Sunday, 28 December 2014

My saga continues..

All the time I was living in Valladolid, I feel I didn't really ever give it a chance. Because I felt so hard done by half the time and that this was not somewhere I belonged ..I didn't venture out enough and I regret that. I was continually thinking that nothing even remotely important or interesting happens here. But I was wrong and ignorant to think that. If nothing else, it will have a special place in my heart because it is the city in which I began teaching. 

More than that, I stumbled upon a different way of life - the laid back (but moany and tantrumy) and serene. I met people I never would have met in a million years in  England. I have picked up countless words in Spanish and I really want to build upon it and not lose what I have already acquired. So I MUST MUST MUST go back to the beginning and study, particularly grammar as I never sat down to learn.. it just naturally rubbed off on me from the children. 

By far, the greatest part of my school year in Espana was the children I had the pleasure of teaching. It is amazing to be entrusted by their parents in the capacity as a teacher. Every day I laughed with my classes and loved them more and more, as I got to know them better. I was truly lucky to have had the incredible students that were assigned to me and they got me through what was a lonely chapter in my life. If it weren't for their smiley faces, enthusiasm and cheerful characters I would never have made it through. I couldn't have asked for a more fantastic first year of pupils to kick off my career. I know that I will always remember them fondly and that they will all go on to do brilliant things with their lives.  I just wish that I could be there to see it. I hope that I have made a difference to them and that they feel they have learned from me.. just as I have from them. 

So thank you to the region of Castille y Leon for allowing me to chase my passion. Thank you to the parents for not sending me any nightmare kids just you cheeky cuties, who I miss so very, VERY much. Thank you to my clever students and your adorable little personalities; I'll never forget any of you. If I get another opportunity to teach ESL, I'd be so fortunate to have classes just half as wonderful as those. 

Saturday, 27 December 2014

Gilmore Girls Gems *Rory's Dance*

1) 'You should have a decent reason for hating something before you really decide you hate it.' We don't get to have an opinion (or base them on a viewing of an eighties movie) or disdain of something we haven't tried and thus have nothing to compare it to. 

2) Don't miss out on any experience that may seem silly and frivolous 'because you're too afraid' when it could be all 'sparkly and exciting' with some great-looking guy. Seize chances to do those things you would ordinarily NEVER do. Throw caution to the wind! 'These are the kind of experiences you regret missing later.'

3) Should you find yourself spending a lot of time not kissing other people, have *the* talk to determine if you are of girlfriend/boyfriend status.'We've been dating a few weeks. Where do we stand? What are we to each other? If another girl asks you out, do you feel free to go?' The likelihood is you already are, if he wants to follow you everywhere and is hanging out in the trees in your garden, waiting for you. 

4) Enunciate these chats with your gentleman caller for your bored friend in need of entertainment, who is reading lips outside. At least you'll be tortured together, if your bean-stocking boyf consents to accompany you to the dance and it is as lame as you imagine. 

5) The serving of chicken (one can assume) in no way factors into your choice of attending or not attending a social event. Though it often is at these kind of things 'because it's probably cheaper and people eat it.'
6) Take photos a-plenty to chronicle  'once in a lifetime events', including all the boring crap of getting ready that led up to it. Grandmothers will hint until you relent and then 'maybe bind them together, make a flipbook out of them.' 

7) 'The guy's supposed to buy the tickets.' Unless the girl likes 'em cheap. Sloppy too-- bald spot, beer gut, you know and the pants that kind of slip down in the back, giving you that good plumber shot. That sends me through the roof.'  It's a giant leap backwards for womankind, if we can't even fork out for a date once in a while. 

8) 16 year olds who have been hit 'with a pretty stick'; have skin like a baby's ass and with that said, 'there's nothing to primp!' When they look as beautiful as a movie star, their escort won't know his elbow from his oesophagus! 

9) Holy mother of destruction, heels hurt! As does hairspray sprayed directly into your eyes, sticking all your eyelashes together. 'Well beauty is pain!' SIDENOTE: Mind that you shield the tacos from such substances. 

10) 'There is nothing normal about a back spasm. The very fact that it has the word 'spasm'  in it, means it's not normal.' This is a problem that has a solution so stop pretending to be fine, by minimising the discomfort you are evidently in. 
11) 'Do not go running out the door when a boy honks. It certainly is not fine. This is not a drive-through. She's not fried chicken.' 'If he wants to take you out, he will walk up to this door and say "good evening" and come inside for a moment like any civilised human being would know to do.' Your nana will be close to running him down with her car if the boy isn't bright enough to abide by these precepts. Oh and don't rush 'a lady never rushes.' 

12) How can you possibly leave your only child, 'stranded on the sofa' when they're obviously in pain? You might groan and wince audibly but really you mean 'thank you Mommy.' Whether you're three or thirty three you secretly like having your mama take care of you and tuck you in. 

