Volando Voy, Volando Vengo

Memoria final del curso (2011 y 2012)

It’s no secret that I’ve had a rough year at my school. It’s mandatory for the auxiliar and the school to write reviews at the end of the year. Here’s the review I wrote for my school this year. Please excuse my bad Spanish… hopefully it still gets the point across. I’m also including my memoria final from last year to show the changes between the two years. 

Memoria final del curso 2011-2012

Jessica Chandras

Instituto Axular, Santurtzi (2010-2012)

Desagradamente este año ha sido muy dificil para mi en este instituto. Este año fue mi segundo año y he tenido muchas dificultades con las profesoras y con los estudiantes. Este año fue muy diferente que mi primer año, y no se exactamente lo que ha pasado con mi instituto o con el departamento de Ingles, pero con mis experiencías este año, en mi opinion, no merecía tener otro auxiliar de conversacion en este instituto para los años que viene.

 He intentado arreglar las problemas y las relaciones con mis profesores muchas veces, entonces no pienso que yo había hecho cosas diferente, pero a mi, lo unico que lamento es que no avisarte de los problemas, Txaro, mas antes que ahora.

            La unica cosa que fue major este año es que la comunicacion como decir me cuando las clases estaban canceladas o cuando las clases tenían excursions.

             No sentí muy bien bienvenida al instituto este año. Cuando yo pedí ayuda para cosas, como en consegir mi TIE, o cosas afuera del programa, no me ayudaron. Solo me ayudó cuando les dije que las clases comportan mal, pero nada cambió al final relacionada a este tema tampoco. Tambien, mi horario este año fue muy raro y me dío mi horario un día antes que tenía que empezar con las clases. Cuando yo pedí arreglarlo me dijeron si, puedo intentarlo y yo lo hice. Pero al final no querían cambiar mi horario y quede con horas muy raras y estaba en el instituto mas horas de algunas de las profesoras. Yo fue la unica auxiliar que conozco en este programa que no tenían las mismas dias libre cada dos semanas. Una semana unos dias y la segunda semana (semanas alternadas) un dia diferente. Fue muy confuso y dificil para mi y las profesoras. Ellas casi nunca recuerdan cuando iba a venir y mi horario fue mucho mas peor que mi horario el año pasado.

            Este año ha sido mucha disorganización entre las profesoras. Unos quería unas cosas de mi u otras, cosas diferentes que no estan explicadas antes a mi. O me enfadaran cuando yo no estaba preparada para cosas que nadie me dijeron que tenía que preparar. Al final, en Febrero, después de hablar con una de las profesoras sobre las expectaciones de mi posición por que yo estaba mucha confundida, mi tutora finalmente me dijo lo que quería exactamente de mi posicion, que fue muy diferente de lo que estaba escrito en mi contrato y aunque no todas las profesoras segían lo que me ha dicho, entonces quedé más confundida que antes. También cuando le dije que este año no tengo la dirección que necesitaba, ella no hizo nada para arreglarlo o ayudarme.

            Este año me sentí como las clases y las profesoras faltaban de disciplina y respeto. Muchas clases se comportaban muy mal conmigo y mas que una vez yo llego a casa llorando por que las clases me trataban tan mal. Yo salí de la clase una vez y merecía hacerlo muchas vezes mas. El año pasado tenía como uno o dos clases insoportables, pero este año solo he tenido uno o dos clases buenas. No entiendo como las faltas de diciplina puede pasar tantas vezes por que, por la mayoria, la profesora estaba en la clase conmigo pero no valía para nada. La profesora no me respetaba tampoco para controlar la clase cuando yo estaba dando la lección. No daba notas para mis clases entonces nadie pensaba en prestar atención a mi y mis actividades.

            Algunas de las profesoras usaban el tiempo para hacer otras cosas o hablar con estudiantes individuales, El año pasado yo fue como profesora compañera o asistente a la profesora, no substituta para que ella pueda hacer otro trabajo o para ella no tenia que planear una lección un día cada semana.  Tambien este año, por lo menos, una profesora no llega a clase 5 veces pero nadie me dijo nada antes y yo llegué para darme cuenta que yo soy la substituta por la clase. No es mi posición para substituir la clase por la profesora ni estar en la clase sola con 20 niños que no comportan bien. Cuando yo pedí un profesor para estar conmigo solo dos veces estaba alguien, y esta profesora tenia que gritar a la clase para comportarse bien. El año pasado fue mucho mejor. Yo estaba bien como asistente y nadie queria que yo planeaba todas las clases sin decirme de que tema trataría la clase o de que nivel. Este año ellas querían que yo siempre tenía una clase entera planeada (aunque no me dijeron esto hasta Febrero) y muchas veces no usaban las actividades que me han pedido preparar. Fue frustante y me dío mucha ansiosidad para trabajar en este ambiente. Fue muy muy difícil trabajar con estas 6 profesoras.

