Work and Weather Sept 10. 09

I went to get my first haircut in Spain ever and it was pretty scary. I mean you're hair is who you are, unless you do not have any. I had researched and looked up and read all the different ways of asking and describing ways to get a haircut, memorized a few lines and words, and said let's do it!!....all up until I walked in to the barber shop, pointed at a huge photo of a good haircut and said. Duhh Me wunt dat wun, in espanol of course. I am happy with my results. 

The barber told me the weather we're having is very rare for Pamplona. Usually in the summer they only experience about 2 weeks of really nice warm summer air. It was been in the 80's and 90's every day since I arrived and I love it. Whats also interesting is how the warm air does not hold into the night, it changes soo fast because the town is surrounded by mountains. So if its 85 during the day it can be 45 at night, if its sunny at noon it can be raining and sunny again by 3, its funky, but the least of my worries.


Work has officially gone underway, I got a desk! I am the mann. Ha! I have 3 different jobs. First I am an assistant professor in the department of economics and business administration. I am working as a ayudante, which is like a TA, for a prof who teaches strategic management. I'm paying close attention because I am teaching this class next semester. My second job is in international and national promotions. I will be going to high schools all over spain to prospect students and sell the school. Internationally I will be going to Brussels to a few high schools to give presentations on the programs available and invite the students back to UNAV. Once they arrive here instead of presentations they go to actual classes, see if they like the school, then apply for an admissions test. One of the special projects I will be working on is for the International Forum. This is a contest where students from all over Europe submit an essay on a particular subject. The subjects in the past few years have been Peace in Jerusalem, Africa, and last year was Russia. Once they submit the essay about 100 are invited to come to UNAV and compete in a tribunal, one aspect of this is to come to the university with a presentation/power point high lighting their essay and present it to judges from around the world, the judges are public officials, business people, educators etc. The winner receives a grant and that grant goes to the organization or charity of their choosing. The competition will brings in a lot of publicity for the university and top notch hs students. The competition is in February and preparation is starting now, I'll talk about it more when it comes up. By the way...the work schedule...in general...9-2(with a coffee and snack break in the cafeteria around 11, which is the spanish almuerzo/lunch) then go home and have your big meal of the day(called comida), recharge with a small power nap or just lounge and then head back to the office from 4-7 or 330 -630 or whatever works. It is such a different and balanced day. It is designed around the fact that the middle of the day is when it is hottest and it is time to be inside, eat, cool off, and chill with the family. It also lets your brain get some R&R for the rest of the day. Between 2 and 5 everything is shut down. This leaves you feeling fresh once you get out of work to enjoy your evening by sitting outside at a local bar to enjoy some pinchos. It also lets you stay up a little later. Most people are in bed around 12/1am to get their daily dose of decent sleep.