Meet the parents

Yesterday we went to Megamaxi (kind of like meijer) to buy school supplies for our kids.  I am teaching third grade with Bri and Henry!!!  It was hard to stay within the budget while buying everything that we will need - folders, notebooks, paper, pencils, markers, glue, a bin etc.  School supplies are more expensive here, which is the opposite of what I would've thought.  We started brainstorming what we wanted to do our first week and the kind of activities we want to include in the lessons.  The rest of the day was really relaxed, as we hung out at the house and planned our trip to the rainforest. 

This morning we got up really early to go to the school and meet with the parents of the students in our program.  We introduced ourselves, went over the schedule and what we were teaching.  They were concerned at first when we said they would be at school from 8-2, but once we told them we were providing food (we have Doña Margo as our cook) they said we could keep them all day.  They were really thankful for our help, but told us that every student at the school (my estimation skills are horrible but I would say at least 150) needed help and that we should bring more people and increase our class sizes.  Right now we are at 40 kids total, with eight per classroom.  Many parents asked us if their kids could participate and it was heartbreaking to say that we had a limit.  But if we let a couple kids in, then it will spread and we will have major overflow.  I mean it's a different story if they just show up, at that point there is no way we can turn these cute kids away.  One girl just ran up to me and hugged me right once we got there and would always run back.  Ahhh so excited for monday and to meet our kids!!!!

We are off to Tena at two.  We are going to stay for four days and three nights and stay with an indigenous community for a portion and witness a shaman ritual, along with taking several tours into the rainforest.  Really excited to see the wealth of diversity of birds, flowers, and animals in general.  We will hopefully lesson plan on the bus unless we pass out - we always have sunday.