Happenings in Vitoria

I have spent the last couple of weeks in Vitoria. It has been nice to take it easy and enjoy the last couple of weekend in Vitoria especially after all the traveling I had done over my break. I realized that I haven't updated you on my job and other happenings in Vitoria in a while. So here is what I have been up to since I have returned.

Working in the school has been going really well. I definitely feel like I have gotten to know some of my students a lot better. However, it is hard to get to know all of them since I only see each of them once a week. It is always nice when they stop in the hallways to try to talk to me in English.

Last weekend one of the English teacher's, Jesus, volunteered me to take some of my students to the University in Vitoria. There was an open house at the University in Vitoria for prospective students. So last Saturday morning I met some of my students from my favorite class in the center and then we all walked over to the University together. About 8 of them showed up. They were all impressed with my ability to speak Spanish since I don't think they have heard me speak it before. At the University I walked around with them to different booths while they picked up information on majors they were interested in. Most of the girls are interested in teaching and most of the boys are interested in Engineering. There is also a picture of me in the local newspaper that is now being hung in the English department from the event.

After we all went out to cafe to get a coffee and something small to eat. I stayed there for about an hour talking to them in both English and Spanish. It was great to spend sometime with my students outside of class. I definitely felt like I got to know them a lot better and it was fun going back to their class this week.

Starting next week I will be helping out in two more of Fernando's classes. These classes are younger and at a lower level of English than the other classes I teach with him. It sounds like I will have a lot of fun and he seems excited to have me take part in these classes. It will be nice to have a few more classes to teach and a little more responsibility in the school. I have also started tutoring two more teachers at the school. One knows very little English but is very determined to learn and seems very good at languages. The other has a very high level of English but would like to continue practicing it.

I astarted taking this gym class at one of the Civic Centers in Vitoria which is just like a community center. It is called Physical Condition. I go twice a week during lunch time and I have enjoyed it so far. It is a good way to stay active and involved in Vitoria. Last week we played a game of basketball for a good proportion of the class. It was clear that I hadn't play for a very long time. However, I had a lot of fun and they were all very supportive.

I have continued to do a few intercambios in English and Spanish. An intercambio is when I meet with someone at a cafe. We spend about 30 minutes talking in Spanish and 30 minutes talking in English. It is a good way for both to practice our non-native language. In fact one of my roommates' Spanish professor's asked if I would be interested in doing an intercambio with him so I think I will start doing that. I have continued hanging out with the other language assistants here along with my roommates. It was definitely nice to come back and see everyone.