This morning I had a really fun class with the 10 year olds—we were working on “What/Who is your favorite ___?” and picked certain students to come up in front of the class to answer 5 questions each that were asked by their classmates. It worked really well because they all wanted to come up and answer questions, but they were willing to ask them as well! At the very end of class, I whipped out the gingerbread cookies and gave one to each kid (even the ones who take Spanish…they had come back into the room after their lesson with Pablo). Then I went into the two other CM2 classes (the same age) to give them cookies. I think they were a big hit! :) All the teachers liked them as well (except for the one who doesn’t like cinnamon…she claims I put cinnamon in everything just to spite her!).
My second class was exhausting, as usual, because it was with my most difficult class. Oh well. I just try to get through it and move on. Today I had the unpleasant experience of getting very annoyed with their constant chatting during the class that I demanded “LA SILENCE! LA SILENCE!” …well, it turns out that it’s le silence, not la… of course they all started laughing. Sigh. I guess I won’t be forgetting that anytime soon! :p
After lunch I had the little kids in the library. I started teaching them how to write the names of the colors and we also worked on comprehension (I said some sentences in English and then we worked out what I had said), which was really difficult for them.
At the end of class, I gave them each a Christmas pencil and sticker (that were sent to me by Maria and Anne). I told them that it was a present from Maria, who was now in Tanzania. When I reminded them how hard it is to be so far away from your family, we decided to take a picture (with the presents, of course) with a little message for Maria, to cheer her up. They are so cute!!
Photo: "Thank You, Maria!"
I had a break between classes (in which I just relaxed and read…and ended up falling asleep for a few mins), then I returned to teach more about colors!
After classes, I came home and had tea with Margot. We had received a note yesterday saying that there was a package to pick up at the post office, so today I went down to pick it up….and it was for me!! It was a box from Aunt Sally—with homemade cookies and a jar of my favorite kind of jam (Bandon cranberry)!!! How exciting! I was so thrilled—Christmas continues! :)
Tonight I went to folk dancing at 7pm and started off on stilts (actually doing the two easiest dances). Then I took them off and joined the girls dancing normally, where we danced (partner dances—some with the “guys” on the floor with us, sometimes on stilts!) until 11pm! The last dance we did involved the guys jumping OVER us four times! Eek! The first few times I was freaked out—they come towards you really fast, then jump up, whipping the stilts around your body. I cringed and closed my eyes! But after a while I was able to just walk straight while they leapt. Tonight was cool because a lot of the old stilt dancers were there (who I haven’t seen before) and they have been dancing since they were kids—and they’re now in their 30s-40s. It was pretty awesome to see 20 people up on stilts all at once!
After we finished dancing at 11pm (it was supposed to finish at 10:30pm, but it went late), about 15 of the grown-ups got out some drinks and snacks and started hanging out. They invited me to stay and, partly because Aurélie (the lady who gives me a ride) wanted to stay, but partly because I wanted to actually DO something other than stay home every night, I agreed. It was kind-of awkward at first because they were all talking and joking with their friends and I was just watching, but eventually I found a group and was able to listen without feeling like I was an outsider. They eventually asked me a few questions (which helped me feel less like I was creeping and more like I was actually a part of the group) and I relaxed and had fun! Perhaps it also had to do with the fact that I drank a glass of “punch” (a mix of something alcoholic and something fruity) and I had only eaten a granola bar since lunch…
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