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Riding through the back roads of Xàtiva to La Granja, Valencia 🚴‍♀️  Bilingual Biking with DarKha Academy! 🌟   Join us on Sunday, February 2, for a scenic ride through orange groves and charming towns! 🛣️🍊 We'll explore Vallés, Cerdá,  Torrella, Llanera de Ranes, Granja de la Costera, and finish in Xàtiva.📍 Meeting Point: DarKha Academy (Sant Doménec, 32, Xàtiva) 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM ✅ What to Bring: Your bike🚵🏼, water💧, appropriate clothing, and a desire to practice Spanish/English! 📏 Distance: 25 km round trip – easy and fun!  Let’s enjoy a bilingual outdoor adventure together! 🤩

Cueva de la Araña, Bicorp, Valencia, Spain Excursion to Bicorp! 🌿 DarKha Academy Bilingual Adult Immersion Class🌿🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️Did you know that the «Cueva de la Araña» holds one of the most significant examples of Levantine Rock Art? 🎨🕷️ Let’s go explore it together! 🏞️  📍Meet at DarKha Academy at 9:00 AM 🚗 We’ll ride-share from there.💧 Bring water & sturdy shoes 👟 🎟️ Entrance fee: 5€🌿

The morning after the DANA flood, I stepped outside into the crisp air of Xàtiva, where I live. The rain had cleaned the streets and the plants were glowing green. I remember questioning the purpose of the intense weather warnings had sounded the evening before. It only took one minute to see that something was wrong once I stepped out the door and connected with neighbours, social media and the TV. People coming together in Algemesí, Valencia to clean up after the DANA flooding. Photo by Darcie Khanukayev  As a Californian, I braced for what I assumed would follow: televised disaster declarations, supply hoarding, and hashtags like #FloodWatch2024. What I found instead was something entirely different: neighbours hauling buckets of mud from basements, offering comfort to one another, and somehow still managing to make light of their submerged cars, saying, «at least we are alive». For those who lost so much—their homes, cars, and even family members—the heartbreak is immeasurable. Yet, in the face of profound loss, this community has shown a level of grace and solidarity that leaves me humbled. People who have been through the unthinkable still find time to share a meal, extend a helping hand, and, somehow, laugh through their tears. In California, we call this "resilience," but here in Valencia, it seems to be simply how people live. Here’s where Valencia’s unique spirit shines: after the floodwaters recede, life doesn’t just resume—it celebrates. The holiday lights are hung and families join together. While a Californian might be tempted to throw in the towel and move inland, the Valencian response is: “Pass the cava, we have traditions to uphold.” I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly the sorrow of loss was met with the determination to preserve joy. As an outsider, it’s tempting to see this juxtaposition as surreal: grief standing shoulder-to-shoulder with celebration. But the longer I stay here, the more I understand. The Spanish approach doesn’t erase pain; it honors it by refusing to let it define the season. They rebuild with love, not just bricks, finding light even in the darkest days. So this Californian will light her own candle during the holiday season—not just for the people we’ve lost, but for the spirit of those who remain. I’ll hold my loved ones closer, pour an extra glass of wine for a neighbor, and say a quiet thank-you to Valencia for teaching me that life, even when it’s hard, is always worth celebrating.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer We are continuing with "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain for Bilingual Book Club! It is an American Classic that will take you back to your childhood: the good, the bad, and the ugly! They says it's for children, but many adults find it very amusing! We will go over up to Chapter 9. Meet at the Academy at 7:00 pm! See you there!!

🎄 **Join Us for a Special Bilingual Christmas Party!** 🎄 Mark your calendars for Friday, December 20, and come celebrate the season at DarKha's Bilingual Christmas Party, part of our bimonthly Adult Immersion class! Santa Comes to DarKha! 📍 Where: DarKha Academy (Carrer Corretgeria, 35, Xàtiva, Valencia) 🕖 When: 7:00 PM ✨ What to Bring: - A small gift (5€ or less) for our fun gift exchange game - A candle - A Christmas treat to share Let's create unforgettable memories together with laughter, joy, and holiday cheer. Don’t miss out! We can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎅🎁

Join Us for a Bilingual Hike to La Ermita de Santa Ana! We’re heading to La Ermita de Santa Ana, a stunning 16th-century Gothic chapel with breathtaking views from its strategic location atop its namesake mountain. It is located in Llosa de Ranes, right by Xativa. The hike is an easy to medium 3-hour excursion (approximately 8 km), on an uphill paved road. 📅 Date: December 14 ⏰ Meeting Time: 10:00 AM 📍 Meeting Point: DarKha Academy 👉 What to Bring: Water, A snack We’ll carpool to Llosa de Ranes, so if you need a ride or can offer one, please let us know in advance.  Join us for a day of history, culture, and nature! 🌿

