Instead of having free time…

… I’ve started tutoring English.

This is a fantastic way to make extra money and I really enjoy having something to do with my gazillions of free hours, since I only work 12 hours per week at my school.

Marcos, my thirteen-month-old angel, is a total joy.  His parents Estefanía and José continue to brighten my life with helpful hints about living in Córdoba and general overwhelming kindness—yesterday Estefanía sent me home with a tupperware container filled with lentil soup for lunch!  They are both very pleased with Marcos’ progress, which gets better and better every day.  Mostly, we play with his toys or in the park with the pigeons.  He’s so young that he doesn’t speak at all, but he responds to English questions and games, continually gesturing for me to sing Ring Around the Rosie with him.

Marcos at the park

skeptical

my favorite!

In addition to Marcos, I’m now tutoring a five-year-old named María, two sisters named Olga and Maria who are 6 and 10, and a Lithuanian woman named Daiva.  Next week I am supposed to begin teaching two brothers named Alejandro and Alvaro (5 and 8-years-old) and hopefully two high school students.  The vice-principal of my school has also asked if I would be willing to do conversation classes with his 21-year-old daughter, which I think would be really fun.  I’ve now filled most of my free hours, so I think I’m going to have to start turning people down if I get any more requests!

I’ve spent most of this week trying to get to know Córdoba a little better, which has included activities like trying out (very) cheap tapas places and getting a library card. 

but will they ever get my name right?

I also attempted to make salmorejo, a Cordoban chilled tomato soup very similar to gazpacho.  Sadly, my first attempt was tasty but not at all aesthetically pleasing, so I will post pictures once I perfect the recipe.