Comenius.

To Americans, Comenius means nothing. To Europeans, Comenius is very important, especially for schools.  A Comenius is a lifelong learning program for education and culture; it is comprised of schools from different countries in Europe.  This past week, I had the opportunity to be part of Europe's biggest Comenius EVER.  The primary school where I work belongs to a Comenius called: EcoCitizens of Common Europe which is comprised of 16 schools from 14 countries.  I had the opportunity to meet people from Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Holland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Norway, Wales, and of course Spain. 

Logo of the Comenius group comprised of 16 schools from 14 countries.

While it was a tiring week, I think you'll clearly see why it was a fantastic time! For starters, I lived like a queen in Jarandilla with a fellow teacher, Toni, and her husband. I HAD HEAT! IN MY ROOM! IN THE BATHROOM! IN THE KITCHEN! IN THE HALLWAY! IN THE CAR! I HAD HEAT EVERYWHERE! Seriously, I was able to wake up and not step onto a freezing cold floor. Luxury. (I write this as I sit in my bed, under covers, blinds shut, wearing a sweater...oh the days of living like a queen, well, are--over.) Thursday morning, I left early for another day of work in the primary school. The week prior, I had been preparing things for the Comenius and it had finally begun. People were arriving; Divina my tutora was running around crazy. She and I went for a late lunch at 5pm to my favorite restaurant in Jarandilla: Casa Leti. It is actually the restaurant of one of my student's family and Patricia is always so excited to know that Whitney has come to eat at her family's place! We welcomed teachers and students from Denmark and I went home with Toni to "move" into my new house for the week! Toni's husband, Emilliano, had prepared us a wonderful dinner and it was waiting for us when we arrived. 

Friday: Day 1

Friday morning was the official start date of the Comenius. We headed to the Summer University of Extremadura, just up the street from the primary school, to have the opening session.  I have been working with 12 students from the 3rd and 4th grades to preform a play and a song. They were so nervous to perform in front of 50 people, but they did a wonderful job! After, they were so excited and constantly asking "How did we do Profe? Did you like?" I was a proud teacher and I think the whole room could tell! :) There were also cultural songs, dances, and children playing instruments. It was such a fun little show!

Students performing a chant "There's An Ant"

Putting on a play: "Pretty Ritty"

Me with the kids from 3rd/4th after their performances!

After another tasty lunch with Toni and Emilliano, we went to visit the Parador of Jarandilla from Siglo XV (15th Century). It is the former residence of former King Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany. It is a beautiful castle, very warm and inviting.  Even though it was raining, pictures of its main patio look stunning!  

Parador of Jarandilla de la Vera.

Friday night was the Cena de Bienvenida.  All the countries brought goodies from their homes to share with the other countries. It was a smorgasbord of meats, cheese, sweets, wines, liquors, etc. My favorite things were the empanada from Spain and the chocolate from Poland; least favorite: salmon from Norway.

Treats from Wales.

So many cultural goodies! YUM!

Viva Espana! Tortilla de Patata!

We saw traditional dances from the La Vera region and heard traditional music. Four of my students were dancing in the group and they were very excited to show me their traditions. After, they were taking pictures with the visitors from the Comenius group, and when they saw me, they ran over to ask to take a picture with ME! Suddenly, I was the famous one! (I am Whitney Houston after all.) We also had the rare opportunity to see a group of all male dancers perform. Usually, they only dance a few times a year, on certain holy days of the Virgin. However, they agreed to dance for us, and it was a magical moment. They were dancing, stomping, beating sticks, drums, and playing castanets. I have a video if you would ever like to watch!

This group of dancers is composed of dancers from 7 different towns in La Vera.

Dancing, over and under with ribbons.

A picture with my students who danced in the show!

They were very excited that I saw them perform!

I had the opportunity to put my Spanish/English skills to the test just before the dancing began... The lady in charge of this singing/dancing group asked me to translate what she was going to say to the Comenius group. While a bit scared out of my mind, yet excited, I became a human dictionary. I was successfully able to translate everything the lady said...about the group, where they are from, they were happy to be sharing their traditions, and that she hoped the Comenius group had a nice stay in Jarandilla! Until one sentence came across too quickly and I looked at her and said "huh? too fast!" Everyone laughed - myself included.
Saturday: Merida  
After going to bed around 1:30am after cleaning up the welcome dinner, we woke up early to board the bus for Merida, a city about 2.5 hours from Jarandilla.  Merida has Roman ruins, even more well preserved than those in Rome.  Because everyone's common language in the Comenius is English, we had a guided tour in English throughout the city to visit all the important ruins and museum. I felt like I was in Italy, in Rome, at the Coliseum with my family or Kasie; while they were not able to attend, I was blessed to explore Merida with some of my favorite students. The day was full of adventure and new friendships. 

