Who is that hairy low-browed man?

The eldest went off on an exciting field trip today to the Ajuntamin...the town hall, where she and her classmates spent most of the morning questioning the mayor of our little village no less. She said it was exquisitely boring, especially so as it was all in Catalan...the other kids were reported to have enjoyed it, and like politicians everywhere, she came back with a big old bag of candy....more than she's gotten in some loot bags!

She mentioned that she was going this morning, and typical parent, I said to her that I assumed it had to do with the work that they were doing in Social Sciences on the Catalan political system.

"No," she assured me, "we're studying Neanderthals now."




Here's a couple of photos from around the town...





I guess I like the mountains better than the buildings.

I substituted for a sick teacher tonight...6 year olds and 14 year olds. Substituting is at best tough, but doing it in another language adds a certain air to the entire thing....

Here's another little joy about the evening, that directly ties into the Catalan lifestyle. Picture a room full of 6 year olds, who have been in school until 5pm, followed by a large chocolate croissant and a chocolate milk....then take them to about 6pm. Yeegads...it was a noisy place...they COULD NOT sit still. Nothing on Earth or the heavens was going to keep their bottoms down...we did some fairly active language. They also thought MY accent was funny. They of course are too young to realize that their English accent also leaves a little to be desired. The teenagers...yeegads. I held my own, and they did learn something...but oh, what a contest of wills. 'nuff said.

I now have to go write report cards in Catalan!!! weee. They will check them over before they are sent out needless to say.

On a final delightful note, I now have a contract, and a social security number in Spain....I have landed. The other good thing is that I have work already lined up for next year...they asked ME to come back. Although after tonight........gack.