Last week They only had school on Wed. and Friday because of a holiday. And even then, I was informed that many students don't come on Wednesday. But I was excited to get to teach in 1st o ESO (7th grade) some and to do some whole brain teaching strategies with 2nd o ESO (13yrs olds). I taught them CLass- YES and they really seemed to enjoy it! Even though procedures like this work best when used consistently, the students enjoyed mimicking how I said class.
This week I have prepared english lessons for 1st o ESO and 3rd o ESO. The students in 1st o ESO are fun to teach, while they do get chatty sometimes, many of them are eager to participate! I had several technical difficulties with the SmartBoard, so I had to improvise a little,but it still worked out well. I found it difficult sometimes because they would start talking in Catalan among each other and i wasn't sure if they were talking about something relevant to the lesson, in which case I want them to continue, or if they were off task. Later though Paul told me that they were talking about the activity they were working on. :)
Tomorrow will be my last school day here at SEK! I have to admit, when I first found out I would be with secondary students I was very apprehensive about my time here. However, I am glad to say it has been absolutely wonderful, and I have a new appreciation for middle and high school students. Although I am sad to say goodbye to Spain, I am looking forward to graduating, seeing my friends and family, Christmas, and American food!!!! I will definitely miss the nice weather, students, and teachers.
Now if only I can fit everything back into my suitcase! wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Bonjour! Hola. ... ah Espanol? oh sorry no English.
Getting to Paris
Before coming to Spain, we were advised that if we were going to travel on the weekends it would be far cheaper to go ahead and book tickets and such before leaving the states. Jordan and I got together to make travel plans and booked a flight to Paris for Friday morning at 8 am, thinking we were only about 20 minutes away from Barcelona.
As our departure date approached we tried to organize a way to the airport. We asked around here and thought that Jesus would be able to give us a ride, however we were informed that no one would be around that early. We were then told the best way to get there would be to catch the night bus in La Garriga.
sounds easy enough right?
wrong.
We decide to try and catch the 4 am night bus. When the alarm went off at 3 am, we hit snooze for about 15 minutes. We finally rolled out of bed to get ready for the cold 25 minute walk to town. We rush to get ready and left the flat.
We head to the lobby of the other building, which is where we have to exit since we don't have a key to the first large fence around the play area. However, when we get there, both doors to the staircases are locked!! We try both keys that we have and nothing works. We head back outside to try and find a way around the 10 foot fence. Already running late, I am preparing to try and scale the flimsy looking fence, when Jordan finds a gap at the bottom and suggest we go under it instead. We both shimmy under through the 1 foot gap and take off running down the hill to town.
We make good time, and are there in time for the scheduled bus. However, the 4am bus never comes. We are on the right street, but nothing comes. We decide to wait for the 5am bus. Thinking we are very near missing our flight, it takes an hour by bus to get into Barcelona, and our plane leaves in 3 hours. We hide in a little nook to try and stay out of the freezing wind and wait an hour for the next bus.
5 am rolls along and still no bus.
We figure our next available mode of transportation to Barcelona is the 5:45 train. Which is the first train of the day. We then rush all the way across town to the train station.
Once on the train we feel a little better, but still have to get to the airport and actually to the gate on time.
We arrive in Barcelona around 6:30am. rush out of the station and jump on the Aerobus. We get out at Terminal 1 and look at the departures , by this time it is about 7:10. Our flight starts boarding at 7:35. We see none for Ryanair... and then someone tells us that ryanair flies into Terminal 2. oh. so we think it is in walking distance. nope. We have to get on an airport shuttle that takes about 10 minutes to get to T2.
Run through the check in and security and make it to our gate by 7:30ish. whew.
From there the trip was much smoother than that. Luckily Jordan and I tend to take things very lightly so we were laughing the whole time as we sprinted through towns and airports.
Made it to Paris!
We finally make it to Paris! and the shuttle from the airport dropped us off right next to a mall!! very expensive though. After grabbing a snack, we start walking. The streets and buildings are absolutely Gorgeous!!!! We walk towards the Arc De Triumphe...
We then make our way to the Eiffel tower, which is where we are supposed to be meeting up with Angie and Peter.
We found the Eiffel tower!! I have some trouble with the go-phone i have for spain and can't figure out how to get a hold of Angie. I end up having to call my parents and they acted as a mediator since they were able to get Ang on the phone. They informed me that she was about 25 minutes away.
We waited under the Eiffel tower for a while and then I finally find my little sister, who I haven't seen in 4 months!
We were able to catch up over lunch and I met her boyfriend Peter. I got to hear lots about Germany and her friends and school.
Jordan and i had forgotten that it was December and were consequently freezing in the gear we had on. We managed to buy scarfs and hats from a street vendor to help keep us warm.
