Now let's back track. Wednesday, Ann came! And with Laila! Sadly, Ann could only stay for a few minutes and then booked it to do site development. But Laila stayed with me :) We chatted a bit, walked around my community, ate homemade coconut ice cream at Lucila's, visited Altagracia, ate dinner, and got to work. The beauty of the work? I feel like I have more of a purpose here now. They're calling my community a, "Next-level Community" because of how many things that are already incredible. But then we discussed what could be better and I feel better. I think it will just come with time now that I completely accept being here and leaving KM59. A library is probably not in the future though...a bit disappointing. But ah well... We did a lot of planning, showered, and then headed to bed.
After not sleeping a wink, we headed to the school for 8am-late because Pipe made us coffee right at 8am. But when we got there, three teachers were gone at talleres. And they have no substitutes. So I was put in second grade. And while only 4 kiddos showed up, my panic mode flipped on just because of what it has been like before. Laila just sat back and I fumbled to figure something out. But I did it. It could have been better but the kids were great, Laila left at 9:30, we did math and Lengua Española, and they said they loved it all :). Still don't like doing that but it is refreshing to remember that I'm okay and that I do love teaching (feels like it's been forever since I've actually taught.
In the afternoon there was a meeting. What meeting you ask? An "Escuela de Padres y Madres." What is that you ask? Exactly what I wanted to do back in Villa, but couldn't. The director and school psychologist invited parents to come and this meeting was about the importance of parenting and how to be effective in raising good kids. There will be a meeting every month and will feature a different topic each time. Oh. My. God. Now, I'll admit, they lectured and I was bored to tears literally from yawning so much. But it exists! The director is passionate about it! And about 20 parents showed up! AND. When I mentioned to the psychologist that I have a manual with dinámicas, fun activities, and all about families, she got really excited and accepted my offer to help plan with her! Oh baby!
Afterwards I met the new preschool teacher. And guess what? She's the teacher in Vara de Vaca that I've been wanting to meet. I found out that she's the sole teacher there and teaches ONE class of 39 students who are all in first, second, and third grade. Again, ALL AT ONCE. I asked her how that was and she laughed and said, "An absolute headache." I told her I'm coming to visit and we are going to see what I can do to help :D
Seriously such a productive two days despite not really doing anything lol. That night I ate dinner, visited Altagracia with Pipe and his kids, went home and threw up (what??) and went to bed early cuz I felt like shit. So random.
Then today, Valentine's Day, I woke up feeling fine lol. So I walked with my ladies (+1-Dominga!), made posters in the morning, worked on our conference charlas, had sancocho (Mmmmmmm) for lunch, and in the afternoon? Hung out with Yoselin in third grade and then played volleyball during recess. And may or may not have had a TON of energy and fought angry, competitive kids with excitement and happiness and made then calm down a bit haha. Seriously. They're so bad when they play sports; yelling at each other, getting angry, and just being down-right nasty. So I went crazy running around, laughing, getting pumped up, and harassing them a little. And it got better ;P After school we played baseball so we could practice more. It was messy and with a ton of age groups but way too much fun.
And with a much needed shower (got a damn blister on my toe!), some hot chocolate for dinner, Casino, music, tea, and coffee, I'm off to bed!
Buenas noches!
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