h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's me, azahar, just sending you a personal hello. I often see you slipping in and out - cat like - in the God fact or fiction thingy.

Just read your personal intro page - no sense of humour???

I find that hard to believe!

Well, as you say, this can change. But you seem to have quite a good sense of humour about you.

I'm originally from Canada, now I live in Spain. I like it here, mostly. The things I don't like have more to do with me than the place I reckon.

Got onto h2g2 just about a month ago. I find it quite a wonderful format to express and read lots of ideas from lots of other people. Good old DNA. I think he would feel very proud to see just how special this thing he started has become, how much it means to so many people.

Anyhow, looking forward to seeing more of your postings! Or if you want to ever chat then I am here.

azahar

Hey, Azahar, thanks for dropping by to say 'Hello'. It must be wonderful living in Spain - I heard you say somewhere you're an English teacher. I am a special needs teacher, but I am studying to be an ESOL teacher - though I am not 100% sure about that as a career... tutoring yes, but I can't take classrooms..Have a cup of while you're here, or a drink, non-alcoholic if that's your preference. Viva L'Espagna! (sp?) Did I get it right, did I, huh?

Hi again!

Thanks for your offer of a cup of tea, but I quite prefer alcoholic beverages - especially Spanish rioja!

Nice to hear from you. What is an ESOL teacher?

I did a TEFL course (teaching English as a foreign language) back when I was living in Bristol. So now I teach English to Spanish people, mosty professional people, and on a freelance basis.

I also cannot cope with classrooms - too many people! I think I am basically too shy and insecure for that sort of thing. Though I'm great teaching one-on-one or even in small groups (though no more than four! after that I get scared). But in fact, personal weirdness aside, I think people learn much better in a more personal ambiance. I have actually done some substitute teaching stuff here at language schools (when I was totally desperate for the extra cashola) and I found it not very satisfying as a teacher. I never felt sure if those 15 people were actually getting ANYTHING at all out of my classes. So this is also why I prefer to teach private classes.

Meanwhile, I don't even want to be a teacher! At least I don't think so. When I first came to Spain 11 years ago this English teaching lark was only supposed to be a gap-fill thing until I got other things going for myself here. And well . . . ummmm . . . many years later, I'm still teaching!

Other projects include starting up a clothing biz - back in Toronto I worked with many different designers and this is something I have always wanted to do. Meanwhile, I'm also constantly broke (private English classes pay crap here) so although I am always full of GREAT IDEAS I end up mostly worrying about how to pay the electricity bill. Snore.

Also, I'm no kid. I'm 46 1/4. So you know, gotta get something happening here soon or else I'll end up out in the streets in my old age, carrying all my belongings around in various plastic bags.

Meanwhile, I have a very nice flat in the centre of Sevilla. AND I have three beautiful cats, which help to keep me sane most of the time. So, can't really complain, except that complaining is actually a hobby of mine

Well, next time you pass by here, help yourself to a nice glass of and make yourself comfortable.

besitos,
azahar

Hi, azahar! Thanks for the and the cat. ESOL=TEFL, the same thing, isn't that cool! How is the clothing business going? I am 49 (gasp, gulp) so I am *still* older than you - you give off a very young vibe, you lucky thing. Say hello to Spain for me! There are two Spanish speakers in my Linguistics class, one a young woman from Chile, Lladira, and the other a woman married to a Peruvian. They're in their early 20s and go to a Spanish speaking night club I didn't even know existed here!

Hey del, I decided to read *your* homepage and see how you liked it. It's only fair. 49! Wow! You could be my mother! And there was the agist stereotype about the internet which just got blasted from my mind. However, it quickly reinvented itself when I remember an incident not too long ago when my mother got stuck in a webpage she didn't want - she kept on hammering the escape key until it nearly broke the damned thing.
(I won't tell you my age for fear of ruining what little online credibility I've managed to build up.)
Sorry to intrude upon what seems to be a bit of a private thread and then be shocked at your age (sorry), but I couldn't be mild expletive'd to make my own.
Mal-3