xoves, 23 de outubro de 2014

Taking advantage of global warming

The weather has been summery lately, thereby filling the terrazas and plazas until the sun goes down. Sunday Lauren and I took advantage of the sunshine on a 12 km hike going from a town in Asturias to another in Galicia. The "railroad route" took us through several tunnels. Unlit tunnels, might I add. We came unprepared, so Lauren downloaded a flashlight app to calm our fears. Thank you, modern technology! Nonetheless we did run hand-in-hand through the first tunnel, and sang songs/talked loudly through the rest. But the tunnels made it an experience! The rest was mostly flat walking with some wooded hills for a backdrop. Aside from being in nature, I enjoy hiking because of the camaraderie--hikers almost always greet other hikers. You know you've reached the town when passersby just look at you rather than saying "Hola!" In our destination town A Pontenova, we checked out huge furnaces used back in the mining days.

In school, most of my students are on strike again. So the few that actually come are getting some fun, personal English practice. For example in one class we played a board game and read horoscopes. In gym class there were only 2 girls, so when the teacher left for a minute, I suggested we try out the stilts. When the teacher came back and saw us having a gay old time, she decided to bring out the 18-inch stilts that you actually tape to your feet/calves. Only one student dared to do it, so I tried, too. I was pretty good at at,  and even managed to walk a short distance without holding on to someone. A new hidden talent?!

Then there is the youngest group that is obsessed with proving that I speak Spanish. A couple of students will stay back to observe me with teachers of other subjects, who I obviously speak in Spanish with. Then in class they yell (in Galician) "She speaks Spanish! She spoke Spanish yesterday, and with a good accent!" And I say "No, I only speak English." It took them a few minutes, but they finally made the connection that yes, I am replying to what they've said in Galician, so clearly I understand them. Also they never made the connection that when I explain a word in English, and then they confirm it in Spanish, I clearly know some Spanish translations. Haha, oh youth!