13) 'Really, really happy monkeys' 'holding coconuts and leering' on a 'semi-pornographic' lamp are irreverently funny. But not in the eyes of a snooty gift giver who notices you have cast off their lovely, crystal candlesticks (you didn't have a big use for) in exchange for this 'ridiculous, slightly sinister barroom decoration.'  

14) Your gown is gorge when it impresses 2 of the yippy mongrels, who normally can't stand you. 'Great dress.. who's it by?' It makes it all the more delicious when they are envious of your dish of a date!  

15) Please don't make us eat mashed banana on toast, like you used to when we were a little girl that got sick; as it looks like something 'someone already ate.' If you feel a need to show your agreeable nature by sampling, you'll realise it is 'even more disgusting than you thought it was gonna be!'
16) I believe the words you're looking for are SLIMY CREEP, when a guy who came to the dance with another girl innuendoises (making up words again) 'so there's still a little room room to play?' So maybe they shouldn't be asking for your number or hitting on you. 

17) We really do enjoy teasing and toying with our Mums. Yet a sincere compliment ('you did a lovely job. With Rory and the dress.') from the not-really-into-mushy-wushy things, stoic woman who birthed us means so much more than we will ever let on. 

18) The blurting out of information you'd hoped to be kept secret (i.e: how your mother had to ask your cousin to take you to the dance and pay for gas as you couldn't find a date) is a crowd pleaser. Particularly when the very person with said secret is the one (who is a huge horses heiney and loathes you) to screech it out at the top of their lungs, not knowing it had not been divulged. 'Go ahead. Tell them.' 'I don't have to, you just did.' 

19) A suited and booted boy is filled with jackassness, should he be under the misbelief that he can act tough when wearing a tie! 'It'd be like fighting an accountant!'

20) A whippersnapper that does nothing but insult you and make you miserable, most definitely 'has a thing for you.'  Thusly, he shall try to poach you from your 'big, strong protector' lest he is warned to never go near you.
21) The whole defending your honour 'is very boyfriendy, but only in the broadest sense of the word.' You needn't worry that the discussion you've been avoiding will be difficult, as he'll want to be your real boyfriend and so it's settled. 

22) There's no explaining being caught in a compromising position, when 2 spooning teenagers sleep out all night and are found by a group of women the next morning in a dance studio. 'You shouldn't be anywhere near my house right now.' As perfectly innocent as it was, smoke will be exhumed from ears!!! 

23) The frantic yelling that ensues on awaking to 'the feeling of complete terror when your kid isn't in her bed in the morning' will not help. 'Just try to be calm until we know what happened.' Your protective maternal instincts kick in as you stand up for your good, smart child who won't ruin her life. 

24) Accidental situations can look so much worse in the harsh, cold light of day. 'WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? STAYING OUT ALL NIGHT! ARE YOU INSANE?' When your mother is 'the Queen of staying out all night' and she 'invented the concept', 'You can't do this. Period.' then as amazing as your relationship may be she might not believe that nothing happened. 

25) Oh, what a bad (next) day your wonderful, perfect night of dancing and talking with your newly appointed boyfriend can turn into! 'I'm sorry that I screwed up and I'm sorry that you got yelled at, but I didn't do anything and you know it!'

Friday, 12 December 2014

30 things to do before I turn 30

I refuse to turn the ripe old age of '30, flirty and thriving' years prior to completing all the below:

1) Go on an Australian adventuring Rianney-moon (because I may never be a wedded woman) I've been meaning to do this for so long but something has always gotten in the way. It's more than high time to fulfill this dream in the land down under and besides my travel window of fun has been shut for too long. 

2) Cuddle a wombat - these mega adorable marsupials have become my very favourite animal. They're just a big old pile of fluffy love and cuteness <3 :) <3

3) Tour Ramsay  Street - And wedge in a word or two about how great I would be as a British extra in the Aussie soap ;) Erinsborough is the happiest fictional town in the history of the entire planet; so to get to roam around the cul-de-sac I've watched all of my lifetime would be AWESOME. If I meet Dr Karl Kennedy too and *that* level of manhood - life would be complete. 

4) Put my heart into learning as much Spanish as possible over the next 12 months. In order to become a master of the idioma rather than an IDIOTA. 

5) Blow a glass bauble. There's really no way I'll excel in the art but I'm excited to try my hands at it all the same. 
6) Sound of music-ing in Salzburg, Austria. By gum, if it's good enough for Julie Andrews my heart will be blessed with the hills that are alive!!

7) Conquer my fears of swans (the evil psycho ducks that conspire against me) and walking over bridges. Or at least give it a good crack. Screaming and crying is no longer an option, so I will endeavour this one last attempt at a 'fix' for my phobias. 

