Our night out in Valladolid
My second night in Valladolid was filled with food and drink, heart to hearts, some emotional moments, and a LOT of Spanish. Did I mention drinks? The day after that late night, we were taken to the regional officials in charge of our program. From there, Brittany and I were taken to her village which is only three miles away from mine. Somehow, with the help of Carlos, I was able to make my way from Brittany's village of San Leonardo to my village, Navaleno. It was cold and I was.. sick. My flat mate was not there; she is in Madrid. For now, I am alone. After a 12 hour recoup I wake up and join two teachers, Soraya and Barbara, in their little car to their school. Did I mention that they are the only teachers? Two teachers, twelve students, two classrooms. This is Cabrejas.
View from the steps of CRA Pinar Grande, Cabrejas
The students are shy at first but soon warm up. Simon Says in English was the biggest hit and got the most participation. Everyone's English is better than I expected. During recess, Soraya and I walked to the panadería, or bakery. On the way we ran into many people, including parents and grandparents of our students. It was clear that I was the gossip of the village that day. We have a siesta-type of break during the day for an hour and the children go home. Soraya, Barbara and I stayed at the school, listened to American music, skyped with my Dad, ate lunch and gossiped. Afterwards the class returned, and we split up into Infantile and ..the bigger kids. I hung out with Barbara and the little ones. After school, we returned to Navaleno at about 5:30. At 7 we met up and went to the Theatre- did I forget to mention that it is Festivale? We watched a 1.5 hour comedy, in Spanish of course. Afterwards, we hit up the orqestra- a huge gymnasium filled with playing children, dancing old couples, and drinking adults. A Mexican band was playing Shakira covers and we were drinking San Miguel. Drinking and dancing with my "work mates" was not how I thought this day was going to go, but... me gusta. The night ended with the four of us (Me, Barbara, Soraya and her flat mate Raquel) attempting to get through the impossible door of doom that keeps the Antarctic exterior of Soria safely divided from my (semi-) warm bed inside.
Soraya and the students
This morning was difficult considering we didn´t get back until 1 am ("we" meaning me; the girls went out for round two after this.) I walked to my second school. It is CRA Pinar Grande, the Navaleno.. campus? Satellite? It´s the "big" school.. er.. biggest. Eighty-four students, about ten teachers. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. Here is where I will spend most of my time, helping three teachers with their students of all ages. I will be helping in science, arts & crafts, infant, and second cycle classes. Today everything has gone smoothly and the children show a sincere and genuine excitement about my presence. Since we are at the tail end of our festival celebration, today is an odd day, as many of my pupils are travelling to San Leonardo today to put on a little performance. So here am I, sitting in the Language Lab, freezing my tail off. So far, life in Soria still seems unreal. What to me is a transient and fantasy life is reality to these Spaniards.
If I have learned anything from this trip it is this: In the words of mi amiga nueva Soraya,
"Don't worry, don´t worry. This is Navaleno."
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