We arrived by bus to the city centre (Plaza Luceros) and were each met by our landlord or home stay family. Pablo and his wife met me and took me to my new 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment two blocks up the hill. It is modest but well situated and has a nice breeze coming through the long corridor. It's on the 6th floor so I feel quite safe. He is comfortable with Cody and Setare coming for a week so everything is in order. There is a supermercada about a block away but the beach is a good 25 minute walk. Pablo is from Argentina and quite gracious. He even got me a DVD player since I don't understand anything on the t.v., have no radio, and the speakers on my computer are going out.
There is a beautiful promenade down by the beach called the Esplanada with small tiles all configured on the walkway. I will post a picture later. All of the older folks come out at night, find a chair (that they keep nearby so no one takes it from them), and chat with friends. It is right across from the Marina and has palm trees to block the sun a bit. The weather has been delightful. Rain one evening, overcast a couple of days, but sunny and not too hot so far. I've heard that June is very pleasant but July can be very muggy.
The Valor chocolate company has a small restaurant where you get a "cup of liquid chocolate" and churros for 4.9 euros. Quite tasty but I think I need to not do this again till Cody comes to visit. It was dinner one evening. Otherwise, I went out for tapas last Friday night with some of the students. They were delicious!!! Finally got to go to the big market for food and what a sight! Two floors of sellers in a building about as big as a cathedral or the size of Lawlor Event Center. Otherwise, I've eaten in and tried not to keep the custom of eating so late. Not really possible so far though because it is nice to walk around after going to the beach. Usually get back to the apartment around 9 -- just in time to email, do some prep for classes, and eat.
Speaking of prep, my class is Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30-12:45. I ended up with 8 students in my class (as big as any other class available) so I'm pleased. It is difficult, however, because 2 classes have already been cancelled due to a state worker strike and a big festival planned in a few weeks. I keep trying to cut things out of the class so that we have fun but they get the most important learnings. I'm arranging a visit to a treatment center here so that could be eye opening for the students.
I am taking a class everyday from 1-2:40 on European Women in History. She is quite passionate and I'm learning a ton. We are watching many movies and then putting them in context to the readings. So far have watched one with Sean Connery about the Spanish Inquisition, another about St. Teresa (she started the service oriented branch of the Carmelite nuns and was a powerful, determined woman who became a saint), and Elizabeth I with Cate Blanchett. The Teresa one was very interesting and incredibly erotic.
The University is quite large and pleasant. The students are in finals so there is activity but not as much as normal, Luis says. I get there by train and return by bus (schedules work better that way), since it is about 3 1/2 miles from the city centre. The staff at USAC are great and very helpful. They organized our first field trip last weekend to a small town called Altea and the coast of Calpe just up the coast a small way from Alicante. Great small towns. I've posted one picture on Facebook from there but will put in more later. We have another field trip to an island this Saturday and then a local soccer game Sunday evening.
Since it is time to get ready for class, I will write a new entry about this weekend's adventures soon and try to get some pictures downloaded.
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