My entire July has been teaching the over privileged Spanish spawns of Satan how to speak English… or at least attempting to teach them the English language. Aside from being one of the biggest challenges of my life, I learned a lot about myself, teaching teenagers, patience, and exactly how far I could push myself and my body with out sleeping. I also met some really great people, one in particular I hope to continue writing about.
So onto the bus I went, headed for Villafranca de los Barros, a tiny little pueblo in the agricultural area of Spain, Extremadura. Extremadura is not all that special, at least the part I was privy to, but it borders Andalucia and it does have its charm, mainly being its inhabitants. I really love the south of Spain. If SLU was not keeping me in Madrid I would be trying very hard to find a reason and a way to stay in the south. I might change my mind if and when I travel to the north (Bilbao, Galicia, Asturias)— I know it is green, but personally I think it rains to much for my liking.
Meeting the kids was an interesting initial experience, everyone on their best behavior on the bus and at dinner, but just like gremlins if you feed them past a certain hour they all turn onto little monsters. Without fail, because I have no problem being the militant one I was already commanding the girls dorms directing the kiddies into their corresponding rooms. The way I figure, be stern in the beginning and you wont get fucked with in the long haul. I did have my generous moments, just not too many of them.
I was christened with the OI experience by being given Class #5. Once again, the first day was candy coated and I did not realize what I had gotten myself into. I was given the most unmanageable pre-pubescent class in the camp. Half of the class were angels and the others were seething piranas ready to devour their prey if given half the chance. Ultimately I found that the majority of the class was stuck in that phase that I was once familiar with… you know the one… where you hate absolutely everything. Nothing is satisfactory, everything else is better, and every situation is unfair. Yup, payback is a bitch. All the crap I gave my mother as a teen came back and bit me on the ass.
During the camp we took two field trips, one to a lake in the mountains and the other to an outdoor activity camp. The camps were divided by age and monitors and I was fortunate to find myself in with the younger age group. The first weekend we went to the lake and it was so what I needed to escape. Big huge lake surrounded by the tranquility of mountains it was even enough to keep the little guys and girls at bay. At night the sky looked as if someone had punched holes in it… completely and totally magnificent. I wish I could have stayed there longer.
The following weekend was not a blessing in disguise, in fact it was a total nightmare. What was supposed to be a break from the norm for the teachers and the monitors turned into a full scale nightmare. Immediately after arriving at the adventure camp we were greeted by another set of monitors who were to keep an eye on our boys and girls while we relaxed a bit. Within the first hour, my relaxing experience turned topsy turvy when I was stung by a bee (or possibly a wasp). Following half a day of activity we were led into the tiny pueblo for our lunch and to be taken to the public pool which was very nice and tranquil. So tranquil that myself and another monitor chose to remain there instead of going back.
Prior to meeting the camp for dinner, the monitor and I agreed to share a jarre de sangria thinking all would be well with about 10 monitors on staff watching the kids. A Jarre and one half later we received a phone call that one of the girls from the camp decided it would be a good idea to climb onto the rafters and spy on the boys. Sadly the plaster did not support her and she came tumbling down landing on her head and suffering a severe concussion. As we rushed back along with the ambulance the other children were freaking out and in a pool of tears. It was one of the most emotional experiences I could have ever experienced. The young girl was rushed to the hospital and never made it back to camp. She has recovered from the fall although she has suffered retinal damage from a fractured skull. Quite scary and in my opinion unavoidable.
Camp ended on an interesting note for me… bittersweet really. I am torn on whether I would want that experience again. Part of me enjoyed it, what I learned, the bonds I made with the kids and the boy I met along the way. The boy, well he is another story altogether but this is where it starts….
Posted: August 15th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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