Author of Today’s Post is Karie

Today was hard as we are on the backside of the week and we started feeling the pull of the impeding end to the trip. It was our last day teaching the kids in the classrooms, the same classes we taught English in all week. Each “team” of teachers taught three classes each day, with a recess between the 1st and 2nd class (where the beat down on the soccer field occurred…today they decided to put us out of our misery and we cheered on the professionals – who, by the way, don’t even break a sweat but you can barely see their feet move they are such a blur!). Here was the breakdown of classes this week:

Camryn & Callie taught 9th ,4th ,5th grades

Chris & David taught 8th ,2nd ,3rd grades

Ken & Karie taught 6th ,10th ,11th grades

Amy & Kylie taught PreK, 1st and 7th grades

Each team had a translator, and we played games to teach English words and phrases. We played Bingo, and Matamoscas (fly swatter), heads up 7up, Pictionary, and others to help get the kids involved and engaged to learn. Watching their eyes light up and the greeting chant to the tune of “Frere Jacques” they performed each time we arrived was one of the best parts of the day! We could tell the kids got more comfortable with us each day, and by the time we left the classroom for the last time today, I was wishing for just a few more days with my new friends.

We have played games outside with the kids, like sack races, and dodge ball, soccer, and Picachu (a two-person hand slapping game with a chant that ends in rock-paper-scissors), and the whole thing had a magical air that had us stretching ourselves outside of our daily lives to experience this wonderful place.

It’s like God took us by the hand and lead us here, nudged us forward with a wink, and said, “Welcome to a new adventure! Make sure you stop to look around every once in a while and you will see me everywhere and in everyone…and it’s something you will never forget.”

Now, we have two more days of adventure, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us!