We woke up saturday to a cold rainy morning. Not ideal, but it wasn't so bad once we started walking. We walked through a Christmas market and then made our way to the Metro to head to the Lourve!
We wait in the long line to enter the Lourve, thankfully the line moved pretty quickly.
After exploring the variety of sculptures, paintings and murals, we decided it was time to grab lunch. Being at a restaurant in paris definitely makes me appreciate the service in the states! we would wait probably 15-20 minutes just for someone to take our drink order! Since it is not really customary to leave tips, they are in no hurry to offer quick service.
Paris is extremely expensive! But we were able to find some fun gifts and such to bring home to friends and family!
We made our way to Notre-Dame and then to the Eiffel tower to wait in line for a chance to ride all the way to the top!
Overall a very exciting and fun trip to Paris. Loved just walking around the city and taking in the sites and culture! Very happy to back in the warmer Barcelona weather though! next time we'll be sure to google the weather before packing!
Before coming to Spain, we were advised that if we were going to travel on the weekends it would be far cheaper to go ahead and book tickets and such before leaving the states. Jordan and I got together to make travel plans and booked a flight to Paris for Friday morning at 8 am, thinking we were only about 20 minutes away from Barcelona.
As our departure date approached we tried to organize a way to the airport. We asked around here and thought that Jesus would be able to give us a ride, however we were informed that no one would be around that early. We were then told the best way to get there would be to catch the night bus in La Garriga.
walk to la Garriga
Catch the night bus
Get on the aerobus
get on the plane to Paris
Catch a shuttle from the airport to the actual city of Paris
sounds easy enough right?
wrong.
We decide to try and catch the 4 am night bus. When the alarm went off at 3 am, we hit snooze for about 15 minutes. We finally rolled out of bed to get ready for the cold 25 minute walk to town. We rush to get ready and left the flat.
We head to the lobby of the other building, which is where we have to exit since we don't have a key to the first large fence around the play area. However, when we get there, both doors to the staircases are locked!! We try both keys that we have and nothing works. We head back outside to try and find a way around the 10 foot fence. Already running late, I am preparing to try and scale the flimsy looking fence, when Jordan finds a gap at the bottom and suggest we go under it instead. We both shimmy under through the 1 foot gap and take off running down the hill to town.
We make good time, and are there in time for the scheduled bus. However, the 4am bus never comes. We are on the right street, but nothing comes. We decide to wait for the 5am bus. Thinking we are very near missing our flight, it takes an hour by bus to get into Barcelona, and our plane leaves in 3 hours. We hide in a little nook to try and stay out of the freezing wind and wait an hour for the next bus.
5 am rolls along and still no bus.
We figure our next available mode of transportation to Barcelona is the 5:45 train. Which is the first train of the day. We then rush all the way across town to the train station.
Once on the train we feel a little better, but still have to get to the airport and actually to the gate on time.
We arrive in Barcelona around 6:30am. rush out of the station and jump on the Aerobus. We get out at Terminal 1 and look at the departures , by this time it is about 7:10. Our flight starts boarding at 7:35. We see none for Ryanair... and then someone tells us that ryanair flies into Terminal 2. oh. so we think it is in walking distance. nope. We have to get on an airport shuttle that takes about 10 minutes to get to T2.
Run through the check in and security and make it to our gate by 7:30ish. whew.
From there the trip was much smoother than that. Luckily Jordan and I tend to take things very lightly so we were laughing the whole time as we sprinted through towns and airports.
Made it to Paris!
We finally make it to Paris! and the shuttle from the airport dropped us off right next to a mall!! very expensive though. After grabbing a snack, we start walking. The streets and buildings are absolutely Gorgeous!!!! We walk towards the Arc De Triumphe...
We then make our way to the Eiffel tower, which is where we are supposed to be meeting up with Angie and Peter.
 |
| first view of the tower. Beautiful! |
We waited under the Eiffel tower for a while and then I finally find my little sister, who I haven't seen in 4 months!
 |
| lots of people excited to see the tower! |
We were able to catch up over lunch and I met her boyfriend Peter. I got to hear lots about Germany and her friends and school.
Jordan and i had forgotten that it was December and were consequently freezing in the gear we had on. We managed to buy scarfs and hats from a street vendor to help keep us warm.
We woke up saturday to a cold rainy morning. Not ideal, but it wasn't so bad once we started walking. We walked through a Christmas market and then made our way to the Metro to head to the Lourve!
