Mecano

Watching the videos of "Fame" I got into such a nostalgic state that I had to look for some of my favorite 80's groups.

Here are some great videos by Mecano, one of the best Spanish groups from that decade.

La Fuerza del Destino

Hijo de la Luna. This one is soooo beautiful, it gives me goose bumps.

Perdido en mi habitación. Oh, this brings back so many memories....

Hoy no me puedo levantar. This one is a classic, and it's still a great song.

Me cuesta tanto olvidarte. One of my favorite songs. A great song about broken hearts.

Spanish Christmas candy

In a way I'm glad Christmas is over. I've gained too much weight lately and I don't like that. Not just for the way I look but most of all, for the impact it has on my health. I feel tired all the time and I feel exhausted when I climb the stairs. I hate that feeling!

This is what I have to avoid, Spanish Christmas candy:



I've almost run out of candy and I'm definitely NOT getting any more. Enough is enough! There will be a Christmas this year too and then I will have another go at the candy. Until then, Christmas candy is a total NO NO.

The candy in the colorful wrappings in the photo is called mantecados, and is made by flour, sugar and lard. It dates back to the 16th century. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've heard that they used mantecados during the Inquisition to see who was a Christian and who wasn't, because both Jews and Muslims aren't allowed to eat fat from pigs. People went around offering mantecados and those who didn't accept to eat one was taken to prison, accused of not being Christian.

Another day at work

And so I'm back at work... A new term just began and I've had 2 classes so far. I had 8 students today, out of 23 which I had the first week. I don't know why there were so many students missing today, but I guess it's due to several things - most of my students also study at the university and exams are around the corner, the Muslim new year will begin on Thursday or Friday (it depends on the moon) and the library has been closed during Christmas and people think we haven't opened yet. And people drop out. But in January we open up a second chance to get into class so I will hopefully get some new students in my groups the coming weeks. That's good because I get paid according to the number of students and a small group = not very much money.

I felt a bit awkward the first few minutes today because I hadn't had time to prepare the class. Usually I prepare the classes very well, but I didn't have the time to do so today (I'm preparing for exams too) so I kind of had to improvise. But in the end we had a lot of fun and I know my students learned new things. That's really important to me, that my students learn new things in every class and that they are allowed to speak freely in every class. I think conversation is a very important skill when it comes to learning a new language.

I MIGHT work on Thursday, it depends on the new year, if it's a holiday or not. At least I'm free from work Friday - Monday. Guess what I'll do? *lol* S-t-u-d-y ....

A training course

I have completed my first month as a payroll teacher. I feel really exhausted but also very, very happy. Finally I've found the job for me. Being a teacher is what I'm supposed to do, I'm sure of that now.

I have had several jobs before this one, I've worked as a nursery teacher (working with kids aged 1 to 6), a substitute teacher for grades 1 - 3 (kids aged 7 to 9), a waitress, an interpreter, translator and a cook, among other things. The one I liked the best was being a SAHM and in a way I miss "just being at home", but at the same time I know I need to work and have a social life. I don't really work for the money, because our center doesn't get any funds so the tuition fees goes to pay the bills in the first place and then there's a small part that goes to the teachers. I work because I was getting too isolated at home. I rarely left home, except for picking up my kids at school and I hardly ever had any adult conversations. That was getting on my nerves because I need to communicate with people, I really need to have a social life.

Next weekend I'm going to spend in class, but this time as a student. I'm going to a training course to become a better teacher. I'll have to ask my MIL if she can look after the kids because I can't bring them to class with me and I can't leave them alone. I hope she won't mind.

The teachers at the training course all work for the Instituto Cervantes, a Spanish world wide organization, with libraries and Spanish courses in several countries. In the US there are centers in Albuquerque, Chicago, Seattle and New York. This is going to be my third training course and I'm really looking forward to assisting because they are usually very good and aimed exactly at teachers like us. It's going to be so much fun!

Work, work, work....

Tomorrow I'll start up a new group at work. Level 3, the highest level we've had so far at my center. I'm a bit nervous because it's a higher level, with a book I've never used before and a lot more grammar to be explained. At the same time I'm really thrilled, because teaching is so much fun and I know that my students will work hard. They are really eager to learn, so they will push me to the limit. And that's okey, because after all, I'm their bridge to a better knowledge of Spanish.

From this week onwards I'll work 4 days a week. I have one class a day, so actually I'm at work for about 2 hours each time. I would have preferred to work only 3 days and have two classes one of them but my students couldn't come that day. Oh well, I'll have to organize myself better.... Now, how many times have I said that this year? *lol*

My life is really hectic these days and I LOVE IT! Yes, I do. For the most part. There are things I could be without, like the problems with the makeover. Yep, after 3 months we're still living in the middle of a construction site with things everywhere.:-( I wanted to participate in a "get fit" challenge but when and where am I going to work out in a living room crowded with boxes and other stuff that's not supposed to be in a living room!?... And the same goes for the Organization challenge. There's no way I'm going to get a nice living room with so much stuff that don't belong there and that's not clutter. I mean, the kitchen stuff is supposed to be in the kitchen, not in the living room. *grrrrr*

Anyway, that's the way things are and I try to make things work as smoothly as possible. Hopefully next week will be a bit better, IF the delivery guys bring me B:s closet I bought the other day and IF the carpenter does come back on Friday morning to finish my closet. IF they do, I will be able to get rid of a lot of stuff in the living room, B will get his room back, G will get his room back and I can start to put away the summer clothes and take out the winter clothes. It's getting really cold here when you only have summer clothes but there's no way I can get to the warmer clothes right now. :-( Please say a prayer that they won't let me down - again...

Study group

I'm glad I've found a group of girls to study with. We are 5 girls and we all live in different cities, so we study online. So far it works great!

