Neighborhood Ferias

Each neighborhood used to have its own little fair (more like a Carnival in American English as we know it...), but now there are only a couple that still do it. This feria was close to where I live so I decided to check it out. This stage and bar were set up for a lively performance later in the evening and then the other attractions were typical things at a Carnival - somewhere you usually wouldn't be caught dead at! Especially if you're from Thatcher, AZ! Unless you are 5 years old of course, it's OK. There was the usually games (1 euro for a toss to hit something), the rides (ferris wheel, bumper cars...) and then food for sale (cotton candy, hamburgers, churros and kebabs). It looked fun for the kiddies anyway.

Cruces de Mayo

For the fiesta Cruces (Crosses), there are many crosses set up all over the city. These crosses are covered and decorated with real flowers and are set up inside buildings. They are also surrounded by other typical things from Andalucia like old-fashioned sewing machines, shawls, pots, fruit, vegetables, etc.

The popular time to see the "cruces" is by night and there are make-shift bars set up with drinks and all kinds of tapas. There is great music playing and occasionally some women even break out into the sevillana!! It's great!

Last night I went "cross hopping" from one cross to another with one of the families of my students enjoying the tapas, the atmosphere, and the music. I really wanted to dance the sevillana, but I have absolutely no clue! Anybody want to teach me?!

There was also some live outdoor Flamenco music and I was hoping to see some Flamenco dancing, but nope....just the music and guitar. The stage was set up next to the Cathedral.

Poetry Reading

Yesterday at the school, there was a Poetry Reading to celebrate the poetry written by Mervyn Smale, a previous English Literature professor of Antonio's at the University of Granada. There were 44 poems total and various students and teachers (including myself) each read a poem. There was also a violinist who played some songs throughout the evening. Mervyn Smale, what a funny guy. He seems like he would have been a very enjoyable teacher. Here is a picture afterwards of a few of the teachers....Celia, Clara, me. If you would like to see more pictures and read the poems, please click HERE

I HAVE A JOB!!!

When I get back to the States that is! I was offered a position to teach high school Spanish at Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, a charter school in Provo, Utah. I accepted, of course, so I will be moving to Utah in August to begin teaching Spanish. It's nice to know I have a job lined up when I get back. All of my siblings are in Utah so that will be nice to be so close to them as well. Ryan & Maranda, you can't move for 1 more year, ok? :) I still don't know if I want to be a Spanish teacher for good, but it's a good start. That's why you must vote on my poll!!!

Indiana Jones filmed in Almería

So one of my favorite movies has scenes filmed right here in Almeria!! I had no idea. All of the following scenes were filmed here - the tunnel, the Monsul beach, the school of fine arts, the Tabernas desert, etc. This gives you a feel for where I live....

Día del Libro

Today was the famous Book Day celebrating the deaths of both Shakespeare and Cervantes (THE famous Spanish author who wrote Don Quijote). They both died the same day of the same year....April 23, 1616.


In Cataluña it is customary to present someone with a book and a rose. In Barcleona this year alone, they have sold 6 million flowers, 60% of the annual total sales. Now that's amazing! The flowers cost anywhere between 2-5 euros, while the muticolored one are more expensive.

As for the books, 10% of the annual sales are sold on this one day. You can also get your books signed by the authors. There are famous ones and others not as well-known. In all of Cataluña, there were around 400 authors to sign books.

Welcome to the USA!

Here is the beginning part of my speech. This is for all you EOI students who missed it! :) Nah, this is just a sample of my presentation. I'll have you know my voice only squeaked twice during the whole 50 minutes. Now that's an accomplishment! Enjoy!

Welcome to the USA - Part 2

I also tried to post the end part of my presentation with the Questions & Answers, but it is not working. You'll have to click on the following link to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjVJ1WkoXbg

Sorry to leave all of you hanging so long... So my presentation went soooo well! I couldn't be happier! I was expecting like maybe 20 or 30 people, but there was more like 120! Everybody was raptly paying attention and it went very smoothly. All levels of English were there, from 1st to 5th. I was a little worried about that since I didn't know how fast or slow to talk or if I could play to their understanding, but no worries. I got a few laughs out of them! The teachers of 1st and 2nd level said their students loved it. I got lots of compliments. I'm just glad I don't have to do any more preparing. That's the part I hate. I have no problem with actually giving speeches (I actually like it), I just don't like preparing and stressing about it. For some reason I was super stressed about this presentation, mostly because I was worried about speaking for a whole hour straight, but it almost wasn't enough time! Well, I couldn't be happier. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it. Now I am stress free...

Announcing...

Click below to see a special announcement. Yes, that's right. I am going to be the featured speaker this afternoon. I am a bit nervous to give the presentation since I have to speak for an hour. Yes, I've spoken a million times in church and even at EAC (a junior college) graduation with tons of people, but those were never longer than 15 minutes tops.

Plus, I don't know how many people are going to be there and there are going to be all levels of English, 1st to 5th. What if they don't understand and I can't crack jokes? Well, I'm ready as I'll ever be so wish me luck. I'll let you know how it goes!

http://ingles.eoialmeria.org/wordpress/index.php

American vs. British English

Because I teach from books written in Britain (England, UK, Great Britain….why the heck does it have so many names!?), I’ve seen some big differences between British and American English in vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. I’ve lost part of my American accent after 6 months of speaking like a British person, pronouncing all my T’s and what not; I feel like I’ve lost part of my identity…haha! No, not really. Here are some differences… American English is on the left and British on the right. Some of these words I’ve never even heard before so they are quite entertaining.

