Day 5- A night of many regrets

This title sounds super dramatic and makes it sound like we went on a wild one but in reality we had a  Chinese meal that I will get to eventually!

Our day unlike any other actually started off late, 10:30am in fact, what a difference that makes. We were in the school from 12-2 looking at year 7's books (wow where they advanced- also they had a doctor who section which we geeked out over) and then sitting in on a year 8 class, that was hectic to say the least. The kids appeared to already be on vacation mode and did not want to do any learning at all.

After school we went back home for lunch (which damn we are practically chefs now, scrambled eggs and cheese toasties? Gordon Ramsay better watch out).

With the weather being a bit dull again we chilled inside watching Brooklyn Nine Nine until we wandered out. We went on a walk all the way to the other end of Alpedrete, past the school and to a lovely park where we went down many slides and posed on many a rock (as seen below).

After leaving the playground we did a little shop, went back home, worked on the blog and the school project and then went in search of food. Sadly the food place we were planning to go to was closed, so we went back home after realising we could use just eat, which let me tell you was an ordeal. Google translating every option on the menu was the worst. We eventually figured out what we wanted and ordered our Chinese and whilst waiting for it to arrive watched more Brooklyn Nine Nine (honestly what were you expecting?). We were so hungry we just devoured the Chinese food, and are now super nauseous so that's great. Regrets have been had and learned from but here's come super cute adventure pics?

Day 4 - Day for getting our bearings

Our day once again started quite early (ugh) we were scheduled into the school for 9:55, and we actually arrived on time and everything, however, we got very lost once we got to the school, but, thankfully a wild Clive appeared and showed us the way. But, when we got to the class, we were told that they were actually having a test, so it wouldn't be worth our while sitting in, since our next class was in just an hour, we decided to just go to a cafe down the road to get a croissant and some coffee.
The croissant was so good that we didn't even get a chance to get a photo of it, instead, all we got was a photo of an empty, crumby plate, and two half drank coffees.


After school, seeing as it was quite a bad day, it was cold and rainy, we went back to the apartment and chilled out and watched Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a few hours, before eventually, leaving and getting the bus to Villalba for a little wander and some lunch. We decided to just get off the bus early at a random McDonalds so we could explore a new place which had a large shopping centre. We went to McDonald's and were totally awestruck by all the options they had. There were things on the menu we never heard of and could never even dream of. Sorry Ireland, but Spanish Mcdonalds beats you by miles.

We went on a stroll around the shopping center, but there was nothing insanely interesting, so as were very tired and full, we went back home for a siesta. After we woke up, Ava came over and we paid the rest of our rent and she gave brochures and leaflets on different things to do around Alpedrete and Madrid.
We went back to doing nothing once again, and we spent the rest of our evening watching Brooklyn Nine Nine and drinking wine and whiskey, so overall, the perfect lazy day.

Day 3- We Madrid it all

So, starting our day off early (again, really who thought 8am was a good time to awaken??) we headed to the school to join the year 9's on a coach trip to Madrid to see the Toulouse art exhibit. Well this was the plan anyways, and we would even have been early if all had gone to plan! But instead somehow (not that surprising knowing how clumsy we both are) Shiane got suncream in her eyes. Yes, eyes plural. This of course lead to frantic panicking, eye washing and immense pain for poor Shi. So tears streaming we made it to the school, locked ourselves in a toilet and googled solutions (amazingly no-one questioned why we were both in there). Nothing immediately worked and with our eyes on the prize (pun fully intended) we got on the bus anyways.

Of course on the bus we both fell asleep withing minutes only to wake up for Pink's "Walk me Home" which we have been singing constantly.

Arriving in Madrid the group went to Parque del Retiro for a snack and some painting. Shiane and I unfortunately had not brought anything to paint so after chilling for a few hours (we were unaware the break would be three hours long) we left to go get eye drops for Shiane and also to pee (adulting). We returned in time for the group to leave to go to the Caixa Forum museum at about 1:30ish

The Caixa forum was a stunning building, inside and out. The outside had a huge huge wall that was full of plants and bushes and life.

Even just the stairs inside of the building were amazing, one could almost say it was an art museum

The exhibit itself was very interesting but the highlight for us (and most importantly Shi, did you know she love loves Van Gogh? Dude's got a t-shirt and all) was seeing a Van Gogh painting with our own eyes (even if Shiane's eyes were uber protected from the sun she could somehow still see).

Post-Museum we split up from the group and went off on our own to a market near the park (that was all uphill, a hill we went up many times. Many, many times.) We continued to wander around Madrid taking in the sights, before getting a late lunch and heading off to meet Colin in Plaza del Sol. We walked taking longer than Google maps estimated 18mins because of course we got lost. The square was gorgeous and so were our Daquiri's! We even made our own way home via Metro (Moncloa) and bus that night! Go us, what successful adults we are (yes Colin basically took us to Moncloa but the rest was all us!).

