Last post was specifically dedicated to Christmas, since I felt that it was an important subject in and of itself. But what has happened since then? The holidays were almost two months ago, and February is halfway over. To be honest, not much. It seems like with each update I haven't much to report other than "Well, I'm sick. Let me tell you about it."
This is no different. Yep, I'm sick again. Looking back, not more than two weeks has past without me contracting some new ailment. That's the downside of working with young kids. You are exposed to practically everything. Almost all the staff was sick last week, and they have passed it on to me.
It is putting a damper on things, since my apartment converts into a war zone throughout the week and I usually spend the weekends reorganizing it. I haven't really got the energy to wash the dishes (OK--this may be an exaggeration. I just really hate washing dishes and will find any excuse not to) or cook dinner. I've either eaten out or resorted to cookies. Really, it's a wonder how I get so sick with such a healthy diet. Not to mention I've been trying to start jogging again and I can never form a routine before getting ill again. Bah.
Yet even with my constant state of disease, I don't have as much to complain about these days (OK--also not true. I complain way too much about insignificant things). I like my job. Working with kids, as germy as they may be, gives me a sense of accomplishment. I've also been getting more private classes, which has made me incredibly busy but is a good source of income. I've also finally reached a place where I feel more comfortable in this apartment. Granted, it still could use some improvements but I can live in what is more or less an organized chaos. I'm really looking forward to the spring when the weather is good again and we can enjoy our terrace.
In addition, my social life is finally coming together. I've started going to intercambios, and it's been a good resource for meeting new people and branching out. It's nice to have weekend plans for once. I suppose next is to meet more Spanish people, but poco a poco.
Time to curl up with a cup of tea and some cough syrup.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Navi Navidad
OK, so maybe I've neglected posting. It's mid-February, and here I am writing about Christmas. I have a mental block when it comes to writing. It doesn't matter if it's an important essay or just a simple blog post for my family to read--I will put it off until the last minute. So, here we are almost three months later.
How was my first Christmas away from home? It was--well, a mixed bag. At first, I was fairly confident that I could manage the holidays away from my family. After all, I had Alvaro's family to celebrate with. While they could never replace my own flesh and blood, being closed to loved ones can make all the difference. And in truth, it really did ease the pain of celebrating Christmas on a separate continent.
I spent most of December trying to create my own holiday spirit. I made eggnog from scratch, bought a miniature tree, and cheap Christmas stockings. I sang all my favorite songs and watched Elf. I ate my weight in chocolate.
Christmas at my school was no small feat either. Each class rehearsed and performed their own carols--one in English and the other in Spanish. I even opted to come in on my day off and watch them perform. It was a lot of fun! The kids all wore Santa hats and red jumpers and it was a great way to kick off the Christmas vacation. As a bonus, the teachers were offered a free lunch after school ended. Oh, it was delicious. In true Spanish fashion I ate until my stomach couldn't hold any more, and then ate some more. It was also interesting to see the staff celebrating all together. Teachers were throwing bread across the room and dancing on tables. Alcohol may or may not have been involved (it totally was).
I also went to see the Nutcracker ballet. On Christmas Eve I was lucky enough to come down with a cold. In addition, one of the packages my parents sent for Christmas had failed to show up. I called correos (the Spanish postal service), only to be told that such a package never showed up and must have been lost. So, I did the only thing a reasonable, sickly adult would do and had a mental breakdown.
But life goes on, and that night I begrudgingly went to a holiday dinner with Alvaro's family. I admit that I felt better afterward, although being sick kept me from really enjoying my time out. When I'm sick I just want to stay in bed and watch TV until I stop feeling like death.
Thankfully I was much better on Christmas. My family has a tradition of waking up before dawn and lighting a fire in our fireplace while opening presents. Well, I don't have a fireplace and Alvaro isn't a fan of waking up early, so I made due with what I had. I lowered the blinds to darken the room and found a "fireplace" video on Youtube. Surprisingly, although it wasn't the same as home, I found that those little details made a difference.
The best thing about Spain is that the holidays don't end with Christmas. New Years Eve is usually an eventful holiday, and Reyes is the main gift-giving celebration. So, while I didn't do any travelling over the break, I did go to a lot of family dinners. And my "lost" package did turn up, albeit after Christmas. All in all, it was a successful holiday away from home.
How was my first Christmas away from home? It was--well, a mixed bag. At first, I was fairly confident that I could manage the holidays away from my family. After all, I had Alvaro's family to celebrate with. While they could never replace my own flesh and blood, being closed to loved ones can make all the difference. And in truth, it really did ease the pain of celebrating Christmas on a separate continent.
I spent most of December trying to create my own holiday spirit. I made eggnog from scratch, bought a miniature tree, and cheap Christmas stockings. I sang all my favorite songs and watched Elf. I ate my weight in chocolate.
Christmas at my school was no small feat either. Each class rehearsed and performed their own carols--one in English and the other in Spanish. I even opted to come in on my day off and watch them perform. It was a lot of fun! The kids all wore Santa hats and red jumpers and it was a great way to kick off the Christmas vacation. As a bonus, the teachers were offered a free lunch after school ended. Oh, it was delicious. In true Spanish fashion I ate until my stomach couldn't hold any more, and then ate some more. It was also interesting to see the staff celebrating all together. Teachers were throwing bread across the room and dancing on tables. Alcohol may or may not have been involved (it totally was).
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| Some of my second graders wrote my name on the board. Second graders are the cutest! |
But life goes on, and that night I begrudgingly went to a holiday dinner with Alvaro's family. I admit that I felt better afterward, although being sick kept me from really enjoying my time out. When I'm sick I just want to stay in bed and watch TV until I stop feeling like death.
Thankfully I was much better on Christmas. My family has a tradition of waking up before dawn and lighting a fire in our fireplace while opening presents. Well, I don't have a fireplace and Alvaro isn't a fan of waking up early, so I made due with what I had. I lowered the blinds to darken the room and found a "fireplace" video on Youtube. Surprisingly, although it wasn't the same as home, I found that those little details made a difference.
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| Twelve grapes at midnight to ring in the New Year |
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| My mom made that scarf--it was part of my "lost" gifts. |
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| New Year's mischief |
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| A second family |
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