Settling in

Today marks the 6th week that I've been in Spain.  It's been fast at some times and utterly slow at others, but finally, finally I feel like I'm settling in to some sort of a weekly routine; a rhythm, if you will.  I go to school, I swim, I prepare tutoring, I tutor, I come home.  With a few breaks in there, of course, when I stop at home to eat, check email, etc.  Then, after I get home, I chat with the housemates for a while, make something to eat, and eat it while watching 30 Rock on my computer.

It's nice to know, more or less, what's ahead of me the next day.  I'm all for spontaneity, but I like it on my terms, not on the world's terms.  No, I now know my route to school quite well and how long it takes me to get there.  I know which classes are the bad classes and which are the good classes, and I know which kids are the good and bad ones in each of those classes.  I'm starting to learn what my fellow teachers expect of me (although since this is the school's first year having an auxiliar, a lot of what I do is just go along for the ride until they need me for something) and starting, at an even more basic level, to learn how to get through the students.  It really is unfortunate that I have no education background, because I feel like I'm learning on the fly things I could have learned student teaching a few years ago.  I mean, given the amount of organization I've seen out of the Spanish government regarding this program, I don't think they could organize a birthday party, yet alone a complicated interview procedure for overseas, English-speaking students.  It's far too much to ask of the Spanish Ministry of Education.  Having said that, I did get paid today, so I guess I can't get on their case too much.

But seriously, November promises good things for me.  First, I'm going back to Denia this coming weekend to visit my family from when I studied there (Spring 2009), which I'm really, really excited for.  Just the thought of sitting down to comida with Rosa and Lorenzo makes me feel warmer (and fuller) inside.  Similarly, the sound of Rosa singing sweet songs to the dog while she cooks and cleans makes me yearn to return permanently to the apartment on the calle Pintor Victoria.  I can't wait to go back to all those places I frequented a few years ago--Café Gormánd, Cíber Denia, the beach, Marqués de Campo, maybe stop by the UNED to say hi my old professors... everything.  It's gonna be great.

After that weekend, back to Huelva for another few weeks of the same--teaching, pool, tutor, home--with a possible trip to Portugal mixed in one of the weekends.  It's just so close.  It'd be a shame not to.  Then, in early December, I've got a long, more-than-a-week trip to Switzerland, which promises to be excellent.  I'm really looking forward to that trip.  We (my friend and I) are planning on going to Interlaken, which is extremely naturally beautiful and, apparently, the extreme sports centre (I'm in Europe) of Switzerland.  Hang-gliding through the Alps is a possibility, as is skiing and (for a less modest fee) skydiving.  We'll see how wide my purse-strings will open.  But whether I spend a lot of money or a little, it'll be fun.  My entire life I've had a fascination with Switzerland; for a brief period in middle school it was my most desired country to visit.  And now I can.  It's great to grow up.

(and sucky.  But that's getting far too philosophical for right now.  Let's move on)

So yeah, my life is settling down for the moment; not too much on my plate other than what I've already mentioned.  Soon after getting back from Switzerland I leave for Christmas and home, so December will be a whirlwind, but until then it's Fresh Prince time: chillin' out, maxin, relaxing all cool, shooting some fútbols outside the school.  We should get our own internet soon, barring the inevitable but unforeseen difficulties which have thus far impeded our quest.  So we'll see.  But either way, life here is slowing down for me.  Which is exactly what it wanted to happen.  You let down your guard, and it lulls you into a lifestyle of long meals, late mornings, and plentiful breaks.  Sounds fine to me.