Saturday, July 2, 2011

Some of my favorite things...

I've been gone for awhile now and wanted to write a list of all the people (&things) I've missed. 
Can't wait to see you all so soon - and do & go to any of the mentioned things below :)

miss this smile and my lui
Can't wait to play some board games with these two :) missed you j9
I don't even know these people
I miss sitting and drinking coffee with this one. More than you know
Sandlot
Keeping it weird with Anna Laura and Andrew
Normalcy with my family
(real) beer and artful dodger.
I miss little grill more than everything else. Let's be honest - so would you.
Charlottesville dates & Krista Jones
Coffee dates & Marangelie
These kids are cooler than I will ever be and I miss living with them.
Roomie. Miss these days and miss our time together.
You make me look whiter than I think I am. Miss you Lamay
MO MO
I just like how this picture feels like summer to me. 
Lunch time with lui.
missed this little fire cracker
I don't miss this day but I've missed Mandy Prigel/Castillo.
Sunrises/Sunsets at Reddish Knob


Sunday, June 5, 2011

Last days at IES La Roda...

Oh man, school is over. 
That's always the happiest day of the year - the day you walk out of school and don't have to go back, at least till the new year.
This is not how I felt. 
With every bye to each kid on their way out of the  door, my goodbyes got shorter and shorter... 
"Que te vayas bien, adios guapo, nos vemos pronto" to "hasta luego guapo" to "adios" to just no words and just two kisses on the cheeks. I found myself choked up quicker than I thought I would be. It wasn't until my 2 de eso Bilingual class came and all started just waving and walking bye and I said, um hold up. Then they all stopped and yelled nooooooo and swarmed my sides and I felt gigantic and then that was it. I was a gonner and had a huge 2nd bilingual group hug. 
I loved my school this year. It was a fantastic year that I could and will never forget. I've learned more than I can even appreciate right now and owe the world to many patient and truly loving people.

(some of) my second bilingual math class
Fourth Bilingual Math class
(some of my) first level bilingual math class
First level bilingual math class
Second level non bilingual english class
All of second level - bilingual and non bilingual

Preciousness from third level bilingual
Third level bilingual - I had them for english and math

First level non bilingual english class - the bad boys
First level Non bilingual english class

This is Juan.
He is the man.
I don't actually know what he is saying the majority of the time which isn't my lack of my spanish, it's because he makes up words. I think he's great tho. Also thought he hated me for the first couple of weeks. But we soon realized that just wasn't true. 
He makes copies and locks up stuff. We talk about when we have to go to the grocery store a lot. Sometimes I'd see him there.
The dynamic father and daughter duo of breakfast time.  I love these two. Not just because of that fact that till this day I haven't found a better place for a cafe con leche and una media con tomate y aceite, but that they were always the kindest people, every day. 
And, Manolo wants me to marry his son.... probably not gonna happen but I found it as a compliment. 
 We were given a BEAUTIFUL book of all an the Andalucian towns, shown with amazing photography. I think they realized we really like photography because of the huge camera's that Sam and I always haul around.
here's a link to Sam's blog - she's got a way with fotos :)
http://sas-seville.blogspot.com/
you know, dancing Sevillanas in the teacher's lounge. totally normal.

I love my school.
I will miss them immensely. 
Especially one day when I think back on how this has been the best job I have ever had. 
Also, the least stressful. 
I hope in the year to come I can visit often (especially because I'll be teaching in Seville capital), and be able to sneak in a class or two, or all of them, and see them. Be able to go to my fav cafe for the best breakfast on the earth. And talk Supermercado with Juan. 



Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Algarve, Portugal

 Portugal is all you could want it to be. Such beauty around every corner and at every lookout. 
The weather on this trip was less then desirable but it didn't even matter, if anything it made it more appealing. If there is one country that I would recommend for a visit/a country wide roadtrip/to live, it would be portugal. 
Without a doubt in my mind. 
Right now, I can't remember where all these pictures are from, but as I remember I will try and write the captions. 
We literally went everywhere in Algarve. So if it exists, we went. 

Ilha da Barreta, Faro

Downtown Portimão 
Portimão, Algarve
outside of raposeira, portugal
Sagres, Portugal
Lagos, Portugal - all things essential for a portugal road trip.
Alvor, Portugal

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Ronda, Malaga

If you come to Andalucia, go to Ronda. 
It's majestic. 

Feria de Abril en Sevilla

This was one of the most incredible things I have seen in spain. I'm sure this is what about 82% of Americans would say this is what spanish life is - drinking, eating, and the woman dancing around in beautiful form fitting dresses - and I kinda wish it was true. It's sensational. 
Spaniards do Feria right. When I think of a fair back home, I think it's usually the last place I want to be. Expensive, sweaty, and full of Carnival going people if you get what I mean. I only go for the funner cakes. I couldn't keep my mouth off the ground walking around all the rides and seeing all the beautiful dresses strutting around. Not the usual carnival gear. Also, it's not exactly easy to get in bumper cars with one of those dresses either, but I think it makes it more fun that way. 
Can't wait to go back next year ;)

danica, myself, and sam at feria 
ana and I in beautiful dresses that her mother has made for her. Incredible.