Hello, wow, what a week I had. After returning from my crazy high of traveling to Morocco, I got very sick...
Before I became very ill, however, we had an eventful week at school, from taking the kids down to the beach to pick up trash and learn more about ecosystems to celebrating Carnival and seeing all the adorable costumes everyone wore.
Growing up in Oklahoma, I dreamed of living close to the beach. The thought of getting to wake up and walk to the ocean whenever I wanted, was unfathomable. Yet, all of my students who live in Bakio live that reality every day. I've joked for a while that I would take the students down to the beach on the days I was left in charge, and last week the teachers finally realized what a great idea it was...so off to the beach we went. The ages were primary 5th-6th, so old enough to know not to get into the water, but still needing a constant eye on them, specifically the BOYS.
Along our walk, one of the students found a beer can to add to our trash bag, which was filled with
other small trash bags that we would hand out to the students to collect the trash, but as we weren't at the beach yet, the beer can was dropped into the sack with the rest of the trash bags...I would like to say that I did not know the beer can was placed with the smaller trash bags, and therefore when I went to demonstrate how to open the bag, vigorously whipping it open, with all of the students sitting in front of me, I had no idea that I would SPRAY beer all over my face and the students. I realized then that we would be sending the students home smelling like beer...but they got to play on the beach and pick up trash, so it was a win in my book. Plus we all learned a valuable lesson...never place a full beer can into a trash bag unless you wish to smell like a college bar for the rest of the day.
Now the highlight of the week was Carnival, which is basically their Halloween here. The theme chosen this year at school was the circus, and wow, did everyone's costumes look amazing! Itxasne and I went as the popcorn sellers, but the costumes ranged from clowns, mimes, muscle men, trapeze artists, the men/women shot out of cannons, ring leaders, magicians and so much more. The kids spent the entire day showing off their costumes and the special treat given out was chocolate sandwiches. Which is a custom treat on Friday afternoon consisting of bread and a slab of chocolate right in the middle, with maybe a spread of Nutella...way too sweet for me, but the kids love it, and why wouldn't they, it's nothing but sugar and carbs.
Now, me being the person I am, I am TERRIBLE at giving myself a break, so after coming back from a short but tiring trip, to school all week, then carnival, my body did what it always does when it needs a break and completely shut down. The second carnival was over at school I was dead and a trip to the doctor confirmed that I was sick and needed to stay in bed all weekend...which I absolutely HATE doing.
There are many pros and cons to moving abroad, I wouldn't give up the life I have for anything, but weekends like this past one make you realize how much you miss family and friends and rely on them in times of need. It was hard and very lonely...but it is also the life I chose, and thankfully I have some amazing coworkers/friends here who helped when they could and even invited me out once I was feeling a bit better to celebrate Carnival in Mundaka. Weeks like this remind me how lucky I am for my health and that being sick for me isn't permanent, and I have some pretty amazing friends here and back home.
All in all, it was a very long week and I'm looking forward to a refreshing new start this week. In other good news, the sun has finally made an appearance, and not just for a few hours, but days, so my days will be spent soaking up the sun and getting some good Vitamin C.
Agur, Hasta Luego!
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