It’s touchy, to say the least. Personally, I have never observed my county as divided as it currently is. I feel grateful to be here in Spain watching the friction from a distance. I feel… safer. November 5, we have elections in my country. What is going on in America now? Well, we have intense and polarised focus on issues such as immigration, healthcare, inflation, job security, climate policy. And then there is the recent Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, and the conspiracy theories and all the lies, lies, lies that everyone says everyone is telling; the misinformation, voter suppression, and social media drama are all adding to the confusion! Indeed, I feel safer here in Spain. When I ask my Spanish friends what they think, many chuckle and wave it off. This reaction surprises me. We are on the brink of a civil war and my friend is asking for another beer?! It’s as if the Spaniards were our older brother and thinking back to when they went through puberty: lots of drama, but it’s just one phase of maturing. To me, it is life and death, like a typical adolescent. “You’ll get through it!”, they assure me. “Yes, maybe it seems dramatic to you, but I was just hoping to live through it,” I reply sarcastically. Personally, I have my opinion: I don’t believe in politics. Admittedly, it might come across as an exaggeration, given the need for a central organization, but expecting a political party to handle all conflicts and smoothly adapt to changing circumstances may set the bar too high. It is not realistic. Gandhi inspires me: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I like the quote because I feel empowered, not a victim to bureaucracy. Watching it all unfold from Spain, I’ve had a revelation. Maybe the Spanish are onto something, with their ‘older sibling’ wisdom, their shrug, and their casual call for ‘another round.’ As November 5 approaches, I’m thinking of embracing their approach. Instead of a heavy dose of anxiety, maybe I’ll treat election day like they would: sit back, sip on a café con leche, and just hope my country’s ‘adolescence’ wraps up soon. And if things really get hairy, I’ll have another café. Or maybe a beer. In the end, I think I’ll stick with Gandhi’s wisdom: ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ And if nothing else, it’s good to remember—you can always be the change while holding a glass in hand.

An English Tea!☕🇬🇧 Join us on Friday, December 6, for a delightful evening at our bimonthly bilingual Adult Immersion class! Bernie, Vanessa, and our authentic English ladies will host a traditional English Tea, complete with: 🍬 Sugar lumps 🥒 Cucumber sandwiches 🍰 An assortment of cakes Would you like to share your English traditions? Give us a call! 📍 Location: The Annex, Carrer Corretgeria, 35, Xàtiva, Valencia 🕖 Time: 7:00 PM We can’t wait to see you there! 😊

November 17 , we are hiking🚶🏻‍♀️to La Ermita en el Puig .🥾 It’s an  emblematic hermitage of Xàtiva very close to the urban center. Meet at the academy at 10 with water, snack for a 3 hour easy/medium excursion (about 8 km on roads and up a the hill on well trod paths).

˝Grwama, wuk!˝ Lily cried as she pointed a pudgy two-year-old finger at the family in front of us. ˝Grandma, it’s a princess family! I want a dress like that! ˝ exclaimed Hero, her seven-year-old sister. I looked over to where the excitement was coming from, and indeed there was a rather regal family passing by what looked like a small palace. We moved closer to admire their elaborate attire: the lace, shining sequins, the rich purples, pinks, and blues under the lacy aprons on the front. Even the men had colorful headbands, elegant kickers over long lacy stockings. It was indeed from a fairytale. I smiled, thinking of my first time seeing the splendour of the Falleros parading by, and even after living in Valencia for a few years, the sight of the Falleros is still breath taking, but now I conceal it better. Not the case with my granddaughters. This was their first time in Spain and they were absolutely enchanted! The castle high on the hill with its banner waving, the noble palaces that lined the narrow streets of marble, were like walking into one of their stories of fairy princesses. Indeed, they had entered the magical land of Xativa, Valencia. The day before, we had spent time at the castle up the hill. A real castle!! California doesn’t have castles, at least not real ones. Of course, Disneyland has one, but it’s made of plastic. And there are too many people inside to run around. And it doesn’t have prisons and scary gargoyles and dragons. Nor does it have a view of the entire kingdom at its feet. «Look! shouted Hero, from atop the castle, the wind whipping her hair around excitedly, «that’s a dragon’s back! He’s sleeping and covered with trees, but I can still see him!» I looked over to the Creueta, the mountain next to the castle, and saw the rocky ridge going down the side of the mountain. Indeed! Seeing is believing. It had to be the back ridge of a slumbering dragon. Only in Spain! Today, when we left the house to feed the stray cats along the street, was when the two girls meet royalty. California doesn’t have kings or queens. We can only pretend. The land that is now ours had been part of Spain, and then Mexico, and now the United States. Royalty fascinates us! We stopped to admire the beautiful family; Lily and Hero with their eyes wide and mouths open in fascination. The family, pleasantly surprised with such a reception, scooped up both girls so that I could take of photo of the historical moment. As Lily, Hero and I continued our walk, they pointing out to me the fountains where the unicorns drank, which cats belonged to witches, and all the palaces they would live in when they became queens! Indeed, I’m not sure which is more true: Seeing is believing or Believing is seeing!

On Sunday we invite you to Bilingual Biking in Valencia!  November 3, we shall explore the Vía Verde from Xátiva to Manuela in Valencia. 🛣️💦This is a new route; in fact, it is still being developed! Meet at the academy (Sant Doménec, 32, Xativa) with your bike🚵🏼 at 10; wear appropriate clothing for this outdoor biking adventure; bring water 💦and a desire practice your Spanish/English. The route is about 25 km round trip and is not difficult 🤩On Sunday,  November 3, we shall explore the Vía Verde from Xátiva to Manuela. 🛣️💦This is a new route; in fact, it is still being developed! Meet at the academy (Sant Doménec, 32, Xativa) with your bike🚵🏼 at 10; wear appropriate clothing for this outdoor biking adventure; bring water 💦and a desire practice your Spanish/English. The route is about 25 km round trip and is not difficult 🤩

¡DarKha Senderismo Bilingüe🥾: El domingo 20 de octubre, ¡subimos a la  Creueta de Xàtiva! Nos reunimos en la academia (Sant Doménec, 32, Xativa) a las 10; lleva buenos zapatos para caminar, agua y ganas de explorar y practicar tu español/inglés. Esta «caminata» es para los fuertes, es bastante difícil. Subimos mucho pero no dura mucho tiempo. ¡Las vistas son increíbles! 🥾⛰️🤩