Teaching is over!

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So yesterday we headed back into the schools for some more Nutrition teaching. The principal here is so confused that she constantly forgot to ring the bell when class was supposed to end and when recess was over. We had to keep reminding her! The students were somewhat better yesterday, with only a small chatter and mostly paid attention. I shot a short video to give you guys an idea of how school is here in the DR.

There was a little girl in 2nd grade that we didn't even teach that clung to me day one and seemed to seek me out every day after that. She was super cute and very quite. She would just sit by me and not say anything. We played Down by the banks again with some of the kids in the morning but the game never ended because people kept joining in!

After teaching we came back here to the orphanage and Sharon and I played Yahtzee with Jochi, one of the older boys. It was fun, I like this game! Somehow he won, but I'm pretty sure he added incorrectly a few times on purpose! The whole time we were playing he had a cicada in his hand. He had accidentally broken one of the wings off so it couldn't fly so he just held on to it. He would put it in the little kids faces to get them to leave us alone while we were playing and they'd go running. Little Luis Alberto who killed a tarantula the day before was terrified of the cicada! Not quite sure how he likes tarnatulas but not harmless cicadas!

We went back and taught again in the afternoon and then afterwards headed to the English Institute to show the Villanova team what it was like there in case any of them were interested in coming back to teach. After touring there we headed to the clock tower. There is a huge clock tower in town that was constructed by the same guy that made the Eiffel Tower, it is pretty neat and in the past I have climbed to the top. I'll post some pictures so you can see it.

After this we headed back to the orphanage for dinner. Wednesday is culto with the kids, the little worship service here on the grounds and we went over for that after dinner. Before culto we had some time to hang out and one of the 11 year old girls and I hung out, me tickling her and just relaxing with her. I hadn't gotten to speak with her much yet so that was nice having some time with her. Jauri, a 9 year old boy, bought some things at a colmado (little street store) that you put in water and they grow. All the kids had containers with water and these "bolitos". They had peanut butter jars, hair gel containers, water bottles, everything filled with these. Apparently you got like 20-3o of them for 10 pesos which is about 30 cents.

After culto I just sat around and hung out before heading to bed. I was exhausted and went to bed at 9:30 last night!

Today was our final day of teaching. The students once again were pretty well behaved, at least for them. Today after the bell ring I was taking some pictures for my group of the class and before I could make it downstairs, my little 2nd grade friend had come upstairs to find me! So cute! After the morning recess, we said our goodbyes and headed back the orphanage. I hung out with some of the kids before lunch time at the mesita.

I took an hour siesta and then headed back out to see the kids. Tito, the kid with the huge gash on his foot, had no bandage and no shoes on again! So great to see them learn a lesson ;) I played left, right, center with Yanina and some of the volunteers for a bit and then just sat around and hung out. We walked into school this afternoon and it was toasty! I think I sweat for the first 20 minutes after we arrived, sorry for those of you freezing in KY! I'm sure my office staff is glad I'm gone so I'm not complaining about the cold!

After school, we went to the giftshop so the Villanova team could get some souviners. We then came back and I played chase with about 5 of the younger girls for 15 minutes. It wore me out but was fun!

Tonight is free night with kids and tomorrow is a fun day for the volunteers. They'll go to the border town of the DR and Haiti to see a free trade market which is pretty eye opening. There are some of the poorest people I've ever seen and people are running back and forth over this large bridge to buy supplies to sell or give to their families for the next weeks-months. Then in the afternoon, we eat lunch in town and a local place and they'll spend the afternoon at the beach. I will be here by myself working all day on health curriculum! Woohoo! I'm excited actually to get a little break from the group and get to work on health stuff. Since the school kids were so bad, I didn't get to go out with Dr. Garcia this week so next week I"ll go out again with him.

Happy Friday to everyone tomorrow! Miss you all!