Private English lessons already??

I went to visit my school and its teachers on the 2nd day that I was in Valdepenas. I went in and was met there by Marisa, who took me to the staff room to meet the teachers that were chilling out in there. Everyone was very friendly. All the men shook my hand and all the women gave me a kiss on both cheeks (face cheeks, obviously). This is natural for the Spanish, they all seem very open to strangers, something quite contrary to England. Infact I don't know anyone in England that kisses a stranger to greet them. Obviously it's a culture thing, but I enjoyed it nevertheless, especially since there were a few fitties.

I then met the headmaster who seemed to be very eager to meet me from what Marisa had told me. And he was. He shook my hand, led me to his office and one of his first questions was to ask me if I would be giving private English lessons. This was something I had considered before I arrived in Spain, but I didn't think I'd be asked as early as the first time I stepped foot in the school. I thought it would be a good way to meet new people, get to know them, and earn money on the side as well as my 'beca'. So I told him I would be doing. He then proceeded to tell me all the times he was available and if I was free to teach him at those times too. Two times a week I teach him and his daughter now, and since then I've had many more teachers come up to me to ask me for lessons. I have about 7 extra lessons now per week, so the 70 euros obviously comes in handily. English must be a well saught-after language in this small town. Everyone here is Spanish, most of them have lived their whole lives in Valdepenas and from the time I've been here, there are not any foreigners at all, aside from the Auxillers. So when a native English comes to live here, it really is the talk of the town.

After meeting the headmaster, I met the English Department. All of them are ladies, so a few more kisses on the cheek were in order. Marisa then asked me if I would sit in her bachillerato (A Level) lesson with some of her pupils. Naturally, I agree. One thing I had assumed before arriving in Spain was that the English level of the students would be top notch, since English is the current language to be learning since it's spoken in lots of countries around the world. However, I do feel as if I was mistaken a bit. The language level of the students was OK, don't get me wrong, but just not as high as I'd anticipated.

Anyways, after the lesson, Marisa had told her students that I was obviously new in town, didn't know anyone or anywhere really well, and that I could do with seeing the town more. A couple of the students gave me their phone numbers and told me that I could meet with them any time I wanted, and go for a drink with them this weekend, which I thought was nice of them.

The next week was my first real week at school, and I will talk about that in a new blog soon, as well as other auxiliares that I have met, and how my first weekend went.