as per request, since I tend to write about the more exciting things I do...
a regular work day for me might go something like this:
7:30 get up, eat b-fast, etc.
8:30 30 min. walk to bus stop (often listening to music and dodging dog-poop on the sidewalks...)
9:00 bus to pueblo: Alhendín. (I've realized that I kind of use this time as "quiet time" or thinking time. I am noticeably irritated when I meet one of the other teachers and have to make small talk at the bus stop and throughout the ride. It was the same in Goshen, actually, when I met people on the trolley on the way to Elkhart. It was fun seeing people, but I actually preferred to let my mind wander...)
9:30 first class or conversation. If it is a class, it can be with any grades (high school-ish age). If it is a conversation, its with a professor who is signed up to be in the bilingual program and next year will need to give classes in his subject area in English. At least to the incoming first years.
At first I thought these conversations would be very hard to sustain throughout the year... an hour of conversation was difficult at first. They've become quite interesting, however, with some of the profs. Particularly with one who is very interested in flamenco music (and plays the cajon!) He is also very well educated and passionate about history, anthropology, archaeology, etc. So really, I've started getting free lectures on these topics, and he practises the vocab, etc. in English. Good deal. Also, I learned one of the flamenco 12 beat rhythms from him the other day, and practise it while I walk places... :) On Monday I took my menno hymn. book to show to the music teacher. He really liked it and we sang a few hymns in the teacher's lounge, much to the delight (and no doubt amusement) of some of the other teachers. So I've been getting to know the other teachers in the school better, and its quite enjoyable. (Particularly the very animated Lit. teacher who calls me the Brazilian Dancer... not sure why... and is in my Wednesday evening English class-- separate from normal school stuff.) Developing relationships with the students is somewhat harder. Since I only have each class once a week (there are 2 or 3 classes in every grade), I don't see them often. This is good, because my presence is still interesting to them (I think) but bad because it makes it harder to get to know them (and learn their names! which was one of my first goals... going slowly...) I have anywhere from 2-4 classes/conversations each day. Sometimes I have an hour in between (which usually consists of having a café with one or several other teachers in the school cafeteria).
12:30/1:30 bus back to Granada
1:30/2:30 lunch time
afternoon: if sunny, read a bit in park. If cold/cloudy, siesta.
later: go running. sometimes around the university, sometimes through various streets-- a fun way to explore the city. shower, then supper.
rest of the evening probably spent on the computer.
This is "normal" day, which doesn't often happen. That is to say, there is often something going on in the evening, or I go on a walk with a friend (like tonight...went "shopping" but only bought tea. dried mint, mmm!) Or, some random friend of a friend needs a place to say and I am hostess. Also, there are a few of us here in Granada who play ultimate (and surely more, if we find them) and we are trying to organize a team. Our main problem is the lack of proper fields. i.e. grass. most of the futbol fields are dirt or cement. hmm.. But, it sure would be nice to have a group of people to play with, and something other than running to get a good work-out. Every time I go by the futbol fields I want to play. But there are only guys playing. Seriously, never seen a girl/ girls' team. Which is not normally an obstacle for me, but there is the fact that I don't actually play futbol so much... It would be fun to learn, but these guys have teams and probably aren't too keen on teaching me.
Anyway, so my schedule is quite nice, really. And its only four days a week. I never work on Fridays. (I know, I know...enjoy it while it lasts!!)
The picture is the Sierra Nevadas all beautifully covered in snow. View from the train station, early evening/sunset.
The last two weekends I have been out in the mountains doing a university course on rock climbing. um, AWESOME. The first weekend we went up into the Sierra Nevadas. Walked through the snow to this gorgeous cliff, and set up. Climbed all day, and went back to the university-owned lodge to sleep. Also we saw a mountain goat, perfectly silhouetted on the rocks on our way back. Next day, same thing, though a different rock face. Did I mention that it was incredibly beautiful? It was. Also the group was really fun, and, as I am coming to expect now, very international. People from all over Europe. I guess its hardly "international" now... its just...Europe! Well, that could be argued either way. 
Anyway, I always enjoy it. Talking to Germans, Italians, Austrians, Spaniards, French people, etc. (Why do we not have a better name in English for people from France? or do we?) Next weekend we went to a place closer to Granada (Alpujarras). It looked like New Mexico. I got to do my first partner climb. The instructor climbed up first and set the rope. I followed and then another girl as well. When we all got up to the first "reunion," meeting, we tied ourselves in, pulled the ropes up and did it again. We had a total of three reuniones...And were waaaay up. It was spectacular. Then we repelled down. Three times. Sweet. 
So I'm learned all the knots and tools for this kind of thing. I love it. Also, I learned a lot of climbing vocab in Spanish, which was fun. My favorite is climbing shoes: pies de gato. Literally, "cat feet!" The last day we went to a place down south, near the coast. Also could have been New Mexico. More fun climbing, and afterward we drove to the beach and watched the sunset, drank a beer/coffee/tea (your choice). Played in the water, wrestled, pinky-wrestled, did gymnastics, etc. This week some of us got together at one of the guys' house for a potluck meal. Good times. I guess that can be my Thanksgiving meal. :)
