Las Actividades Extraescolares

Even though the boys are out of school by 2 pm, their days are far from over. We traipse all around the neighborhood, taking them to various activities accompanied by varying degrees of griping. A major destination spot is the Vento music school. They each have a weekly private lesson in violin (Leo) and trombone (Will). In addition to these lessons they have 2 one-hour music understanding/appreciation lessons. Will’s teacher says he is showing great promise with the trombone. Who in the hell knew??? Will and I sat outside the class yesterday and as we listened to the creaky, squeaky sounds of Leo on the violin. Will said “No offense? But when someone is first trying out an instrument it sounds like something is dying”. Truth. 

Note the crucifix in the background. Normal. 

Their other activities include hourlong Spanish sessions w private tutors 2x a week and Will's favorite: book club in English with other English speakers led by a cool British former teacher on Thursdays. They are reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I feel like I read that when I was 17, but I’m cool with him pushing himself to read it now (although he will most likely have nightmares in the coming weeks)  This is him coming home after the first meeting....look at that genuinely excited and happy boy! It just takes a conversation about character development to make this guy's heart sing (she also provides cookies and juice). 

The last two weeks I’ve added one lunch out after school to the routine on Tuesday since they have music from 3:30-4, walk home and then tutoring from 4:45-6:45.  Also, I'm bribing them. 

Even though we have made it a commitment as a family to stop eating so much meat (ya know, to try to save our dying Mother Earth...."Emergencia Climática" post coming up right after "Ode to Pat" post) I told them today they could each get a burger for their meal. Great line from Will after he folded up his menu ready to order: This is my favorite thing: a fancy place w good food. 

And then I asked for what I thought was un pequeno piece of meat as a test to see what would be the cheapest thing on the menu for future visits. And after a botched exchange with our waiter -- remember, in Andalusia the don't use "s''s and drop the last syllable of every word?-- this baby showed up in front of me. 

The biggest steak I've ever seen. Well, I put about 5 more cars on the road with that lost-in-translation order. I promise to eat only the invasive bamboo growing in front of our cave for the rest of the month. El proximo Martes, despues de colegio, solo ensaladas!!!