Updates

It's amazing how as I focus more on school, the less I seem to focus on everything else. I know I shouldn't be surprised by this, considering I've been this way for a decade. Yet, it does seem to surprise me each and every year! And so, since I've not been posting nearly as much as I did in the summer, here are a few updates:

- School is fantastic! My class grows on me more and more each day and definitely makes me laugh every day :)

- I'm starting private Spanish classes next week, hoping to just have lots of time to practice speaking, which is just what I need.

- We had groceries delivered for the first time tonight - amazing! Although it won't happen too often, it was so great to select everything we wanted online AND have someone else carry it up all 57 stairs! How fantastic!

- I've started going to yoga classes here consistently (thanks, Mark!), which have been amazing. More than anything, yoga is so clearly good for my mind and body - I feel wonderful afterwards! It's also great Spanish practice- although the teacher is British, she conducts the class in Spanish. I've definitely started to develop a new set of vocabulary - respira, respira! :)

- I have trips planned to the south of France with my parents in late October and a trip to Berlin planned with Anne and Tessa for Thanksgiving weekend - yea! I have a feeling a trip to London will be in my near future, too . . .

- With some tutoring I've picked up after school, I'm making enough extra money to afford Spanish and yoga classes, as well as fun European trips :) (I also had the realization that the money I'm making from tutoring is more than my best paychecks in Sevilla - as my dad said, amazing what having a legal job can mean!)

- Marybeth, the third new teacher who has stayed at our place in the past six weeks, will be moving into her new place next week. It's amazing just how convenient this third bedroom has been! It will be strange going back to just two of us again - it's been fun having a variety of people staying here - can't wait for the next one!

Overall, life is good! Marybeth and I were just talking about the moments when we realize "I LOVE this city." A year later, I'm happy to say that those moments continue to hit me when I least expect them. I look forward to the upcoming months - I have a feeling fall in Barcelona will be fantastic . . .

La Merce 10K

I decided to run the La Merce 10K again this year - although this time I actually registered instead of just jumping in. :) It's one of (if not the) biggest races in Barcelona. There are 14,000 registered runners, plus those who jump in.

Again, it was fantastic! Although I didn't train at all, I was pretty happy with my time and really enjoyed it. I was reminded again of how much I love the atmosphere of races - the people, the energy, the music. Runs in Spain are definitely different than the US, but still so much fun. Since I haven't run that distance since last year's race, I'm already anticipating some stiff legs tomorrow!

Tons of people starting near Montjuic

Tanya, Heather, and I before the race

This run kicks off La Merce. The La Merce Festival is known to be the week-long party that officially ends summer in Barcelona. When Anna, Katie, Serena, and I visited Barcelona two years ago, we just happened to come on La Merce weekend. Although we had no idea what was really going on, I vividly remember lots of fireworks, lots of people, and lots of beer! I was in Germany last year for Oktoberfest, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing this weekend - especially because many of the festivities happen pretty close to where we live!

There are concerts happening nightly, as well as lots of other small events. I'm most looking forward to seeing castellars (human castles, up to 8 people high!) and the correfoc (fire parades which I hope to not get too close to!). I have a feeling it's going to be a very fun weekend!

First Barcelona Wine Club = Success!

One of my most favorite things in Denver was our monthly Wine Club. It was always a great chance to spend time with my favorite girls, enjoy great wine and food, meet new people, and laugh a lot!

I decided recently that Wine Club needed to become a Barcelona tradition as well. Now that I've been here a year, made some great friends from school, and feel determined to make more Spanish friends, it seemed like the time was right.

I invited a few girls over to enjoy our first theme of "Mexican Food and White Wines." I'm happy to report that the night was a big success! 10 girls + 15 or so bottles of wine + lots of Mexican food = great stories, great laughs, and a really fun night! Although all of the girls this time were from ASB, I hope to see Wine Club expand to involve people from other social circles as well.

