mi julio 2010

This is going to be a long ass entry. July 2010 was an incredible month and probably the best month since October 2007 and is making summer 2010 one of the best summers ever. What happened?

Spain Wins the World Cup

Need I say more? YO SOY ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL. I watched every game with baited breath, believing that Spain was capable of winning and would win it all. And you know what? We did. Do I wish David Villa had scored the winning goal? You bet. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is Spain made history while I was here. Unfortunately, I missed the gigantic party in Madrid as I was at summer camp.

Summer Camp How does two weeks in Daimiel, Ciudad Real, home of 45C degree temperatures in the shade at night, with 90 teenagers sound to you? To me, it was an incredible experience to be able to work with teens. Most of them barely knew "hello" in English, but it didn't matter. I found myself working with these teens and know I want to be working with them in some capacity. After the horrible year I had at the primary school, I found my footing in teaching again. Having my own "classroom" and being able to teach in my methods were such a relief. Some of my jokes went over their head, but it was okay. Night duty could be rough, as could morning duty. We were in an old boarding school in a small town. The pool was paradise though. And I made some really good friends with the other counsellors. I know for sure I want to teach, and I want to stay in Spain.

However, my second camp, while at a facility with air conditioning and water, two things we were lacking in those 45C temperatures, things were not the same. I was back working with primary age kids, and I never really found my footing there. The counsellors had all worked together before, and I felt like the odd one out. I made the best I could of the situation and still had fun. I'll always remember the night of fiesta in the pueblo where there was a huge firework bull running through the one street.

Universitat de Valencia I was accepted. All my positive thinking worked in my favour. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to survive financially.

Gran Canaria Oh yeah, in my week off, I went to the Canary Islands, which are geographically AFRICA while still being Spain. I saw the sand dunes that were once part of the Sahara Desert! And spent a lot of the time on the beach...but had fun doing it. I swam out to these rock edges that are usually covered by the tide. It took 20 minutes but it was worth it.

I know these are just brief snapshots of some of the things going on, but I'm feeling happier and more content with life than I have in a long time. I left Madrid for good on 1 August for a new life in Valencia. I´m a bit nervous with the financial aspects and the actual grad school, but excited at the same time. Amunt Valencia!