Meanwhile, the teachers will typically go on a cafecito (coffee) break. I usually grab coffee at a local cafe with teachers from the English department.
Afterwards, I teach the remaining three periods of the afternoon, from 11:35 a.m. - 2:05 p.m. There is another recreo in the middle of the day, since students do not eat lunch in school. In Ourense, everyone goes home for lunch and, if there's time, for siesta (rest). After that, I have to return to teach one more class in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. I teach Cinéforum, or a film analysis class. This is an optional elective students in the bachillerato (baccalaureate) levels, or 11th and 12th grade equivalents, can take to receive a Pluribach certificate that states they received equal education in three languages: Spanish, Gallego (Galician), and English. This is one of my favorite classes, since we watch American films and talk about them in a casual discussion. We watch a variety of films, from the serious "The Matrix" all the way to the silly "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."
After Cinéforum, I head straight to Ourense's Escuela Oficial de Idiomas, or language school, to take Spanish classes. While I came to Spain already knowing Spanish, this course refreshes my memory on some of the more nuanced grammar topics; like using the subjunctive tense, which is still a source of challenge for me! After language class, I take ballet from 8:10 p.m. - 9:10 p.m. I was a dancer growing up, so it's awesome I found a dance studio in Ourense that is super welcoming and allows me to keep dancing! This means by 10pm, I'm sweaty, exhausted and hungry.
