My classroom is ginormous. I could fit 40 students in there, yet I have only 17. As I have been putting around my room preparing for the start of classes, several of my students have popped in-mostly girls. From their screams and excited giggles, you would think I am a rock star. They are as excited to meet me and start school as I am to meet them and begin teaching. It's a wonderful feeling.
Having fun with co-workers is a high priority. We vowed to work hard and play hard-and we have been true to that thus far. To us, everything is a reason for a party-from coming to my house to all use my internet connection ("internet party") to dinner and dancing in the huge living room of another couple's condo ("dinner party") to movie night at yet another co-worker's house with popcorn and movie projected on the wall of one of his rooms ("movie party")... we really do have fun. Last Sunday we strolled down the beach to a little restaurant/bar that we have claimed as our own. We drank sangria, ate plentifully, and laughed at ourselves for hours. Tonight we are going back to "our place" for dinner and then headed out to dance the night away with a Venezuelan co-worker as our guide.
Daily life is pretty darn good as well. I have a women coming to clean once a week beginning Monday. She has worked for another family for years so I don't have to train her or worry about anything. I bought an OLD truck for cheap from a departing teacher so I could be independent. On my first journey home from school I got lost and ended up in the mall parking lot. I had to park, pay to "park" at the ticket window, then get back in the car and head out the other way. It was a hoot. I am doing better now-but still a bit nervous about all the police. As for other things-well, I was the only new teacher with internet for 2 weeks and we have only had one power outage for about 4 hours-which is really good since it is rainy season.
The food is delicious. Arepas are these corn meal patties that are fried, then split open and filled with anything from shredded beef to cole slaw, eggs, cheese, veggies...you name it. YUM. Another funny thing is that Venezuelans LOVE hot dogs. Most street vendors sell only hot dogs-topped with crumbled chips, salad, corn, beans, ...anything you want, really. On of the best things to have, though, is the fresh juice. All along the side of the road in the AM are guys with piles of fruit and blenders. You choose your fruit and they slice it and blend it into juice for you. WOW! It's funny to think but everything we buy fresh here is organic-like I have my own whole foods store.
The weather hovers around 85, medium humidity and afternoon showers daily. It is rainy season so it will stay like this until November. I wake up at 5:30 and watch the sunrise over the water while I sip coffee on my patio. Then I leave for school at 7 and come home by 3:30. After school I try to swim laps (a mile) or hike for 45 minutes or so UP the huge rock peninsula we live on. My classroom is on the 4th floor and my condo is up 9 flights of stairs-and I ALWAYS take the stairs. So, in addition to the great food, I am getting great exercise. Plus, beginning next week, I teach a PE or fitness class for 80 minutes each day. By 9:30 each night I am back on my patio watching the reflection of the moon off the water and reading my book before bed.
Yep, it's a great honeymoon. I wish you were here. It's hard to put into words the full effect of all I see, hear, smell, experience every day. I hope this gives you a glimpse of it, though.
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