A day in the life

Human Highlighter Suit Tally: 6

Lots of disconnected things to report…

Orlando, our porter rang our bell during the morning rush and chaos.  He told us that there was a big squash outside our door, that it had been there for several days and he wondered if we had forgotten it.  It was one of our pumpkin festival treasures and, as is our American custom, we had put it out there as a decoration, to signal fall, the harvest, Halloween, Thanksgiving…  I guess it’s not done here.  It is a lovely, green, lumpy variety.   See photo below.  The pumpkin stays.

Milo ate breakfast under the pig leg this morning—we are working our way through it slowly but surely.  It’s just become part of the landscape.

C.C.’s class invited parents to come in this morning for their Reader’s Workshop.  C.C. beamed as she showed us the books she’s been reading and told us how she know how to pick out a “just right” book.  She also read us a composition she had written about summer in New York City, which featured our creation of Hoover’s tombstone and early morning dino fights, as well as saying goodbye to Blanca.  A proud moment.

Then Alec and I went to pick up the kids’ and my official NIE identity cards—the equivalent of a green card here.  It looks very official. It says “extranjero” in big letters at the top, which means “foreigner.”  As if it wasn’t obvious the moment I open my mouth.  And our fingerprints are printed on the backs.  C.C.’s “signature” on hers is precious.  That part of Milo’s card is blank.

Short spell at the office, then a long walk above the city on the Carretera de les Aigues with Julie, a new friend who I connected with through an old student.  Then soccer practice and home.

C.C. did a skype test call to her teacher in Brooklyn—she’s skyping the whole class tomorrow and is really excited about it.  Minor grumbling over homework, reading and bed.  Good night!