            No tenía buena preparación para entrar en las clases asi como algunas quería que yo planeaba toda la clase, y como yo no sabía las niveles ni en lo que estaban trabajando los estudiantes, fue difícil para mi para tener éxito con muchas clases y sentí muchas veces como yo no estaba usando el tiempo bien, por eso, no creo que sería bien para tener otro auxiliar en este instituto. En otras clases la profesora no me deja explicar cosas o clarificar el idioma o por otro lado, yo no sabía lo que tenía que saber las estudiantes para corregir o explicar en vocabulario por que todas las clases tienen niveles muy diferentes depende de las profesoras. Ellas no dan cuenta las diferencias entre niveles, comportamiento, y estilo de ensenañza de cada una de las 6 profesoras y sus clases. También las profesoras estan difíciles encontrar antes de las clases para hablar sobre el tema o actividades adequadas para las clases si yo necesitaba ayuda. Una me dijo no cuando le pedí su numero de telefono para comunicar, y al final necesitiaba comunicar con ella por que ella fuequentamente no estaba en clase y no sabía lo que debería hacer. Ella solo han puesto información en Euskera cuando deja información!

            Tambien, en el tema de participación en las vidas afuera de clases yo estaba invitada a las dos fiestas, uno antes de Navidad y otro por el Dia de Euskera, solo un día antes de la fiesta. Aunque me dijeron que estaba escrito en la sala de profesores y un tutor había hablado con la clase enfrente de mi sobre la segunda fiesta, pero todo paso en Euskera y nadie me traducieron. Ellos se han olvidado o no me quería entender porque todavia yo no hablo mucho de Euskera.

            Aparte que estas dos fiestas, yo no estaba invitada a excursions, viajes, actividades afuera de la clase, como el año pasado. Nunca hice nada con las profesoras afuera de clase, como las reunions o tomar café durante el descanso aunque yo estaba en la sala de profesores siempre cuando salieron para el descanso. Yo nunca estaba invitada para conocer las vidas afuera de las clases. Todavía yo me pensaba en mi como una huesped al instituto y al pais, pero no me trataban asi. El año pasado tambien las profesoras hablaron conmigo de temas afuera de la clase mucho mas, y este año casi no me saludan nunca. Es la verdad y una pena. No me trataban bien este año y me da mucha pena que fue asi cuando yo quería aprender de las vidas y del país mucho.

            Si van a tener un auxiliar de conversación el año que viene, aunque yo pienso es una idea muy mal para el instituto y para un pobre my lejos de su casa que necesita ayuda y amistad, les consejo en tener marcas para las clases de conversación para que los estudiantes presten atención. También, les consejo en leer el contrato de tener un auxiliar o ir con el auxiliar al dia de orientación en Vitoria para saber el contrato por que no han seguido mi contrato este año. Tambien, tienen que comunicar mucho más entre ellas en el departamento de Inglés y si tiene dudas el auxiliar, tiene que hablar sobre ellas lo más pronto que es posible contigo y con las profesoras. Les deseo lo mejor suerte en el año que viene.

Memoria Final de Auxiliares de Conversación 2011

Antes de empezar este programa no tenía mucha experiencia en enseñar, Ingles

ni otra tema. Después de este año me siento mejor en mi confianza de enseñar y voy a

continuar este programa por un año más. Intentaba aprender mucho sobre como enseñar

y como aprender idiomas los alumnos. También quería aprender sobre Euskera y como

funciona Euskera en el sistema educativo. Creo que he aprendido mucho y alcancé mis

metas que tenía cuando empecé.

Mucho de mi contribución depende de las profesoras. Cada uno hace sus clases

diferentes y yo tenía una gran diferencia entre mis responsabilidades en las clases.

