Holiday Cheer.

There is no question about the holiday cheer I observed today at the school where I work. Fifty teachers done with the first trimester and off for two weeks. THAT'S holiday cheer. I was glad I showed up for the party. As always, it was hard to get out of bed this morning. (It didn't matter that it was ten o'clock.) I eventually did though. The plan was to stop at the bank to deposit my check, withdraw some cash, and make it to school by 11:30 to observe a Spanish faculty meeting and go to the Christmas party. Long story short, the bank took an hour and I made it to school on time for the party only. No comment.

Here is a quick comparison between the Spanish faculty party and the Holland Christian faculty party.

HC
After school in school cafeteria

Spain
After school in school café

HC
Cheesecake and punch

Spain
Lots of Spanish appetizers, beer, wine, and champagne (but no sweets)

HC
no smoking (Was that even a question?)

Spain
smoking (Was that even a question?)

HC
Dressed as teachers

Spain
The costume theme was "Headwear pertaining to Christmas stereotypes"

HC
Music provided by student orchestra members playing familiar carols

Spain
Music provided by a big speaker and iPods containing Shakira, Abba, and The Village People

HC
Faculty singing carols and ending with the Hallelujah Chorus

Spain
Faculty busting a move on the "dance floor"

HC
Hour and a half max

Spain
I left the second bar at 7:30 (seven hours, if you are slow with math)

Now don't think that Spaniards are all fun and games because on the contrary, when the other American aide and I tried to have Christmas parties in class, they told us not to have food or drinks because the students would get out of hand. Hmmm...a party without refreshments...yeah, we played Christmas bingo and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

The picture is proof of the craziness today. The Science Department wore tambourines decked out with Christmas figures. We made a grand entrance singing about the money we will win tomorrow in the national lottery. (The staff pooled together to buy lots of tickets.) If you are wondering who my partners in crime are, I aid the very lovely and animated Concha (back left) and the super-cool, down to earth Pilar (front left). The video is self explanatory. Shoot, I don't know how to upload my video clip...just picture teachers of all ages dancing and smoking in the school café.

Holiday Cheer?

Today I popped into a bookstore and as I was making my purchase about eight or so college students (I think) walked in and started singing Christmas carols. They were really good and even had a guitar and tambourines. I was so excited to see the Spanish version of carolers for the first time! I was grinning to encourage them and said "bravo" when they finished. Then I noticed that the store owner gave them a five Euro bill. Hmm... That's not how Christmas caroling works in the U.S. As I was standing there (innocently) trying to decide whether the money had been their motive for the Christmas cheer, one of the girls approached me with her upside down tambourine. That answered my question. ;)

A Happy Ending

The first picture is a summary of my week. Well, actually it is my curling iron after exploding. Yes, the same curling iron I used all last year with an adapter literally melted and then exploded while heating up. It was the icing on the cake in a week full of frustrations. Let me explain. As you can see from the other pictures, my friend Orlando from church invited me to his work Christmas party. The great challenge of the event was putting together an acceptable outfit. I decided to wear the one formal dress I own, easily found a solution to the coat problem and bought Christmas-y accessories. The great challenge was the shoes. (Right now my friend Susan is laughing because she knows me all too well and hates shoe shopping with me...it's not my fault that nothing fits and I can't maneuver in heels!) My shoe expedition began with my friend María, who generously lent me a pair of her own shoes; the heels were too high. So, I went to El Corte Inglés and found a pair I liked. Wrong size. María lent me another pair that I tested...ouch. I went to four other Corte Ingleses. (If you've never been to Spain you are wondering why the first Corte Inglés didn't just call the others, ask for my size, and have them hold it. If you have been to Spain you know that customer service to that degree does not exist. In fact, at the second store the clerk told me that if she were to call another store they wouldn't pick up. So, of course, why bother?) No luck at the other stores. Then I walked up and down "Shoe Store Street". Nothing. Next I went BACK to three Corte Ingleses and at the last one (four hours before the party) bought a pair of shoes that worked, but was really too small. (And although you know I'm a procrastinator, I assure you that the shoe expedition started a few weeks ago!) The week also involved a bad haircut and a scolding from my boss for reading an extra chapter with my group of students. Finally,to top it off, there was the "I almost started a fire in Spain curling iron fiasco". I love being a woman.