VOCABULARY
trucks = lorries
cafeteria = canteen
honk (car horn) = hoot
friend = mate
trash = rubbish
tennis shoes = trainers
robbed = burgled
time outs = stoppities
quotation marks = inverted commas
bangs = fringe
trunk (of a car) = boot
fired = sacked
movie theater = cinema
movies = films
to stand in line = to queue
elevator = lift
pants = trousers
bug = insect
parking lot = car park
pet peeve = pet hate
mall = shopping centre
freeway = motorway
gas station = petrol station
cut in line = jump the queue
out-going = extrovert
chips = crisps
fries = chips
laundry detergent = washing powder
advertisement = advert
restroom = toilet
take out = take away
math = maths
on the weekend = at the weekend
get along with = get on with
grocery store OR Wal-mart = supermarket

SPELLING
favor = favour
center = centre
defense = defence
connection = connexion
apologize = apologise
program = programme
learned = learnt
mom = mum

PRONUNCIATION
unnecessary = unnecess_ry
Idaly = Italy
thirdy = thirty
imporunt = important
edjucation = education
weather = weathah

My Favourite British Words...

I discovered these great words on Wikipedia. I think the British are on to something! These are much more fun to say! I just laugh out loud so hard every time I look at these!! I hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I do…

Argy-bargy - pushing-and-shoving or outright fighting

Bimble - to wander aimlessly or stroll/walk without urgency to a destination

Bodge - a poor job (repair) that just about works

Bobbie - police officer

Bum bag - a bag worn on a strap around the waist (US: fanny pack)

Codswallop - "You're talking codswallop" (US: You're talking trash)

Crikey - exclamation of surprise

Faff - to dither, futz, diddle, “I spent the day faffing about in my room”

Git - scumbag, idiot, annoying person

Gormless - lacking in intelligence; with a vacant expression

Grotty - disgusting, dirty

Manky - feeling ill, rough, out of sorts; filthy, dirty, rotten

Numpty - (mainly Scottish) a stupid person

Sarky - sarcastic "why are you being so sarky for?"

Skive off - to sneak off, avoid work (U.S.-"Play Hookey")

Slaphead - bald man

Squidgy - soft and soggy

Wally - buffoon, fool; milder form of idiot

Wonky - wrong, awry, not straight or stable; shaky, feeble

El Cable Inglés

Ok so I take back what I said about the Cable Inglés. I thought it was the ugliest thing ever, but then I found out that the person who built it was educated by Gustave Eiffel, the dude who built the Eiffel Tower and the inside structure of the Statue of Liberty. Now that it has a small relation to the Eiffel Tower, the Cable Inglés has more meaning and now I can appreciate it more.

It was used to transport minerals that were stored in this (the Toblerone) to ships in the ocean back in the 20th century.

Invernaderos

Almeria is not as much a fishing port as an agricultural area. There are soooo many greenhouses (invernaderos) all over the area. For example here is a picture from the air of all the greenhouses. They call it "the sea of plastic," for good reason too. They grow all kinds of tomatoes and all kinds of peppers, mostly. They then ship them all over Europe to Germany, etc. They make bank, lots of money I'm sure. Many of the Moroccan people work in these greenhouses.

Here is another glimpse from Google Earth. All those white squares you see are greenhouses! Insane!

Here is the inside of an old abandoned greenhouse. They are not constructed out of glass like we usually think (although there are a few), but with plastic.

This type of tomato is Raf and is new to me, never heard of it before. It's shaped a little different and it tastes a lot sweeter. They are usually green and red at the same time. I quite like them.

Happy April Fool's Day!!!

Well, most of you know much I like to pull people’s legs and see how gullible people are, especially my family….my mom’s the worst…she believes everything I tell her! Haha, I love you Mom! I get lots of laughs out of it anyway. My dear friend Allison calls my condition a “compulsive liar.” Nah, not me!

April Fool's Day reminds me of all the practical jokes that go on where I used to work - Medicap Pharmacy. But these are not just once a year pranks, they are everyday! It's great! You guys still carrying on with all of that? Jumping out of boxes to scare each other, putting fake bugs in each other's pockets, you know....good times!

So unfortunately I think it would be cruel to post something not true on my blog and so I have no one to kid…bummer. So instead here’s a story from one of the books I teach with about April Fool’s:

"In 1957, the BBC documentary series Panorama showed Swiss farm workers pulling spaghetti from 'spaghetti trees'. The programme told viewers that the farmers were enjoying an excellent spaghetti harvest due to a very mild winter. As spaghetti wasn't very common in the UK at that time, many people believed the report. Hundreds of viewers even phoned up to ask where they could buy their own sphaghetti trees!"

I can't believe so many people believed that. Well, I hope you don't turn out to be the April Fool today....
Oh, and by the way, I almost forgot to tell you...I got to go sailing on a yacht the other day!! We made a whole weekend trip out of it.