I'd always enjoyed my job at Malet Lambert. Working with kids with behaviour and learning difficulties is a challenge, especially trying to teach them a foreign language. All of them were pretty unique in their own way and there wasn't one kid I didn't get along with, even if at times they could test your patience to it's limit. I can't tell you hard it is not telling a 15 year old to fuck off. I suppose this is why I've settled in so quickly here at Toki Ona, having previous teaching experience has definately helped. I've wanted to be a teacher for years, I think it's something I'd be really good at. To me there's nothing more rewarding than making a whole class of kids laugh and knowing that you're making learning fun for once. Everyone has a teacher they remember from school, mainly because they smelt or they were an utter twat to everyone. I'd prefer to be remembered because I'd made a difference in someones early life. Not like Mr Barrass, who was only remembered because his right arm didnt work.
So back to what's been happening. A regular question I've been asked this week is: "Do you like to hunt?" I've never hunted. I don't think I could kill an animal. I'd happily eat one, I'd just never kill it. Not just any animal though, I wouldnt eat a tiger or something daft like that. It seems a lot of kids in the area like to go hunting. What's more worrying is that they have a licence for a gun. Mad 'eds! They were telling me about basque foods (which sound amazing), festivals in the area of which there seem to be a lot of, which means more days off for me. Can't complain can I?
I've pretty much got used to being asked the same questions this week which is fine by me. Some kids are a bit embarrased when it comes to speaking english. Some of them are brilliant and they really do try, others don't want to speak because they feel they cant pronounce a word properly or have trouble with sentence structure etc. So I got them to tell me some basque phrases of which I repeated, much to their amusement. I thought it was important to do this, that way they can see that its alright to not be able to pronounce things, and that I'm learning a new language just as much as they are. One lad asked me if I was going to be in his class this afternoon. When I told him I wouldn't be, he didn't seem happy. I must be doing something right.
I got some lunch from this real nice cafe/bar/pub place across the road from the school. Its a really nice place and I can see myself spending a lot of time their getting to know the locals. I think theyre all aware that I'm not from round here but everyone in the village says hello to me, even if I dont know them. There were a few oldies in there drinking wine and beer. It was midday. Mum worries enough when nana and grandad go in Lord Charles on a tuesday afternoon. Like I've said before...it's a different way of life out here.
In other news, moneys become a bit of a ballache situation. All the language assistants dont get paid until the last week of November, we should get our grants a week before. It's still a long time away. I've been here since September, by the time I've been paid it'll have been a good 8/9 weeks since my arrival. Now thats a long time for anyone, especially when you've gotta pay rent, pay a bullshit phone contract you can't get out of, pay for the car share to work, pay bills, have some form of a social life, and feed myself. Should have about 20 euros to last me til then. Be reet....
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