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Vic xx

Hi everyone

I got back from La Palma this morning! Woop Woop. Photos will be on image station soon.

Last week I taught a grand total of 4 hours - 2 on weds n 2 on thurs cos there was a strike fri. took advantage of this to go to la palma. Went with Trini.

Travelled round the whole island - car hire broke down yest avo (engine was completely knackered and it ran out of oil) Kept on stalling. So we wasted 3 hours waiting for a replacement car to arrive. Were NOT impressed with Hertz. Never hire a car with Hertz!!! Apart from that it was great - got lots of nice photos! Ate some lovely food, drank some lovely wine, went to some nice bars, sunbathed at a nice artificial beach/spa pool place with waterfalls n rock pools (see photos once on image station!)

I havent had any classes today. Our flight got in at 9.20am which meant trini arrived just in time for her 10.05 first lesson of the day! there were no available flights last night - we were on the waiting list for the flight there and back. I only found out we were def going when trini rang me at 10pm on thurs night to confirm we d got places.

Today Ive unpacked had a shower, been to hiperdino and dossed on the internet - a busy and productive day all round i feel. Im so bored - I cant believe Im almost wishing I hadnt given up all my private classes! I could have gone to the beach I suppose but Im also slightlynbored of that too. Alejandro is coming over later though. Also, Trini came over earlier for one off private convo lesson in english, so i have had done something useful.

She didnt get the opportunity to learn english at sch - only french (she grew in the middle of nowhere in very southern mainland spain). She s taught herself english from the radio and from night classes at a language school last year and considerin the little she s studied she speaks damn well! She also studies italian at night classes.

Seriously, she speaks at well as the upper sixth do, who ve learnt english since they were 6 or 7......I keep on telling her this but she doesnt believe me! I cannot believe how much she knows after one year of night classes.

Vic xx

Hi all,

Am loving the month of may so far - have nothing to do! No private classes, currently hardly any classes in school to plan, no uni project to do anymore - just plenty of time to lie on the beach!

Had no classes today. Ive stopped classes with 4 ESO (year 11) now as theyre preparing for end of year exams, so until I sort out a new timetable for my last month with the PE dept on weds, I dont have many classes - just years 8, 9 n 10! Am gonna go to some theoretical (sports science) PE classes and talk to them in English bout sports in England - lacrosse, netball, cricket, rugby etc - all the sports they dont play here in schools. most schools in spain teach at least a little bit of maths, technology and PE in English now, as part of a recent bilingual project introduced into the state system.....

Obviously only fairly basic language as maths teachers etc cant be expecting to become fluent in english just to teach their subject - but most schools ahve to have teachers in those discilpines who know at least the basics in English.

Fri I only had one lesson early in the morn, so met up with Alex in the avo - went to cinema, for food, and then drinks at a few bars. Sat I did nothing in the day really, In the eve, I went to my fave Italian restaurant here with the English girls. Yest went to the beach, then had chinese takeaway n watched DVD in the eve

Today, went to the beach! n went to dancing this eve to find the class has been cancelled cos of low numbers, so looks like I wont be doin any more dancing out here! Tomo is my normal day off, so going to the beach again.

Booking to go to La Palma this weekend - really we are! We couldnt manage it the other weekend as was bank holidayhere so there were NO flights or ferries available!!!

Vic xx

PS Just found out Im 'Newcastle University Modern Languages Society Secretary 07-08' Woop woop!

Hi all.

Well, did indeed finish project, have it marked and send it off to uni. So, thats out the way.

Finished watching my friends boxset - seen all 10 seasons! Ten years worth of Friends in 4 months is pretty impressive I say!

Sunday night (when I last wrote) went out for yet another meal....

My tues off was spent dossing watching friends and doing a private class.

