I left Vigo on a bus headed directly for the airport in Porto, Portugal to catch my non-stop Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt...only $200 round trip. I was met at the airport by my friends' au pair, Giulia, and driven to their lovely home. The next day, Friday, I had an appointment to go to the new European School of Bad Vibel (suburb of Frankfurt) and meet the directors. Their housekeeper drove me to this appointment AND waited 45 minutes while I talked with them. They were delightful people and I think would be lots of fun to work with and for. Unfortunately, as many of you know, I had already turned down their employment offer because my parents want me to return to Austin. This visit is for the future since it is a new school - still under construction! - and will be hiring more and more teachers. I had even passed their test to be considered as a native speaker, since one is required by their charter if a language will be taught. They had offered me a 2/3 time position teaching Spanish 13 hours a week and Ethics 2 hours a week in English...for $3500 per month net...notice the work hours fellow teachers for that salary!!
Friday night Chiara and Andreas returned home and we had a fun family dinner - the first of many! Their oldest daughter was still at Cambridge but Elena, 18, Lorenzo, 14, and Angela, 10, were at home. Since my last visit to Frankfurt, nine years ago with my kids, they have moved into a renovated older home ina beautiful green area near downtown. My pictures don't do their attention to detail justice but give you the idea. It has an extensive basement level and an attic level where 2 guest room suites are located. The main level with kitchen, living room, dining room, library/piano room, etc. has a restored wooden staircase leading to the parents' level with their bedroom, bathroom, 2 studies and another bedroom suite for when her elderly parents are visiting. Next up is the kids' level with 5 bedrooms (one for the au pair) and 3 bathrooms. A total of 5 levels and an elevator for us old folks!
 |
| Andreas and Angela in the kitchen |
|
 |
| Living room - all books are about art! |
|
 |
| Entry hall - notice ceilings from France and Italian tiles |
|
|
 |
| Andreas and Chiara on their stairs |
|
 |
| Exterior view |
|
I enjoyed several walks with Chiara along the river Main and in their neighborhood to the university in Frankfurt which I had never seen before. The three adults visited their Russian picture framer which was interesting in its own right! Andreas and Chiara love art and are quite educated about it and enjoy collecting it so I imagine their framer treats them very well! Sunday morning we went to their church and I heard my first German Catholic mass. Angela was an altar girl and did her job well! Unfortunately, since I wanted to take them out to eat at a place on the River, it rained all day Sunday. And, Monday morning it was time to retrace my steps to Vigo...sad since I don't know when I'll see them again but happy to have had that time together.
At least upon my return to Vigo, I had two field trips to look forward to: one with equivalent of 7th and 8th graders on Tuesday and one with 9th and 10th graders on Wednesday. Tuesday we took a bus to Baiona and walked along the coast for about 4 km to Playa America - a beautiful expanse but unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative...not that it slowed the kids down! They swam and played soccer anyway but I put only my little toe in! The bus met us and returned us to the school at 2 PM - the end of the school day!
 |
| Group shot of 7th and 8th graders |
 |
| Vicente lost his ball in tidal basin and had to chase it |
|
On Wednesday, we met the students at the Port and took the ferry to Cangas - the town across the ria. Then, we hiked along the coast on a path to Limens beach, about 5 km. each way. The weather was better and we enjoyed our beach time but still too cold for me to swim!
 |
| Boys coming out of tunnel on hike |
|
 |
| Girls coming out of same tunnel |
|
 |
| Sample of colors |
|
 |
| Hiking path |
|
 |
| Boys on the beach |
|
 |
| Girls on the beach |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Group on the beach! |
|
But, it's always so much fun to be with the kids outside of a classroom...next up on my agenda is the Galican Masters Championships tomorrow. A 3 hour bus ride each way with the team but lots of fun will be had by all! We're trying to repeat as Champs after winning the winter championship meet...
No comments:
Post a Comment