Lucia, Racquel, Elena, Paula y yo in Merida

Roman Theater. (Plays are shown here weekly during July and August)

More Roman ruins throughout the streets of Merida.

Walking in Merida...

Just walking along the streets seen above and Bam! there is this!

An original Roman road that has been preserved, in the entrance of the Museum.

Plaza Mayor, Merida

Old Roman Bridge, Merida

We had lunch just outside the Roman ruins, the Spanish gang (which includes me!) and Adam, the Comenius leader, from Poland. Because Adam doesn't speak Spanish, I was the translator for most of the meal, and I have to say I even surprised myself with how good of a job I did! I wouldn't trust my Spanish for anything, but I guess I make some sense! After lunch, we boarded the bus for a short 1.5 hour ride to the city of Caceres to visit it's old parte antigua. It reminded me of Salamanca, but just not the same. The streets were of a golden stone, but it wasn't the golden streets of Sali. Nonetheless, we visited a beautiful church in the parte antigua,an Algibe, Spanish Army exibition in an old palace, saw an old monastery, etc. The sun was setting, the street lights were coming on, and the cold was setting in. We walked through the streets until it was time for dinner; Maria Jose, the school's headmistress, took the kiddos so Toni, Divina, and I could go for a nice meal just off the Plaza Mayor (which is under construction!) When the children were shopping with Maria Jose, they bought me some googly bands (which have just caught on here in Spain in the last 3 weeks) and a key chain that says "Amo mi mobil" because they love my American cell phone. ;)

Entrance to the parte antigua of Caceres.

Back in the days, the most prestigious people were buried INSIDE the church.
These are grave stones. After the tsunami that hit Portugal long ago, the graves were sealed for good,
so that the body remains wouldn't surface as they did in Portugal.

The church has a (rare) cedar alter, which was never painted gold like all others.
Due to the cedar, the ants never destroyed it and it still remains in perfect condition today.

San Mateo Iglesia - has Caceres' oldest/biggest sistern underneath!

These costumes are on display in the sistern. They are for Easter ceremonies.
The privacy hoods are to cover the men's faces so no one knows who they are.

If you didn't know, Spain is very laid back. An example: Just after the guided tour was finished, the tour guide invited the Spanish gang (Maria Jose, Toni, Divina, and yo) to tomar algo. Of course, you don't turn this down, so we decided to have a drink. Well, it just so happens that we were in charge of the 10 Spanish children who had also come along for the day... what to do with them? It's easy. We had them eat their packed dinners, in the street, outside. No cars = No problem, they can stay there, playing in the street, in the town of 100,000. No worries! I do believe this is a big difference between Spain and America. Don't you agree? jaja

Sunday: Nature Day

We left Jarandilla at 10am to go visit Spain's largest National Park and Biosphere reserve, which included a visit to an old castle, a 1 hour hike down hill, birdwatching and having a picnic. This park has the world's largest colony of black vultures.  We were able to view the birds  through big telescopes as they flew overhead! I ate way too many madroñas on the hike back to the bus... if you eat too many madroñas, you can become drunk! I didn't have THAT many, but it make the hike go by faster anyway. I was having the visiting students pick them for me, so I didn't have to do much work at picking them!

Black vultures: EVERYWHERE!

Checking out the vultures!

We learned how to make cave paintings!

Standing on the edge of the castle...

HOW PRETTY IS THIS VIEW?!

The perfect madroña. yum!

After a long day in the mountains, we boarded the bus to Plasencia, another city just 1 hour from Jarandilla. It is Toni's home town, so Divina and I had the opportunity to follow her around as she showed us her city. We saw where she went to school, visited the cathedrals and parador (an old monastery) and finished the night in a cafe drinking claras con limon. 

Plasencia

Plaza Mayor, Plasencia

Kids playing soccer ON the church... I guess we know how high soccer ranks!

I want you.

Monastery that is now a "Parador" government hotel.