We wait in the long line to enter the Lourve, thankfully the line moved pretty quickly.
 |
| Gorgeous Ceilings everywhere!! |
After exploring the variety of sculptures, paintings and murals, we decided it was time to grab lunch. Being at a restaurant in paris definitely makes me appreciate the service in the states! we would wait probably 15-20 minutes just for someone to take our drink order! Since it is not really customary to leave tips, they are in no hurry to offer quick service.
Paris is extremely expensive! But we were able to find some fun gifts and such to bring home to friends and family!
We made our way to Notre-Dame and then to the Eiffel tower to wait in line for a chance to ride all the way to the top!
 |
| Notre-Dame was huge! |
 |
| Freezing at the very top of the tower! |
 |
| So very windy at the very top! |
Overall a very exciting and fun trip to Paris. Loved just walking around the city and taking in the sites and culture! Very happy to back in the warmer Barcelona weather though! next time we'll be sure to google the weather before packing!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
xx xxx xxxx BARCA
After hearing how good the FC Barcelona team is, we decided that we couldn't leave Spain without having seen them play. So, Jordan and I were on a mission to do the following:
We walked for about an hour before finding the large Hotel. We had to ask to make sure we didn't pass it. All the directions we kept getting were pretty vague such as : "just follow all the people in the jerseys" So somehow we walked around the other side of the hotel but found a little old man who led us to the stadium.
Find the stadium. check.
Now to get tickets. We weren't really sure where we needed to go for this. I guess we must have looked like we needed tickets, because another little old man approached us and asked if we wanted to buy tickets. At first we said no, but then he showed us where they were and kept saying that they were really good tickets. Jordan need more Euros so he pointed us to an ATM. After we watched someone else use it, we figured it out and how to get it in English. Even little things like an ATM are surprisingly confusing in another language. So we paid him for the tickets, and he gave us his card in case we ever needed tickets again. ha
Tickets. check.
Then looked at the Barca merchandise before entering the stadium. I was very excited to get a Messi jersey, since being here I have watched several games and he is the best (so my students say).
We watched the game and attempted to follow along with the cheers, we got the clapping part down but some of the words not so much. Only when they say BARCA did we fit in. It was exciting to see the game and how everyone one was so into it, from little kids to elderly, everyone was cheering on the best team in the world.
At half time, Jordan and I realized we missed the note to put a sandwich in our purse. Looking around EVERYONE just whipped out a sandwich to snack on!
After our neighbor finished his sandwich, I asked him if he could tell us how to get to Rhonda St. Pere
(where we needed to be for the night bus). He instructed us to follow all the people in jerseys to get to the metro Maria Christina and get on the green line to Placa de Catalunya.
We followed all the people.. which is tricky when they disperse.. we would just choose the larger group of people. Managed to find the Metro and find our way back to Placa de Catalunya. We had about 2 hours to kill before the first night bus arrived... luckily we stumbled upon a Hard Rock Cafe! and they had English menus!!!
Finally got on the night bus. was thrown around on there for an hour on our way back to La Garriga. Then walked though town back to the school.
Yayy we didn't get mugged!
Off to Paris tomorrow to meet up with Angie and Peter!! sooo excited to see her!!!
- Get to Barcelona on time Tuesday night after school
- Find the large futbol stadium
- Get tickets to the game at 9 that night
- Find our seats
- Find our way back to La Garriga.... without having to wait for the 6am train
We walked for about an hour before finding the large Hotel. We had to ask to make sure we didn't pass it. All the directions we kept getting were pretty vague such as : "just follow all the people in the jerseys" So somehow we walked around the other side of the hotel but found a little old man who led us to the stadium.
Find the stadium. check.
 |
| just walk towards those lights and then follow all the people. |
Tickets. check.
 |
| we made it in the stadium! |
 | |
| Me sporting my new jersey as the players warm up |
We watched the game and attempted to follow along with the cheers, we got the clapping part down but some of the words not so much. Only when they say BARCA did we fit in. It was exciting to see the game and how everyone one was so into it, from little kids to elderly, everyone was cheering on the best team in the world.
At half time, Jordan and I realized we missed the note to put a sandwich in our purse. Looking around EVERYONE just whipped out a sandwich to snack on!
(where we needed to be for the night bus). He instructed us to follow all the people in jerseys to get to the metro Maria Christina and get on the green line to Placa de Catalunya.
We followed all the people.. which is tricky when they disperse.. we would just choose the larger group of people. Managed to find the Metro and find our way back to Placa de Catalunya. We had about 2 hours to kill before the first night bus arrived... luckily we stumbled upon a Hard Rock Cafe! and they had English menus!!!
Finally got on the night bus. was thrown around on there for an hour on our way back to La Garriga. Then walked though town back to the school.
Yayy we didn't get mugged!
Off to Paris tomorrow to meet up with Angie and Peter!! sooo excited to see her!!!
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