These days when I remember Mina, there's an ache in my heart. She was one of the first people I worked with, as a swap or what you call language exchange. It was one of those encounters that you never forget. A friend of mine had given her my number, and when she called the first time, I couldn't answer the phone and somehow, I forget to call her back. after a few hours, she called again. that gave me the impression that she was really interested in having classes. I wasnt sure if it was going to be paid classes, but I was willing to meet her and decide, besides, at that time, I had a lot time on my hands. We met, in a bar, and there was no awkward moments, it felt like we had known each other for years. At that first meeting, everything felt right, and we parted with an agreement to meet again.
And so started a beautiful friendship. She was a bit younger than me, but we had so many things in common and she had a vibrancy about, which reminded of myself in what felt like another time and age. For years, I considered her as my best friend, I loved her like a sister and told everybody that cared to listen so.
We shared so many things, we talked about our goals, our dreams, we shared recipes, beauty and style tips. we did everything that two young, beautiful and lively ladies of our generation would do. I felt young again.
She was always there when I needed her, and I believe that I was there for her too and I sincerely felt that what we had was a healthy and well-balanced relationship between two equally well-balanced and interesting young women. I still don´t know what went wrong or how, but suddenly, she stopped taking my calls and after some months, I recieved this email from her.
Hi,
I saw your calls these days and I didn't answer 'cause I'm studying. I'm so sorry for not being with you all this time and having disappeared but until I successfully finish my exams, I'm afraid that I can't have any social life. This "exams" demands all my attention and time, and so I can't have any contact except with Richie, even with him I'm having some serious arguements. I only go out a little bit on Fridays with him after leaving the academy and then the rest of the week I'm home studying.
I feel continually guilty with all my friends, but I need to do this well, and the exigencies are really high!
I hope you can understand, I hope you can forgive me for not taking care of you and being present in your life.
Once I get the job of my dreams, I'll contact you, I promise, and I hope you'll be there, but if not I will understand it. I know I'm asking too much.
Sorry again! I hope you know I love you!Mina.
These days, I don't talk to her. Not because I don't want to, but because I can't.
Thanks to FaceBook, I know she has finished her "exams", I know she didn´t do as well as she wanted to, my heart went out to her, because I know how much she wanted to pass. I sent her an email asking, I got no reply.
I haven´t given up. I still congratulate her on her birthdays, I comment on pictures she uploads. The most I´ve got is a "like" button in response.
We still live in the same city, but , it's been 5 years since I last saw her, 3 years since I last spoke to her on the phone and 2 and half years since that email.
I miss her. And I´ve stopped trying to understand the "why" of the distance between us. I just feel an ache in my heart whenever I remember her and sometimes when I´m out in the city centre, I look for her in the street, hoping that just maybe, we can run into each other.
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
I'm still part of that association and for some years now, every summer, I'm given the opportunity to lengthen even more the list of students, and co teachers, some of them even becoming friends.
Joe and his wife Carla are among teachers who have become friends. With Kay, we all realized we have something in common, something very important to all of us: our Faith and belief in God. In a time and place where everybody else proudly declares that they do not believe in God, it was a welcome friendship. Talking and sharing with people who speak the same language as yourself without feeling like you were an alien from a completely different planet was indeed a blessing and a relief.
Again, with their recommendations,the chamber of Commerce contacted me to work with them as an ESL consultant and teacher. The first time, I couldn't because I already had a previous commitment. But the following year, I did. And this time, I have to work with 12 young adults: between 18 and 23. It was a totally different experience but nonetheless enriching. When we started, they had the basic knowledge of grammar, but most of them were terrified when they had to actually speak English. It was both fun and hard work helping them dispel their fear of speaking English. And it was rewarding seeing them get better and more fluent by the day. At the end of course, when half of them got accepted to do their practicals in different companies in England, Denmark and Finland, it felt like another feather in my cap. The last day of the course, as they all thanked and hugged me, my heart swelled with pride. It was indeed another feather in my cap!