Con unos, ellas preparan todo para mí y yo solo tenía que dar mi voz o mi acento a las

clases. En otras, tenía que preparar todo para la clase junto con un tema que estuvieran

estudiando en los libros. También a veces, solo trabajaba de los libros. Lo que me

gustó mas era cuando las profesoras me dieron el tema y yo podía preparar materiales

que relaciona con los temas o materiales que venía de afuera de clase, como noticias,

música, y cosas de mi vida en los EEUU. También, pienso que las clases funcionan

mejor en grupos pequeños, entonces me gustaría hacer mas clases divididas entre dos

profesoras, yo y la otra. Por la mayoría sentía muy cómoda en las clases y por el otro

lado, para tener la profesora en la clase conmigo ayuda muchísimo con disciplina. Pero

sentía siempre como tenía supervisión y coordinación con el departamento.

Lo que no me ha gustado era cuando profesoras me hacen enseñar gramática.

Yo no he aprendido gramática ni como enseñar gramática entonces no podía dar

explicaciones a los alumnos. También, nosotros auxiliares no somos profesores de

verdad. No sabemos como debe funcionar ni hacer algunas cosas muy técnicas como

las profesoras de verdad y a veces algunas eran sorprendidas conmigo que no sabía

estas cosas cuando en realidad nunca he tenido entrenamiento en esta, como gramática

y algunas actividades fonológicas o filológicas. Creo que estoy preparaba para hacer mi

puesto como ayudante de conversación, pero en otros aspectos de enseñar Ingles, no.

Otra cosa que debe mejorar es la comunicación entre profesores y yo. A veces no tiene

ni idea que va pasar el próximo día. A veces llego a la escuela y no hay clases y nadie

me ha avisado, y yo vengo de muy lejos a venir al instituto.

Con todo el instituto me siento muy cómoda. Me siento aceptada con los

profesores y me hablan de cosas aparte de solo Ingles. También querían que yo participe

en las actividades extracurriculares del instituto, como excursiones y fiestas de la

escuela. Aprendí mucho de ellos y agradezco que me hace sentir bienvenida en la

comunidad. Muchas gracias por esta experiencia y espero que el año que viene sea tan

bueno como este año.

Home away from home: Hostels (Part 2)

Now for some hostel etiquette: Do’s and Don’t’s

-Do bring a small light or have your cell phone ready to use for light, especially if you are arriving late at night. Do NOT turn on the light in the room if there is even 1 person in a 20 person dorm room sleeping. 

- Also, make as little noise as possible if there is even one person sleeping. Whispered conversations at most. NO conversations at best! 

-In the morning, do not turn on the light or have conversations as long as there is still at least one person sleeping. In the last dorm I stayed in a crazy person opened the blinds and windows at 9am and decided that the 7 other people sleeping needed to wake up, for no reason.. Also, in a hostel where breakfast began at 8am (already pretty early, and the acceptable time to be up and making noise) there were two girls who had an alarm go off at 7:30 and then proceeded to carry on a conversation in their normal voices about Katy Perry music videos for half an hour. Unacceptable. I’m also sad to say these girls were American. 

-When you arrive, if you are not going straight to bed, make your bed anyways. It is the WORST to have someone have to make the bed on the bunk on top of yours when they come home after hitting the bars at 2am but have been checked in since 2pm. 

-Also, if you know you’re going to be up earlier than that one late sleeper in your dorm or you are heading to bed after everyone else, make you sure have your toiletries ready to use and your clothes out and ready to change into. It’s very annoying to listen to someone clawing through their bags looking for their pjs while you’re just drifting off to sleep, or to hear someone picking out their outfit and re-packing before dawn. 

-It is nice to have free hot water, but don’t take super long showers… there’s probably 5 other people waiting to use the bathroom. Also, don’t shower at times when people generally have to use the bathroom if it’s a shower/toilet combo, like in the morning when everyone is getting up and getting ready to go. I try to shower at night or early in the morning before the morning rush. 

- I also like to always bring a towel. If they offer free towels, you never really know the state they will be in. But more importantly I like having it as an extra blanket. You never know what kind of blankets, if any, will be provided or if you’ll be in the dorm with bear men who must sleep with the windows open and fans and AC on, in the winter. 