To make a really long story only semi-long, the party was great. I made it on time and in one piece, appropriately (though somewhat painfully) shod and hair done. It was at a renovated convent from the 1600's. The decorations were beautiful, the people were friendly, and the food was delicious. By the way, see if you can guess why there were four glasses at each place setting. I'll tell you later. We arrived around 9pm and left around 3am. The party was still going strong when we left. What I love the most about Spanish people is they really know how to celebrate. We had appetizers, drinks, salad, wine, steak, three desserts, coffee and after dinner drinks, and prizes. They kept the drinks flowing and everyone danced: waltzes, flamenco, pop... My favorite pair was a plump older man in a gray suit, around 70, who danced sevillanas (like flamenco) with a young woman adorned in piercings and wearing all black and chunky boots. Later the older man cut a rug with his wife. I just love seeing people of all ages and backgrounds unite on the dance floor. :) Anyway, when we were leaving they were bringing out sandwiches. Of course! People get hungry at 3am after all that dancing!

Well, I will see you Michigan folk in a week! And to answer my question: water, white wine, red wine, champagne (in that order). Happy holiday preparations...I hope they go more smoothly than mine.

The "A-Team" in Segovia

I'm overdue for another blog here... Let's see... My cold turned into the flu so I spent the Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend in bed where it was somewhat warm in my heatless house. Monday I felt better so I went to school and one of the teachers gave me a space heater to borrow. Yea! That was great because I had started to look for new apartments but the idea of looking, moving, and readjusting to new roommates and a new place wasn't sounding too appealing. So, for now, I am going to stay here in my humble abode with my humble little heater. Besides the chilliness, I'm quite content.

While sick in bed, my laptop kept me company (and worked as a good substitute for an electric blanket...thanks, Mac). I did lots of research and ruled out some possibilities for my future. I will NOT be joining the Peace Corps, doing another master's in California, or applying to a PhD program. Instead, I think for next year I'll be looking for a job in Chicago or Michigan. BUT...you never know.

This past weekend was another four day "puente". (Did I ever mention that they have a lot of holidays here?) Despite it being a holiday, I gave two English lessons on Thursday, did things around the house, and caught up with some American girlfriends. On Friday seven young adults from my church here came over for some tex-mex (picture above). Then, we called Jane, my former colleague, on Skype and they shared their testimonies with her Spanish class. It was a lot of fun and very cool. After I got that cleaned up, I took off for Segovia (an hour away to the west) and met up with some Spanish friends. I stayed with Alicia (red head in middle photo), who I had met when she went to León with Ana and me. Ana was there as well staying with her mom so the two of them entertained me and introduced me to their friends. It was a refreshing weekend...lots o' Spanish, as you know is good since during the week it's lots o' English, unfortunately. Anyway, Ana and Alicia are awesome. (An entire sentence of words beginning in "A"...alliteration, another "A" word...yes, language nerd, I know.) Their friends are great, too, and it was the first time I got to see one of my favorite Spanish cities from a local's perspective. By the way, the other "A" in the photo is Antonio, Ana's boyfriend. Curiously enough, he just got back from a two month military stint in Afghanistan. We are glad to have him back safe and sound (or sano y salvo, healthy and safe, as they say in Spanish).

The final picture is taken from the balcony of Alicia's bedroom. Can you imagine living right next to an ancient Roman structure? It's so weird...you just don't hear people in the U.S say things like "I live at the beginning of the aqueduct" or "I'll meet you in town square under the aqueduct".

Well, if you didn't make plans with me yet, I'll be in GR from December 23 till January 5. I hope to see you then (unless you live here, in which case I hope to see you before and after that)!