Hosting Wine Club here in Barcelona definitely made me miss my Denver girls, yet also made me feel like I'm really starting to settle in here. Amazing how wine and good company can do that. :) I'm already looking forward to the next BCN Wine Club!

Wine Club made a move from our place to a nearby bar around 2:00.

With some of my favorite BCN ladies - Lauren, Tessa, and Tanya!

The First Week of School

I'm happy to report that I survived the first week of school! It was questionable at times - having not had a full first week of school in years, having a group with 4 more kids than last year, and realizing that this class is like day and night from last year's! However, they were amazing yesterday, a feat for a Friday, and I feel confident that they are going to be a great challenge, a ton of fun, and a group I will never forget!

The biggest differences from last year's class to this group is that they talk even more (not unusual for a group with a lot of Spaniards!), they are academically lower and have a wider range of abilities, and that there are quite a few boys who can't be seated within 10 feet of each other without a conversation, play-fighting, or anything else happening! Luckily, once the behavior log was put in place, as well as consequences (thanks, Mary Robison!), kids started responding. Again, it's such a great reminder of the importance of high expectations and consistent follow-through.

My class is bigger due to having 12 new students in 5th grade this year! Most of these students are international, so it's helping to balance out the languages. At this point, I have students whose native languages are: English, Spanish, Catalan, Hungarian, Swedish, Korean, Greek, Afrikaans, Dutch, and Portuguese - it's pretty amazing!

I stayed at school pretty late all of last week and feel kind of nerdy for it! However, there is just always so much to do at the beginning of the year that you can use throughout, and to be completely honest, I love it! It's great to feel re-energized about teaching and believe that I can really help these kids to improve. Again, I'm missing the intensity and level of conversation from Crawford, but feel more prepared to bring pieces of it to ASB, poco a poco. (I am also feeling very grateful for all of the amazing flipcharts we made, too -- my room is looking SO much better already! :)

And so, the first week is over. A much-needed night in and 9 hours of sleep did wonders! I'm now off to do a bit more preparing. Below are some photos of my classroom - a year later, a horseshoe table, and some rearranging have it much improved!

We're ready to write!

classroom library and writing supplies

cabinets full of supplies for all sorts of things

and prepared for student work

student seats, homework, daily schedule

my teaching area

Success

"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children . . . to leave the world a better place . . . to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

My principal, Nancy, shared this quote with us at the end of our staff meeting on Friday and I really like it. As usual, Ralph Waldo Emerson has a great perspective on things!

A New School Year Begins . . .

It's hard to believe, but I'll be starting my "first day of school" tomorrow as a teacher for the 10th time! It's amazing to me that even after all these years, I still feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Do I have everything prepared? Is there anything else I need to set up? Am I ready for the kids?

Since I was back at school a week early and had plenty of time to prepare, I can answer "yes" to all of the above questions. Yet, because teaching is a career that is always full of surprises, I know I will still be rushing around finishing things up tomorrow!

Although I can't say that I truly enjoy putting up bulletin boards, arranging furniture, and preparing copies, I can say that I love the newness of starting the year. I love opening new school supplies, organizing books and areas, and papers. I love the way the classroom looks neat and clean and seems to be begging to be filled up with students and learning!

As I finished up my room on Friday and finalized my first day of school plans, it made me realize how ready I am to teach again. I know how important "getting to know you" activities are, yet I have to force myself to do them instead of getting into the real teaching. I can't wait to share my love of reading and writing with kids, talk to them about matter and chemistry, help them learn about the relationships between numbers, and more! It's times like these that truly confirm teaching is what I'm meant to do - I love it so much.

So, since it's my final day before starting a new year, I have a few things to prepare for school and lots to do at home. And, as always, I have no doubt I won't be sleeping through the night. The excitement and anxiety of waking up on time, meeting my new class, and starting a new year will no doubt cause some restlessness! I can't wait to see what this new year will hold . . .