-No alarms! If you need an alarm, put it on vibrate. Or if you sleep like a hibernating bear then put it on the lowest volume necessary. In the last hostel I stayed in (with the crazy person who opened the blinds), on the day I was leaving at 6:45am I didn’t even have to wait for my alarm to silently buzz because two other people’s loud, maximum volume, air raid siren alarms went off at 6:30 and 6:40.. and yet no one got up except me… even before my own alarm was set to go off… silently. 

-You don’t have to be best friends with the people in your room, you don’t even have to go through the whole “where are you from/what are you doing here?” routine, but a friendly hello/goodbye and smile are always nice when entering and exiting the room. It’s just plain weird to me to pretend that people don’t exist when you’re sharing the same room for sleeping. 

-Also be kind and don’t be the dormmate who sleeps all day. It’s weird and uncomfortable for everyone else to quietly sidestep the sleeper in the middle of the day. If they’re good dormmates they will respect that there is someone sleeping, but if it were me, I would resent that sleeping person. On the flip side, I would say after 11pm is always quiet time. No lights if there’s a sleeper, or loud conversations since hostel walls tend to be thin and who knows who has a 5am bus or flight.

- Be considerate of shared space. In the last hostel I was in, an American, again unfortunately, took up half the floor with her bags, clothes, shoes, and general junk. It also needs to be said that this was a 10 bed dorm (never again..) and there was plenty of space to store things under the beds. It was so bad that the person with the bunk on top of hers had to play lava monster to get up and down from their bunk or risk stepping on her stuff. 

Well, with every new hostel is a new learning experience! 

Home away from home: Hostels (part 1)

After staying in around 30 hostels over the last 5 years, I know what to expect, I know what I like, and I also know how to be a good hostel dormmate. So I want to share my opinions on what makes a good hostel and some hostel etiquette.

What makes a good hostel:

I learned my lesson after staying in the cheapest option for a hostel in London, that the ratings on hostel booking sites really do matter. Now, alllllmost more than price, I book by the ratings. I also extensively read the reviews. I didn’t used to do this, but I didn’t read reviews for a trip to Greece and I ended up with over 100 bed bug bites from multiple hostels. 

So, other than good reviews, I look for hostels that have what websites call freebies. Towel and linen included are great. Free internet is also great. But free breakfast is the best! Even if that breakfast is just pre-toasted toast, it’s something to start the morning off right. And usually free breakfasts always include some form of coffee or tea, and I need coffee or tea in the mornings. It sure beats getting all dressed and ready to go for the day to first have to hunt down some caffeine.

Another thing about free breakfasts mean that people usually have to be up by a certain time in the hostel. So if you want to sleep in and skip breakfast, expect other people to be up and loud. But I am not one to sleep in, so having a time when it’s acceptable for me to be up and rustling around makes me feel more comfortable getting my day started. My early riser-ness is justified. 

I also now look mostly for small hostels. I feel safer and better taken care of in smaller hostels rather than huge, multiple floor hostels where people are constantly coming and going. I’ve had my best hostel experiences in small, homey hostels. 

A kitchen that guests can use is also a major plus for me. If breakfast isn’t included, then I will most likely buy some food to prepare in the morning and leave it in the kitchen. Or I like to cook a meal a day in the hostel. In Italy, where we were probably going to have pasta dinners anyways, this saved us a huuuuge amount of money to just buy some fancy pasta from a grocery store and cook it ourselves. 

It’s also a little strange, but I also look for shared bathrooms rather than in-suite bathrooms if I’m staying in a dorm room. I once stayed in a 6 bed dorm with an in-suite bathroom and the bathroom smelled SO BAD that the whole room ended up smelling terrible. And whenever someone went into the bathroom, you could hear exactly what they were doing. It wasn’t good for a light sleeper like me. Luckily we only stayed there one night, but co-habiting so close to a shared bathroom that 6 people can use was very uncomfortable for me and I’ve never booked an en-suite bathroom since then. However, I do like having a sink and mirror in the room. This cuts down on crowding the shared bathroom.

Which brings me to bathroom situations… the best best best hostels have showers and toilets that are separate! It is so annoying to have to wait to use a toilet while someone takes a long, leisure shower. Even if there are multiple shower/toilet rooms, they always seem to fill up at inconvenient times. The best places have at least one separate toilet.

Next up- Etiquette! 

