We're swimming into English... into English...

I'm into week 3 of my new job (teaching kids English) and, other than a cold and occasional headaches, I think I'm doing okay. My favorite things from these past days have been sloppy, wet kisses from four-year-olds, frequent hugs, and my first graders liking a song I made up better than the song in their book. The song I made up is called "We're swimming into English, into English" and I copied the melody from "Head, shoulders, knees and toes". One class started spontaneously singing it in class and another asked, "Can we sing that song?" I was so touched! 

Here is their lovely artwork on the stairs leading up to the English rooms. It was my coworker's idea...

Aveiro: The Portuguese Venice/Holland

This weekend I visited a city I've been wanting to visit for a while: Aveiro, the Portuguese Venice/Holland. This because it has a canal with gondolas and lots of bikes everywhere. You can rent a bike for free and it's all flat and easy to use a bike as transportation. 

My cousin and one of my favorite people in general lives there and it was really wonderful to hang out with him, even if it was just for a short time. He rode bikes with me, ate the typical egg sweet I tried and didn't like and had lunch with me and Daniel. It fabulous. Daniel and I also got lots of time together this weekend, which was really important. We even had time to stop on the way back to Lisbon at one of our favorite places, Fatima. The bottom picture is of the icecream I had and the shoes Daniel took off during this stop. 

The washing tank

I washed my rugs again (see last year) in the washing tank about two minutes from my house. The fact that there are still washing tanks is one of the things I most love about Portugal. I don't know if there are any more washing tanks anywhere, but I am sure glad I have one near my house. Because it's just cooler to wash my rugs in a tank. The water is clear and running, and it's easy. Just dip, scrub and dip again. There is even a separate pool you can use to rinse in non-soapy water. It's a shame only me and the gypsy women that live nearby use it!

Gifts and support

Week one of my new job is over... phew. I'm almost just as nervous about week two, but I'm trying not to think about it. It's in tough and stressful times that you realize how much support is really at your disposal. I had several little treats this week: lunch with one of my favorite friends I haven't been in touch with recently, figs and fig jam from my landlady, a new plant from Daniel, little text messages, etc. These are the things that remind me I am being taken care of. 

8 reasons for lifestyle blogs

Why should anyone keep an online diary, sharing private moments of their lives with strangers? Here are 8 reasons I love reading lifestyle blogs, write a lifestyle blog and think they can serve a purpose: 

1. They are visual and beautiful. Everyone knows "beauty will save the world" (Dostoevsky), right?
2. It's interesting and cultural to see how other people live, both those close to us and around the world. 
3. Because that's the core part of life: "In these pages I tell secrets... because that is one way of keeping track and becasue I believe that it is not only more honest but also vastly more interesting than to pretend that I have no such secrets to tell. I not only have my secrets, I am my secrets. And you are your secrets." (from aholyexperience.com)
4. Focusing on lifestyle, hobbies and interests can be a common ground between people with religious or other differences. We might not agree with another person's beliefs or religion, but we can nonetheless like their lifestyle.
5. They have ideas and inspiration for new ways of living and looking at life.
6. It's a fun way to keep in touch with and share pictures with loved ones that are far away. My parents and my friends (and second family!) in the US, for example, live far away. 
7. It helps focus on what really matters in life and makes us happy: "factors that matter for home, such as possessions, marriage, time, parenthood, body and neighborhood."
8. It helps focus on the simple and small things: a cup of tea, a chat with a friend, pushing a child in a swing. Or, as seen below, a cup of coffee and a wonderful "couple's sharing time" I had with my boyfriend this summer!

Any more ideas?