Well, I've let the ball drop on all this blogging stuff huh? I don't think it's really possible to account for Barcelona, Andalucía, and Thanksgiving as well as all the stuff in between. Forgive me- I'm a horrid human being
Now that we've got that out of the way
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. The first thing I did was go to Maristas to sit in on their science class first, then teach 2 fifth grade classes about what Thanksgiving is and our culture and customs. It's interesting. Teaching really is how God wired me. It helps me process while I teach and helps me reflect later on things that we don't really think about. For example: I didn't know what I'd be teaching on, and when I told her it was Thanksgiving, she happily let me do a lesson on it! I quickly googled "history of Thanksgiving" because I realized- yeah I know it had to do with the pilgrims and that the Indians helped them find food and they had a huge dinner and gave thanks to God. But- that wasn't sufficient enough for me. That's not really the REASON. When I teach, I want to know and fully understand everything so I can help THEM understand. How can they if I don't? So upon (ashamedly) googling the history and clicking on a kids version, I literally summarized and talked while I glanced at the page. I picked out the most important things and started there. All these things I "knew" but the puzzle pieces were kind of floating there-in the correct order-but not connected. After teaching 2 classes of this and asking the same questions over again I remember perfectly! In 1620 the pilgrims came on the mayflower ship to America. Why did they come? For religious freedom? From... what? When I asked this question and realized I didn't know, my teacher started telling the class "A new religion started at that time called protestantism. It's like the Christian religion but different. The king made that the official religion and the Pilgrims wanted religious freedom so they came to America". This surprised me and I remembered that Spain is extremely Catholic. I mentioned "King Henry the 8th right? Wasn't he Catholic?" and she responded that the woman he married (and caused the split of his reign from the church) made it protestant and it was this that the Pilgrims escaped from. I was a little indignant I realized, and after suggesting that the Pilgrims were protestant and wanted to be able to practice it freely in the new world, which was met with a critical look, I decided to simply say that the king wanted everyone to practice his religion and the Pilgrims wanted religious freedom to worship God how they wanted. Now I'm more interested in the rest. Interesting the differences in opinion from a religious standpoint. It surprised me that I felt defensive, but there it is. So- the lesson continued and I talked about how the first winter was very hard because it was cold and there was no food. About half the Pilgrims died that winter. In 1621 the Indians helped the Pilgrims find food and hunt as to not starve and they had a celebration of Thanksgiving dinner to thank God for all the provisions and the Indians were invited in thanks for their help. I explained how we have a huge dinner with our families (even explained football) and showed pictures via google of Turkeys, corn, and cranberries. I showed them apple pie (which they drooled over), and told them that I had made 3 of them the night before with my friends. My cooperating teacher now wants the recipe! When I showed them the pumpkin pie, I was met with a gasp of "que asqueroso!" (how disgusting). I was SHOCKED! (and I admit a bit defensive for the second time!) How can any living breathing human being not think that it's absolutely delicious!? Well, when I think of the pumpkin that the Spanish eat, it's more like zucchini and squash they use in stew. Thinking of that I understand the "asqueroso" sentiment.... but still! I tried to explain that it's better than it sounds but to no avail. The same exclamation of disgust was expressed when I showed them stuffing and explained it (which I spose I get. It's just something you have to try to understand) and also when I showed them mashed potatoes! .....What???? They have mashed potatoes here. I think it was the thought of eating it solo cause my teacher asked me if we mix it with anything such as meat. Ug. their precious meat! Can't they eat anything without freakin' ham!?!? Anyways, it left me wanting to bring a Thanksgiving dinner to class next week and make them try it.... anywhoo.... after teaching the second class, I left to go eat turkey. hmmm :) the sun was shining and I made my merry way to the center to pick up the 3 gorgeous pies that we'd made the night before. I did my first basket weave on top of the pie and I was (and still am) super proud of it!