Amy visited Spain…

…and it made me re-realize that:

- Spain still does not have salad dressing, Cool Whip, PAM, enchilada sauce, or pasta sauce and the US does. In other words- prepackaged and preprepared things that I’ve learned to make from scratch or live without but can’t wait to go home to! 

- Spaniards our age do not have jobs. Or at least you never really see them wearing suits…

- Europe has less space= apartments everywhere!

- It’s pretty awesome living within day trip bus distance to another country!

- Clothes and style are out of control here. I guess it’s not so normal in the US to wear fur vests, colorful denim, or monochrome outfits… all at once? On the other hand, you will never see a Spanish woman out in sweatpants in the middle of the day running errands. 

-Wine is so much cheaper than in the US for equal to greater quality.

- We walk a LOT here. But everything is near by.

- Being able to speak English is a huuuge travel advantage.

- The whole Menu of the Day thing here is really great. Especially the free drink and dessert part!

- Small bar/cafe coffee here beats coffee in the US in price, size (meaning it’s not a gallon of milk and coffee), and quality. And Cola Cao needs to find it’s way across the ocean. 

- Gypsies are real. 

Cuenca: A quick weekend in Real Spain

I often refer to what most people would consider Spain as “real Spain.” This is because I live in the Basque Country and apart from the separatist, independence movement, it’s just plain different! Different food, different language, different weather and climate! So when I get the chance to head into Real Spain, it’s quite a treat! 

A couple weekends ago Kevin and I took our first 15 euro and 45 minute Easyjet flight from Bilbao to Madrid and met Amy who may have traveled a little longer and paid a little more for her flight from Spokane, WA… Then, after enjoying a horrible Cruzcampo we boarded a bus from Madrid to Cuenca to find out exactly how our old friend Tyler was getting along in his new home. 

It was different leaving behind lush, green Basque Country for dry, sunny Castilla La Mancha! (The weather forecast actually just said ‘Bright sun’). It was also a little bit of a shock to follow the Cuencan lifestyle for a few days too… let’s just say Amy’s sleep schedule stayed close to the same as it would have been in the US. No jet lag this way! We also took full advantage of Tapas, one of many things that real Spain is famous for! In Basque Country there are no tapas, or free food when you order drinks. It was great to see what elaborate dishes we got with each refilled glass of delicious La Manchan wine! 

Well, I think pictures will do Cuenca more justice since it is famous for it’s beautiful Handing Houses. 

Reunited half way around the world! The 408 represent! 

A trip to Castilla La Mancha wouldn’t be complete without un MONTON de Manchego cheese! Also, my first Sangria in Spain! 

Slovenia and Croatia

After the carnival celebrations in Bilbao, a friend (another Jessica) and I took off for a week to Croatia and Slovenia. I wanted to go there because flights were pretty cheap and it’s a part of Europe I’ve never seen before and knew little about. I think it turned out to be a great decision and we had lots of fun exploring. The best part was that this vacation was actually very low key and relaxing. Although both of us were sick, and sick at separate times, we returned rested and ready to take on the looooong month stretch until our next vacation.. oh Spain and all your holidays. 

Here are some highlights- 

-Eating our way through Croatia and Slovenia with sweet treats like blood oranges, cheap cheesecake and pastries, cheaper candies, my first macaroon, and delicious instant coffee. 

-Having a Japanese themed hostel all to ourselves in Zagreb, complete with the cutest puppy and nicest receptionist!

-Also, sleeping in a prison turned hostel in Ljubljana. Despite their Wing Night with nacho cheese and salsa dipping sauce… yummm?

-Experiencing the beauty of the frozen lake and island church in Bled.

-Spending our extra Croatian money on Zara clothes because the country was cheaper than we expected! 

-Getting the most intense passport check on the train between Croatia and Slovenia. And feeling pretty pleased with myself that I did the “Autorización de Regreso” in the end… And beefing up our passports with tons of stamps! 

-Eating a horse burger from a stand called Hot Horse in a park in Ljubljana. 

-Seeing a movie at a movie theatre in Zagreb in ENGLISH!!

-The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. 

-Eating delicious sandwiches from a cute cute French cafe in Ljubljana. And also finding (good) Mexican burritos. 

-Talking many walks along the river and through the adorable old town in Ljubljana and discovering their creative ways to cover up fountains for the winter.

