Fiestas y Fiethtas

Trip Start Sep 17, 2008
1
8
21
Trip End Jun 04, 2009


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Spain  ,
Friday, November 7, 2008

The education system in Spain = continuous disorganization and procrastination.  My title in the secondary school, Lopéz Néyra, is Language and Cultural Assistant.  My job, or "jauv" as Spaniards pronounce it, is to create activities and projects related to American culture for the students within the bilingual program.  I know this does not seem very difficult, but it has proven to be a chore day in and day out because of the lack of organization, communication, and funding provided by the bilingual program.  A great example of the chaos that can be produced by such disorganization took place on October 31st in the halls of my school.

Here´s a little background:

Lopéz Neyra has 800 students.  There are 6 bilingual teachers, 2 bilingual assistants (Scott and I), 1 bilingual coordinator (Isa) and 60 other teachers who do not have any interest in participating in the bilingual program.

Halloween is a holiday that occurs every single year.  October 31st.  There is absolutely no doubt that there will be kids dressed in costumes, pumpkins on doorsteps, and black and orange colored decorations in celebration of this holiday.  The bilingual program at my school has been celebrating this American holiday for several years now, but for some reason it snuck up on them this year.

Here´s what happened:

It was brought to my attention that it was my "jauv" to put together a Halloween party.  So naturally I asked, "What kind of supplies do we have?  How many students will be participating?  What is our budget?  Where will be party be held?  When will the party be held - before or after school?"  The answers that  I received on Friday, October 24th left my asking the same questions until Thursday, October 30th.

Turns out we had enough money to buy 8 small pumpkins.  We also had a few extra Euros to by 100 chupa chups (suckers), and about 40 apples.  On top of ALL of these wonderful supplies, we were supposed to entertain all of the students during their 30 minute recess INSIDE!  It had been raining that week so the courtyard was not open. 

October 31st, 2008:

15 minutes before the recess bell rang Isa and Scott ran into the office with a bag of apples, a handful of kitchen knives and spoons from Isa´s house, and a bucket to fill with water.  2 tables had also been set up in the hall for a Bobbing for Apples game and pumpkin carving.

10 minutes before the bell rang Isa laid the knives, spoons and pumpkins on the table while Scott and I filled the bucket full of water. 

7 minutes before the bell rang Scott asked, "where´s your costume?"  First I laughed, but then realized that he was serious.  Luckily I have the creativity of a first grader, I had make up in my purse, and 2 headbands in my backpack.

2 minutes before the bell rang Scott and I were dressed and ready to fight the crowds of students that were about pour out of the classrooms.

Please see attached pictures for a better idea of what we were up against!

I don´t know how we escaped with only 2 injuries on that Friday afternoon.  I got hit in the arm with a flying apple and Isa got hit as well.  We were very fortunate not to have children with stab wounds.

The moral of the story is 8 pumpkins, 40 apples, 100 suckers, unsupervised knife use, and 3 staff members for 800 students is not advisable.
Slideshow Print this entry Córdoba hotels