Spanish Connection: ...Just Do It!

Ugh! I hate starting every blog with an appology for not having blogged sooner! When I get as busy as I've been recently, it's hard to keep you all posted. But trust me, I miss blogging as much as I know all of you miss reading my updates (ha ha).

...See! I started this last night. Okay, so you might imagine that the title of this post isn't a reference to Nike but rather my personal mantra as of late, especially where blogging is concerned: JUST DO IT!

No birthday's complete without cake!

All of my classes are going well. Last week I came home euforic from my Tuesday classes (the ones with my youngest students--4yrs-3rd grade). All of them went really well. I told the mother of the little crier that I thought he was just too young and not ready for classes. Forcing him to go to English class will only make him hate the language and leave bad memories. It's far better to wait a year or maybe try again in the Spring. She was disappointed, but it's really best for everyone involved.

That class is actually surprisingly well-behaved. Most of the students are boys who in general tend to be more active and less attentive; but I dare say the class is the best behaved I have ever had at that age. All things considered, they listen, they follow directions, they participate... There's one little boy who is a little rebel and likes to push the limits. Last week he got angry because I scolded him for something and refused to participate for the rest of the class (ha!). But I'm fine with him scowling at me as the rest of us sing and play. ;) This weekend the mother of one of the three girls in class told me that her daughter LOVES it and asks her everyday, "Do I have English today?" :)

Angelines and "La Joshua" ;)

In general, I think I'm doing a pretty good job of staying on top of my classes and prep takes less time now that I have a pretty good stock of activities and more experience. Plus, I can tell that my university classes help me focus and structure my lessons. It's nice to feel like my studies are paying off.

And speaking of the university, I'm a little stressed out lately just because it's been a nightmare to find a school where I can do my student teaching. Since my university is "out of State" the State gov. only allows me to do my student teaching in 100% private schools (not even a charter school will do). The bad news about that is there are NO private schools near La Roda. The closest is in Malaga. I'll save you all the details, but the short version is that unless the school in Malaga doesn't want me or causes a lot of problems, on Nov. 11 I will begin my student teaching: 200 hours to be completed by Feb. 7. That basically means 5 days a week all day for two months. With gas prices as they are I am estimating around 800 euros to commute back and forth! The only good news is that being in Malaga, there will be times when A can come along and do shopping, etc. while I'm at school.

Los Sabineros!

The bar is doing well. Fall has been full of events. You remember the 80s party when Sara was here. Two weekends ago we celebrated our one-year anniversary. We had cake and party favors and a drag queen show! It was quite the experience. This guy got up on the bar and pranced around... I thought for sure the bar would break. Good thing he probably weighs less than I do! But cleaning the next day we did find a chip out of the edge--nine-inch heels are hard on a bar.

And Friday we had two musicians from Granada come play. They do a tribute concert to a famous folk/rock singer in Spain, Joaquin Sabina. The singer sounds exactly like Sabina! And the guitarist is great, too. They put on a wonderful show. The people loved it! We were nervous because we sold tickets to see them play--not the norm in La Roda. The musicians said they would come with a minimum of 60 tickets sold. The weekend before the concert we had only sold about 40... but by Friday we were up to 80 (!). In the end we were turning people away at the door.

It was a great experience, but also quite stressful. Angelines had been worring about it for the two months that we'd been advertising and I was starting to get nervous, too when by the weekend before we hadn't hit the 60-ticket-mark for sales. Things the night of were a little rough too just because we had to close the doors and have a friend taking tickets and controlling who came in, etc. Angelines was VERY worried about selling too many tickets and made an executive desicion not to sell any at the door (I vetoed that a few times...). Between the two of us we sold 10 at the door and turned away at least another 10. At any given time we had about 85 people in the bar and now we know we can definitely fit at least 100-110 and still be comfortable.

We had a full house--it was a great show. :)

The musicians couldn't stop complementing us on the bar, the business, the sound set-up (we had to arrange for the sound and paid a guy from Sierra Yeguas to be there all night working the equipment). They enjoyed themselves, the audience loved it and despite a few hiccups during the night, we were also quite happy with the turn-out and the show. We are going to be in touch with these guys for future concerts now that we know how it all goes. The next one we'll really sell-out. ;)

The most beautiful part: the armrest!

Other news: (what? more?!) we have a new couch. Well, semi-new. At the old house the previous owners had build a sort of storage box along one wall of the living room and then made cushions to go on top, a built-in couch. When they left, they took the cushions, but left the box. We decided we liked the idea and had cushions made to fit. Well, when we left that house we took the cushions (they weren't cheap!), but we didn't have any base for them...until now. :) Our carpenter friend made us a wooden base and the most impressive and beautiful part of the whole thing is the amazing armrest he designed. He lovingly calls it contemporary art, and I do agree that it's quite artistic. It's a beautiful combination of rustic and modern and it looks GREAT. Our living room has had a total make-over and looks so sophisticated now! We are waiting to have it completely finished because the space in this house is shorter than the other house so we have to cut one of the cushions to fit; but we are still able to enjoy the half-finished couch--what a difference from the other!

...As I was writing that, the man came to deliver the last cushion! BEAUTIFUL! :)

The weather has finally begun to change; summer is slowly giving over to autumn. Although some days it's still getting up into the 80s, the night time temperatures are dropping below 50! And the other day it was cold enough in the morning that we decided to try out the fireplace--cosy, cosy. :) I can't wait for winter to really set in!

Fall weather also means we've had a few storms and some amazing sunsets and sunrises. I've got at least 20 pictures of gorgeous clouds on my cell phone from my walks with the dog. One morning a few weeks ago I had to stop my bike and just marvel: the sun was rising on my left--burning its way through pink and orange clouds; and to my right, a full moon was setting like a giant pearl on the horizon. Spectacular. Unfortunatly the pictures that I got were only with my phone camera and don't do justice to the moment at all.

Today we're having friends over for paella and a BBQ. I'm frantically typing before they arrive. ...Off to entertain! ;)