Did nothing tues weds or thurs night (good girl). Friday was Jaime's bday so we all went to Alex n Sashas flat for a party. After that I headed out with a few others to Ibex. Saturday I went to the beach and in the eve went to watch Carolyn in one of her choir concerts in Telde. Then met up with Trini n her friends to go to Johnnie Walker. Sunday didnt do a lot - went to Alcaravaneras beach for bout half n hour cos the weather was crap. Sunday night went round to Trini's apartment w 2 of her friends to watch a Belgian film. There was sth wrong with the volume on her DVD player so a combo of crap sound, Belgian french, my currently being in a Spanish-speaking country and no subtitles meant I understand hardly anything - plus, I was really tired and almost fell asleep in her armchair lol

Mon and tues this week I had off as were fiesta days in Spain. Except I always have tues off so I only missed one day of lessons n since Ive been told I no longer teach 4b on a mon, as theyre behind n need to catch up before examtime, I only missed one lesson. Monday went to the beach again with Carolyn n didnt go to dancing in the eve cos couldnt be bothered - finshed friends season 10 instead. Wasnt on the week before either so not been in ages.

Yesterday I went to Puerto Rico for the avo and in the avo I went to see La Vie en Rose at the cinema with guess who? Trini! We re def film buddies - we saw 3 or 4 together during the film festival, n have seen a fair few since. We both loved it and Trini decided she had to find the lyrics to Non, je ne regrette rien online and play the song in one of her classes. So the next time I go to one of her classes we re gunna play that song! Found Edith Piafs life fascinating so gonna have to read up about her!

Today I went to San Telmo bus station to be refunded the 20 euros that the ticket machine decided to swallow yesterday when attemptin to buy a ticket to Puerto Rico.

Today I had 4 classes as usual - 3a, 3b, 2a and 1b - eurgh!!!! This month not doing private classes, so today is my first day of officially not doing private classes - yay!

Vicc xx

PS Trini n I tried in vain to book to go to La Palma this weekend just gone, but because of the holiday there were NO boats or planes available.....will keep trying for the wkend after next.

Stupid dumb pointless essay will be finished by this evening!!! Well, a draft to be proof-read and corrected and rewriten as much as possible by some teachers at school will be finished by this evening! Will be in the post to uni by the end of the week since apparently in this modern day and age it is still not acceptable to submit uni work via good old email.

Wow Ive had a crazy last few days far too much partying all at the insistence of those who whould know better ie older, mature teachers at school who seem to have more of an active social life than I do.

Had horrible classes this week eurgh I hate Year 8s - especially when their teacher is ill and I have to take the brattiest class in the school on my own! On thurs I was so in need of some fun and so pleased not to have to go to school on fri cos there was a strike I decided to go out - went to Yeten Perojo and Johnnie Walker with Alex a guy I met at my last houseparty. Consequently spent most of fri with hangover. Fri night was another staff meal - the 5th one since Ive bee here (the 4th one Ive been to since didnt make it to the xmas one). Food was questionable though, I have to say (we went to a cuban resto with not so great salsa music) then went to a particuarly unimpressive salsa bar - the only real highlight of the night was teaching the teachers how to do body rolls which was entertaining for me if not for anyone else!

Yesterday had a dancing social at some cheap social club in Agaete with my dance school. 20euros for food and drink throughout the day, a function room for dancing and access to outdoor pool - was v god, saw demonstrations from my teachers (never seen them dancing proper competitve good stuff before). Got back to LPA at half 8 and stupidly decided to rng Trini back and tell her I was NOT going to go out that night. Unfortunately she mentioned there was food involved again so I weakened as I always do and met up with her, another teacher from sch and an Australian Trini met the other week. So, rather than stay in, get a early night and maybe do some of my intercal proj; I ate far too much food, drank red wine beer and baileys baileys baileys (had drunk beer all day at the social too) and for the third night in a row did not make it to bed before 3am! This has GOT to stop! I blame Trini. She is 36 so when she s not tryig to be my mother (which to give her credit she does do often -she does look after me) she is the devil, telling me "You can sleep when you re dead. Your project is not long, Ill correct all your spanish and Bruno can correct the canarian linguistic content. You want to stay out since you just said you re now not tired so stop worrying about a tiny uni project and make the most of your last few weeks in Spain!"