Monday: Escuela
Monday morning, I helped in a taller (workshop) with the visiting students. We made paintings by placing leaves on paper and spraying them with spray paint. While it was fun, I could hardly breathe, so I kept opening more and more windows throughout the school and told the kids how fun it would be to wear face masks because "they were the newest and coolest thing!" They believed me and everyone continued spraying and painting in high fashion (and breathing regularly!)

...with students from Poland and Wales.

The finished products of leaves and spray paint.

We headed to the pre-school (just behind the primary school) where the parents had prepared a Calbotes festival, with roasted chestnuts, fruits, nuts, juice, etc. The littlest students (3-5 years) joined us to have a early morning snack. The entire primary school (ages 3 - 6th grade) sang a song called "Escuela de los Colores" in the school playground and each class made a flag that said "Welcome" in one of the visiting countries' languages! It was such a fun song, I think the kids and adults really enjoyed it! (Rojo, verde y azul!)

Una "Granada"

Check out those flags!

They were making animal growling faces... how cute!

4 year old Picassos.

We enjoyed eating Migas, a traditional breakfast food from the region, consisting of bread, meat, garlic, spices. It is a different taste, but seeing that I had two plates full, shows I enjoyed it! To make the Comenius group visiting Jarandilla, we planted a tree in the school garden.  Around it, we placed painted rocks depicting the 14 different countries.  We went to Guijo de Santa Barbara, a nearby village high on a mountain. In Guijo, we visited the Interpretation Centre, that had lots of animal horns/antlers and mountain diagrams of the Sierra de Gredos. We walked through its streets and enjoyed its pretty landscapes. Even though it was windy, the scenery was wonderful.

Migas. Jamon. Vino.

Comenius: Spain. (around the new tree!)

A picture for my daddio: mountain goat horns/antlers/?

Guijo de Sta. Barbara

Sunset in Guijo.

Sunset in the mountains.

In the mountain towns there are lots of cats roaming the streets. I asked one of my student's dads how to get the attention of the cats. I explained to him that when I say "meow meow" in Spain, the cats run in the other direction. Well, I have learned that to call a cat in Spanish, you say "shawie shawie shawie" or something like that (I have no idea how to spell it!) AND, the cat just comes running up to you! Thank you for the cat lesson, Paula's dad. 

Getting lessons from Paula's dad....

YAY! My first Spanish cat experience! (Miss you, Zoe!)

Tuesday: More Nature

Today the children started off in a workshop about how to make a healthy Mediterranean diet. Well, this consisted of making fresh squeezed orange juice (YUM!) and tostadas with olive oil, tomato puree, and jamon. The best part, the kids made it and I ate it! The two young boys from Poland were so funny. They enjoyed the orange juice so much that they kept making full glasses--for just themselves! I wish you could have met Metaus and Michail, they are characters. While they didn't speak much English, they were constantly saying funny sayings in Polish to their teacher who would translate them for me! They taught me how to say "Yes" Tak and "Goodmorning" Dzien dobry (pronounced like gin doble - two gins please!) Later, the students served the healthy breakfast to their teachers! It was very genial!  

fresh zumo de naranja!!!!

Tuesday afternoon was spent visiting the Monastery de Yuste in Cuacos de Yuste, the Cuartos Garganta in Losar de la Vera, and the traditional streets of Valverde de la Vera.  The monastery is where Spanish Emperor Carlos V came to spend his last year of life. He lived in the Parador in Jarandilla until the Monastery was completed, and was later buried under the alter, after the monastery underwent renovations according to his will that his son carried out. There is a route called the route of the Emperor which was the route Carlos V took when going between Jarandilla and Yuste; today, people hike this trip in the spring. We had a picnic lunch just outside before we went to Losar.

Carlos Quinto.

Entrance to main door.

Monastery de Yuste.

For the visit in Losar, I had made a book full of plants and trees that the Comenius visitors would be seeing. It was such a hit! :) We walked through the hills, along the side of the garganta which was prettier than a few weeks ago as the trees have began to change colors! When we arrived to the final stop, Adam, the Comenius director, wanted to take a group photo. Everyone was off on their own and I was to round up the gang with my wonderful English skills. Well, no one was listening so I got a bit frustrated and irritated that even the teachers weren't paying attention. So I (not so kindly, yet still kind) said "Adam, the director of the project wants to take a picture. Why don't you all listen? When he says everyone, he is speaking to you. Just come and take the picture. You all are teachers...and if you don't listen, how do you expect your students to listen?" Then I threw my hands up in the air. So. Spanish. Well, this set off a huge laugh, because until this point of the trip, I had been very sweet and kind, always saying "we are going to take a group picture, come if you would like to be part of it". Well, the Spanish teachers found this so funny that I got angry and they said "In just 2 months you have learned to be a teacher!" :) It was a very memorable moment. 

