Opening Ceremony teachers

Opening Ceremony

Today was the first day of school and the Opening Ceremony. We arrived at the school and headed out to the large open area of the school where all the students were assembled in lines waiting for us. There were several speeches by students, Carlos, and the principal. They had the foreign teachers introduce themselves and then we shook hands with the principal and passed out the gifts that we had brought. Even though it was only 8:00 am it was hotter than you know what! The first student passed out and hit the ground shortly after we started. She was carried to the clinic by one of the teachers. Then more started leaving for the clinic. It was so hot! Luckily the ceremony didn't last too long.

We headed to teach our first class. I teach Grade 3 and 4. I did an introduction today with a powerpoint. Then I had the kids make a small booklet with their name and the names of the family members that live with them. In most families there is only one child, but one student had 3 siblings. I asked the teacher how this happened and she said that the students that come to this school are rich and so the parents can pay the fine and have more than one kid. Many of the student's parents are doctors and business men and women who own restaurants and stores.

The kids were really well behaved and so happy to be there. I really enjoyed them. I continued the next class with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? We repeated the story over and over and I had them hold up the pictures and get them in order. It was a great lesson and I have done it in the past and it works out well.

We teach 3-45 minute classes in the morning and then have a 3 hour break for lunch, then 3 more 45 minute sessions. The time goes by so quickly.

We eat lunch at the school, but have voted to not have dinner there most nights. Tonight we came home and went around the corner for dinner where we had handmade noodles. They cost about $1.13 and are very filling.

On the way home we stopped at a shoe stand and I got a cute pair of shoes for $4.00.

I went to check to see if they were dancing tonight and the women were there. They were and I saw my friends from 2 years ago, Ling Ping and Sue Ann. We danced just a little, but then it started to rain, so we went to Ling Ping's house. She fed us some melon and I met her granddaughter who is 14. Her English was pretty good. It really started to rain so we decided we better get home. It was so good to see them again.

School lunch. Sometimes it's good and sometimes you just got back to the room and eat your stash of food. I wonder if I'm getting sick from it or something else.