Life...

My cell phone is now broken... go figure my black cloud of cellphone drama has followed me to another country! I had it for about three days, working, then it fell off a table one time and is now "muerto" or "dead" as they say here! Bummer, but I'm going to try to rectify that tomorrow.
I spent an hour in The Super... a more modern version of a grocery store than the more common markets. It was super interesting and took me forever to decide on what to get... I wanted everything! Ended up with mac and cheese (yes, the real Kraft deal!!!!), a jello mix, some ramen, gummy bears, mango juice (my fav), and a few other fun things! I also made my first attempt to get a medication at a pharmacy - that was pretty entertaining- but the lady was really nice. AND, I finally bought a few pens, pencils, a notebook, and FINALLY an eraser to use in my classes and for my students to borrow! This little shopping excursion was all on a walk after work and before jumping on my bus and meeting Arecely here at the internet!
I also gave my first test to my night classes tonight - it took them the whole time, I couldn't believe it, but with an oral component and the written I guess they thought it was kinda hard. Oh well, you live and you learn!
On a completely other note, the last two days at my colegio have been super fun! It's the first day of spring here today and also Students' Day. Yesterday we took a field trip to a recreation center nearby (an absolutely beautiful new center) with about 1800 other some odd kids from around the city!!!!!!!!! Now, you can't get the full picture until you imagine me, in a giant freezing cold pool with tons of kids hanging on the walls begging me to teach them how to swim... me taking one at a time out to the middle of the pool, both of us usually ending up sputtering, splashing, and trying not to drown! Needless to say out of all the schools, ALL the kids (3 years to 16 years of age), I was the ONLY teacher to get in the water. There was NO, I repeat, NO lifeguard and TONS of kids who didn't know how to swim! SCARY! Now, add three playgrounds, sports courts, kiddie play pools, etc. and you get the picture. One of the other teachers cooked lunch and brought portions for all of the teachers... nice! It is a bit crazy that all the teachers just sit in the shade talking etc. and just let the kids run ALL OVER the place with NOOOOO supervision... of course it's like that everyday at school too... recreation time is completely unsupervised... so strange for me! But, it was a really fun day! I met a new friend (a girl my age at the pool), I got a tan (which everyone here tells me is the WORST thing ever), and I got to get closer with a lot of the kids (guess that's what happens when they see their teacher in her swimsuit)! Also had a pretty good laugh when a couple of high school age boys, while I was walking by, asked me "Y en que ano estas?" or "And what grade are you in?" When I responded that I was a teacher they all gafawed and started laughing... I had a good laugh too!
THEN, to celebrate students' day today it was another free day... technically I don't work at the colegio on Wednesdays, but they invited me to participate and I just couldn't pass up a party! Think field day plus dancing and TONS of sugar! The kids, and teachers, participated in all the fun party games like draw the tail on the donkey, run and sit on/pop the balloon, eggs on spoons, sack jumping relay, etc. It was tons of fun and I finally remembered to take some pictures of my students! After that they FILLED them full of sugar... giving every kid an ice cream bar, a giant slice of really good cake, a sucker, a mini soda, and cookies! These kids were bouncing off the wall, and after helping serve/pass out everything and being practically force fed cake and ice cream I had a stomachache!!!! Then it was time for dancing which ended up being a lot like the pool experience yesterday... all the teachers told me I just had to bring my swimsuit and swim with the kids... today it was you have to dance, the kids want you to, you can learn... HOWEVER it seems I'm always the only teacher participating!!! When I ask them... they just say, "yeah, yeah we're coming... in just a minute... you go ahead!"
There is one teacher that I REALLY like. She is about 50 and her husband just passed away about 5 months ago - so sad - she's still wearing all black everyday. BUT, despite her sadness she is super thoughtful, always including me, giving me madarins, smiling, and just has a really fun attitude/outlook on life that I love!
I now find myself the owner of the keys of the entire school... cause I live there I guess they assume it makes sense. This is fine with me... gives me a little more freedom/independence etc... but somehow it is now my job to open the main door (three locks) and the telephone room every morning by 7am! Yikes... quite the responsibility for me... those of you who know my difficulties with waking up in the mornings! So far so good though!
For now, it's off to bed...
Wish me good luck with finally washing my clothes tomorrow as well as with trying to rectify this cell phone situation!
Love y'all!
Kate