Back to school!

I´ve completed my first week of teaching and could not have asked for a better situation! I absolutely love the students and teachers at my school-they have all made me feel so welcome! I have been assigned to teach English and Science to grades 1-6. And I actually get to prepare my own lessons, not just assist!

The first day of school I walked into the classroom and all the children just stared at me and then started asking ´Quien eres?!´ (who are you!?)
I then felt a tapping on the back of my leg and I look down to see a little 6 year old boy with big eyes looking up at me ánd ask who I was. And before I knew it there were several first graders swarming me like a bunch of excited little puppies.
The kids then had the chance to ask me questions and I got a lot of ´What is your favorite food/color?´, ´Do you have a boyfriend?´, but my favorite was ´Do you have any babies?´I can tell already that these kids will keep me very entertained.
The way that the school is having us teach English is by having us speak only English with them, regardless of their level. The kids were told that we don´t know any Spanish. Often times the kids will speak to me in Spanish but I will answer them in English. It´s like magic because they never catch on that I understood their Spanish.
The kids that I work with are sooo cute and affectionate. They will just come up to me in class and hug on me or hold my hand when walking from one class to another.

In addition to working with the students, I have been assigned to work with the teachers once a week. But we get to conduct these classes at the local bar because they said their English is much better after a few drinks. Sounds like a good deal to me! The teachers I work with are great also! They have gone out of their way to make me feel included and I have already gone out with them after school. It´s nice to get to know native Madrileños who can help you out.

Maggie and I have begun doing intercambios (intercambios are a language exchange where we meet with a native and for the first half of the meeting speak in English then switch to speaking in Spanish). Our Spanish is very weak and rusty right now but hopefully with practice we will be speaking great real soon! But it has been nice to have someone correct our Spanish and show us around the city.

I feel so content to be in Madrid. It is such a beautiful city, full of life and culture. I look forward to what the future holds!

(Pictures coming soon-- still waiting for internet)