8) Dancing in the moonlight. I'd be so pathetically happy that there will be a glow from my heart paralleling the orb of the night sky. No moonies under the moon howevs :P

9) Partake in the grown up sophistication of classical music during the Salzburg festival. In my first official visit to Mozart town, I aim to stand corrected that an immersion in cultured refinement is not snooty and no fun. 

10) Find that all encompassing, heart-stopping, makes-you-weak-at-the-knees, starry-eyed, eternal love. Definitely need to throw out some positive, mushy wushy vibes to the universe for this one as I can feel life just passing me by. Man, it's a depressing thought that I have been alone for essentially 1/3 of my life! :( I don't want to continue this single pringling, so I better get MINGLING ;) cos the crazy need love too.  
11) Follow the wayfaring spirit of wanderlust. By rocking up to two countries in one day. And no, doofus - from airport to airport does not count!! 

12) Attend a gig of a band I've never heard of. Where no doubt I'll be trampled by head-banging moshers while I remain sort of unsure and frozen (and not in the Disney sense) to the spot. But LOVE it nonetheless. 

13) Surprise someone I loveeeeee far away, in probably the cutest and creepiest custom I can. In the hopes, that the gesture will be appreciated. 

14) Enjoy a movie moment of my own with an undefined male partner. Failing that, recreate an iconic scene from one of my go-to films of funniness. 

15) Stay up all night and watch the sun rise - drinking it all in. I'm generally a morning hibernator, which I know is bone idle and not an excellent use of time so I often miss the splendour of daybreak. (The time we attempted this camping at the Lake District, we were facing the wrong direction so totally missed it!) 
16) When in Rome, feast as the Italians do. Figuratively wolf down my weight in pasta, pizza, bruschetta and gelato. In spite of my insight, that 'the more I gobble, the greater I'll wobble!' Sooooooo worth it even if I won't be body beautiful :D 

17) Purge myself of useless stuff and light up a bonfire of bad memories. Out with the old, in with the new, may this be the start of a brand, new YOU. 

18) Dream up my own dessert recipe - a button-popping, belly-bloating, gluttonous gutty kind. It must be something that smells, looks and tastes CRAZY GOOD. So much so that I'll never maintain a swimsuit figure!

19) Have chocolatey-coloured hair so I'll no longer look like Freddy Krueger's sister who just died twice!!!

20) Uncover an 'undiscovered' (by me and the world at large) gem in my city. Where, you may wonder? No clue... the sky is the limit it seems. I should be the go to girl for Southampton, having lived here so long but I haven't been a tourist of what is on my own doorstep. Impress me, Soton! 
21) Impromptu day seizing - Take the chance to do something I ordinarily wouldn't by throwing caution to the wind; something so remarkably bold that I won't believe I got to do *that!*

22) Experience the wonder of a musical movie marathon. Can I handle the merriment of endless hours of warbling? 

23) I-pod dance date around the town (as inspired by the movie Begin Again). I'm so sorry in advance a) to whoever I rope into coming with me b) to whomever crosses our path  - because I'm a NUT and I don't  (excuse the atrocious grammar) 'got the moves like Jagger!' 

24) Read a Jane Austen novel or 2 - just reading her words will make me feel smarter. Sure, I've swooned over Colin Firth's dastardly, dashing portrayal of Mr Darcy, but it's not RIGHT that I get to 30 years of age without having read Pride and Prejudice in print. 

25) Possess a pretty, PRETTY power outfit that I've paid top dollar for. Just because. Why do I need an occasion? I'm somewhat of a fashion accident at present so I'll probabababably need assistance picking it out. 
26) BAZINGA a person in a ball pool or someplace bonkers. How very Sheldon Cooper of me!! 

27) Release floating lanterns into the sky like on Disney's Tangled, as my ridiculously deluded heart believes it will be a night of magic and at last I'll 'see the light.'  

28) De-stress with a hot stone massage on a whim. I feel like it would be serene, relaxing and therapeutic, so should I find myself sinking into a deep depression - I'll book one! Even if I don't, I'll get one anyway cos I darn deserve it!!!

29) Be followed by 500 on Instagram. I'll Insta my pics off and I'll find it loverly :) 

30) Be a Canuck cliche on my birthday, eh? It's ABOOT time I indulged in all that is Canadian in Canada. I hereby fully intend to: mingle with mooses, mount a Mountie, ingest true maple syrup, all manner of wintry activities (sleigh ride, toboggan, ice hockey, sledding), build an igloo and all that is Buble-related. November 19th 2015 seems like a fine day to start my 30's in a SNOWtally 'cool' way. 

These will not be checked off necessarily in order and I will blog my progress :) Wish me luck xx