New Culture, New Life

Wow... I'm barely starting to realize that I'm in another country and that it's not a dream. I find myself sometimes feeling as if I were just observing a scene from a dream. It's a weird feeling, but I'm starting to embrace the reality around me and figure out how to start a routine and a new life here.

Today I signed up for a gym membership here in order to keep myself in good shape from the huge amount of good food that my 'house mom' makes me. Man that food is good! And it's always there, 3 times a day. crazy! I worked out for 2.5 hours, and saw some beautiful Spanish women. Let me tell you, when Spanish women work out, it sounds like they're doing something naughty in bed (That was the best part of the gym!). It's a good gym, and it doesn't cost much per month.

My last 5 days have mostly just been hanging out with the 'house mom' running errands, teaching her English phrases, and visiting things in some suburbs of Madrid. At 5pm, the kids come home, we play for a bit, and then they get on their homework. I give each kid about 1 hour with me for help with their English homework and for other subjects like math, government, social studies, and language. They mostly just do their homework without my help, and I just wait until they have a question and then we say it in English or I find some connection with English.

I haven't been taking many pictures because I don't have a charger for my camera's rechargeable batteries, but I have taken some. It's just that I'm always on the road with Isabel and I don't want to seem like a ridiculous tourist.

I have been taking some little siestas around 3-4 pm, and I must tell you, they're great. I eat some bocadillos(snacks) and lunch and then I go to bed until the kids get home. It's a good afternoon, ¿que no?

In all, I'm learning a lot of culture and coloquial Spanish all the time, and I'm trying to teach English to the mom and kids in a coloquial way with play. This is what I'll do for now, but when summer (el 22 más o menos de Junio) comes around, I'll actually be giving the kids lessons.

I hope all of your summers or ends of the school year are going well. And don't forget, if you want to talk to me, get a skype account and add number/profile at 'nicholas.canfield'.

Un saludo a todos, y hasta luego.

Nicolás Antonio Canfield