It’s 8:00 AM on a school day in Vilagarcía de Arousa, and the sun is just beginning to rise. The day starts late here, but I love beginning my morning walk to work under a beautiful Spanish sunrise. If I don’t have a first-period class to teach, I sometimes stop by my local bakery for a napolitana de chocolate and tea. But if I do have class, I usually grab breakfast at home; most bakeries don’t open until 8:30 or 9:00 AM!
I work at a secundaria, teaching students between the ages of 12 (1º de ESO) and 17 (2º Bachillerato). While I sometimes give English grammar lessons, my favorite lessons are about American culture. Recently, I taught my students about the Super Bowl! They loved learning about American football and even tried playing during recreo - the two short breaks throughout the day when students and teachers are free to do as they please. Since there’s no lunch period, most students go home to eat after school ends at 3:00 PM.
At first, eating lunch so late felt strange, but now it feels natural. I usually make myself a salad or some pasta, but sometimes I go to a cafetería to share a meal with friends.