She had a point - since Its 1pm, Im not in the least bit tired and Ive not got much more to do! Can do something this evening then after all!

Think we re off to La Palma next weekend - looking into booking it tomo during break at school.


Right, off to blag a conclusion, and sort out my appendix and table of contents

Vicci xx

Hey all

Well this week has been pretty easy at school - a number of lessons were cancelled as usual, and I pretty much did the same Easter lesson with all the classes I had to prepare myself! I even sat in on a talk for year 11s on "Addiction to new technolocgues" which was good for my Spanish

Been to 3 french lessons this week - didnt prepare anything, just helped Trini out wherever possible. Did do an easter egg hunt with one of the classes - a paper one not chocolate one!

Last night Trini very kindly invited me out with some of her friends for food and then cinema. Carolyn came too. We saw Das leben der Anden (The life of others) which was really, really good - if a little long. Tonight is Conny's last sat night in GC as she goes back to Germany next saturday, so we re going to Kalhua I think.

Trying very unsuccessfully to get stuck into my intercalary project, which isnt going well..... Also looking into flight to La Palma with Trini and maybe some of the English girls.

Gonna make a stab at another hour or so of this damn stupid stupid essay zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Back to school tomorrow.....

Well last sun didnt go anywhere we planned for that day. Instead we went to Puerto de las Nieves nr Agaete in the north. Mon we went to Puerto Rico and did the dolphin-spotting boat trip (only saw the tail of one so get another complimentary trip!)

Have looked into parasailing, quad-biking, jet-skiing and go-karting but we have neither the time nor the money to do any of the above (we have spent sooooo much money!)Mon night Ruth came to watch my dancing lesson

Tues we were up at 5.30am (having got to seep about 1.30am) to catch our 7am ferry to Tenerife. Arrived at 11pm and checked into our cheap hotel (alright I spose -xept there was no hot water on our first night). Later we wandered round Santa Cruz, went to 2 Art galleries, and quickly visted la Laguna and playa de las Teresitas. In the eve we had the most revolting chinese meal ever. Never eating Chinese in Spain again. Ever. This is what I told myself in my gap year but stupidly I decided to give it another chance.

On weds we went to Playa las Americas and Los Cristianos in the south and had a much much nicer Italian meal in the eve. Yum! On thurs we went to Puerto de la Cruz for the day before catching our 8pm ferry back to LPGC.

Fri we went to Teror in the centre and in the eve went to yummy Japanese resto that havent been to for ages. Yum again! Yest we went to Maspalomas and did the camel safari. We both got mild sunstroke though so didnt go out to Kalhua in the eve as planned. Today we ve been to Puerto de Mogan and the sunday market above San Telmo since I was up at 9am (an absolute record for a weekend!) today. Just finished tea so bout to start on lesson-planning zzzzzzzzz

Tomo is Conny's bday so think will be missing dancing in the eve to go out for yet another meal!!!! Might go to Kalhua tomo night if its open since I don work tues. Dunno what we re doing on tues as its Ruths last day. Her flights on weds morn while Ill be at school.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey all. Well, Ruth arrived on weds night. Thurs she came to school and to my private lessons with me. We also went to Carrefour at las Arenas and had lunch at a nice caf and went out to my fave pizzeria in the eve.

Yest was last day of term so there werent actually any lessons so i was free. we did the tourbus and wandered round parque santa catalina/beach area and finally booked accom and ferry to tenerife - we re going on tues for 3 days. In the eve we had houseparty until bout 3.30ish and most ppl headed out after but we watched some friends and were asleep by 4.45am - early night again by span standards!!!!

Today we were up by midday - a first for me for a weekend, then we finished tidying the flat, went to triana and vegueta, had lunch in McCarthys then had coffee in caf over the harbour - nice view, bought yummy ice-cream from el Corte Ingles (which melted everywhere)and wandered down to the port by el muelle. Chillin atm and MIGHT head out to a free open air music concert in parque doramas, but we also wanna go the Charleston in Vegueta later so will probs save our energy for that.