Carnival was in February this year and before I took off for a week long vacation, I decided to stick around Bilbao for the first weekend and see the parade and costumes. Here are some pictures from the Carnival celebration in Bilbao! 

Love letters from Axular

The assignment was to write love letters as famous character couples. Here are some of my favorite examples. These are from 12-18 year olds and any corrections the real teacher or I made have been omitted, so they are restored to their original glory!

From Brad Pitt-

Oh Angelina,

You are the owner of my love. The love who fills our hearts and turn on the light of our inside. Every time I go away of you, I feel that our love turn off. I only can be with you every time.

From Ken to Barbie, and Barbie to Ken. (They copied eachother..)

Dear Barbie,

You are my hard. What I like best for you if your personality and because you are bery sexy.

From Angelina to Brad-

Oh Brad Pitt you are the owner of my heart. You are the most beautiful thing that I see. You are my half orange. 

From Kate Middleton to Prince William-

Hi my love,

I really love you but your the very more handsome principe of the world. My love to you will overcam all the obstacules. I think than we are going to govern England together. William I love you, my darling, my dear Prince. 

Kate Middleton

From The Beast to Belle-

Dear Belle:

I can’t stand you but I love you. You are a very good cooker and I like this. You look me very well and I like this. I’m fall in love with your eyes. 

This one had some expletives and I had to ask her to change some of the nouns that the Beast liked about Belle…

From Juliet to Romeo-

I’m at home and I feel sad because you aren’t here with me. I’m alone and bored. When are you going to come home? I’m waiting for you very excited and I can’t wait more without you. I want to kiss you and hug all the day long. 

From Adam to Eve 

Dear Eve,

Hi, my love, I’m very sad while you’re out of my side. You ate the apple and you went fast. I’ve made a decision, I’m going to eat the apple, and in a few hours later I’m going to be with you. 

Adam

From Minnie to Mickey-

Mickey is a mouse

A fantastic mouse

with a big smile

He has big ears

he has big eyes

he has big hands

From Prince William to Kate Middleton-

Dear Kate,

You are my princes. You governated my heart, when anybody stayed in there. I want you will governate my mind and England in the future.

From Adam to Eve-

You’re my girl.

I love you a lot of

I give you a rib.

I eat with you the forbidden apple. 

From Barack Obama to Michelle Obama-

Dear Michelle:

I write this letter because I love you. You are very good first lady and I fall in love with you everyday. Your hair is very beautiful.

From Kate Middleton to Prince William

Dear Prince William,

When you look at me and laugh you make me happy. 

From Victoria Beckham to David Beckham

Dear David,

You aren’t beautiful. You are so ugly. When you look at me I remember the trash. And I want to vomit. 

From Barbie to Ken

Dear Ken,

I write you this letter in this special day to show you all my love. I’m the happiest person in the world since I met you because you are the light of my days, the engine that do beat my heart, the peace in a world at war. You are the handsomest boy in the world, your blond hair look like a sun, you eyes look like jet black and your theeths look like pearls. In this plastic world, I’m going to try to stop all the hot things not to touch you and not melt you. Beause I can wish my live if you are in problems. Ken, I love you so much. 

Barbie.

From John Lennon to Yoko Ono

Dear Yoko Ono:

This is a special day and I’m going to give you a present at night. You are more beautiful than I see you tonight. My present is going to be a very big chocolate box and this chocolates are your favourites. But only one box of chocolates isn’t most to describe my love with you. You are perfect for me. You are the most perfect person in the world. 

See you at the night

Jhon Lennon (yes Jhon.)

And this last one really illustrates the weird relationship between Beauty and the Beast.

Dear Beast:

I am writing to you this letter because I am prisioner in this castle and I miss you so much. 

When I knew you I fell in love with you. It was love at first side that moment, when I saw your eyes, I went mad for you. 

I need to have you in my arms because when I am with you I feel sure. You are very big and you give me quit and peace. I wait for your answer my dear Beast. 

I love you so much, much, much, much, much, much…

Your Belle

“Specialty” Foods

As I was asking for sour cream in the one Russian word I know in a little store run by a giant Ukrainian man, I realized how normal some strange food activities have become for me. Living abroad has many challenges, and food is one of them. It snuck up on me too, because I thought I knew about typical foods since I had been abroad in Spain before, but living with a family who prepared all my meals for me is not quite the same experience as having to provide all my food for myself. 

