My life in Spanish received a jump these last few days. I helped coach about 80 Spanish children at the club during an end of the summer hoop camp last week. I had to be there for my first day at 9 a.m. I was really dreading it. I didn't want to go, I didn't want to misunderstand, I didn't want to be quiet and shy... all of which seemed inevitable on my walk to the gym. But, it was 150 euros for 5 days of not much work so I couldn't say no.
I trudged to the gym in the haze of not having been up before 10 in a month. The day began slow. Somehow, I feel so see through, so transparent, like they all know I don't understand, but I don't want to ask the questions needed to figure it out. And that was just the coaches meeting. The funny thing is, once the kids started coming in, I felt better. I could communicate with them and felt more comfortable and they seemed more patient with my Spanish and explained words to me when I asked and we had a great time together!
By the time the week was done two girls and I had become quite good friends and one even came to give me a hug. It was hard being around so many kids for 5 days, 7 hours a day, but I made it and the best part was the boost in confidence and a bit of fluency that it gave my Spanish. I could see in the kids faces that they thought I knew how to speak Spanish. Sometimes I get skeptical looks from adults and people my own age and it makes me second guess myself. But the kids just came right up and talked to me and weren't confused when i answered them, which must mean I speak alright. So, a good week.
I also got to go out 2 fridays ago with Kakun and Maria from my team. It was great! They came over and we hung out for a while and it was the first time I'd had actual conversations with them. I talked all night long, not even a wisp of a wallflower in me. I know I'll still have shy days and uncomfortable situations, but I'm getting more comfortable around more people and that's the key I think.
We had a game last Tuesday that we lost, blech and one on saturday that we won, yay! Em went home on Tuesday, sniff, sob, but Katie came to take her place and we've been having fun times.
It was Irene's birthday last week, which lasted from Thursday to Saturday, which reminded me of my birthday that usually lasts around a week and a half in the states. We had various dinners and went out on Friday night to a huge cena at which I slurpped flan, which I guess is how you eat it the first time. Fredo, the American on Iñaki's team and Katie came out too and it was great. We danced the night away and chatted with all Irene's friends. I had a game Saturday, so maybe not the smartest decision to go out, ut it's preseason and Irene's birthday, so I had to do as she asked right?
On Sunday Iñaki's team had a game that they ended up losing, but it was against a team from two levels above them and they hung with them at least through the 3rd quarter. I guess there's a picture of Katie and I cheering in the paper today, so I'll have to check that out.
Still tons of stuff on the job front. I have my first official english client for Wednesdays, 10 euros an hour. I still have my au pair work. I might be taking care of Iñaki's cousins for about 2 hours in the morning and getting them off to school for another little chunk of change. I have an interview and a school in Zizur to monitor a session of art or something during their recess where they speak english and then coach a little girls hoops team for 45 minutes. All this will go from like 1-3, which is great. It's a super catholic school and super not connected to needing a visa. I'm currently coaching a team at the club of 14 year old girls who are really sweet. We had 2 practices last week, but I think I have to quit for now because my afternoons are too full. Finally, there's some job I can get with the government through Iosu that I just have to register as a foreigner for and then I can lecture in english at various schools around Pamplona, I think. This is also in the morning, which is great.
Ideally, I'll get to take care of the kids in the a.m., go do a lecture and be home by 1 to go to the school in ziizur for monitoring, be able to cut back on au pairing and then have a few more english clients and maybe form a class or two. We'll see, because the only thing that's been ideal so far is my sweet apartment.
As you can see, I've been a tad busy. I had a rather homesick day thursday, so that sucked, but I was good by Friday. Basically still chugging along and trying to get into a routine. Sorry for the lack of story and Darb-voice in this blog, I'm just trying to get the update out. I hope all ks well back home. Love love love you!
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