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One of those mornings.. The air is too cold and too warm. my clothes don’t’ feel right,  my nail polish is chipped, my legs prickly, I’m hungry for nothing. All of my messages and emails from the night before are unreplied. The kids are speaking only Spanish. No one understands me. Basically I’m feeling pretty dreadful, and quite alone. 

So I do what I always do when I feel this way. I call home.

And no one answers.. no one!?

Has everyone forgotten me? Perhaps I’m just grumpy because I’m out of coffee, my book is finished, all of the world is in shambles.

You know what they say, when all else fails, take a nap.

I feel like new. I called home. My mother still loves me. Thank God.

There is always a new book, more coffee, people who care. It’s all in perspective. And hey if those are my worse problems, then let it be so.

another day

Today was muy bueno! English class was more productive today. I created a series of games to play with Pablo, as long as it involves competition or coloring he’s in. 

They love to fight, like any brothers or siblings in general, and they know just what to do to make the other upset --Marcos especially.

To bring about peace, I made Marcos a fort of towels and gave him my mobile to play Angry Birds. One hour later.. all is peaceful at la piscina.

Marcos attempting to take a photo of Bianca

Marcos

There is an older Spanish lady at the pool, everyday when we are here. She intrigues me as she is always smiling to herself, yet doesn’t say a word. I like her. 

I've been working on my Grad school/Peace Corps applications and am hoping to have them all finished before I start wandering across Europe and Asia, as internet will most likely be scarce and I do not wish to be spending any of my time behind a computer screen.

Marcos is still playing angry birds, but hey no one is crying! This is a first. [five minutes later: spoke too soon]

To Madrid or Ma-don't, that is the question...

Madrid!

Also, I truly think Spanish should have been thee universal language. English, why? 

aquí aquí aquí!!!

Hello All,

I’ve made it to Madrid.

Mi familia es muy bonita!

Bea speaks wonderful English and Samuel is much better than he let on. I’ll be working with the boys each morning teaching them English for an hour. David the oldest is 9, Pablo or Paul is 7, and the youngest Marcos in 3. There is also Bianca the daughter of the housekeeper Zulma, who is 8 years old. She doesn’t speak a word of English, but is very sweet.

Basically I speak in English with the oldest two for an hour or two. Then we head to the pool or play football (soccer). The weather here is absolutely wonderful, fortunately I beat the 100 degree heat!

Another thing that is absolutely wonderful: the food. I will elaborate more on this later. But let me just say it’s wonderful.

I am headed to the store to get a cheap phone so I can communicate with new friends and various couchsurfers in the area- as well as my host family, that way when I get lost in the middle of Madrid, they can rescue me.

More soon!

Much love!

Nat

On route to Madrid

Hola mis amigos y familia! (<-- look Spanish!)

I’m currently on layover in Frankfurt. Seven+ hours, it’s only been four. I’m still convinced it was worth the saved cash… but ask me again in two hours ;)

I’m not really sure what to expect. My mother is convinced I’m going to be sold into sex slavery after watching a clip of some documentary on au pairs in Spain and talking to a friend. She tends to be right a lot, but I’m praying to God she’s wrong this time. She’s praying too!

I’m seriously not worried at all though. Well maybe a little… but only that I’ll be forced to get up in a few minutes to pee after drinking four cups of this free coffee ;)

My flight was 9 hours to Frankfurt from Detroit, which was a breeze after my 18+ hour African flights. I successfully slept most of the way, waking up just in time for each meal (which never happens.. I mean the sleeping part does but I always end up missing the best meals.)

I have another two-hour flight to Madrid. That is if I don’t fall asleep in the terminal in these next few hours and miss my flight..

I must admit that not one human in my terminal is speaking English, and it’s a tad bit overwhelming. I am surrounded by five or six different Spanish conversations, my only clues to understanding being their body language and the few words I remember from my time in the DR (three years ago!)

This is only a small taste of what I’ll be experiencing this next month in Madrid, teaching children who do not speak English.

Yet, I’m really excited. I must be insane, right? There’s no way I’m going to survive.

Well I guess we’ll find out ;)