                                                                   Paella

Our Sunrise and Sunset
Smoothies

 

Day 2 - Wandering Alpedrete

Our second day started bright and early (unfortunately) we were supposed to be at the school for ten, but it changed to eleven instead (we could have gotten more sleep apparently) we decided to go shopping again for the hour before school, because apparently shampoo, wine, and ice cream are not enough to survive on, who knew? Thankfully, we had Colin to help us this time with translations and carrying large bottles of water. We treated ourselves to chocolate croissants and tea (we could finally have tea because we got some sugar (azucra))  which may have made us slightly late, but all well.
We were brought on a tour around the school by Clive and we were amazed by how cool the school is.
We went to Villalba after the school and had a walk around before stopping for some ice cream. We went back to our apartment and after a lot of difficulties, figured out how to work our oven, "we really had to grill it." says Jass over my shoulder as I write this. We had our lunch and a bit of a siesta, before going out on an adventure.
We wandered around Madrid, up random streets to get a better view of the mountain, to miscellaneous shops, down different streets with every intention of getting lost so we could truly appreciate Alpedrete. During this adventure of trying to get lost, we came upon a playground, and because we are very mature (actual children I mean) we, of course, played in the playground. We were also sure to get a good exercise in using the equipment in the park, cause it's important to stay healthy (let's use that as an excuse, yeah).
We made our way back to our apartment after this where we met Ava the landlady and we enjoyed a nice meal, drink, and conversation as the day came to its end.
Our first full day in Madrid was without a doubt exhausting and long, but it was definitely something we'll remember.

Day 1 aka How to Fall Asleep at Lunch

5th May 2019

Waking up at 3:30am after going to bed at 12 makes you really sleepy as it turns out. Our first day honestly felt quite endless. By 4pm that day it felt like we'd been in Spain about two days. But despite being severely sleep deprived (and falling asleep over lunch at a busy restaurant - siesta over fiesta) we still explored Alpedrete, albeit after a nap or two. Wandering around, getting our bearings before going to the Supermercardo to buy the essentials: shampoo, wine and ice-cream. All in all a great first day, just one we weren't fully conscious for.

Bulls running through Alpedrete - no Niamh didn't go on a jog.

Saturday the 19th of May.

Today was the start of the four day festival in Alpedrete. The main event of the day was the bulls running through the town, and Niamh and I made sure to be front and center. Walking down, there were fake bulls being pushed around on wheels, the people pushing them squirting water at kids and any passer by. One of them aimed and us, and Niamh got soaked by the squirt gun embedded in the bull's head.We found the street the bulls were running down, and planted ourselves at the large fence built for spectator safety. I tried to get a better look by standing up on the fence, but as I lifted myself up I managed to successfully smack my head off a metal basket that an official was standing in.
    Mildly concussed, I stood back down on the ground and watched as the man taking part in the bull running's crouched on the road and prayed before they were let out of the gate.
    They ran up and down the road several times before being closed off in the arena. Niamh and I went to the packed arena where members of the public were invited to fight the bull. We watched as a huge group of men teased the bull and jumped out of the way as it darted for them. The men jumped over the barriers to avoid the bull, and honestly I wouldn't have minded to catch a few of them in my arms.

     It started lashing down, so Niamh and I waited for it to die down a little before going into the shop to get a few things, namely a few bottles of vanilla and strawberry milk, and some vodka for my pre-birthday celebrations. We know how to be responsible adults.
    Walking back to our apartment we came across a fireworks display, although from where we were standing it looked more like gunfire in a big cloud of smoke. We made it back to our apartment without too much smoke inhalation. We sat around for a couple of hours, me falling asleep on the couch (delayed reaction to hitting my head probably) and headed back out to the arena to watch the professional bull fighting.
    The arena wasn't as full as it was earlier on, but enough people turned out to see several men dressed in rather spiffy spandex and shirts run and dodge a bull for a couple of hours. It was fun to watch, and during the interval they invited kids to come down into the ring and run from a fake bull being pushed by one of the matadors. One of the kids gave it socks, doing poses in'all when he dodged it, but another kid just let it come and hit her, which pretty much sums up my motivational effort when deadlines are approaching.

   

The bull fights ended and we left the arena, getting a great video of a bull running up the street.

Classes with all year groups

18th May, Friday.

Yesterday, the only class that we were scheduled to teach was year 7. We went through the PowerPoint with them, just as we have with the other years, however, of course we tweaked it in places to fit with their genre, which is Comedy. Their character for the descriptive exercise was a clown, and their setting was a KFC.

Today, we were scheduled to teach Year 8, 7 and 9, in that order.

Year 8 began to write their stories during their class, myself and Jake there to help them if they needed it.

For class with year 7, we brought in all of the pictures that we had gathered from the quest that they sent us on. They were extremely enthusiastic with this. My group were verbally making up stories with the pictures, before I had even explained fully what they were to do with them. I allowed them to have some fun, passing around the pictures and making stories with them, before I got them to settle down and create their character. Their character was named Dora. She had green and purple hair, and liked apples.

Year 9 were supposed to have three paragraphs of their stories written by today, but regardless of whether they did this or not, their class today was spent either starting their stories, or continuing them. Again, myself and Jake were there to help if needed.

Later on that night, myself and Jake wandered over to a bar that Louisa, the usual teacher of our year 9 class on Fridays, recommended. We found cute bartender the second, and ended our night watching the animated version of Beauty and the Beast. Such good adults.