Arguments and games.
I just had my very first argument in Spanish - with a nine-yearold.
It went on like this:
I was sat with José, helping him copy down and do his Mathematics tasks of the day. Suddenly, Smith comes over and wants the book we were copying from, which belonged to Erick. I said no, and Smith gave me this long tirade about needing the book. I told him to wait until José was done with the book, he refused to listen. In the end I had to command him back to his place without the book, ask him if he was three years old and tell him to act like the nine-yearold he is. He then marched back to his bench, sat down and now he isn't speaking to me. Then, after a few minutes while José was at the toilet he kicked him, so José was crying his eyes out while I was trying to help him with homework. Kids are cruel.
Also, the private school kids came to San Antonio today, and it was their last time, so they arranged for a fiesta! Lots of games, muffins and music. The kids were thoroughly enjoying themselves, and so was I, to be honest, although I was busy arranging the kids into Grupo Azul, Celeste, Blanco, Rojo y Amarillo. Grupo Rojo won, but that was only because they had, stupidly, put all the 12-yearolds in one team, so of course they won tug-of-war.
When the games were over, each private school kid had a toy to give to their respective San Antonio kid. So one could say, Christmas came early to San Antonio. They got Monopoly, Ludo, some Harry Potter labyrinth game, Twister... lots and lots, and they were so happy, and they were so sad when the private school kids left, as they won't come back until next year.
I had a chat with the head teacher of the private school kids, and we talked about how useless the kids are when it comes to teamwork. They haven't learnt it. When put in groups and told to cooperate, they totally fail at it; they cheat and wreck things for their team mates. I said that it was really good that they come every Tuesday, because the kids need to interact with "normal" kids and play with "normal" kids and experience what it is to have healthy relationships with other, non-damaged kids who are also older than them. The head teacher was really happy to hear this. She said (surprise!) that the hermanas have been really hard to work with, and that they're never given an opinion on anything. Sounds familiar?!
Anyway... we're off to have dinner with Hermano Hugo in half an hour, and I absolutely can't wait. I am starving, and I'm so glad to not having to eat CdlN food. We're having Italian food, I think... Oh, I can't wait.
It went on like this:
I was sat with José, helping him copy down and do his Mathematics tasks of the day. Suddenly, Smith comes over and wants the book we were copying from, which belonged to Erick. I said no, and Smith gave me this long tirade about needing the book. I told him to wait until José was done with the book, he refused to listen. In the end I had to command him back to his place without the book, ask him if he was three years old and tell him to act like the nine-yearold he is. He then marched back to his bench, sat down and now he isn't speaking to me. Then, after a few minutes while José was at the toilet he kicked him, so José was crying his eyes out while I was trying to help him with homework. Kids are cruel.
Also, the private school kids came to San Antonio today, and it was their last time, so they arranged for a fiesta! Lots of games, muffins and music. The kids were thoroughly enjoying themselves, and so was I, to be honest, although I was busy arranging the kids into Grupo Azul, Celeste, Blanco, Rojo y Amarillo. Grupo Rojo won, but that was only because they had, stupidly, put all the 12-yearolds in one team, so of course they won tug-of-war.
When the games were over, each private school kid had a toy to give to their respective San Antonio kid. So one could say, Christmas came early to San Antonio. They got Monopoly, Ludo, some Harry Potter labyrinth game, Twister... lots and lots, and they were so happy, and they were so sad when the private school kids left, as they won't come back until next year.
I had a chat with the head teacher of the private school kids, and we talked about how useless the kids are when it comes to teamwork. They haven't learnt it. When put in groups and told to cooperate, they totally fail at it; they cheat and wreck things for their team mates. I said that it was really good that they come every Tuesday, because the kids need to interact with "normal" kids and play with "normal" kids and experience what it is to have healthy relationships with other, non-damaged kids who are also older than them. The head teacher was really happy to hear this. She said (surprise!) that the hermanas have been really hard to work with, and that they're never given an opinion on anything. Sounds familiar?!
Anyway... we're off to have dinner with Hermano Hugo in half an hour, and I absolutely can't wait. I am starving, and I'm so glad to not having to eat CdlN food. We're having Italian food, I think... Oh, I can't wait.