Happiness is not hard to find. Sometimes you just need to let it find you :)

como se siente depende del mente

The coldness creeps in through the small crack left in my window as the sounds of church bells toll in the distance in the monastery. All is quiet, all is calm. The coldness grips and clings to my bones, stealing my breath away as i watch the air turn to white in exhalation. Rest does not come easy to me as i creep lower under hiding beanth the hues of my orange blanket. The solidarity of the monastery as well as the room structure i have found key catalysts in my daily reflection. It is amazing that such silence can invoke in all of us a series of reflection as we try to rub the sleep from our exhausted eyes. I walk to the terrace to see the village blanketed in a cold front that chills me to the bones. I shiver as i wrap myself closer in my wool scarf, trying to conserve what body heat i may have left. I take a long sip of my dark Moorish coffee as i lift my head to the sky as in some hope that a sun beam will come down and warm me. I feel so alive yet so dead as i rest my fatigue in an old wooden chair. The Sierra Nevada isnt visible today as it too has become lost beneath the blanket and the cold. I feel my heart quicken as it tries to warm my body while a north wind blows and gently tosses my hair about my face, awakening the inner spirit. I draw my knees into my chest sipping my coffee i am lost in thought as i gaze at the Moorish arches and cobblestone streets.
I gaze out reflecting on the fragility of the architecture comparing it quietly to the human mind. The wind dances and carries a series of leaves on the cobblestones as my head races in the same matter, a series of thoughts and emotions. My eyes reveal contemplation to any bystander should they gaze long enough. I am wondering, weighing, wishing and searching for clarity. The old Albaczyin village provides a perfect escape to do just that. I smile relinquishing in the fact that i am in Spain, pursuing my dreams on my own and succeeding. My sense of inner strength and accomplishment warms me as a challenging wind blows.
A creak at the door produces a fellow trainee tired from previous nights activities who exclaims tidings of Good Morning and a comment on the weather. " There is a daze, you can't make out anything in the distance." To which i smile and reply, " No, no for the first time its all so clear."

TGIF

BEEP BEEP BEEP. The alarm goes off and i did not spring up from my bed as i normally do. Instead i rolled over as to verify such false statements. The morning has arrived and as i try to convince myself to leave the warmth of my bed, i can only pray and beg for an hour more. The week is coming to a close and everyone in the residencia is pleased to hear such news. The majority of the house went to the local bar to relax after such a stressful week and arrived home around 2 am dancing on the railings and under the influuence of the thing we crave most, some freedom and a little wine. The course as intense as it is, has proven to be beneficial which reflects in the successful passing of the two of my lesson plans. This evening i go before the board to discuss my progress and receive my notes and placements thus far. To take the edge off of such a confrontation i have accepted an invite to move my bom bom to the beat of Flamenco. Thats right this bristol blonde will be trying to master the steps and turns of Spain's most prized dance. Perhaps i will take a video and pictures for your enjoyment and comedic relief.
Tomorrow i plan to explore all that Granada has to offer, walking aimlessly from the time the sun comes up until the evening when we will meet up with a few of our friends to go dancing and put our moves to the test. Im looking forward to the freedom to window shop, drink some coffee, get lost in a suiza de chocolate and a good thought, and be bale to see Granada for the gem it really is.

