Typical Schedule (Part 2)

The classrooms are extremely clean and organized and all the kids wear uniforms. I heard that they are hand-washed every day. The kids are also very clean as they shower at least daily.
They will copy notes from the board for a long time. I am quite certain that my students would revolt. (JK, but I rarely, if ever, have them copy from the board.) One proud teacher showed me her latest test scores and the class average was 84%. Sounds pretty good to me. Rumor has it that the teachers "teach to the test" quite a bit here. (Well, I hate to admit it, but we do more of that than ever as well, with high-stakes testing facing us every 4 months.)

So far I have visited Montessori, second, and fourth grade classes, as well as religion Class, English for new (and mostly uneducated) students, and music. The teachers always get me involved somehow and again, I feel right at home. You know, generally, even with the language barrier.

Lunch is served at 1:00 and the kids all go home to do homework and chores in the afternoon. These kids can wash clothing by hand like nobody's business. Not to mention clean floors, carry large loads, and well, yes, slack off when they feel like it. : )

The first few days I walked around and distracted kids from their chores by wanted to interact with them. But I learned quickly. Now 2:00-4:00 is down time. I wish I could share some of it with the volunteers that work ten-twelve hours a day. I keep asking them if there is something I can help them with and they all say the same thing: "You are doing exactly what you should be." I had visions of being on task before I came. I thought I'd be asked to paint a room, or clean, or I don't know something "harder." But, I must say, this has been pretty much a learning field trip. I step in at school when I have something to offer. . . but I haven't lifted a finger really, no hard, or semi-hard labor. YET. Now watch, someone from here will read this and walk up to me with a can of paint. : ) I can do that; anything but clean bathrooms!

From 2-4, I usually work on my word-art names. The first or second day here, I made Tresy her name in word-art. Since then, about 30 other girls have asked me to do their names. I hope my markers don't run out of ink! I brought two packs of those cool "Changeables." I will bring a lot more next time I visit. For sure.

The girls here, as in MN, are having fun doing their word-art too. I bet some of the boys would enjoy it too, but we only do it in the hogares in the evening, so not sure. Anyway, the afternoons are spent catching up on my "orders," blogging (like now), resting, chatting with other visitors, or cleaning up my room.

At 4:00, I was invited to join the music ensemble. Wilfredo and some of the pesguenos (orpahns) gather to learn, sing, and play. I am seeing that Wifredo is such a good musician that he doesn't seem to understand how hard it is to rise to his level. Yesterday was funny in sort of a frustrating way. (Not for me, but for some of the older boys.) He was trying to get the boys (and me, but I gave up) how to do a Latin American beat, which involves playing on the upbeat, not just the down beat. He makes it look so easy.

Wilfredo is going to be famous someday, or at least he should be. He is FABULOUS!

We end right at 6:00 just in time for dinner. Okay, the meals here are one of my favorite parts. They are efficient. People laugh at me when I take photos of my bowls, but meals are a big part of whole experience! Last night it was warm milk and a banana. (I have chips, salsa, granola bars, and yogurt in the fridge as well.) Corn on the cob is generally available for everyone around 5:45- an appetizer of sorts. : ) Maize wonderful maize. Just as I remember learning in school as a child: The food staples in Central America are maize and beans. (Throw in eggs, rice, chicken, and bananas, and sweet fresh milk. Every meal is here is a combo of these foods. Did I mention that there are no seconds? Also, if you have any food leftover on your plate, you ar
e not to toss it, but to offer it to anyone at your table; There are always grateful takers. : )

After dinner, the kids shower, brush their teeth, and get in their pajamas for about an hour and a half of free time. Chores are rotated, so some of the kids clean floors or help with dining hall clean up. Tonight, I will bring my guitar to Treisy's hogares for some "jammin'." Last night, they wanted to fix my hair and I let them again. OMGosh, I hope I don't get lice! Estimates are that 75% of the kids have lice here. (Pinewood, watch out! JK. I plan to treat my hair as soon as I get home regardless.) I wear hats a lot here and I keep them ON. The kids know that I do not share my hates.

8:00 is lights out. The visitors tend to gather to talk about our days. I love it here.