hopping bunnies, chicks, and bob esponja

 I just realized that it has been a while since I have updated you on my goings on.  Truth be told, apart from my travels, life in the Head of the Ox (name of my town translated: Cabeza del Buey) has been pretty tranquilo.  After Groundhog Day, my students carried on as normal; crying when they didn't win prizes at bingo, refusing to play games after they lost, whining when we were doing  actual schoolwork, hitting each other, staring at me blankly when I asked them questions, 3rd grade boys plugging their ears in mock disgust when I played a Hannah Montana song.  We played Hannah Montana songs a week straight at the elementary school in an attempt to try to 'fill in the blanks' on a page of lyrics.  This meant I found myself unexpectedly humming or singing the songs on my walk back to my apartment after school.  I'm so glad no one was there to witness these episodes.  I really do know more than I ever wanted to know about Hannah Montana.  Now they want me to play The Jonas Brothers, but I just don't think I have it in me.  Ya veremos. 

In 3rd grade, we always make books at the end of every chapter to illustrate a story.  I fold paper and staple them into books and the kids are just supposed to draw the scenes.  Every time we do this at least two students make their books backwards, flipping their pages from left to right, and come complaining that their books don't work.  I forget that along with teaching academic knowledge in the classroom it is really important for the teacher to pay attention and help teach the kids other life skills.  There are two boys in my 6th grade class, Victor and Jesus, who always raise their hands and volunteer for an activity before they know what it is.  They always panic when they find out what they have to attempt and are not very good at English. However, they always blunder through whatever exercise we may be doing and their eagerness and effort always makes me smile.  Last week I went into class and one of my 3rd graders, Javier, showed me that he had drawn all of the characters from the show "Bob Esponja" or as you may know it "Sponge Bob".  He then proceeded to sing to me all of the songs from the "Bob Esponja"  cartoon.  This boy's memory was impressive and he was so proud and happy.  If only he knew the songs in English. 

I have about a 20 minute trek to my elementary school that is rather hilly over the cobblestones.  While it's been in between seasons this last month, I usually start out with a cardigan, my coat, and a scarf.  By the time I get to my classroom I am sweating from the exertion so badly that I delayer until I am only wearing a t-shirt.  Regularly when I arrived at school last month I would be confronted by at least one teacher (wearing a turtle neck) asking me if I was cold and telling me that I would make myself sick.  At this point I would explain that I didn't have a car here so I had a long walk that was relatively strenuous.  I always got the same answer, "But it's winter."  And I would say "yes, but today it's not raining, I'm hot from my walk and I will put on my cardigan again when I cool off". This meant nothing.  They would insist that I go put a sweater and a scarf on because "it's winter" and you can't wear short sleeves until it's Spring. 

The week before Easter I decided to teach my students about the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, and Easter Egg Hunts.  When I first asked them if they knew what the Easter Bunny was, they asked me if we ate him.  How horrifying that would be for an American child to hear.  I remembered that in Spain the only thing rabbits are used for is hunting and lunch.  After my explanation on our American Easter traditions, we made 'chick' Easter cards and colored Easter Egg pictures.  This same week I also met with the kindergartners who I usually don't go to class with.  They were much smaller than I thought they would be, but this was by far the most entertaining class.  I decided to have them make bunny ears, which you will see from the video went over very well.