Cuernavaca: Day 9

What an amazing day. With the other teachers here at ASLI, I went to a CONAFE school in a neighboring town. School is still in session and I got to meet and talk with the kids a bit. There were three teachers there - all incredibly talented and generous with their time. One classroom has four to seven year olds and the other classroom had eight to twelve year olds. It was truly the highlight of my time here thus far. And while I love all kids, I am reminded that I adore working with the little ones. 

Students were making paper puppets from the story of the city mouse and the country mouse. I told students I need to practice the Spanish vowel sounds - which I do - so some helped me. I still need help with a, e, i in Spanish - that will be a big win for me when I master them! I got to look into their notebooks while they explained what they had learned about. A six year old told me about the five senses and explained to me the different places you taste different flavors on the tongue. His math skills were amazing.He was outgoing and fun and asked me why I have blue eyes (they are actually green). I said I don't know and asked him why he has brown eyes? This question is often asked in the USA as well because the majority of my students have dark eyes, and so do their families. In the older room snack was started and I was offered blue Takis and gum. Students asked me where I was from and asked me about YouTubers and singers. 

Snack was actually the beginning of lunch and the generosity and kindness I see from my parents at school was matched by these parents. They brought lunch and frozen homemade desserts for everyone. The school teachers moved tables and chairs so we could all sit together. I asked one of the teachers if parents bringing lunch was common and they said yes, but it was more extravagant than usual because of our presence. 

After lunch was the best part of the day. A little girl, who was initially shy, saw my watch and was fascinated. She started to play with and of course she knew more about technology than I do. More students came over to play with the watch. The older ones wanted to listen to music and look at the apps like their parents had - the exercise tracker and calendar. One boy was trying to use the camera app on my phone to take pictures. The selfie with them was the result of my explanation and a picture I love! It is a true encapsulation of how I felt today! I forever will look at this picture with a smile on my face and light in my heart!

I am so very grateful for Fund For Teachers affording me this amazing opportunity and ASLI for providing the structure. I am not only improving my Spanish, but my life and the lives of my students. While I am not blind and acknowledge that we are all different and have various life experiences and opportunities because of the various privileges some of us are born with, there is a sameness in children and education that brings me joy and peace and hope. The painted steps remind me of the steps at Holmes School with words of encouragement and hope. 

The list of magic words of being kind and inclusive and respectful remind me of the Second Step Lessons we do every week. The teachers doing the best they can. Each day for the students they care about so deeply. The parents sharing their time and love and support to their children, teachers, and perfect strangers because they want the best for their children. And mostly the students who want to learn and play and love and grow and know that the world is a safe place for everyone and that even if someone has different color eyes and speaks with a strange accent (meaning me) that most of us want the same thing. The best for everyone, especially the kids...