I have a cold.

i have a cold which is annoying but minor. I taught this morning and I think I did a good job of being energetic anyways so I am proud of myself for that. I think I get colds more easily here because I don't have antibodies built up against the buggies because I didn't grow up here. My plans for the rest of the day are rest, eat lunch, go to work, rest, eat dinner, sleep.

I'm a natural!

Well maybe not a natural, but my first week of teaching went surprisingly well. I have a class of adults in the morning who are really good and motivated so that is lovely. I think they mostly like me, though they seem a little skeptical about my teaching abilities. In the afternoon I am scheduled for a sub period and I have subbed every day so far. It's been mostly good and only a little not good, so I count that as a success. I'm glad that I'm getting started and getting more experience because that, in turn, makes me feel more confident and relaxed. There are a lot of things to learn about the bureaucracy and procedure, but luckily there are a lot of people to ask. I haven't made any best friends yet, but people are nice and I have chatted with some people in the teachers' lounge. I miss my friends though. I wish I could just bring all the people I love with me wherever I go. But overall, things are going well and I am mostly feeling pretty good about it.

Cuyes!

So this is the video you're all dying to see, I know. When we went to Otavalo and Atuntaqui last weekend, we visited Andres' father's cousins. They farm and raise animals and we were able to meet some of their delightful cuyes (guinea pigs). I thought maybe it would be said because I like guinea pigs and these ones are destined for lunch, but then I thought, they don't have such a bad life. They live in large pens with their twenty closest friends and family and munch on greens all day. They seemed happy.

 

These are some cuyes playing in their pen. And below is me playing with some baby cuyes! Hurray!

See the pregnant one??

I couldn't resist :)

Upcoming

Also, when I have more time and I'm not frantically trying to plan lessons, I will show you some awesome videos of me with guinea pigs. Get excited.

It starts tomorrow...

And that would be me teaching. A different level than they told me before. At 7 am. Monday through Friday.

But don't worry! I have it all under control! Mostly!

Speaking Spanish

So the whole speaking Spanish thing is going pretty well I think. But there are still quite a few basic words that I don't know. For example, I can't seem to learn the word for "bowl." It is "tazon" and I am writing it here on the off-chance that it helps me remember it (or, perhaps, one of you dear readers has had a similar problem with the word bowl). Another that I have managed to learn but not to pronounce is "sartén" which  sounds more like "saltine" to me, and means frying pan.

I try to get Andres to practice English with me sometimes. We came up with some times that generally work best, like when we are practicing dancing or singing (because then at least I can feel like I can speak properly, even if I am terrible at other things) and in the evenings at home. The rest of the time I try to speak all Spanish, though I have to admit that I slip up and say English words or phrases somewhat frequently.