There is so much to study so we have divided the work between us and then share our notes. We chat almost every day and also have fixed hours when we talk about different classes. Like today, it's Sunday and in less than an hour we'll talk about Spanish Medieval Literature. Thanks to the girls I'm slowly catching up on everything.

I spent 5 hours at the library on Friday and hopefully I'll be able to study at least 3 hours at the library tomorrow. I haven't been able to study much this weekend so I really need to work hard next week. And no scrapping. :-( I just hope the stupid carpenter will show up tomorrow and fix my bedroom closet because I'm sick and tired of not having a place to put my clothes.

Well, these are my plans for next week. What are yours? Are you doing anything fun?

Poetry for kids

At my kids' school they invite writers and poets to come and have workshops with the kids at least once a year. Being a Spanish school in Morocco makes it a bit difficult to transmit Spanish culture to the kids so I'm glad at least they have the occasional workshops.

Two poets came this week and worked with the kids in grades 3 - 6. My kids said they had a great time and that poetry is so much fun. I wish I knew how to help them keep that new interest, because I consider poetry to be an important part of a person's education. That's something I think is typical for Spain. You can ask just about anyone on the street and they will know several poems by heart and know the names of several famous writers. I know this is not so in many countries in the world.

Next time I go to Ceuta I will look for books with poetry for kids. Many Spanish writers and poets have done books for kids, just because it's such an important part of our common culture.

Unfortunately I don't read much poetry. I don't have time to. But since my kids seem so interested these days I think I'll take the opportunity and make an effort and start reading some. There are so many Spanish poets I like, like Federico García Lorca, Juan Ramón Jimenez and Rafael Alberti.

Do you read poetry? Or do you write poetry? Do you read novels? Or any other kind of litterature? Do you know the name of any Spanish writers?

Ink or not ink...

I spent all morning today printing notes and summaries for my Literature class. This year I'm studying Medieval Literature which is one of my favorite subjects actually. But there is so much to read. First of all we need to read like almost 1000 pages in different text books and then we also need to read 7 works in Medieval Spanish. *phew* And that is just one of the classes I take this year.

I think every student these day needs a computer with a printer, because copying notes by hand takes such a long time. Having a printer really is a blessing, because you can copy whatever you need, print it out and take it with you, to be read wherever you go.

So far I´ve spent a lot of money on ink for the computer. I am very forgetful and never remember the name of the ink I need for my computer. This is the usual scenario for me: Getting to the shop and not remembering what cartridges I should buy... That is so very embarrassing. I go back home, jot the name on a piece of paper and go back to the store, just to discover that I've lost that piece of paper. Isn't that annoying?

Recently I found Cartridge Finder, which is a user friendly site where you can find the name of the devices so you buy the right kind of ink. They carry cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines. They also check PriceGrabber.com's merchant listings in order to give you the best price available. At least I know where to go next time I run out of ink. Which will be any time soon I'm afraid.

Studying....

This is how I spent part of our holiday: studying. My parents took care of the kids so I could study alone. That was really great and much needed. So far I've lost almost one month of studies so I'm very far behind, but I try not to let that get me down.

I feel proud of myself. Today I've read about 40 pages of Phonetics. It's not the easiest subject, so I think I did great. I hope I can finish the book tomorrow. Actually it's not the book I need to read for class. This one includes more or less the same things but it's shorter and the language is easier. I think it will be easier to read the other book once I've finished this one. I will try to catch up on Phonetics and Linguistics next week and then work really hard on Literature the following week. Actually I have 5 subjects this semester, but I've sort of given up on Literature Theory and so far I have only done 3 chapters of Latin. And time is flying... Guess what I'll do during Christmas break? *lol*

Back to school 2

There's a new student in my home -ME! I've been doing paperwork all summer and last week I finally got the admission letter. I'm in! Now I have to register and pay the fee (way too much money, if you ask me, but hey, what can you do?). I'll do that next week when I go to Ceuta.

I'll study "Filología Hispánica" (Spanish Philology) so when I finish I'll have a degree in Spanish and Literature. 5 years.... Oh, I'm so excited! I can't wait to go back to school. This is something I've wanted to do for years, ever since I dropped out due to health reasons 15 years ago.

It's going to be tough, I know. I'm a semi-single mom, with 2 kids and no car and I'm sort of alone in this country. But I know I can do it! I HAVE to do it! This is a chance of a lifetime. Besides, most of my studies I'll do on line so I only have to go to school to do exams and meet the teachers a few times a year. I've studied on line before and I know it's harder than going to class, because you have to make your own timetable and follow it. It's so easy to get sidetracked and then end up having to study day & night for the exams. Been there, done that.... *lol*

These are the subject I'll study the first year:

• Spanish Medieval Literature
• Latin
• Linguistics
• Literature Theory
• Spanish Fonetics

So, now I have to think about buying a lot of books and stuff and get myself organized. I just hope my home will be finished by then but I doubt it very much. Anyway, that's life and I have a lot ahead of me. Wish me luck!

The first week....

It's Friday today and I've survived my first week as a payroll teacher. I've worked 13 hours this week, without counting all the hours I've spent preparing the classes, reading books and looking for material... In all I'd say I've spent nearly 50 hours doing things related to my work as a teacher or volunteer worker. *phew* I just hope next week will be a bit less stressful!

I have 3 students in my Spanish class and so far only 3 or 4 students in my computer class. But we're having such a great time! I really, really do enjoy teaching! I think I've found my call in life. *lol* A bit late maybe, but late is always better than never, right?

Now I have another 2½ weeks left of work and then I'm free for about a month. After that my boys will be back in school and I'll start private tutoring again.

BTW, are there anyone out there interested in learning Spanish? If you are, maybe I could start an on line class, like the Spanish word of the week or something like that. I think that would be fun!