5 Hours till freedom and ticking
Besos a todos
S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uImsPI4aX0

J is for Jueves

Buenas dias a todos! Gracias a dios que hoy esta jueves y tenemos una clase mas. This morning i have student teaching and will be with the Elementary class teaching them about famous people anf grammar tenses. I have quite the busy day today which is totally against the Spanish life style here. I will not be meandering to class at 12 like the toher but have been up since 7, javafied ( my new word), gone over my lesson plan, showered (in the arctic water, our furnace broke), and am listening to music. Today i teach from 9-11. I have a review session from 12-1, an ISP interview from 1-2, a 30 minute break, class from 3-4, and then i am done for the evening and will be able to rest the most overused part of my body.. my brain :) Tonight we will go out for tapas to celebrate the end to our busy day and perhaps have a potluck at the house.
Friday can not come soon enough as we are planning to go to a latin dance place to take a class or to in the art of dancing and seduction. I personally would not want to see half the men in our house advancing towards me in tight black pants and rose in mouth. I'm a hopeless romantic but we all have our standards. HA Additionally a few of the girls in the house will go shopping together this weekend to the Moroccan market as well as to the clothing district which boasts a 70% off rate :) A nice temptation for any stressed woman in dire need of a little fresh air, chocolate, and clearance deals.

I'm off to teach Elementary, it will be interesting to explain who Marilyn Monroe is and how she got to fame... Perhaps i should leave out the tidbit about the Kennedy family.

Have a great day!
xoxox
El rubio.

Song: What else is there
Artist: Royksopp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3njX4nSO5U

And so it begins

Its the running of the bulls! This week has been utter and complete madness for us trainees here in Granada. The course has increased substantially as we are thrown into the deep end, doing student teaching, ISP project, MAC project, and observation classes. In addition this week we begin intense courses of grammar and the infamous job search. Needless to say most of us are dealing with our new fouind tasks by
a. making friends at the local pub
b. eating large ammounts of chocolate
c. screaming on the terrace, like in the movie "Garden State"
d. slowly organizing but beginning to twitch.
Yet its not something that college, rowing, and previous experience can't get you through, that and 1.25 Euro wine. ( such a fabulous selection here).
Last night i had my first teaching 10 Spanish beginner students, which was a small challenge as i wanted to clarify everything in Spanish. The class i felt went very well and given my feedback today, it was good i just needed to smile more as i was very direct, concrete, and concise with my teaching, a thing they dont see in many young trainees. Instead of being bubbly and losing control of the class, i was somehwat stern and clear. Which i think its a good thing unless you are referencing figures from World War II. Needless to say i teach again tomorrow morning at 9 am to Elementary and will receive my materials shortly to lesson plan.
Sinc ehaving moved to Spain, i have been very happy to be back in Europe and have started to compile a list of all things Spanish, to which i have the beginning:
1. Spanish women do not work out.
2. You cant flush anything, no toilet paper, NADA
3. When shopping dont put things back on the rack simply throw it at the sad people who are employed to do that for you.
4. Cobblestone are managable for morning runs, and the men will not outwardly cat call you.
5. Canned tuna may be cheap but will send you to the lew often.
6. When ordering tapas, do not get the cheese it tastes like old shoes,.
7. Sleeping in your jacket ids the trend in spain as the furnace breaks regularly due to delicate piping.
8. Old ladies wear fur jackets, walk in groups of 3, and dont consider passing them.. apparently its rude.

Buen Dia a todos!

Song: La camisa negra
Artist: Juanes

1st Day of Teaching

Today is my frist day of teaching! I had been up late preparing my lesson and also woke up before the sun today to finish the lesson. To ease the tension i went for a run this morning only to find that living on a mountain can definently kick your a**. Needless to say i feel pretty prepared to teach the class, which will be a group of adults that are beginners. I observed the class previously in which they had difficulty pronouncing the word "fork".. it sounded like... well.. ya know. Anyway it should be very interesting to say the least! I heard a great song today when i was running that put a pep in my step, caused me to dance on the terrazza in the sunshine and in the kitchen while making lunch. Perhaps i will teach the song to the class tonight and will post it below for your enjoyment. The rest of day is spent doing lesson, teaching prep and then teaching tonight. Afterward i am going out for Tapas to hopefully celoebrate a successful completition of day 1 of teaching as the rest of my week will be very hectic. The things you are passionate about are always worth it in the end.

Buen dia a todos
El rubio en Espana
Worldly woman

Cancion del dia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyOs50NE8u4


Have a great day everyone!

SUIZAS DE CHOCOLATE!!