The last couple of weeks have been really good! I have actually had lots of interesting cultural experiences. I feel like writing a proper blog update and also adding some photos. And I will do it. Now. (This is of course because I have to finish my reports tonight, and I am the Queen of Procrastination...)
Have just got back from Hard Rock Café (crap service, crap food) with my lovely neighbour Bianca. I don't think I have introduced
the Wilkinsons properly on my blog yet, but Bianca, Nick, Lucas (4 years old) and Jax (1 years old) live next door to me, and I see them almost every day! We chill out by the pool, go shopping at Mercadona or La Cañada, and they always invite me to their South African BBQ parties! They're excellent neighbours and friends. Here's a picture of Bianca when she came over to my place with dinner the other night. Luxurious, isn't it?
Bianca and the lovely dinner she brought over
In Spain, there are several
ferias. (Parties. Festivals.) And the big FERIA in Marbella was arranged this weekend. I'm afraid I wasn't too impressed by the Marbella feria on Friday. However, I managed to win something in the dart competition. My prize hasn't got a name yet, so I will introduce it on the blog later. I would appreciate suggestions for his name, thouhg. Spanish male names, anyone? The name Pedro is already taken, of course.
Went to
a much better festival last night, in Mijas Pueblo. It was great from the moment we got there! The atmosphere was fantastic! There was food from all over the world. Well, from lots of countries in South America, and India. And there were four different
zonas there with music, varying from African drummers to Indian jazz-bands to Mexican Amigos wearing great Sombreros to what probably was my favourite: The Cuban Salsa Band! Oh oh oh! We danced and danced. And danced. And the funny thing is, after a while they said they wanted 10 girls up on the stage. And about 30 girls ran up there! (Sorry, but I don't think this would happen in Norway! Even when they asked for boys, they kept running up on the stage. I like this country!!) And they were dancing!! The whole evening was a bit of a challenge for my stiff Norwegian hips, of course, but I'm learning! And I'm enjoying it! :)
Mijas Pueblo
This picture is copied from the Internet, and doesn't really do Mijas Pueblo justice. However, it is beautiful up there, and I can't wait to go back. My friends Silje and Cathrine are coming to visit in two weeks, and girls: WE'RE GOING TO MIJAS!! Just add it to your list straight away! :) The good thing about Mijas is that it felt "so Spanish" (oh yes, I know it's a cliche), but compared to Marbella and Nueva Andalucía, it actually felt like being in proper Spain when I was up there! And the people were partying and dancing all night. Kids as well. It is a different way of living, basically.
Two weeks ago my choir had two concerts. We sang a Mass by Johan N. Hummel, and the Halleluja Choir from Händel's Messiah. I totally loved it!! I especially enjoyed singing the Halleluja choir for the very first time! My mum used to sing Messiah every Christmas in Hamar Domkor, and now it was my turn! I also really appreciate that so many colleagues and friends from Aloha came to the concerts!! Thank you!
Collegium Musicum Choir and Orchestra
It has been really nice for me start singing again, and the concerts were so much fun! I think the oldest person in the choir is 85 years old, but we still go out for tapas and drinks after the concerts. And at the Annual General Meeting this week I was elected to the Social Committee in the choir, so now there will be even more drinks and social stuff. The picture above is from the concert in Benalmádena. (Thank you to Mariela's friend for taking pictures!)
A few weeks back I had another very interesting cultural experience. One of my students (Marco) participated in a fashion competition. Basically, he had made clothes out of paper. Several teachers watched the fashion show in Parque de la Concepcion in Marbella, and we were delighted to hear that Marco won the whole thing!!! I have asked Marco and the three models (they're also students of mine) if it is ok that I post these pictures on my blog, and all of them said yes.
Another cultural experience worth mentioning is that Elaine and I watched
Sex in the City 2 the other night. I actually enjoyed the film very much, and had a great laugh! It is always fun to watch the four New York City ladies.
In addition, I am about to be getting into knowing the culture of the Cambridge exams really well. The Cambridge English exams (PET, FCE, CAE etc.) for Costa del Sol have usually been arranged at Aloha College, and there was no exception this year. Even with some challenges on the administrative part we have had three very well run exam sessions at Aloha the last three Saturdays. There are only two more days to go now (next week), and then it's over for this time. I have been Co Supervisor at some of the sessions, and it's safe to say that I've had a steep learning curve. It has been very interesting to see how they arrange the different exams. Students from language schools and Spanish schools from the whole Costa come to Aloha to do the exams. It's a great thing! And I am very thankful for getting this experience and meeting all the nice people who devote their time (paid or unpaid) to the Cambridge exams.
I am also a Cambridge Young Learner Exams Oral Examiner now, and I have been doing some oral exams this spring. My last experience was at a Catholic school where they had a chapel and a priest. Another very interesting cultural experience for me, you know, seeing a Catholic priest walking around in a school. Again I felt as if I was in some British or American film.
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So now there are only two weeks left of this school year. That is, two weeks including a 4 days trip to Córdoba with the Year 8 students, two more days with the Cambridge exams, two Activity Days, and finally the very famous Speech Day on Friday 25 June. After Speech Day we have two months off work!!! Several people have asked me when I come home for the summer. And the honest answer is: I don't know yet. The only thing I know is that I'll be home for my lovely friend Gina's
utdrikningslag (hen night) and the big wedding (Gina og Bjørn Trygve) on 31 July. I will probably stay a month or so in Norway. Looking soooo much forward to seeing you all there, my dear friends and family!
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No more excuses. Now I have to start writing my reports!
