Swim adventure and more!!!

Today was on volunteer of nine months last day. Mary, who is from Maine as well, was saying all her goodbyes. Time for me is already flying but I am learning SO much! (and i hope the kids are too:) I met and worked with the older kids. They are smart, but also can be very difficult to motivate and keep on task. Sometimes deliberatly play games or cause problems. Like When the english teacher came yesterday a couple tried to ruin an activity he was trying to run. It can be hard because they are not accustomed to a structured classroom. But they need structure in their lives: to help them in their studies, and finding a career and building a future. I am also getting used to the rules of the classroom, learning what behavior to tolerate, and when to step in. I don´t want to be overbearing, or too demanding but it is hard when I am unsure what the primary teacher expects of them. Today´s english activity went much better, and I was able to help keep students on task and get them to practice. Todo es poco a poco.
Yesterday for the afternoon class we packed 50 kids into the same van that 20 volunteers usually travel in. When i say packed- I mean like sitting on eachothers laps, I was squished in a whole bunch of the 9-12 year old girls. We went over to the pool where the students got changed and began their third swimming lesson. They love it. So much that at the end it can be a problem getting them all out of the pool again! Next week I´m planning on jumping in with them to help with the swimming class.
I have a lot of fun with the 9-12 year old girls. But it can be a challenge because there are two groups that don´t get along well (as is the case with girls of that age...I remember) Also, as with the older group I am still familiarizing myself with the rules of the school. In Guatemala in general horseplay is definatly more the norm, and games can be really rough. I want the kids to have fun, but being the worrier that I am always want them to play more gently with eachother. Some of the girls are really mature for their age in some aspects, and a couple are very ¨tough¨, I imagine you kind of have to be, or learn to become so from where they´re coming from. They still tease me a lot, and try to get away with stuff when the teacher is out of the class. When I was down in the kitchen with three of the girls washing up after snack one of them made a comment she knew was not acceptable saying "los chinitos¨eat rats and garbage. When I told her that it was un acceptable she just teased ¨Yo se porque soy chinta¨they are very quick with the smart comments. I think humor and teasing CAN be good, and I need to find a way to use it in a more constructive way.
I think it is really important to get the kids to not be afraid to try their hardest. I think that is one of the biggest things is that while they seem tough, and like to convey to others that they can handle anything, yet whenever it comes to answering serious questions in front of the class they get reallly shy. Every day we have an activity that is part of what is called ¨La Programa de Paz¨A lot of times it involves questions about respect, honesty, tolerance, love, and discussions of morals and values. Today the older kids had to write 5 things they liked about themselves, 5 things they think they deserve from others, and 5 things that others should expect from them/that they owe to others. Only one or two kids read off the pages they wrote right off. Most of the others kind of evaded, laughed, and were really shy about giving their responses, rushed through them and were very concerned with how their fellow class mates viewed them. Johanna (the teacher i work with) is really good at working with them, asking tough questions and getting them to take the time to really think about what they believe. She does actually make them think, sometimes stops them in their tracks, and I can see she is really having a huge affect on the paths their future will take. This is what camino seguro is. Seriously helping students to find thier own paths, and changing the route they are taking for the better. The students are really growing on me, I only hope I can learn more from Johanna! And QUICKLY!!:-)
This friday we are planning for a BIG monthly student/parent day. It is an opportunity for parents to meet with social workers, for teachers to update parents on their students progress, and to get the families working towards the same goals. There will be games activities, food bags distributed, and all sorts going on. Tomorrow Johanna and I will be planning activities and setting up the class room for the big event.
Days are busy! Long, but they fly quick at the same time.