The fundamental things apply as time goes by

Should it have remained unnoticed, I’ve been two weeks without publishing any post! The reason: the end of term.

Yes, teachers do have lots of work because of the exams too. In fact, it’s even worse for us, who need to correct piles of tests in a week or less. In addition to this, I’ve got other stuff and deadlines to meet. Numerous as my virtues are, manipulation of time is not among them. It was a matter of time, indeed, for my life to fall apart. Most things can be put back together and some can just be put away.

Fortunately, a blog is not too difficult to keep. There’s even some great —I hope— news: the digitalisation of my Final Fantasy VII comic I promised has started. The wisest readers may have realised the news come on the 7^th, as in the 7^th edition of Final Fantasy. And it will be on the next 7^th that the first pages will be published. However, so nice a person am I that here’s a sneak peek for you to enjoy.

This will cost millions some day.

The Good Teacher

Teachers do make some efforts nobody can imagine and try to find the best way to get through our students, but there’s a limit to everything.

How am I going to teach what 'murder' means?

Last week I gave a lesson on health problems and first aid vocabulary and yesterday I showed them my hand at the beginning of the class. “What’s this?” “It’s a cut!” That was an easy one. I take some tissues out of my pocket. “And why am I using these?” “You’ve got a cold!” True. They whisper and wonder whether my cold is real or I cut myself for educational purposes. No. And I’m not going to try hard to make them remember a broken leg.

And fate wanted me to teach them even another word. After blowing my nose I wrote to bleed on the blackboard. When they asked about the meaning of that verb I showed them what happens to my nose when I keep blowing it a full week.

Christmas meals are back

Yesterday was the last day of school of this year and I’m sure lots of dinner parties were held around Catalonia.

Since I woke up yesterday and until I went back to bed this morning, I was in constant celebration. At school the kids gave a Christmas concert using songs from Disney films with new lyrics written by the music teacher. They were lovely. As there weren’t lessons in the afternoon, we had a Christmas lunch in the school. I ate a lot and I was having fun, but I had to leave to give the last lesson of the year at the academy.

Having had a festive morning, knowing that the night was going to be even better and having adorable kids in my class, time flew playing two speaking games. Then I found some Christmas snacks (different kinds of nougat and rolled wafer) in the teachers’ room. Much as I wished to stay, I wanted to drop by my old laboratory — where the traditional Christmas party was taking place — before I went back to the dinner party of the academy.

I couldn’t have possibly imagined that it was going to be such an ostentatious dinner party. We had even had a music group to play after the meal; but the party didn’t finish when they stopped playing as some of us looked for somewhere else to end the night properly.

It was a great day indeed. What about your dinner parties for the season? And are you doing anything special for the holidays? Here’s a clue of what I’m doing for Christmas: If yowm saft enuff ter cum dahn ’ere agooin wum, yowr tay ull be spile’t!

New flat: I may be late, but I’m not a liar

Had you ever doubted about the truth in my words, this post will make you change your mind. Had you never doubted, you’re too gullible.

When you wish upon a star.

I was late to my English class a week ago. That wouldn’t be that important if I weren’t the teacher. According to myself, I was able to get to the academy on time; according to the train, I was to be ten minutes late. I hate when trains are right. The coordinator was standing in for me when I entered the classroom. I thanked her and took over the class. The kids stared at me, apparently unconcerned, holding back a question they thought somewhat inappropriate. “Guys… the teacher is late! — dramatic pause — Why are you late, Òscar? Oh, I’m glad you ask this question!” Not only were they allowed to ask, their teacher was encouraging them to do so, and they did. I told them I had signed the contract of my new flat and they went journalist berserk. “Are you living alone now?” someone asked. “Not alone — wink, wink —, not alone.” Then I rushed to start the class in order to avoid further questioning; plus that gives me a tool to get their attention fast some other day.

Now I can say I’ve been all around the compass of Barcelona. I lived in the east two years ago, in the south last year, in the west the last two months and now I’m in the north. Little do these experiences have in common, but then, you know I love changes. Let’s see what becomes of me in this new situation. Have I reached a stable situation without noticing it? Isn’t it scary?

Anyway, I remember someone saying he wasn’t celebrating Boxing Day in the flat he was living in October. Believe me, for I always speak the truth.