Escuela

I haven't done the most fabulous job updating this recently but that doesn't mean that a LOT hasn't happened. Today I took pictures so that things I say have some substance. Even though I leave on Saturday, I will continue to post stories and project updates until I run out of pictures.

Leigh Anne and Jacqueline left yesterday, my girls who have made my time here. I miss each of them so much but know that they are having an amazing time with their respective families and also that it is only two days away for me :)

Every Thursday I taught English at the elementary school in San Rafael. We played games and learned the names of fruits, days of the week, basic conversation, a review of numbers, and soccer words. Today was my last day with them and they showered me with cards that I didn't deserve...because truth be told, they are little rascals and I often didn't get to half of my lesson plan because I was too busy telling them to listen or sit down.

They are precious children though and I sat to eat lunch with them so I could become more than a teacher but a friend. Today, one of the 5th graders told me she had gotten into a fight with her best friend and didn't know what to do. I played the role of counselor as well.

The school meets in a series of shacks (shown below) that were crafted after the earthquake as a temporary solution. Two and a half years later, they are still operational. Thankfully it was summer vacation during the earthquake and the school wasn't occupied because it slid off the mountain and all that is left is a small slab of concrete.

There is a special ed teacher at the school who I've gotten to know. She comes to help the kids that have learning disabilities or need extra help. She is an amazing Costa Rican woman of priveledge but travels daily to this little community to help the kids. As I mentioned before, there is a little boy from the school who was admitted to the hospital for post-traumatic stress disorder after he had a major outburst one day recently during school. He watched his brother and cousin die in the earthquake.

I teach the kindergarten kids first. There are a few and they are absolutely adorable. We mostly did puzzles and spent each week learning the numbers in English over again. Although they didn't really need me there, I couldn't resist their hugs that ushered me into their classroom to show me their projects. They made card type posters with their hands on them. It will be a wonderful way to pray for them.

Then I go onto the 1-3 graders who have class together. They are so eager to learn but little busybodies with a 100 questions each. They are precious and they tell me their crushes on each other as little whispers in my ear. Their smart, cunning, funny, stealthy, innovative, and cute. There are about 18 of them and it proves to be quiet a handful. 

The 4-6th graders come in the afternoon. There is only one teacher, bless him, so they have to take turns. They are the most interesting bunch. Two of the boys are too cool for school even though they both come up to about my elbow. The girls are so sweet and after bringing my journal the first week, I had company for writing during breaks as they had all brought notebooks to journal in right alongside me. I peaked over their shoulders and they wrote about the boys they liked and the friends they were mad at. Somethings do not transcend cultures.

I never wanted to teach, even though I thought growing up I would teach my younger sisters a thing or two. However, I have a makeshift bucket list and on it is teaching English abroad. I proudly crossed it off because at times I think I have nothing to bring. Even in our blackberry cooperative meeting last night, they men sitting around the table with their sun spotted arms knew more than I ever would about crop propagation and some of them hadn't finished 6th grade. I can speak English though and in my broken Spanish we can figure out some words together and share in the learning.