The nurse cleaned off her foot again, bandaged her up, gave her a pair of socks. After unsuccessfuly looking for a pair of shoes for her I grabbed some plastic bags from the kitchen to put over her feet before putting them into the well worn shoes.
She almost didn´t go to the nurse because she was scared again.
She was smily the whole time though and didn´t complain about her shoes. Actually she was prepared to just put them right back on after she got bandaged up and it was only when I pointed out to the nurse that they were so wet and dirty inside that she got the socks. I approached the volunteer coordinator to get shoes but it is hard because she isn´t the only one. While I especially worry about Michelle in this case because I don´t want her cut to get infected there are many other students who come in with soaking wet shoes and clothes this time of the year.
I took three other girls to la enfermera, the nurse, for coughs, colds, and headaches. It is likely due to the lack of rain gear and protection from the chilly weather, and staying in wet shoes and socks. Once you get wet it takes so long to dry out becuase of the frequency of rain, humidity and moisture in the air when it is not raining.
The older kids are better at staying dry but a couple of them have colds. Yesterday morning in english class Ross brought in a song that the kids could read the lyrics to and sing along with and translate. It went really well. The students got into it, and were activly translating.
This is some of the girls and I at lunch again. Today the teacher was a little late so I brought them in, and they called out ¨La gracia la gracia¨because the teacher always leads ¨grace¨. I didn´t know it in spanish so just free styled.
After lunch is always teeth brushing time.
They make me laugh because they get so passionate and jump up and down. One girl who was a "finalista" in the game stood on her feet waving her hands in the air and jumping up and down. I couldn't imagine she could be more excited if she had just won a million dollar game show.
It was crazy getting them lined up for the bus... Here I am trying to get them to not push eachother while we wait to get on. We were nervous it was going to be canceled again becuase of dark clouds and the threat of thunder... but luckily the afternoon storm held off long enough for us to have fun!!
The kids swimming skills have improved so much even though they have only had about five or six classes. Every two minutes I had one calling me over to WATCH ME WATCH ME!! One little girl was soooo cute when she called me over and as I watched she got herself so nervous she just screamed out as if she was jumping, while just standing there:-) Above Catherine cheers on some of the kids... however the lifeguard in her says...
WATCH OUT WHERE YOU JUMP!!! They didn't always look before leaping... but everyone survived:-)
This is most of the kids lined up for warmups practicing their stroke movements....
And kicking all together.
But of ourse we couldn´t avoid.. la lluvia- rain rain rain! and more rain! Above is Johanna the teacher I work with, Catherine, and myself beside the pool. We were all SOAKED by the end of the day and we didn´t even jump in the pool. Between the girls cannon balls and jumps into the pool, and the rain even my umbrella didn´t save us.
It was a wonderful, busy day. Yanitza and Marta agree.
After lunch is always teeth brushing time.
This morning to continue with our theme of the month
In the older class we discussed la tristeza, or sadness. Most of the kids actually came late today so they had to wait outside until we finished la programa de paz actividad. Those students that were on time participated well. They reflected and each contributed to discussion which I really appreciated. I talked a little about some tough times I had while I was in Puerto Rico, and about how having a negative view of the past can lead you to view the future in a negative way... but if you choose to take what you have learned and seek the positive in the past, you automatically have a more positive outlook about the future. It is also important to know that sadness is a part of life and don´t deny it trying to force yourself to be happy when you don´t feel it, but seek to understand it... and more importantly the best way to lift your spirits is to help someone else, to listen to others and get outside your self for a while.
In the older class we discussed la tristeza, or sadness. Most of the kids actually came late today so they had to wait outside until we finished la programa de paz actividad. Those students that were on time participated well. They reflected and each contributed to discussion which I really appreciated. I talked a little about some tough times I had while I was in Puerto Rico, and about how having a negative view of the past can lead you to view the future in a negative way... but if you choose to take what you have learned and seek the positive in the past, you automatically have a more positive outlook about the future. It is also important to know that sadness is a part of life and don´t deny it trying to force yourself to be happy when you don´t feel it, but seek to understand it... and more importantly the best way to lift your spirits is to help someone else, to listen to others and get outside your self for a while.For englsh today we continued translating the song with the older kids and most finished. I am going to pick out a song for next week... anyone got any suggestions. I want to find something that has a catchy tune, but clear pronounciation and useful verbs and nouns.... we'll see:-)
Today for the younger girls they played a game for english class with Jake their english teacher.
They make me laugh because they get so passionate and jump up and down. One girl who was a "finalista" in the game stood on her feet waving her hands in the air and jumping up and down. I couldn't imagine she could be more excited if she had just won a million dollar game show. But nothing gets the kids more excited than GOING TO THE POOL!
It was crazy getting them lined up for the bus... Here I am trying to get them to not push eachother while we wait to get on. We were nervous it was going to be canceled again becuase of dark clouds and the threat of thunder... but luckily the afternoon storm held off long enough for us to have fun!!
It was impossible to keep them in their seats and organized. All the girls sat in the back and the boys up front. They borrowed my camera for a while too so I got some very candid random pictures:-0
(this photo was actually taken on the way back as you see their hair is always wet)
My friend Catherine came to visit the class today too, she is four seats back on the right hand side... and I have a feeling this is not her last experience with safe passage. She spent the morning in the Guarderia bathing the little kids, and then the afternoon with me and the girls. They were all giving her kisses and hugs before the day was done... even if she does only speak italian and limited spanish:-)
The kids swimming skills have improved so much even though they have only had about five or six classes. Every two minutes I had one calling me over to WATCH ME WATCH ME!! One little girl was soooo cute when she called me over and as I watched she got herself so nervous she just screamed out as if she was jumping, while just standing there:-) Above Catherine cheers on some of the kids... however the lifeguard in her says...
WATCH OUT WHERE YOU JUMP!!! They didn't always look before leaping... but everyone survived:-)
This is most of the kids lined up for warmups practicing their stroke movements....
And kicking all together.
But of ourse we couldn´t avoid.. la lluvia- rain rain rain! and more rain! Above is Johanna the teacher I work with, Catherine, and myself beside the pool. We were all SOAKED by the end of the day and we didn´t even jump in the pool. Between the girls cannon balls and jumps into the pool, and the rain even my umbrella didn´t save us.
Fortunatly the rain held off long enough for the lesson.
But we got wet.
It is a big sized pool and some of the kids even went down to the deep end today and were showing off how long they can stay under water.
It is a big sized pool and some of the kids even went down to the deep end today and were showing off how long they can stay under water.Here is Katy singing in the rain
She was soooo chilly after getting out. All the girls were shivering- but soo happy I don´t think they even noticed... they were too busy begging to stay longer!
She was soooo chilly after getting out. All the girls were shivering- but soo happy I don´t think they even noticed... they were too busy begging to stay longer!
It was a wonderful, busy day. Yanitza and Marta agree.It was so much fun and such a happy time, yet still you can see in the background of this picture the yellow from the guatemala city garbage trucks. The smell from the dump was pretty strong today too from class- and turns my stomach a little bit. Along the drive home we always see el basurero, the dump, many people in the streets, and the kids neighborhood. I am so glad that these girls get to escape and just be kids enjoying time with eachother, learning to swim and all about felicidad!
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