Música Cuando Yo La Necesito

April 18, 2013. Today was our second pull-out day. We played Ninja for our dínamica! Haha we then had a worksheet that had the alphabet with the letters in upper and lower case written on it. But there were blanks and some letters were missing. Let's just say... That didn't go well. Especially for the first group. With the second group, Susan worked on it more as a group and that helped, plus they are older. After, we played, "Me Voy De Viaje" (I'm going on a trip). We went around and they had to come up with things to bring on their trip that started with a letter of the alphabet (in order, of course). I'm so glad I made fichas with words and pictures on them because #1 they struggled big time thinking of words and #2 they loved them! Haha for most of them, I would give them my ficha (barco for Bb, casa for Cc and so on) and that helped them to think of more. It was like an exciting mystery to find out what word I had :). So no, our original plan (that we made up this morning) didn't play out and the sheet didn't go so well but I think they ended up enjoying the session.
I did get frustrated again though. I understand why we do this. This is training after all... But with people like me, where the Spanish just isn't there, I'm not able to do or say all that I want. Like many other things here, I'm not able to give my all yet; whether due to a lack of understanding or a lack of words on my end. One child struggled today and the kids were talking over him or for him and I couldn't figure out how to tell them to stop and to encourage him in every way possible because I saw that he was frustrated... We're working with actual kids that need actual help. And yet I feel like we're just using them for practice. Again, doesn't feel fair. I can't be the best teacher, I can't plan the best lessons, and I can't facilitate their learning in the best way I know how because of my current lack of language.
Anyways, afterwards we had a session on differentiated instruction. Woo! I do love Gardner's 8 Multiple Intelligences but when I took the test at the end to see which one I was most, I had like 3 tie for first and 3 more for a close second haha. I have no clue how I learn best still. Oh well!
Lunch followed and then Spanish. He actually had music for us today! And we went through lyrics, learned vocabulary and "palabras en las calles" (words in the streets). Haha. And he likes Adele! So while we worked on a worksheet, we sang along to "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You!" Loved every minute of it despite not being able to concentrate ;). He then said he just got a ton of Spanish music and will transfer it to us if we want! Yes!! I've been wanting so much music from here! He played Romeo and I saw what he looks like. Um...Nate? If there is a Dominican out there that you need to worry about... It's him. If I met him...Hahahaha yea. ;) Love you! In all seriousness though, it's incredible what music can do for your emotional and mental state. And it's such a simple thing to have. It was there, just when I needed it.
I didn't play much volleyball today but that was okay. Instead, I ran a ton with Ivette, Maegan, and a Dominican named Andy. He's been their personal trainer and I wanted to join them this time. He played music while we ran and him and I sang along to Eminem haha. He then worked us hard with arm and core stuff. I totally expected him to be a stereotypical guy here but he's not. He actually would look away when we would do certain exercises, told Maegan she should wear longer shorts so as not to give guys here the wrong idea, and watched out for us when other guys threw out piropos to us lol. Love it. Him and I did pepper a bit with the volleyball which was wonderful too. I will definitely be joining the again tomorrow. A free personal trainer, Mom! Jealous? ;) Gotta keep working off all this damn rice, beans, starches, and fried plantains or yuca.
When I got home my host mom asked if I was going anywhere because I looked like I was walking in a hurry and with a purpose. I just said, "Nope! I just really need to shower!" She laughed at me pretty hard with that one haha. So I went to shower and what was there to greet me this time? A raña (I think that's how you spell it but I don't feel like leaving my mosquitera to look it up-see below) in the bucket water. They're like little gecko thingys. I was already undressed and had no clue what to do. But voila! The knob that I test out everyday to see if running water will come out, actually worked!! So I got a somewhat real shower AND got to avoid the raña! I emerged after and told my Doña and Alfredo saved the day by getting him out! Oh and I had thought he was dead since he didn't move while I showered but he was alive when Alfredo took him out. Haha I visibly had the heebie jeebies (oh my god is that how you spell that??) and they both got a kick out of that :P I'm so glad I'm the source of entertainment for them :D
I worked on some homework, we watched novellas, I interacted much more during the shows than normal which felt good, and now I'm off to bed. Buenas noches!