Long Overdue Update

Okay, so I haven’t updated in a while.  I’ve been hanging out over here, spent some weekends traveling (Ireland, Madrid, and Cardiff, Wales), but I’m back, and I owe you guys.  I got a good score on my LSAT, which is nice, and I got a chance to do some really interesting research (thanks to Kate); so, I actually have been a little productive lately, and school’s been going well too.  I have a rotating schedule now because there are two classes that are so out of control that the teachers have decided they don’t deserve for me to come.  It’s a bit nuts how rowdy the kids are and how little some classes respect authority, but it’s good to know the teachers have my back and view having me there as a privilege.  Also, I had the chance to translate (Spanish to English) a two-hour presentation about a Shelter Home for African immigrant boys (6 of which attend Binissalem).  It was so moving.  This one kid, Birama, who goes to Binissalem, gave this presentation about how he took a boat with his father from Senegal to the Canaries.  It was an open boat with 200 other people and when they arrived, someone had called Red Cross and the Spanish government and reported them.  They were detained for three days before being taken in to a shelter in Tenerife, and half a year ago he was transferred over to the Mallorca branch of the shelter.  It’s sort of crazy because they’re teaching the kids mallorquin (not spanish) while talking about transitioning the kids into being able to work and be independent after the age of 18, but if they only know catalan, then that will only really help them find a job in the Balearics or in Catalunya… sort of bizarre if you ask me, but I’m sure the kids are picking up some spanish, and it’s no doubt they’re doing a great thing at the Shelter here.  Not going to lie, I teared up a couple of times.  Anyways, the talk was for an event called Comenius that our school hosted last week.  We had Polish, Swiss, French and German students and teachers come to the school.  It was pretty great, and I did some presentations and helped out a bit with that, which was nice, cool doing the translating bit….

Anyways, I know you guys want to know what I’ve been doing on travels, but also about the day-to-day.  So, I had a really great (normal-ish) day today and I thought I’d share.  I woke up around 6 to catch the 7:09 train in to school.  I actually like that train because I know the regulars.  There’s the motley crew of Russian(?) and latino immigrant men who work in Santa Maria, two stops before me.  One of the gym teachers at my school whom I’ve never spoken to.  A homeless-looking man missing his two-front teeth.  I mean, I’ve never talked to any of these people and I don’t know their names, but we all have a seating arrangement and sort of nod cordially at each other before trying to take naps in our respective spots.  It’s actually sort of comforting, and we were all chuckling at this foreign lady who went on a feminist tirade to a complete stranger and was using really funny slang words.  It was very heated for that early in the morning, but entertaining. 

Then at school,  I had class at 8 with one of my 2nd of ESO classes (8th graders, sort of) with one of my favourite teachers, Juli (we get along really well and she likes me because I give her recipes if I’m doing a presentation on a holiday).  Anyways, one of the kids attempted to dreadlock his own hair the night before, with hilarious results, and it was especially funny because he’s the “cool” kid in the class and he was all embarrassed.  Anyways, I gave them a presentation on Canada.  Then, I had a class with my 4th of ESO (Advanced class of Sophomores), and we went over kitchen vocabulary and the difference between certain items’ names in British English vs. American English.  Then, the next period, I had class with a rambunctious group of 1st of ESO (7th graders), and the first ten minutes was dedicated (as usual) to taming them.  Big Pedro said Roman hit him on the leg.  Joan Toni and Jeroni were shouting at the top of their lungs.  Little Pedro was brake-dancing (I think).  Chaos!  Anyways, once we settled down, I teached them new vocabulary about nature; so, I explained some animals’ names to them, and told them that “mole” means “topo” in spanish and that in English, we call “Senor Topo” from Los Simpson, “Hans Moleman,” and “La Rana Gustavo” is actually “Kermit the Frog.” The kids flipped out.  It was great.  Then, I got to go home early because my fourth class of the day had an exam.  So, I walked back to the train station through the gorgeous village square (the side streets always smell like an interesting mixture of manure and fermented grapes).  I felt so good because I helped an adorable, ANCIENT mallorquin man find his stop and buy a ticket on the train.  I don’t know why he was alone, the poor guy!! 

It was about 75 degrees F out today so when I got home to Palma, I took a bus to my favourite beach and sat there tanning and reading for a few hours, as well as going into the water for the first time of the season.  Pretty cold but pretty awesome!  Also, I’ve been planning the Mallorca leg of Mom and Dad’s trip, and it is going to be absolutely DIVINE. Yesterday, I found the address of an affordable GOAN restaurant in Paris… so it’s guaranteed Dad will have a good time in the City of Light!

In other news, I found out yesterday that I get to go to the Aquarium with my school in a couple of weeks.  I’m psyched because they don’t even really need me, but one of my teachers said I could come if I wanted to.  The entrance fee is 15 or 20 euros so I’m glad I’m getting to go for free!

Later tonight, I’m going to Ladies’ Night at this local American bar with my friends.  They give out free wine and cava (champagne) to girls from 7 to 10:30 and its half-price off all other drinks (a half-p of guinness for 1,50… donezo).  So, that’s exciting.  I guess this is not a normal post because today hasn’t been a normal day, but rather quite exceptional.  Tomorrow, I’m going with my friend and one of her roommates to a Monastery in the mountains.  Her roommate’s mom is an English teacher at an elementary school here and we’re going with one of the classes on an overnight fieldtrip.  It should be fun, or at least interesting, and they’re going to feed us, which is basically why I’m going (other than the adventure)! 

Next post will be about Ireland, Madrid and Wales.  I swear.  Hopefully, it will be before I go on my Easter extravaganza tour to Paris, Normandy, Cologne, Amsterdam and Brussels… talk about falling behind!