First impressions of Spain
Trip Start
Jun 27, 2008
1
2
6
Trip End
Aug 31, 2008
Puigcerda,
Catalonia,
Spain and Canary Islands
Monday, July 14, 2008
I lugged my bag off the bus and found myself blinking into the just-risen Spanish sun in Tarragona city. Having intended to have purchased a Spanish guide-book by this point but not quite getting round to it ´found myself´ does describe the surreal sort of surprise I felt at having arrived at my destination. ´Breakfast´ was my first thought and I wandered along a street feeling the stickyness of the morning heat and revived myself with a cafe con leche and read afew chapters of the Spanish ´Matilda´.
First impressions (and, as it turned out, only impressions) of Tarragona were of a bright and friendly city bustling with culture, statues and fountains. I ended up being picked up and taken to one of the Tarragona English Camps called Tamarit to stay for a night before being taken to the Camp where I am now. This was an extrememly surreal experience as I arrived on the final day of their term meeting a range of people leaving or arriving - none of whom I´d be around for more then 24 hours. I went to a bar that night with a group of the new Spanish ´monitors´ (the camps have a team of English speaking teachers for the lessons and Spanish monitors for the general caring of and entertaining of the kids), a little overwhelming language-wise but they were all lovely and had the man on stage sing me a famous Catalan song when they found out it was my birthday-eve.
My 20th heralded another bizarre day exploring Tamarit and its nearby beach untill Caronlina, the daughter of the founder of the camps, packed me into her car. I had no idea where we were heading but four hours later I found myself in a little town called Puigcerda in the Pyrenees. The drive was stunning and I spent the journey chatting to Carolina.
Tragically, she told me that a 23 year old guy working at the camp the previous term had had a fatal asthma attack and died suddenly four days in to the camp. I gazed out of the window as she recounted what had happened and how she´d had to inform the parents and everything. Ancient jagged mountains rose above us in all directions and it was hard to comprehend that such a young life could be taken from this world so easily. There was something, also, about listening to such a tale on my birthday that made me take it to heart - quite literally. I felt very contious of it beating away as Carolina described bringing the parents from the airport to see the body. Each beat felt significant, reminding me that it had gotten me through the last 20 years of my life and I´d better not take it for granted that it was still going. A refreshed appreciation for life is probably what I settled on after Carolina had said all that she needed to say and the car sailed on in a pensive silence through the huge and dynamic landscape.
I am the only new teacher in the group of 20; I have to admit I was a little bit nervous entering in to a group who not only had spent 2 weeks together for the first term of this camp but had all experienced such a tradgedy. However, they´re all very welcoming and I´m finding my place.
This camp is a world away from the one at Tamarit. High above sea level and set in a gorgeous valley, the air is much fresher. The kids arrived the day after I did - dropped off by their parents dragging out suitcases double thier own size from all ranges of bmws and 4x4s. As well as our English classes we´ve been assigned another activity class to take - I have been given ´Save the Planet´ which should be interesting with such a set of, um, ´well-cared for´ kids.
For my English lessons, I´m taking the youngest class of twelve 7 year olds which feels like a very different kind of teaching to that of last year. The classes are an hour and a half each and we teach two a day (plus an hour for the English Activity). Tis a bit too long for such wee kids with such short attention spans to be in a classroom but we´ll see how it goes! Watch this space... :)
