Week 2: Working Hard Pays Off!

¡Hola Hola!

Oh. My. Gosh. This week we have seen a total transformation in all our students! Where Erin was quiet and reserved last week, this week she’s helping in the Dance and Choir performance, laughing, and sharing ideas; Will is practicing his pronunciation with the Spanish “zeta” with the words that have it; Anya and Serae contribute great comments and ideas in my Culture class, and I’m sure much more can be said about everyone in different classes.

For us instructors, who have all taught with this program in the past, seeing the students’ willingness to surpass any difficulties or keep moving forward despite any obstacles, whether they be dominance of the language or the natural process of culture shock, has been truly rewarding.

To show our students how grateful we were, we decided to take a day off classes this week to visit the city to drink un café in the Mercado, and from there visit the Museo de Bellas Artes, and a famous book store here in town.

The Mercado in Oviedo is the local market where townsfolk can buy fish and seafood that was caught the night before in the shores of Galicia. Here they can also buy fresh meats, desserts, or sit at the café and drink a cup of coffee (like some of us did 😉). We split into two groups to enter the museum, so I wasn't able to get a photo of everyone for this, but we were all there and having a good time! 

This past Sunday, we also had an optional excursion for the students here in the city, in the Teatro Campoamor. Students saw and heard local Asturian folk musicians sing in Asturian and Spanish and were able to see the traditional dress of Asturias. Here are some photos of those who went before the performance.

In this last photo, students took a photo with the director of the Teatro!

Folks, I repeat, we aren't kidding when we say our students have a full day! We're in full swing with our preparations for the Farewell Show to give a big THANK YOU to the host families. Students chose whether they wanted to be in Theater or in Choir and Dance. The theater group has created sketches to perform and the Choir and Dance groups are hard at work learning the lyrics to songs and the steps that go along with them to showcase their talents to the host families. Here's a preview!

Well that's about it folks! Tonight many of the students will be with their host families celebrating the Feast day of Saint John in the city center. The city puts together an elaborate show involving local Asturian lore and, at the end, an enormous bonfire where the people throw in a wish. 

Till next time!

Los Profes