and there's a chill in the air these days, one that seeps under your five layers of clothing, through your skin, and sinks right into your bones. It refuses to leave. It sinks its claws right into you, and sometimes no matter how long you stand under that boiling hot shower, it does everything it can to stay with you. There's no rain or snow, and most of the time there isn't any wind, it's just this frosty, biting weather that has sunk into Córdoba, into the very ground the Romans used to walk on.

Still, the Spanish people are friendly as ever. Apparently every year at about this time Spain goes absolutely wild with Christmas cheer. Strings of lights shelter the city in a glowing web of reds and whites, and bells and Nativity Scenes and even the occasional Papa Noel light up the night sky as the Spaniards take to the streets, as they are determined to get out of the house and have a coffee. They huddle under their coats and cling to their loved ones as they stroll along. They refuse to let December's bitter weather defeat them.

Across the city a strange sort of expositions begins. Individuals, churches, families, and stores set up Belenes, miniature Nativity scenes that sprawl across a huge hand painted, hand crafted Bethlehem. Some have real, working fountains, others have pyrotechnics, and all of them have dimming and brightening lights to show the passage from Night, to Dawn, to Day, and to Dusk. If no where else, the Spanish reverence of the Christmas season is here.

Everyone know Christmas is coming, and I'm not sure who's more excited, the students or the teachers. When I walk through the school the kids burst into song -- a choppy rendition of "We Wish A Merry Christmas and a Happy New You." They don't quite know the tune, but they make up for that with effort. The teachers sit in the staff room during recess, sipping small glasses of 55% Anis that burns all the way down, but with a cold like this, you need anything you can get to stay warm. I should know by know that when they give me something to drink, it won't taste good, but where's the adventure in that?

And, in three days I'm off on my great trek across Europe. A week in Paris for Christmas, a week in Amsterdam for New Years, and a week in Madrid after it all where I'll spend some quiet time wandering the parks and museums. So, although I'll be M.I.A. for a few weeks, when I return I'll have plenty of stories and plenty of pictures.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and Happy New You. ;)

Random Pictures of Spain!

Aaaaaand here they are at last! Random pictures of Spain!
Yeah I don't know what's up with the formatting either. Right click on the pic and click "View Picture" to see the whole thing! =D

La Plaza de España, Sevilla



A Flamenco Show In Sevilla


Really Old Ruins!


Around Cordoba

Kids can be cute... when they're not being little devils!

Sadly, little to no traveling has happened on my part quite yet. This is due mostly to the fact that I am going to Paris for Christmas, Amsterdam for New Years, and Toledo immediately afterwards and all of this is going to require money! Instead, much of my time has been spent sleeping all day on the weekends, and drinking beer all night.

It's not such a terrible life. ;)

This job is also getting much, much easier. I can plan out a lesson in just a few minutes, or even walk in with just a vague sort of idea as to what I want to do and just sort of go with the flow. And, on top of that, I FINALLY have other English speakers to talk to at my school! Shortly after arriving at my school Sarah, from LA coincidentally, arrived and within two days decided to go home. Several weeks later, Karolina from Poland arrived. She's studying at the University in Cordoba (taking English classes in Spanish. And she doesn't speak Spanish. Needless to say she doesn't bother going to class much). She's stuck it out, and is pretty awesome. Finally, Ane from Norway arrived at about the same time, but she didn't last a week and has gone back home.

They're dropping like flies over here. Turns out this is all a little harder than we thought. But Karolina is getting into the groove of things, and my Spanish listening skills are getting better, so communication with most people is coming along smoothly.

As for the kids I teach, well... that's another story.

They are still as nuts, insane, and bonkers as always, but every once in a while they do something so obnoxiously cute that it doesn't matter how loony they are.

Take for example today. Being December 1st (and being allowed to do whatever I want thanks to my principal just being happy I'm here), I decided to teach my kids a Christmas song. Well, surprise, the 12 Days of Christmas is not easy for 4th grade non-English speakers to learn. Who knew!

It was pretty clear to the class and me that this was going to be impossible. I'd sing very slowly and they'd mumble along (everyone coming together on the 'meeeee' part of 'my true love gave to me'). And even though they didn't have a clue what they were saying, they'd burst into cheers and applause at the end of every verse and ask to do another.

How can you not love something like that? We gave up after a half hour and then decorated construction paper Christmas Trees.

Later, I teach English to a small group of third graders, and I had to explain something in Spanish, and even though it's not very good, the second I finished speaking they all broke into applause and said "Eeeeeey! Espanish!!" It's all very cute and you quickly forget that you were yelling at them two minutes previously.

So yes, kids can be cute and adorable sometimes. Here are some pics from the mummy races we did for Halloween!! (My computer is finally deciding it wants to upload pictures! Many to come soon!)

But yes, life pushes on, and even though I haven't traveled yet, huge travel plans are coming shortly. I'm looking at a 30 euro flight to Brussels in February, going to Italy at some point in time (maybe April?) and then, holy cow, after this is all over I'm hitting up the UK, France, Luxembourg, Prague. Before you know it the six and a half months I have left over here will be over...