It is now the middle of week two, and I am beginning to learn the routine of the classrooms. Lauren and I have started to work with the students on activities that our cooperating teacher, Edith, has given us, as well as some projects that we have created ourselves.
We are now working with only first, second, and third graders. I´m looking forward to being able to focus more time and attention to these students. I didn´t realize what a challenge it is to have so many different classes, since I´m used to having just one class all day long! I am very excited to feel that I am having an impact on the lives of these kids. They are amazing and so much fun; they are constantly smiling and always happy (or at least most of the time; they are still kids of course).
They have started to realize that if they want me to understand what they are saying, they must speak very slowly, and I am actually beginning to be able to understand them. This is a huge accomplishment for me! And, by the way, the food in the cafeteria is absolutely incredible. I never knew I could love rice and beans so much or that it could be made in so many different ways!
I am also adjusting well to family life. My parents are very supportive and care very much about my well being. They are always asking to make sure I am okay. It´s nice to know that I have such wonderful people to fall back on. I went to English class with my mom on Monday night and met her teacher and friends at the university. It was a very interesting experience to see my language being taught in that environment. My mom and everyone there spoke very good English. I was amazed and a little embarrassed at the small amount of Spanish that I speak in comparison. We went to Burger King for dinner afterwards and while eating we watched Seinfeld in English with Spanish subtitles, a night in tribute to the United States!
My only little, tiny complaint is the heat. It is hot! But, somehow I feel like I´m actually getting used to it. I never thought I would be able to say that! I think I might even miss it when I go back to the U.S. because then I won´t have a good excuse for ice cream anymore!