While, I was working with the Chamber of Commerce, I was also working with an academy, doing in-company classes. Working with professionals has always been both enjoyable and challenging for me. The two groups I had were great. A group of 13 upper intermediate students and another of 10 lower advanced, most of them engineers. Great students, nice people. My list of students was getting really longer and my heart was getting bigger.
Nelly, was my co- teacher, a gorgeous young lady who I shared the 2 hours commute with. We also discovered and enjoyed our love for the Napolitana de chocolate. The pastry shop became the only bright spot in Pinto for us. We even managed to get the lady attendant to change her hair-do and start wearing make-up... What we did for the love of the Napolitana.
When I finished the course with the Chamber of Commerce, my boss at the academy offered me more in company classes. Two more groups in a fire protection company... One 1-1 class with one of the directors and the other, a group of 6 students, mostly firemen! I have no idea how I survived the first day of class... In the most of hot looking, well muscled firemen! When we did the exercise I had prepared, and most of them told me that their first impression about me was that I was "really beautiful and efficient" and I quote... I thought I saw going to swoon. Somehow, miraculously, I maintained a seemingly professional front and we got on with the class. Again, seeing them improve their English, watching their excited faces everyday just before we start, assured me that I was doing something right.
I was enjoying my job and obviously, my students were improving and we were all having fun while at it.
My career as an ESL teacher in Spain has been one filled with so many great memories, such priviledge and inspiration. A career that has helped to widen my perspective about life and people. A career that has further fueled my quest for knowledge and continuous self developement, a career that has brought me in contact with so many people and one which I'm not in any hurry to change.
Joe and his wife Carla are among teachers who have become friends. With Kay, we all realized we have something in common, something very important to all of us: our Faith and belief in God. In a time and place where everybody else proudly declares that they do not believe in God, it was a welcome friendship. Talking and sharing with people who speak the same language as yourself without feeling like you were an alien from a completely different planet was indeed a blessing and a relief.
Again, with their recommendations,the chamber of Commerce contacted me to work with them as an ESL consultant and teacher. The first time, I couldn't because I already had a previous commitment. But the following year, I did. And this time, I have to work with 12 young adults: between 18 and 23. It was a totally different experience but nonetheless enriching. When we started, they had the basic knowledge of grammar, but most of them were terrified when they had to actually speak English. It was both fun and hard work helping them dispel their fear of speaking English. And it was rewarding seeing them get better and more fluent by the day. At the end of course, when half of them got accepted to do their practicals in different companies in England, Denmark and Finland, it felt like another feather in my cap. The last day of the course, as they all thanked and hugged me, my heart swelled with pride. It was indeed another feather in my cap!
While, I was working with the Chamber of Commerce, I was also working with an academy, doing in-company classes. Working with professionals has always been both enjoyable and challenging for me. The two groups I had were great. A group of 13 upper intermediate students and another of 10 lower advanced, most of them engineers. Great students, nice people. My list of students was getting really longer and my heart was getting bigger.
Nelly, was my co- teacher, a gorgeous young lady who I shared the 2 hours commute with. We also discovered and enjoyed our love for the Napolitana de chocolate. The pastry shop became the only bright spot in Pinto for us. We even managed to get the lady attendant to change her hair-do and start wearing make-up... What we did for the love of the Napolitana.
When I finished the course with the Chamber of Commerce, my boss at the academy offered me more in company classes. Two more groups in a fire protection company... One 1-1 class with one of the directors and the other, a group of 6 students, mostly firemen! I have no idea how I survived the first day of class... In the most of hot looking, well muscled firemen! When we did the exercise I had prepared, and most of them told me that their first impression about me was that I was "really beautiful and efficient" and I quote... I thought I saw going to swoon. Somehow, miraculously, I maintained a seemingly professional front and we got on with the class. Again, seeing them improve their English, watching their excited faces everyday just before we start, assured me that I was doing something right.
I was enjoying my job and obviously, my students were improving and we were all having fun while at it.
My career as an ESL teacher in Spain has been one filled with so many great memories, such priviledge and inspiration. A career that has helped to widen my perspective about life and people. A career that has further fueled my quest for knowledge and continuous self developement, a career that has brought me in contact with so many people and one which I'm not in any hurry to change.
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