Cupcakes & Sunshine

Now that I am once again living the solitary life here in Madrid, I have a bit more time to do important things like illegally catch up on episodes of The Office (www.sidereel.com, my newfound friend thanks to Caitlin) and update my blog (again, you’re welcome Alex). Actually, I highly recommend you not waste your time reading what is sure to be my humdrum update but rather turn your attention to one of the several highly entertaining blogs I have added to the left here. There are my far more witty Fulbright compatriots making more astute observations than I on our daily lives in Spain; my adventurous, courageous, and ambitious inspirations from home who are doing good things at home and abroad; and my Spanish friends who are haciendo un esfuerzo para mejorar el mundo a través del arte y de la palabra escrita. I sometimes like to go to my own blog page just to see all of the stories of an odd assortment of people from all facets of my life collected together. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have known all those I keep close in my heart (though stubbornly and ironically enough, not close at hand!) through the years. For those of you who have office jobs, os aconsejo that you substitute precious Facebook minutes to peruse through the lives of some of the phenomenal people I’ve been lucky enough to know; maybe you will even be inspired to donate to Laurel’s race or the Primeros Pasos clinic, vote in the primaries due to Vivek’s campaign enthusiasm, learn a new language after reading about Cameron’s good life in Copacabana, volunteer because of Craig or Lisa’s tireless and giving spirit, paint a picture (Simona), or write a book (Pablo). And, if you visit CWA-Cayce’s page, you’ll see I’m the feature of the week – a “Where are they now?” for old volunteers!

My slightly creepy mention of staring at my own blog page and congratulating myself for having fallen into such fine friendships probably makes it sound like I have too much time on my hands. This has actually not been the case, though I have had time to get my life back together and get into the routine of things again after the holidays. Actually, work has kept me super busy. I really (most days) enjoy the challenge of teaching and have enjoyed in particular the past few weeks at school. Our Global Classrooms Conference is less than a month away (!) – February 14^th and 15^th. I, of course, can think of no better way to spend Valentine’s Day than carting 23 nervous Spanish 12 year-olds to the opening conference an hour away from where they live to listen to representatives from Merrill Lynch, the British Council, the Consejeria de Educacion, the Comunidad de Madrid, UNA-USA, and SLU Madrid all congratulate themselves on what an amazing program they have put together.

All bitterness aside though, today I had three success stories: 1) Ana Gonzalez, 12, during a mock debate on illegally downloading music: “We, the delegation of CD companies, are deeply concerned about illegally downloading music because…,” 2) Lucia, 15, writing a perfect paragraph with complicated sentence structures in an impeccable reporter’s tone on an invented plane crash, and 3) Alicia, ,12, understanding how to use perambulatory clauses in order to form resolutions with minimal explanation. And these three things alone were enough to make this a very good day. Yesterday was also a good day, despite finding out that another one of my students re-failed an exam he retook (it was word for word the same test) after we spent 3 hours working through the problems and finding out the right answers. The frustration and joy of teaching, I think, lies in that your successes and failures are so closely tied to children – in this case adolescents. This means that the highs are very high and the lows, well, downright disappointing.

Who knows, talk to me tomorrow and I’ll probably be singing a different tune. You know, today the proud parent, tomorrow wanting to strangle my own creations.

In other news, I have been enjoying being on the other side of having visitors, playing the “meet the friend” role for several of the other Fulbrighters’ family members, significant others, and friends who are in town. Another huge highlight was American Brunch on Sunday with the Fulbrighters, a Brit, and Morgan’s Guatemalan roommates— real syrup, pancakes, hashbrowns, fruit salad, spinach and potato frittata, real bacon (for the others, this was exciting)—it was almost too much. I also had a moment last Friday night, after making dinner, watching a movie, and having a spontaneous dance party with my roommates (that lasted for an hour) in which I was almost annoyingly, sickeningly, smugly content with where I was and who I was with. I was, am, and remain encantada to be here. Cheesy, perhaps the faux Spring weather is getting to my head, but true.

Last, but definitely not least, a few thank-yous: Sanjeet for his festive and characteristically hilarious Christmas card; Kitty & Mehul for bringing me a suitcase full of Trader Joe’s and Asian food that I have been enjoying immensely; Mary Margaret for a box full of random and delicious treats (including snack-size 80s Trivial Pursuit and swirly straws); and Urmi & Pranav for the sweet, unexpected card and jewelry. Finding things like this in the mail are wonderful and much appreciated – so thank you!