I fought it at first too. Last year I tried preparing more food that I was familiar with from home, like quesadillas, pasta, and the good ole salami sandwich. But this year I decided I should fully embrace my location and what foods are readily and inexpensively available and try and cook more local dishes. This has resulted in some pretty good meatballs and a LOT of tomate frito (tomato sauce). This has also provided some really good private lesson material where I always walk away with a new recipe, in English! 

After reflecting on the fact that it takes trips to about three stores to find all the ingredients for tacos, I decided to compile a list of other foods that have become a specialty and where I usually go to find them. 

- Smetana is the Russian word for sour cream and the token Russian goods store is on Autonomia, in case anyone around here is struck with a severe case of sour cream withdrawals, like I often am. I once tried explaining in Spanish what I wanted but that confused the bear man and I almost walked out with Kefir instead. 

- Thank goodness for Mami Lou’s cupcakes to fill my cupcake shaped void.

- The Indautxu metro Eroski consistently has cheddar cheese and pesto. Other Eroskis don’t always carry these.

- The OpenCor also has about 5 different kinds of pestos, but they’re much more expensive.

- Carrefour has Halloween pumpkins! And good beer, sometimes even Basque beer if it’s a big enough Carrefour! 

- Some good and different beer also can be found at the Corte Ingles and BMs

- Peanut butter, refried beans, jalapeños, and coconut milk are at the Corte.

- Some “chinos” also have Coconut milk and sesame seed oil. And there is actually a giant Asian food market hiding near the Plaza de toros. It has so many good things. 

- Eroskis have tortillas and tortilla chips in the “ethnic food” section (along with a bunch of spices that are supposedly Moroccan but probably just for Pintxos Morunos). But you can also find a Doritos brand of tortilla chips that I think is cheaper with more chips called “Dippas”. 

- The only maple syrup I’ve ever found are small glass bottles for like 8 euros and they say they’re authentic Canadian syrup written in Spanish and Basque.. hmm. 

- Milk! I have yet to try Casa del Yogur milk, but I hear it’s good. Good and not in a box that can sit on a shelf for 4 months. Also the Gurea Basque brand is pretty close to what I’m used to at home but I think it costs like 3 euros a half liter. 

- Salmon comes and goes at the Eroski and mussels are sometimes really cheap and sometimes not really cheap. Seafood has it’s good and bad days, but I guess that’s how you know it’s fresh! 

- Ercorecas are expensive grocery stores but they have a great selection of Basque foods! Like cheese!

- For cheaper fruits and vegetables and excellent seasonal quality it’s better to buy produce at a fruit stand or little produce market. 

- Last year at Thanksgiving you could only find sweet potatoes (Boniatos or Batatas NOT patatas dulces as I learned from experience..) at some Arab markets, but this year you could find them everywhere!

- Tahini paste for hummus can be found on Calle San Francisco along with a lot of spices and cheap raisins! 

- Only buy the Oscar Meyer brand of bacon. 

- The chocolate chips you can find in the baking sections of some stores are expensive and really small here. It’s probably easier to just buy a chocolate bar and break it into pieces. 

As the year continues I’m sure there will be more realizations to add to this list, but in the mean time I’m trying to make use of what foods, even if new to me, can be easily found.

Reverse Culture Shock (while still abroad)

My American debit card stopped working a little while ago and my mom’s idea for me to fix it was to talk with my bank through Skype… which was so weird.

At first I thought, no big deal, I speak more English than Spanish everyday. But once I started talking to a representative, I realized that while I speak more English everyday, I speak with the same people in English everyday. So when I started speaking to this new person over the phone I immediately went into teacher mode and started speaking slowly, enunciating, and using a low level of vocabulary. And then I realized what I was automatically doing and got really self-conscious about trying to NOT do all that English teacher stuff. Thoughts raced through my head like “I wonder if she noticed, can she tell I’m not used to speaking English, am I making grammar mistakes???”

I also stumbled over giving my birthdate because I almost put the day before the month, like they do here. Numbers were also really hard. I was going very slow and then realized I could speak faster and kind of choked. I second guessed everything I said trying to make it sound natural and then realized that I’m confused about what “natural” is.

It crossed my mind that maybe I should have oprima-d numero dos para hablar con someone in Spanish…