Our First Day at School

Friday was our first day at Abriendo Mentes.  We arrived to the salon comunal (community room) where classes are held and were greeted by 3-4 men who were cutting and welding steel beams.  It really is a community room!  They stayed throughout class which, after a few modifications (putting up several whiteboards to block the view of the light from the welding torches from the kids’ eyes) it worked out just fine apart from a few bangs that were loud enough to make us all jump.

Todd at the Salon Comunal

Since it was Friday, the session was pretty light on teaching.  We started with informal introduction followed by a daily report type lesson: What day is it?  Today is sunny.  I feel happy, etc.  After that Paula, who is visiting her sister-in-law who lives in Potrero while sailing with her family from Baja California to Costa Rica and then back up and around the Caribbean, brought the activity for the day.  One of the stops on their trip was in Mexico and so she brought her two daughters, supplies to make Mexican tissues flowers and a piñata to share.  Needless to say it was a very fun day.  All of the kids made beautiful flower and were so excited to have a chance at cracking the piñata open.  After the piñata, the little kids headed home and the older kids stayed for a lesson in daily activities.  They were all pretty well behaved, especially the little ones made for an easy beginning for us.  All of the kids seemed comfortable with us being there which made it easier for us to jump in.

The Kids, Showing Off Their "Flores"

The amazing thing about Abriendo Mentes is that the kids even show up.  Their school day is only three hours long because the school is so small that they have to split the school day into two groups of students.  That means that the hour or so that the kids spend at Abriendo Mentes adds another 33% of instruction onto their day – which is a lot for anyone.

Cesar Takes a Swing at the Piñata

After our first day Todd and I both are really looking forward to this week.  It will be good to see how a whole regular week of class goes and to get to know the kids better.  Meradith and Drew are obviously very well known and liked in the community and I feel really good about our decision to volunteer here.  Well, we’re off to a baile in town tonight so I’m off to get ready for that, it should be fun!

¡Adiós!

P.S.  If you’re interested in hearing more about Paula, her family and what sounds like the coolest sailing trip ever, check out there website here: http://beemerfamily.yolasite.com .