Lion Tamers and Circus Clowns
Uncomfortable truths in the Young Learner teaching game here in Spain and around the world. Contributing to Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto’s teaching webpage.
Trazzler following Ibn Battutah through Spain
The Costa del Sol’s concrete boredome costing you a bit? Trazzler’s collected 10 trips following the great Ibn Battutah’s trips through the region. Shake off the fish and chip shops and dig a bit deeper here.
An Apple for the Teacher
After a long break, blogging for El Pais once again. This time a 3 part series on the dismal future that lies ahead for learning in a climate where education is viewed as an expense rather than an investment. The 1st installment goes into the labarynth that teachers must go through in order to actually…
When Slippery Becomes Slimey
The earth unexpectedly (for most that is) shook the other day in south-eastern Spain, bringing tragedy to the people of the lovely town of Lorca. Corruption doesn’t only exist in far off lands that end in -stan. A look at what could happen if it’s allowed to grow, blogging in El Pais.
Spanish Revolution?
Yesterday I walked up the hill leading to my polling station under a clear blue sky, a color I would later realize that had foreshadowed the colour of the electoral results that have carpeted this country from corner to corner…a resoundly conservative azul. I’m the only foreigner in my voting area, or at least the…
Spain or Portugal, does the coffee taste the same?
The Shock Doctrine is oozing and has slimed Portugal…Are things so different over here right across the border? Blogging again in El Pais.
A Nestorian Epiphany in El Pais
A successful Chinese Buddhist businesswoman who professes her devotion to a 15th century crucifixtion figure gives birth to a Nestorian satori in my first piece blogging for El Pais. Of course, all framed within the slightly morbid context of the celebration here on the decidedly european Iberian peninsula of a man’s death by torture so many years…
Easter Redux
The scent of incense, the boom of the drums and the rattle of the snares, pushy yet well dressed crowds, dolled up children trying to be pious, hooded penitents doing the same… It’s Easter once again here in Spain. Click over for a look from my window.
Destino España
Having a little fun with bulls, blues and bars on national Spanish television.
Springing Spring
Why does it seem that with every year, winter seems to get longer and longer? No matter how mild the year, as with this past winter here in Extremadura, the dark days of the ‘other’ equinox drag on longer than your 10th grade math teacher droning on about algebra. I even sometimes find myself wishing…