Losar de la Vera, Spain

Friends from Denmark utilizing my book!

Helllllooooo!

Valverde de la Vera was the second to last stop on Tuesday. Valverde is a traditional town that still has traditional village architecture of mortar and wood.  There is a religious ritual: Los Empalaos which is when men do a pilgrimage in the streets of Valverde. Standing in front of crosses or at a crossroad of two roads that make a cross, men's faces are covered and they are tied to a heavy wooden cross. The Stations of the Cross are said as men do their pilgrimage. Family members say prayers to the participant, until the man cannot bare his cross any longer.  http://www.valverdevera.com/t/valverde-14/o/los-empalaos-de-valverde-de-la-vera-52

Valverde de la Vera, Spain

An old castillo en Valverde de la Vera

The final activity was the cena de despedida. We went to Casa Leti to have a very nice meal, buffet style, of all my favorite Extremaduran dishes: potatoes with paprika, jamon/queso, pimientos, tortilla de patata, croquetas, etc. Dessert was just as delicious with good yogurts, bautidos, and an assortment of cakes. After dinner, we brought out the Spanish guitar and fellow teachers sang and played the guitar while others danced. Everyone began dancing and tapping their feet to the wonderful Spanish beats. Several others from the Comenius group sang traditional songs from their countries and Robert from Holland played some classic English songs for everyone to sing (or hum) along to! It truly was a wonderful ending to the awesome week!

Greece, Estonia and Denmark singing along!

Portugal and Holland on the guitar!

Todos bailando!

Dinner topics included why is Whitney in Jarandilla de la Vera and why Poland doesn't have a word for "Monday" - they just say "The day after Monday".  Three groups (Denmark, Holland, and Poland) have all invited me to visit them in their countries, to learn and experience their cultures. I really would love to go to these places and explore with a local. The couple from Holland have a summer house in France and are neighbors to Johnny Depp! :) Maybe I can visit there...???

Wednesday: Goodbye

Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to my warm house, my kind family, my new friends, and Jarandilla. It was a sad moment as I had grown attached to all of these things. I gave one final tour of Jarandilla as we walked to the highschool to do a visit. I talked about the regional food, culture, festivals, and monuments. I am so Spanish. We ended the tour at IES Jaranda, where Antonio and Lara gave the group a tour of the school. We visited the forestales students and culinary students. The culinary students were preparing paella in class; it smelled amazing! While we didn't get to eat paella, they had prepared lots of sweets for us to have during our coffee break (which is daily at 10:30/11:00) And, after having a few dulces, I got in the car and headed back to Navalmoral. 

Thanksgiving in Zurbaran

Wednesday, I gave the first of two Thanksgiving lectures to Maria's high school. I spoke to 100 students in the bilingual program (Eng/Spa) Surprisingly, most of them listened to my speech, and I only had to get loud twice. I've found that saying things in English very fast and very quietly makes them stop talking.... and also, that if you pick on one of the popular kids and make them look stupid, kids also shut up. :)  I picked on a boy in the front row; of course, the kids laughed, so I said, "I don't know why you are laughing, I wasn't talking to you". AND with that, they were quiet for the rest of my talk. Ta-da! Magic. Round two on Friday went well too. The students had a higher level so it was easier to say whatever I felt like and have them understand. After, a group of girls in the front row were asking questions about my life in America. I love when people take an interest in my life and culture and I only hope I show this much interest in others' lives. It is such a nice feeling to know that people want to know about you and who are you are...and how I got to Jarandilla de la Vera!

It's nice to be home with Maria and Mamen, but I really miss Jarandilla! When I said goodbye to my "mom" Toni on Wednesday, she said it's going to be weird not having me at home as she and her husband really enjoyed my company. It reminded me of home, of my family, my Spanish families, and not being on my own; it was wonderful. I left with new Spanish music from Emillano, and I am very excited to listen to it! 

El Fin

I leave you with this. After I translated for the head singer in the traditional group of singers and dancers, a man approached me and said, "I know you are Spanish, but have you ever studied English in the United States? ...because you have a wonderful American accent?!" I simply responded with "I am American" and he was speechless. :) Surprise surprise! You never know who you're going to find in Jarandilla de la Vera!