So Brianne and I made the trip to a highly recommended, meaning recommended in all of our books as well as every googlable site, churros cafe. We had both been told that churros and chocolate is amazing many times. Sadly, if I was writing a guide book, I'd mention skipping that experience entirely. First of all churros are basically the same as they are at festivals in Alberta, only less good. The chocolate looks amazing, it's thick creamy and smells fantastic. But, it tastes awful. It has a consistency close to pudding, yet tastes like creamy cocoa. It's not sweet at all. Neither Brianne or I came even close to forcing ourselves to finish it. You also get about a cup of this chocolate. I cannot imagine eating the whole thing with a spoon even if it actually tasted good. So we won’t be trying that again. Helado on the other hand is a must repeat. Over and over again. And in all honestly, this was the first thing we tried and didn't enjoy, so I think we are doing alright.
This week made for a less eventful but still interesting week at the school. There are a couple things I keep forgetting to mention. Silly thing, but mentionable all the same. Both Brianne and I enjoy the occasional Staples perusal at home, and frequently browse the office supply related section at Chapters back home. Yes, we are big nerds and love school supplies. But get this. Binders here, come with either 2 or 4 rings. Paper is also made with the matching number of holes. Therefore... nothing fits into our non-Spanish binders. The paper size is also slightly larger, leaving our binders looking like they were shrunk in a binder washing machine as the edges poke out tauntingly. They also have those clear shiny sheet protectors here. They too naturally fit the customary size here leaving our binders close to useless. Now while this is hardly something to complain about, it's something this foreign teacher noticed. The students also each have a scribbler which they call a notebook. Its about 1 inch maybe 1.5 inches thick. And get this... they use it for every subject. All their notes go into this one scribbler. You can tell they write a lot. . .
Something Brianne and I have noticed in the casual environment that is our school, is how expletory language is commonly used. Now I really don't know any Spanish curses, but the children curse in English commonly, as do the teachers. They even curse at each other. And unlike schools back home, no one reacts to the use of this language. It's almost like they recognise that they are just words and there is nothing taboo about their integration into common speech. This is something I'm not sure my Canadian trained brain will ever really get used to.
We also attended a celebratory teacher lunch this week. We were told to bring something to contribute. This posed a problem as we only have ONE hotplate to cook on, one frying pan, and one pot with no lid. So we decided to make rice crispy squares. An easy task until finding marshmallows was next to impossible. So with our tray in hand we attending the lunch which was in no way a potluck. It had clearly been catered by someone and we were the only ones who brought something in addition to what was already provided. To further our displacement, no one knew what this weird rice thing was that we brought, but they all tried it anyway. We also had a long pleasant chat with the only teacher in the school under the age of 45. Julian is the technology teacher at the school and doesn't look a day over 27. It was nice to have a conversation with someone closer to our age, and we were informed of many differences between Canadian and Spanish education. Most of which I include in my Inquiry project, but for those simply following my blog; teacher training here is only one year, there are no sports teams, extra-curricular clubs or elective/ option courses offered at this school other than music. There is also no band program. Sad Face. Brianne noticed several of the other teachers at this lunch staring in our direction while we talked to Julian, which leads me to another point.
Staring isn't really inappropriate here. Brianne and I get starred at all the time. Now I don't mean stare until you make awkward eye contact then look away. I mean full blown, I must look like a crazy person wearing my underwear on the outside of my clothes, starring. And this staring isn't ceased with awkward eye contact. No, No, it continues for extended minutes of time.5, 10, 15 if we are on the train. YUP, super awkward for us, apparently not for them.
I also had many pleasant conversations with some of my ESO 1 kids this week. I'm working with them in small groups to improve their conversation skills. So naturally, I wanted to know all about them. I prefaced my class with the indication that I may be very different as a teacher to those that the students were used to. I mentioned this while sitting cross legged on the teacher desk, an attempt on my part to present myself as on the same level as them, both physically and emotionally. Now anyone who knows me knows my teaching practice is centered around respect, creativity, engagement and relevant subject mater. So the fact that the kids call their teachers by their first names here is perfect for me as I have my students at home do the same things. Now I'm not sure if the kids I worked with were excited to be with me, interested in something new, or just haddn't had a teacher take the time to try to get to know them, but these students absolutely loved telling me their stories and aspirations. They later told me that my asking them what they wanted to be when they grew up wasn't something their teachers had ever pondered outloud. This made me sad, as I feel, both for myself and the benefit of my students, that I need to know my kids in order to make their lessons engaging, to show that I really do care, and to simply connect to them as individuals. That 14 year old girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend and is having a breakdown over it really is going to get over it and date, and break up with, several other boys in her future. But for right now, her heart-break is the hardest thing she's ever known, and the largest pain she's felt. So why wouldn't I treat her like I understand what she is feeling and let her know that her emotions are real and appropriate for her situation. I don't just want to know my students, I need to know them.
It was a pretty good week of teaching here in Barcelona. Only a few more days till I get a little slice of home when my parents arrive for a visit. Until next time...
xoxo B
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