week fourteen: thanksgiving in spain.

Lots to be thankful for this year.

Atenea. My school has been a great blessing for me. First, they always have snacks during break. Second, they are being extremely patient with my progress (or lack thereof), Spanish. Third, the students are always excited to see me (even if some of them, for some reason, call me Christine). Fourth, for immediately throwing me into running all my science lessons after they learned I was a teacher (never one boring day). Fifth, the English speaking students who assist when the class just isn't getting it. Lastly, the fourth grade teacher who team teaches with me (definitely showing me an awesome model of bilingual teaching).

School presentations. Told Thanksgiving stories (Five Little Turkeys or I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie) and gave another prezi (see below) to all 16 classes. The students responded really well to the stories. For some reason the younger students thought the pictures of turkeys was hilarious and one even fell out of his chair from laughing so hard. The older students really liked the old lady who swallowed a pie (the pictures of her ballooning from all the food definitely helped). Students didn't know too much about Thanksgiving so I taught them about Thanksgiving break, volunteering/service, (American) football, Macy's parade, dinner, the wishbone, and Black Friday. They definitely had big reactions when they learned American students didn't have school (while they already have so many puentes here in Spain). They were so curious about everything which made it so enjoyable to teach. And then of course I ended the presentation with either doing the turkey dance (yes, it does exist) or watching an awesome Thanksgiving short.

Thanksgiving in Spain. Is it crazy to say that my Thanksgiving here has been, by far, my most American Thanksgiving ever? Delicious food. Chicken adobo (just learned to make!). Cornbread (but not cornbread). Delicious cherry tomatoes. Risotto. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Turkey (carved and everything). Dessert assortment (soooo good). Holiday environment. YouTube fireplace video. Holiday music. (American) football. Stuffed (me, not the turkey). Singing songs on the beach (why not?). Party in the USA. Anchorman with Spanish subtitles. Getting to watch the Lakers game (first road win of the season!). Leftovers in the morning. 21 jumpstreet. More leftovers.

thanksgiving in malaga. singing on the beach. youtube fireplace.

Thankful. Skype (keeping me connected to home). Skype dates (you know who you are!). Anyone who pushed me to go through with coming to Spain (seriously, I cannot thank you enough). Grad school, Children's Center, and student teaching (teaching me what I know about teaching). Discount airlines (traveling!!!). Disneyland (miss you!). Banyan (who? what?). Family (their good health and safety). Liwanag (always). My school. The view. The roommate (keeping each other sane for sure). Friends I've made here. Family I've made here (we're real like who?!).

skyping with these crazies. liwanag. family. disneyland. spanish family.

week thirteen: barcelona.

Welcome to Catalan. Different language. Different region.

Gothic Quarter (Barri Gothic). free tour. tour guide jaime. start in plaça catalunya. flashbacks of summer 2010 (birds, shopping, allergic reactions). learn about dali. plaça de sant felip neri. "Always remember the victims of fascist regimes". vicky, cristina, barcelona. jewish quarter. la seu cathedral. gargoyles. performing skeletons. riots during huelga. people stacking contests. learn about catalan vs. rest of spain. street art. picasso's old art school (paint tossed in protest). white sangria. asking the tour guide appropriate (and inappropriate) questions. begin the lunch quest.

the cathedral. plaça catalunya. street art. hanging socks. dancing skeletons.

Exploring the city. barcaloneta. lunch at la fonda. fancy lunch. fried fish on a plate. paella. tiramisu. "have you heard of beauty and the beast?". crazy old who? boats with interesting names. arc de triompf. fountain show at mont jüic. hearing "payphone". awesome music sets (top hits, jazz, 80s). my under 5’5" partner in crime. little girls rockin out. shotgunning. jonah galifianakis. zach hill. ping pong balls. not making it out of our (awesome) hostel. apollo. cover charge (what?!). 80s spanish music. techno. kenny and john. losing people. staying awake. meeting other hostelers (HARTemis Fowl and stephanie who gave pringles).

barcaloneta pier. jonah galifianakis. munchkins. favorite part of the trip.

A city to get lost in (literally). a starbucks kind of morning. starbucks name: crij (catalan?). sagrada familia. audio guides. gaudi. colorful stained glass. tree-like structures. where'd everyone go? (what happened?). trek to parc güell. attempt to find everyone #2 (unsuccessful). hanging out at the benches. mosaics. longest benches ever. head back to the hostel. fb messages. reunited (after 3+ hours). disappearance theories. play pool. broken table. tapas for dinner. delicious and fancy hamburgers. "have you heard of arranged marriages?". love on top. annie's challenge for the night. upside down and inside out. staying up till our flight.

sagrada familia. solo at parc güell. gaudi´s impressive work. last night in barcelona.

definitely need to come back to barcelona.