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...