The performance

25th November. Day against the gender violence

Activities turned around the idea: This is Love. Publicity Worshop students had designed the T-shirt they are wearing and prepared a photo video of themselves explaining what love meant to them. Everything was shown during the break-time and then, there was a final lessons in the entrance hall. Here they are watching and enjoying their creation.


There was also a theatre performace in el Chico Square. Criaturas, Adela's group, were in charge of it with the help of the other students actors and actresses in schools.
I only saw what there was in the school.

My new school

Often,our pupils offer us surprises. Sometimes, the surprises are really nice.
Two of my students offered to make a school presentation for a new project. I said yes, not hoping for much. In the same afternoon, they came to take pictures. The same evening I got this.
It's not perfect, but considering it was made by two 14 years old boys, I think it's remarkable. I'm proud of them.
I am taking this opportunity to invite you for a tour in my new school. I hope you like it. After a hard time, I start thinking I am going to enjoy being here.
And I hope this blog will go on, even if my place has changed to some extent.

Kilipirim

It's the name of a fair that takes place twice a year, a discount book, film and music fair. The name comes from "Chilipir", a word with Turkish origin meaning bargain, but also some unexpected gain. As you see, there was a bit of everything, from English books to old books, posters and old drawings.
The prices were more than affordable, some with 50% discount, some stands offered a free book for each one you bought- crisis effects. Of course books are one of the luxury items people tend to give up, so publishing houses have to make big efforts. There was also a place for donating and exchanging books and a Tibet and Himalaya photos exhibition. This is almost all I got- except for two posters and a CD!

Stuck

There is a general strike at the subway these days. The stops are closed every day from 5 am to 4 pm. Considering that 600 000 people use the subway daily, you can imagine it was not very convenient.
The buses were overcrowded, then they stopped coming at all. The drivers got mad, the traffic was a mess. The people's reactions were diverse. Some remembered the old days when traveling on the step of the bus, hanging by one hand, was a daily routine. Some rejoyced because they lived in a neighborhood out of the subway circuit anyway. Some were amazed to discover the pleasures of walking, while others lamented our addiction to the comfort of the civilized world. At 4 pm, we were back in the world as we know it.
All will start again tomorrow. Some will already have adapted to this- we can get used to pretty much anything. Any lesson learnt?

Treasure Quest

This is a nice game you might even use with your youngest students, if by any chance they would like to know something about the Eastern Europe. It's about the cultural heritage of this part of the world and it looks rather nice. And here is our place on the treasure list.

Bridge

Our river got a present today: a new bridge was finished. Here you are the very moment it happened, as the last section was added. And if you look closely at the first photo, you can see the champagne bottle underneath.

Discovery

Maybe this is a bit out of topic, because it happens everywhere. That's why I had the idea of a new category: Earth- the Place we Live In.
It's about a moment on the plane yesterday, a moment to remember and the star was boy about 2 years old, maybe younger.
His father offered him a small whistle, to keep him amused, only the kid had no idea what to do to make it utter sounds. He did not know what "to blow" meant, but he was determined. He tried over and over, until by accident he succeeded. You should have seen his surprise and his joy. He understood and he repeated the "achievement", to make sure. And he bursted with laughter. Then he kept whistling, laughing, and again, over and over, louder and quicker. After each breath, he laughed with delight. And, after a few blows, he generously offered the precious whistle to his father for a try, then he took it back.
I wondered if the parents understood the beauty of the moment. It was, I think, a glimpse of the best and the deepest part of the human being, a short reminder of what makes us progress: the desire to know, the determination, the joy of discovery, the magic of sharing it. I was happy to see it. And I felt like sharing it.

WYSIWIG

What You See Is What I Got: a raincoat, a bag, a brochure, stickers, a pen, a logo-shaped memory stick and a diploma stating I have reached the most Western part of mainland Europe: Cabo da Roca.
Sorry, I have nothing to send but stories and photos this time. I was in a rush all the time.
You did not feel someone was talking about you, but I hope you felt someone was thinking of you.