Well, another 2 weeks since my last post. I have been so busy I just haven't been able to keep up with this too well. I went to the hot springs last weekend with Remy. Very relaxing, sitting in hot pools of water all day, but definitely would have been bored if we'd stayed much longer. The city of Salto itself is very small, but we went out and played pool over a few beers anyway, probably the least touristic bar I've gone to here, but that meant cheaper beer!
This weekend was a long weekend (yes, they celebrate Columbus Day here, too, it's also America!), and I went out to Piriapolis with a bunch of friends. I would tell you more about Piriapolis, but I didn't see much of the town. I know it was originally established as a tourist destination by an alchemist named Piriap, it has a nice rambla, and you can see Pan de Azúcar from there. Pan de Azúcar means Sugarloaf and is a small mountain-hill with a cross on top. Haven't visited there yet, but it makes a nice view, and I imagine a better one from the top. I went to a friend's beach house there with over 14 other people. We made asado, spent time at the beach, and drank an obscene amount of cerveza and other beverages among us.
Another 2 weeks at the school. Starting to feel frustrated and useless. The culture of the school is so much different than in the US and I really have no idea how to teach. Without training and with only an hour a week with each class, I am not doing much. I'm already halfway through my time there and don't feel like I've accomplished much. At the same time, they don't expect much from me and at least it is better than nothing... just wish I was more successful at it. I guess I'll have to be more creative or something.
I haven't been going to many Spanish classes for the past month or so. I've been making a lot of long weekend trips instead! Even though I have this 'home base' in Montevideo, I haven't been spending much time here. Three days and 2 nights a week in Punta Ballena and 2-4 nights in other places, Bs As, Salto, Piriapolis, I feel like I never stop moving! I think this weekend will be a little more close to home, but the next weekend it's off to Cabo Polonio most likely. And since I don't bring my computer with me on any of these trips, I have been less in touch and active in blogging. So I guess I'm feeling a bit homesick, but still having an amazing time. More than missing home, I'm missing the feeling of being a native and understanding everything as well as feeling more or less permanent in the place I am. Anyway, I am only halfway through and I am still enjoying myself. The best is yet to come and I still think I will be sad to leave when the time comes.
I understand your frustration with the "teaching" aspect and personally think that planting a spark, an interest in another language is as important as any "rote" learning that may take place. The children are young, remembering YOU will have a greater impact on them than the words themselves. Trust that you are making a difference, you are ♥
ReplyDeleteWhat she said. Teaching is hard no matter what, but as long as something embeds itself, anything positive digs into them, any sort of enrichment of any shape or size, then ya done good. Don't sell yourself so short. You're over 4 feet tall.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people I know who traveled abroad find that they are just starting to get used to life when suddenly they have to leave. It'll suck a bit, but at least memories are pretty portable. These days I run with a point of view of impermanence, nothing lasts forever, all that jazz, and my response to that view is to just enjoy things while they're there, not worry about these things disappearing when they're done, and let any sort of remembrance be enough to satisfy me when they're gone. I do what I can not to miss things, but I'm more than happy to recount how awesome they were at the time.
I don't know if I'm making sense or not, or if this is something you already do, or if it's something you're rolling your eyes at, but yea... two pence.
Also, been meaning to ask: ginormous El Prado cows. How ginormous were they?