Feel the power of the phantom mullet...

Plaza de Cervantes decked out for the festival!

I just wanted to start off by saying that there is a very important point I neglected to add to my list of things I was not expecting: mullets! Now, I have heard that they are less and less common here than in years past, but I still see people of various ages and genders wandering around with mullets. And with clothing styles these days beginning to relive the glory of the 80's, sometimes I wonder if my airplane was in reality a time machine.

But in all seriousness I am finally starting to feel like I am truly settling into life here in Spain. I began teaching this week and my goodness is it an adjustment! Now, in the states I have gotten decently good at managing a class. I do not feel the need to worry about students talking too much and when I talk to them they will listen to me. But here the discipline style is different than in the states. My little "teacher tricks" to help get kids' attention don't work here because they don't know them. And then when I speak in English (it is absolutely forbidden I speak in Spanish to the students) many times they have no idea what I'm saying. At all.

But I'm not terribly worried about it. I was able to teach one of my classes a trick that I learned from one of my Cooperating Teachers. The regular teacher had not arrived yet Wednesday morning and I had a substitute with me who had no idea how to speak English nor what we should do for the day. It was only my second time in their class and I had no idea what to do. I had one worksheet to do with them about body parts. Let me tell you, I was nearly at my wits' end by the end of the lesson. These are very sweet kids, just used to getting up out of their seats constantly and were always always talking. So in the last 10 minutes of our time I told them I wanted to teach them a game. They could earn points, and I could earn points. Whenever they were talking and I put my hand up and silently counted down with my fingers 5, 4. 3, 2, 1, 0 they needed to be quiet. If by the time I got to 0 they were completely quiet, they earned a point. If not everyone was quiet, I earned a point. We practiced it and they caught on quickly. So now when I see the teacher again I'm going to ask if I can continue this with them. Hopefully I can end up doing this in all my classes.

Meanwhile, I have continued exploring some of what Alcala de Henares has to offer. I am starting to feel more at ease with finding my way around town (armed with my map of the town, of couse). I have found the nearest "target" type store, the post office (to mail my ballot!) and I have even started tutoring a 15 year old girl in English. She is quite advanced so I have to study before helping her! Also, tow girls at my church approached me and asked me if I liked basketball. I was thinking they meant watching beasketball, which of course I love (c'mon Kings...pull it together!) and after I said yes they were excited because they meet to play every Friday. GULP! But then they have a women's book group that meets afterwards every week! And it's not too terribly far from here! I have bene praying for more opportunities to meet Spaniards here and create friendships. This will totally work! Also, Kathie invited me to lunch with another girl from our church who is my age and we talked about getting together to see a movie (in English) in Madrid. So while things are slow now I am hoping that they will pick up soon.

Now for my amusing tale of the week. So, this morning I was doing my laundry. As you know, my dryer is not the best. It's pretty bad, actually. So I took some of my thicker clothes outside to hang on the line in the back. When I finished I turned around I made a horrible discovery: I had shut the sliding glass door and it only opens from the inside! Crap! I tried knocking on the door but the construction workers were on break and Kris was in her room upstairs with the door closed.
Now, there is a small enclave behind our house that all the houses on our block share. I knew that there were little gates leading into this enclave from the outside. I thought if I hopped the fence into this enclave I could go to a gate and then go in through the front door.
So I threw my slippers over the chain-link fence and found a pot to stand on so I could hop it (it is a very rusty and wobbly gate). I then walked to the nearest gate to find that it was locked. Inside and out. So I walked to another to find that that one was locked. I considered hopping the fence over to Gordon and Kathie's, but I really dont like hopping fences and I was afraid it would freak them out. So I stand there wondering what the crud I'm going to do, half hoping someone will see me in my plight. I'm in my freaking slippers, for Pete's sake!
So I do spot another gate and decide to try it. I can see the highschoolers walking home and hope maybe one will come in. Unlikely but I'm desperate. When I arrive there I notice there is a low wall next to it that could be easily hopped over into the street. However, that wouldbe embarrassing becasue the street is rather busy. Ido ask a man walking by if he has a key, but no luck.
SO end of story I hope over the wall, hoping no one thinks I'm finishing a break in job in my fuzzy slippers and walk around the block back home, trying desperately not to laugh out loud the whole time. Ahhh....
This is the scene of the crime! Pot and all!

Also, as some of you know, our house is currently under construction because we are getting a new kitchen! And man is it a mess! Our makeshift kitchen is in the basement and we have all the amenties except for a working sink. We wash dishes outside using the hose and a bin. I keep telling myself it's like camping. Also, we have no hot water. Praise God for Kathie! We can take showers there (whew!) However, the noise is crazy (esp when they were knocking down a wall) and the past couple days I have had off for a festival but have not been able to sleep in or rest very much. Ah well. The kitchen will be awesome.

This used to be our kitchen wall.


This is our kitchen as of last night.
Anyway, enjoy the pics! Thank you to those who have been e-mailing me and commenting on facebook! I love hearing form you all! Hasta luego!


At the Festival de Cervantes all the booth workers were dressed traditionally. And the food was soooo yummy!