Now that we've got that out of the way
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. The first thing I did was go to Maristas to sit in on their science class first, then teach 2 fifth grade classes about what Thanksgiving is and our culture and customs. It's interesting. Teaching really is how God wired me. It helps me process while I teach and helps me reflect later on things that we don't really think about. For example: I didn't know what I'd be teaching on, and when I told her it was Thanksgiving, she happily let me do a lesson on it! I quickly googled "history of Thanksgiving" because I realized- yeah I know it had to do with the pilgrims and that the Indians helped them find food and they had a huge dinner and gave thanks to God. But- that wasn't sufficient enough for me. That's not really the REASON. When I teach, I want to know and fully understand everything so I can help THEM understand. How can they if I don't? So upon (ashamedly) googling the history and clicking on a kids version, I literally summarized and talked while I glanced at the page. I picked out the most important things and started there. All these things I "knew" but the puzzle pieces were kind of floating there-in the correct order-but not connected. After teaching 2 classes of this and asking the same questions over again I remember perfectly! In 1620 the pilgrims came on the mayflower ship to America. Why did they come? For religious freedom? From... what? When I asked this question and realized I didn't know, my teacher started telling the class "A new religion started at that time called protestantism. It's like the Christian religion but different. The king made that the official religion and the Pilgrims wanted religious freedom so they came to America". This surprised me and I remembered that Spain is extremely Catholic. I mentioned "King Henry the 8th right? Wasn't he Catholic?" and she responded that the woman he married (and caused the split of his reign from the church) made it protestant and it was this that the Pilgrims escaped from. I was a little indignant I realized, and after suggesting that the Pilgrims were protestant and wanted to be able to practice it freely in the new world, which was met with a critical look, I decided to simply say that the king wanted everyone to practice his religion and the Pilgrims wanted religious freedom to worship God how they wanted. Now I'm more interested in the rest. Interesting the differences in opinion from a religious standpoint. It surprised me that I felt defensive, but there it is. So- the lesson continued and I talked about how the first winter was very hard because it was cold and there was no food. About half the Pilgrims died that winter. In 1621 the Indians helped the Pilgrims find food and hunt as to not starve and they had a celebration of Thanksgiving dinner to thank God for all the provisions and the Indians were invited in thanks for their help. I explained how we have a huge dinner with our families (even explained football) and showed pictures via google of Turkeys, corn, and cranberries. I showed them apple pie (which they drooled over), and told them that I had made 3 of them the night before with my friends. My cooperating teacher now wants the recipe! When I showed them the pumpkin pie, I was met with a gasp of "que asqueroso!" (how disgusting). I was SHOCKED! (and I admit a bit defensive for the second time!) How can any living breathing human being not think that it's absolutely delicious!? Well, when I think of the pumpkin that the Spanish eat, it's more like zucchini and squash they use in stew. Thinking of that I understand the "asqueroso" sentiment.... but still! I tried to explain that it's better than it sounds but to no avail. The same exclamation of disgust was expressed when I showed them stuffing and explained it (which I spose I get. It's just something you have to try to understand) and also when I showed them mashed potatoes! .....What???? They have mashed potatoes here. I think it was the thought of eating it solo cause my teacher asked me if we mix it with anything such as meat. Ug. their precious meat! Can't they eat anything without freakin' ham!?!? Anyways, it left me wanting to bring a Thanksgiving dinner to class next week and make them try it.... anywhoo.... after teaching the second class, I left to go eat turkey. hmmm :) the sun was shining and I made my merry way to the center to pick up the 3 gorgeous pies that we'd made the night before. I did my first basket weave on top of the pie and I was (and still am) super proud of it!
When we walked into the restaurant where we were to have our Thanksgiving dinner, we were ushered downstairs to a gigantic table in a gorgeous very Spanish looking room. Then they brought in the turkey. and oh what a turkey it was... I'd never seen anything so huge in my life! I think they said it was 55lbs!- funny, strange fact: Apparently the turkey was literally grown just for us. Like- we could've visited the poor thing! Just demonstrates how ham is the dominant meat here- turkey is so rare they grew us a special one! haha So this massive thing came in with American flags and everything. We all started snapping pictures.
For the appetizer, I tried my first calamari (it was alright- it was fried and mixed with other stuff though) Then for the main course we had the turkey, baked apples (FANTASTIC) a smallish baked potato, burger-like stuffing, and for dessert, flan (typical of Spain), and our apple pies. They turned out even better than I could've hoped! I finished the day off with buying some last Christmas presents at a few shops while walking to tutor a boy in one of my classes I teach. He picks stuff up so fast! All in all, a very satisfying Thanksgiving. Funny, I didn't pine for home like you'd think. I didn't really even consider it until we were all sitting around the table and everyone was asking each other how they were doing with missing home. You'd think I'd have some deep longing for home or something-no. Paige expressed my sentiments about the whole home sickness thing pretty well in her blog. I agree with her when I say I've never been a homesick child. At sleepovers, at camp, in college, at camp as a counselor all summer... never really been homesick. I realized when I read her blog that I've been getting homesickness all wrong. It's not a mental temper tantrum of wanting to go home this very instant and being inconsolable. I realize I HAVE been homesick- just not throwing a tantrum. Yeah, I miss people, I miss home, I miss certain cultural things. I do indeed have times now when I just really want to go home and I get really discontent and frustrated. But those only really last for a passing moment. I also have times when I look around and start to panic thinking about leaving forever. I have another passing mental moment when I jut out my chin and like a stubborn child, refuse to leave. It's funny- with each swing of emotions, they get stronger. When I want to leave, I REALLY want to leave. When I want to stay, I REALLY want to stay. I'm going to be an emotional mess the day we leave and probably for a good long while after that. I understand now how I really am going to have to go through culture shock and re-entry all over again. I can see how it will happen already. My poor family! Would I trade my last few weeks to go home sooner and have everything I miss? No! Absolutely not! I'll be home soon enough! You only ever go to Spain once! Take advantage of the time here, duh! Would I move my plane ticket back if I could and stay here for longer? Nope! Not in a million years! I miss everyone and I've had my time here. It's time to go home. So, in my times of crazy mood swings and discontentment, I really AM content deep deep down in my soul- like the song. My discontentment is passing, but my contentment is lasting and through all of my different feelings and emotions, I'm perfectly happy with where I am, when I am, and how I am. I only have to let God keep the reigns instead of yanking them out of his hands when life gets crazy. He's still got me, and my adventure is coming to a close. What an adventure it's been