life.

"We should all aspire to live like bananas.  They are on permanent vacation, living in lush, tropical rainforests.  From high above, a canopy of trees provides the perfect balance of sun and shade" -Banana Nut Crunch

I can’t remember where I left off in telling this saga, but frequently I have thought of things I would like to share with you over the past few weeks.  Now finally I am taking a breath and sitting down to write. 

I started teaching again, just Tuesdays.  Classes are from 8:30 to 12:30 and include two 1^st grade classes, one 2^nd grade, and one 3^rd grade.  The first day we learned a little song “my name is joy, my name is joy, what’s your name, what’s your name?”  Catchy and original.  Then I had them draw a picture of them meeting a friend and introducing themselves.  This week we talked about fruit.  In preparation I made fruits out of colored paper: Watermelon, apple, orange, strawberry, grapes, pineapple, and banana.  After we went over names I walked around with a marker and asked each kid what their favorite fruit was, I drew it for them and then they had to color it.  This worked well for first grade and for third grade I just gave them paper and they had to draw it themselves.  In second grade I ran into a slight problem.  The problem is that our two 1^st grade classes fed into one 2^nd grade class, which means there are 40 students in one room.  It is hard to give attention to 40 kids in 45 minutes and teach anything.  I need to learn how to be more prepared for that.  Overall I am really enjoying being back at the school, kids are really funny, and one day a week is about all I want to prep for. 

Things at the library are going well too, yesterday we got air conditioning!  It really cools things off.  Today was the last day of the current set of volunteers working with me.  Now I know more what I need to establish before new volunteers come.  It is so much easier to communicate with co-workers when you work by yourself. 

Another good thing at the library is that really feel that I am starting to connect and get to know the regulars.  Today I read with a little boy for about an hour.  He is ten years old and can only read by sounding words out.  Fortunately Spanish is very phonetic so we were able to go through four books together.  Our first three books were very basic picture books with labels, and then Brown Bear, Brown Bear to finish it off.  It was exciting to see how after every book we finished he wanted to go pick off another one from the shelf.  A teenage boy, Moises, also comes in the library a lot to do puzzles, his homework, or read.  Since most of our patrons are younger he has just been choosing children’s books to flip through.  Today I gave him Bridge to Terabithia and a bookmark so that he can come in everyday and continue where he left off. 

I have been house sitting for two weeks now.  For about half that time my friend Morgan was here staying with me.  We played a lot of Boggle and both enjoyed reading 4^th grade books.  I’m reading The Twenty-one Balloons right now. The house is nice and a change of scenery.  The first weekend here we had a fruit party, “bring a fruit and dress like a fruit.” I was a kiwi.  This weekend we grilled hamburgers and played Bible trivia, I think my fourth grade Bible knowledge would make you more proud than my Boggle skills, however, I am better at both of those things than cooking Nica food, which Morgan I attempted on Monday. 

One bad thing about house sitting is that things are different.  One night last week I slept with my keys dangling in the lock.  Nappy was confused by the jingling and shared that by barking, which I ignored.  Also here I don’t have a maid, this shouldn’t really be a problem but I am terrible at mopping.  I attempted this morning and maybe things look a little better, but not much.  I think before the Ferrer’s come home I going to have to get Leo to come help me. 

Just a few things more to say…This weekend I re-hiked that volcano Cerro Negro, it was one of the first things I did when I came to Nicargua but last time I quit half way through.  This time we went on the trail and discovered that it is very easy and relaxing if you do it the standard way.  

It was windy.

Last week I got hit in the face with a soccer ball.  It was fuerte and direct, but caused minimal bleeding and my sunglasses didn’t break.   I’m coming home in less than three weeks. I love you.