Bus No. 6

Since I am reminded casi cotidiano (almost daily) that all I seem to do at night is homework (I can't even watch "Andaluces por al mundo" with my family!...My host dad and Maria just told me that none of their past host students did this much schoolwork.  In fact, they went to parties every night.), I truly feel as though I am missing out on so many cultural experiences that I have the opportunity to take part in here.  I resent this, but will not place the blame on anyone but myself...Anyway, por esta razón (for this reason), I cannot take this time to detail my extraordinary weekend in Valencia with my interest group.  I will instead, brief you on my day.

I woke up early so I could go to the instituto (high school) where I have started volunteering.  It is apparently a bilingual school.  The teachers I am working with all very nice and so excited to learn and take advantage of my help (which is great)!  This school is much more organized than the colegio (elementary school) where I taught students about our cultural traditions on Halloween.  Today was my second day.  I have not yet begun helping in the classrooms, but I am helping teachers learn/practice their English, in order to better instruct their students.  This is a truly interesting and helpful experience because I am learning basics about Spain's education system and I can physically see what qualities I have to offer them and in what ways I can help others at different levels (students, teachers, directors of programs, etc.).  Everyone is so thankful and open to new ideas, so I am always excited to go back.  Also, we take a coffee break to the bar/cafe next door, rather than in the "teachers' lounge."  It makes me feel so official and grown-up.  Especially today while I was speaking with an intern there who happens to be from Florida, working towards his doctorate to become a professor.  He's nice. We could be friends. Thursday I get to go to an English class and talk about Thanksgiving. You better believe we're making hand turkeys!

On my way to my class at the university today, I decided to take the bus.  It was cold and rainy. It seemed logical. It would have been logical, if I had executed this plan correctly.  I took Bus 6, swearing that it was the bus I had taken last time and that I would simply ride it to a stop near the school.  I felt reassured when students with University of Sevilla backpacks got on the bus. Through the outrageous traffic (this occurs when it rains) and literally 4 different ambulance causing minor traffic jams, I watched as we got close to my destination and turned away from it, as the clock was ticking.  Farther and farther away we drove, the time stopping for no one (the traffic clearly following suit).  It was now 17.04h...my class starts at 17.00. Since it is a known fact that my professor arrives 15 minutes late every day, I was not terribly concerned about this. I became concerned when we began to circle around the area near Betis Stadium (one of Sevilla's soccer teams).  Suddenly I found myself on an empty bus. The lights were turned off. Good grief.

I approached the driver and asked the question I had already known the answer to...clearly the sign was incorrect when it stated that this bus would take me to Prado de San Sebastian. He looked at me like I was dumb, but told me which bus to wait for when I got off. The time was now 17.22h. My metro card was out of money and I had used my last Euro coins on the bus I had just ridden.  My smallest bill was a 20. Bus drivers do not like this. As I waited in the rain, in what might as well have been the middle of nowhere, Bus 34 was nowhere to be seen.  The time was now 17.26h. I finally hailed a cab in order to take a direct trip.  I knew it was not far enough away to be a fortune and I had a large bill anyway. When I finally arrived across the street from the university (since there are too many one-way streets and turn-abouts to get on the correct side quickly), I waited for the cross-walk to turn green and ran to my class. I entered the classroom at approximately 17.36h.  I felt bad, but Ivan (the professor) could care less. I explained myself in order to justify my tardiness.  He simply explained that Spaniards are typically not very punctual.  So basically, I was just being Spanish...

What did I miss from our class discussion, you ask? An analysis of half of a paragraph.  When he realized that he had nothing more prepared for us in class, we were let out early.  Basically, I spent more time traveling to class than I actually spent in class. Typical.

Side Note: I now have a second blanket on my bed. My house is cold. We don't have a heater (to my knowledge). The new worst thing is waking up to walk on the cold tile floor to the cold bathroom to sit on the cold toilet and wash my hands with cold water.

Other Side Note: I ran out of clean underwear yesterday and I have still not received the washed and pressed pile. Therefore, I am wearing them inside out.  Problem-- no sign of a new supply. What happens after 2 days of the same underwear? Also, I ran out of clean socks today. Oh boy!