¿Das clases particulares ?

Time is moving by super fast. This week was filled with more introductions about myself, my town my family. Who knew that talking about your self for 12 hours a week would qualify as a job. I'm slowly beginning to pick up on how to best approach teaching the kids. I personally think its better to suffer through the silence and making them ask me questions, rather then just talk to them in English and have them not understand a clue.

I am also learning from the student too. For example, without a doubt I am asked "what is your favorite fútbol team?" I respond Barcelona (For no real reason other than I like they city and already own a jacket ...reminder to self...bring it back after break!). Almost on cue half the class erupts in cheers and the other half in groans...the groaning half supports Real Madrid. The follow up questions then alway test my true fan-ship. When I was first asked "Do you like Messing?" I replied with what, whats that? Turns out, he's THE player for Barca...oops! So after a few classes I know to say I love Barca, Messing included....and No, I do not like Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid ("best player in the world" apparently muy muy guapo accoring to the girls).

Other than school I have been making a pretty big effort to try and meet up with as many Spanish people as possible to really improve my spanish. Without a doubt offering to give "clases particulares" or individual english classes is the best way to do so. I can charge money for these but so far have opted to do it more like, you buy my coffee and we'll talk in spanish and english. Most of the people I have met with have been people whom I've met out and about. Now, there are pros and cons to the situation. I have one conversation friend who is this older-ish business man who my friends and I can't tell is very metro/euro (aka way too nicely dressed all the time) or...simply you know..either way its entertaining as at our last "lesson" we ended up at a cafe with his friends/co workers talking only en español.

On the other side, I met with two younger guys Raul and Juan, both who are/ have studying for their masters/doctorates in the science field. These two we met at the cafe/bar near are piso and they seem to be two really nice guys, normal and actually interested in working on their english.

Also, at the local police station/dmv time building where I had to go to turn in paper work for my foreign ID card, I met a really cool chica named Paz. She is originally from Galicia, lived in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for a while and is now in Mérida for a few years while working on a third degree. She is super nice and met with myself and two others just for some tapas and drinks. So nice and offered to take us out to this nice place whenever we want.

The here in Mérida and everyone I've met is nothing but friendliness and offers to help in anyway needed. Two of my neighbors, Emilio and Agoo (short for Augusta I think) have also offered to help with anything at well. Its great to already feel at home after only 3 weeks in a city.

On Tuesday nights we pretty much have a ritual down of our "hip hop" class, which i struggle through, and then going to the "Jazz Bar" for live music. Its funny because we clearly are the token foreigners and people are welcoming and love to chat. Wednesday night my teacher, Montse, invited me to the movies with her and her two sisters. The sisters live in the building next to me so I rode with them and we also had tapas and a drink before the movie, Agora. It was pretty good, and I understand around 85/90 percent of the conversation which I felt pretty good about! The director is Spanish, but the movie was dubbed en Español. I can't wait to see "Where the Wild Things Are" as well as the "New Moon" (the twilight movie!!)

Well tonight a few of us are traveling to Almendralejo, a smaller city about 30 mins away, to visit another friend and get out of Mérida for a bit. Saturday night I have plans to go out with a Spanish girl, Elena, who is the student of one of Montse's sisters. Elena is studying international business and is 23 and seems pretty excited to introduce me to her friends and go out. Its pretty awesome how helpful and open everyone!

OH and since Halloween is an important holiday to be celebrated we're hosting a dress up party next weekend..so there will be pictures by then for sure!