Tomo either goin to parque doramas in morn for another concert and then quad-biking/go-karting/teror ior Puerto Rico, dependin on weather etc.

Also have Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Puerto de Mogan, Agaete/Puerto de las Nieves and poss Playa Guigui planned!!!! Free from sch now until 9th april yes i DO have to work on easter mon!

Staff meal last weekend was good - yumy food and jonnie walker afterwards for interesting spanish music (errrr)...on sat night went for drinks at some randomer's place (think I met him once at a rando houseparty during carnival). During the day on sat and sun just did intercalary proj.

Not a lot else to say really, dropping all my private classes at end of april so can enjoy my last month. Busy trying to share them out between a few English erasmus students I know - theyre fighting over them at present! In May i want to visit fuerteventura, lanzarote and la palma at the weekends - not sure how i plan to achieve 3 weekend trips in one month!!!! Cant go before may cos intercalary proj is due to be sent off at end of april so goin to be busy with that. Also, last weekend of may I want to organise an end-of-year/late bday meal for everyone I know at my fave pizzeria! Have dancing social comin up on 21st april which really lookin forward to- although it clashes with a school staff meal/day out which is a bummer.

Right, gotta go!

Wow - 2 and a half weeks without updating - a long time for me!

Was in Morocco last weekend. Visiting Mostafa from LBS. Went to Rabat (where he lives) Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangier - loved it all - nice scenery, food, costume, music.....

I rode a camel, had photo taken with a snake and with a monkey, ate snails, went swimming, drank lots of freshly squeezed orange juice, listened to lots of music, ate lovely food, played some weird game in marrakech main square involving trying to win a bottle pop, bought some shoes, a lamp, a toy camel, a dish (which broke on the plane home!) and a knife. Of course, was nice to see Mostafa again (just in case he's reading this ;-D)

Since have been back, have been to Soultrain, been out for food with Carolyn and Trini (french teacher at my school) - we then went out together afterwards (but Carolyn went home) to la Floridita, Dojo and Treinta y tantos. Am currently enjoying the film festival here - seen films from Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Morocco so far - was hoping to go tonight but not sure will have time... def going tomo with Trini though, and friday I have a staff meal again. Might be going to south on sat with Trini and English girls, having another houseparty next fri, and ruth comes next weds - for almost 2 weeks! we re going to Tenerife for 2 nights at the start of Semana Santa.

Also going on a school cinema trip on fri - again, with Trini! I wouldnt know bout half of this stuff if it wasnt for her being lovely and inviting me everywhere!!! Finally officially started my intercalary project (zzzzzz) did my interview on fri - 20 mintues long so having great funny stopping and starting and rewinding dictaphone trying to listen/make out words/understand and type up the transcript into good spanish - almost halfway through on the first draft run-through. Needs a lot of tweaking though as there are several bits I cant catch or dont understand.....

Found out bout an hour ago that Ive successfully made it onto freshers cew 2007! One of a couple hundred "crazy talented" select of several hundred more applicants "responsible" for settling in the new first years in sept, getting them ready for "the best frehsers week in the country" as Newcastle has proudly boasted for years! I get to wear an infamous yellow tshirt! or even better, green, if I was succesful in making it as a supervisor (responsible for a number of crew mmbers)! If I get to be supervisor I think I get to have a walkie-talkie and everything! i may just be imagining that anyway but who cares? I get free entry into clubs all week! I got in even without being in the country to attend interview/initiation/try-out whatever you want to call the process. I made up a rap and emailed it to the 4 organisors of my own accord before theyd even released the application forms so I won them over with my initiative and enthusiasm - and probs the fact that I wouldnt stop bugging them with emails reminding them I still existed out here far far away! I can timagine it was my app form that swayed them cos I had great difficulty in thinking up witty enough responses to all the completely pointless questions.

Right off to watch friends now i have a laptop that can play DVDs again, before doing lesson-planning :-(

Yellow t-shirt person x x