Vaughan Town

This is going to be a short entry as the schedule at the language school is grueling and exhausting.  But make no mistake...there is no negative connotation with either of those adjectives.  It is grueling and exhausting in the most gratifying way!  It is Tuesday afternoon...we’ve only been at it for two and a half days, but it seems like two and a half weeks!  Again, I don’t mean this in a negative way.  This concept of putting Anglos and Spaniards together for hours on end only speaking English is the most difficult, complicated, rewarding, interesting and gratifying experience!  There are 14 Anglos (this refers to the English speaking volunteers) and 14 Spaniards.  Our Anglos are mostly from the U.S. or the U.K.  I believe we have one Anglo from Australia and one woman who is Polish, but speaks English well enough to be a volunteer.  Our Spaniards are from all over Spain, some from big cities such as Madrid and some from tiny villages.  In my last post I spoke about feeling nervous about this experience.  The unknown can be scary!  And even now, two days in, I still feel nervous in certain situations, especially with the Spaniards who don’t speak English very well.  Those one on one sessions are difficult!  Furthermore, the second night we were here I was asked to get up and sing a song (California Dreamin’) because I made the mistake of mentioning that I like to sing.  HA!!  However, this is one of those situations that you just need to jump in feet first.  And it has been such a pleasure so far!  Often when you visit a foreign place you don’t really get to know the people of that place.  You sign up for tours (which are usually with other tourists) or you hoof around the area on foot with your family or companion!  But this situation is truly giving me the opportunity to get to know the people of Spain and this is so exciting!  On a more logistical note, the rooms are lovely, the location is beautiful and rural, and the food is pretty good!  We sit down for three meals a day, and two of them are served as three course meals! Unlimited wine served with lunch and dinner!  It’s so nice!  More details and thoughts later, but so far I am SO happy!  One of the leaders has already spoken to me about coming to Spain permanently to teach English.  I guess it’s true that with the more risks you take, the more possibilities arise!