Hola,
Mondays - normally I have to get up around 06.30h to teach Jose Maria Garcia from 08.30 to 09.30. But today the class is cancelled; in advance so I do not get paid.
Jose Maria is the CEO of MAPRE, a large global organization of many businesses and 51% is owned by the bank Caja Madrid. February marked 35 years that he has worked for Caja Madrid. He is a good intermediate, but he does not practice or put any extra effort into learning the language. I try to mix the lessons up with just conversation some days and on other days we work from the book, which he both likes and dislikes.
If going there I take Linea 1 south from Bilbao to Pacifico and change to Linea 6 one stop to Conde de Casal; linea 6 is usually packed and I am grateful I only travel one stop.
For today I did not get up until 07.30, early because I wanted time to prepare my thoughts for the day.
I had a nice leisurely morning getting ready with breakfast, cereal, bread and decaf con leche.
I left a little late for my 10.30h class with Marta - 10.09
I managed to arrive only 3 minutes late at her flat and everyone seemed surprized to see me.
Marta is a upper class socialite who is married to a member of the Botin family - who created and run Santander Bank. Her husband is part owner and cousin to the CEO of the bank.
BTW, the bank is one of the largest in the world and they own a couple banks in the US. Mr Botin had a stroke 3 years ago and remains in the flat.
The class is scheduled from 10.30h to 12.00h, but we only meet for 1 hour, i receive payment for 90 minutes! she is sweet this way. However, she has been cancelling a lot lately, but she makes certain I am getting paid. Plus I was on vacation and then she was on the Nile for a week, so I have not seen her for over 3 weeks.
Today was no exception - I arrived, was escorted into the parlor and then was advised that she had a fever and needed to cancel the class.
I packed up and headed home.
Stoped on the way for a decaf con leche and tostada.
Travel: if I teach Jose Maria then I reverse my ride back on Linea 6 to Linea 1 at exit at ATOCHA and walk 10 minutes to Marta's. If from home, I take Linea 1 from Bilbao to Atocha.
Once at home I worked on-line and prepared for my Santander class at 14.15. Did not eat because I was not hungry, knowing this would be a mistake later ...
I headed out on time and walked to the Tribunal metro stop, about 10 minutes - to catch he Linea 10 train South to Colonia Jardin where I change to Linea ML2 to Somosaguas Centro.
These are two very interesting 45 minute sessions. In the first one the class group is more talkative and participates more freely; however, I rarely get full attendance. The second class is harder to get them to speak and I am struggling to get them to participate in class.
I leave there at 15.45h and take the ML2 back to Colonia Jardin, change to Linea 10 north and change again to Linea 2 at Plaza de Espana. This is my worse trip and the connection between lines 10 and 2 is a BIG walk up many flights. If I time it correctly I usually have time for coffee before my class at 17.00h.
Which was the case today. I exited Linea 2 at Principe de Vergara at 16.30 and had coffee and pastry at the ice cream shop.
My class on Monday at 17.00 is not a regular thing and I count is as a bonus. It is with Angel, the consultant and financial advisor. He is often in the Canary Islands visiting mom and his largest client. But today we had class after 2 1.2 weeks away.
He is improving in his speaking skills, but we still have a ways to go. The biggest thing is he seems to retain more and more.
We meet for an hour and 1/2, generally, unless he has a client meeting.
We finished at 18.30h, normally I would run home before Spanish class, but today i was suppose to have an Intercambio with Josan. I waited in front of Angel's office for 40 minutes, but there was no word from Josan and I was starving (remember, I had not eaten lunch)
I left, took Linea 2 back west to Puerta del SOL and found the nearest Burger King - I know, I know - but I had major hunger pains and little time to eat before class. No luxury of time to wait for the Spanish service, or lack there of ...
I went to Spanish class from 20.30h to 21.30 hours -good class!!
After, the man from Syria invited me for a beer - he does not speak English so it is a good chance to practice Spanish.
After this I returned home and checked up on Facebook, emails, etc and went to bed at 23.40, exhausted.
mas manana
beto
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