Now if you have been following my blog you have some insight into how I have been feeling during these past five months. Although, I would say the posts in the beginning were a little more telling of my feelings because that was when I was just getting used to the nonsensical country that people refer to as Spain.
I feel like now I have come to expect absolutely nothing to go as planned and things are looking up.
And even though I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, I decided that I was going to look at everything in a positive light (or at least try to). And really this is not so easy when you are surrounded by a bunch of people who are constantly complaining about different things (and for good reason).
But I've come to realize that complaining doesn't help your situation and only really makes things seem worse.
I also kinda learned this through my psico classes.
One day I was just kind of done with everything and tired of feeling like crap everyday at school, so I decided that I was going to have a dance party with all of my psico classes. Of course, I disguised this as a game of freeze dance, but mainly I just danced the whole time.
I was happy. The kids were happy. All was well.
So that is kind of my general attitude now. If I'm getting frustrated because the children aren't listening and I'm having to yell at them... then just don't. I can't let a class of 21 five or three year olds have control over my emotions. They are not worth it.
So in addition to changing my perspective on things I have accomplished quite a bit in my time in Huercal de Almeria.
So far I have....
Gotten a hold of the bus schedule.
Understood that nothing is going to be open during siesta and on Sundays.
Managed to avoid going to the bank for a few months.
Gotten a good grasp on the past perfect tense in Spanish.
Learned a lot of British English.
Learned to understand the Almerian accent.
Learned how to give commands in Spanish (because for some reason I could never understand this, even as a Spanish tutor I was useless in figuring it out).
Mastered the names of half of the three year olds (because I only work with one of the classes), most of the four year olds, all of the five year olds, and a handful of primary and secondary kids.
Listened to a ton of Justin Bieber and One Direction (for which I am NOT SORRY).
Watched a ton of Castle, Criminal Minds, Modern Family, and Two and a Half Men.
Become much more patriotic than I ever was previously (sorry Spain, you have absolutely nothing on the US).
Become quite interested in the upcoming US presidential elections.
And learned a lot about myself and what I do not want to do for a job in the future.
Learned what it means to fully rely on God and continually learn from His grace and love.
So I have four more months of Spain. And although that is no insignificant time, it sounds like so little to me, for which I am glad. One hundred twenty seven more days, give or take a few.
I am going to Morocco at the end of this month and then hopefully Rome the
end of next month, so my journeys are nowhere near finished. I'm excited to see more of Spain and the world and to get back to warm weekends spent at the beach.
See you soon America (four months is soon)!
