To the Finca we go...

Every year the school takes the kids on an excursion for the day and this past Thursday we went to a finca, which consisted of a big pool, a river with a rushing current and waterfalls, a beautiful hike in the woods, basketball courts, mango trees and more.

Waterfall fun!

Time for the pool!

We left school at 8am and set off for the day with over a 100 children and 15 teachers. I was excited, but nervous because we were going to a place where the kids could swim and many of the children at NPH do not know how to swim. I had a feeling that I was going to be playing lifeguard for the day. We arrived about an hour later and the kids were off the bus and in the water before we could even put the buses in park. Luckily the pools were not to deep so even the kids who could not swim were able to wade in the pools and enjoy the water.

Fun in the pool--fully dressed in their
"educación fisica" uniforms.

Meghan and Molly jumped right in! 

Group shot in the pool!

The only scare of the day was when I was swimming with a few kids in the river and we were racing against the current to see who could make it the fastest. There were a few kids watching us who could not swim, but wanted to be part of the group. One girl was wading in the water when she got caught in the current and started to head down river over the sharp rocks. Her face said it all---she was scared and could not stop  because the current was too strong. I jumped over the rocks to try to reach her and was able to grab her hand. It was not until I came out of the water that I realized my legs were all cut up and bleeding. Needless to say it was time to get out and take a break.

Waterfall jumping!

My turn!

We spent the morning running back and forth between the pool and the river. The river had a strong current and waterfalls that you could jump off of. The kids could not get enough of it. Oh yah and let me add-- that everyone here swims in their clothes. So we are all fully dressed in shorts and t-shirts and throwing ourselves into the water. Apart from the minor incident was a girl being swept down stream...we all made it out alive and it was a blast!

Resting and enjoying lunch after a morning of swimming.

The Adventures of Brayan & Marvin...

Trying out mine and Franny's shades.

Today I had project with two of the cutest boys/brothers here at NPH. Brayan (3) and Marvin (2) were ready to play and have some fun when Francesca and I picked them up from their section in the babies house this morning. Marvin was a little hesitant at first, but as we began to play he warmed up little by little and by the end he was having a ball. As we discussed the many options of things we could do with the boys for the morning we decided to let them give their imput and the decision was....everything.

We went to the English office and the boys picked out a soccer ball, books, chalk, stickers, paper, crayons and a CD player. Wow...they were ready to have a good time. We spent the morning doing just that! We listened to music while we drew and made pictures with crayons, then we moved on to chalk and we read a book or two in between. After a snack of a million cookies (these boys can eat) we went and ran around on the playground, played soccer, waved to the cars that passed by and picked flowers.

Coloring fun! They LOVE stickers!

Franny and Brayan drawimg their picture!

Enjoying our cookies!

Cookie number five...uh oh.

Brayan showing off his  "fútbol" skills!

Monkey bar madness....otra vez, otra vez!

Playing on the playground... too cool
 for school!

The morning did not have a dull second and we all had a blast. After a morning of running around in the sun we headed back down to the house. Franny and I each had a boy on our shoulders and we walked down the dirt path to the babies house singing a song and listening to the boys laugh and say "otra vez tia" over and over again.

Group shot!

Once Upon a Time...

For the past two weeks my tercero básico class (9th grade) has been learning about the different parts of a story or book. We have been reading different short stories to help them gain the understanding of a plot, setting, characters, author and title. This week they were given the opportunity to write their own stories, using a setting and characters given to them by their peers.

Here is a sneak peak into what they came up with!

 The Challenge from the Witch 
 Authors: Lucía and Mercedes
 Setting: A house at night
 Characters: Girls, witch, chef

In the night one witch lived in one house far from the city. She has one black car. She left the house when the three girls saw the witch fall. Soon the three girls ran into the street. They were scared of the witch because the witch wanted to kill them. The chef save the girls from the witch. The girls went to the house of the chef and they all ate pizza together. The end.

The Beach

 Authors: Vilma and Albertina
 Setting: A beach on a sunny day
 Characters: fish, people, children

In the summer all of the people travel to the beach. Many go during the time when it is very warm. Others go to visit the sea. One day there were big waves and the people were frightened because all of the fish died underneath the sea. The people went to recover them in a lifeboat and put them in the sea again. The waves were so big the children drowned. The people saved the children and they lived happily forever.

The Woods
 Authors: Wilver, Henry and José
 Setting: forest, tree, night
 Characters: animals, friends

The squirrel is jumping from the branch when it is stopped in the claws of a lion. With the lion's speed she seized the squirrel, but did not eat it. The lion thought about it and decided it was not worth it. The squirrel is thankful and they become friends. They live happily every day and construct a house in the woods. They have many friends to entertain in the woods. They live in the woods forever.

What books are on the Guatemalan bookshelf?

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The first of the three books in the Hunger Game series where you are introduced to Katniss, Peeta and  their families and the life they live in district 12. When reaping day comes around is when everyones jaws drop!









2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The second of the three book Hunger Game series is where you realize that the people of Panem will never be safe and how the love between famiy and friends is what will pull you through or destroy you.

3. Mockingjay by Sizanne Collins
The third book in the Hunger Games series, but I am still waiting to get it in the mail. I am dying to find out what happens next.









4. Little Bee  by Chris Cleave
A story that captures the hard times of a Nigerian girl and a British mother and wife. The story follows them as they find each other and help to ease each others pain.

5. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout
The story of a retired school teacher, on the coast of Maine, who through challenges and problems in the town begins to understand her life and herself on a deeper level.








6. Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
Written through the eyes of her grandmother Jeanette Walls tells the story of her grandmother's life from childhood to adulthood. She describes in detail what she has accomplished and the hardships she has overcome from moves, to marriages, to natural disasters and children.







7. Unless it Moves the Human Heart (The Art and Craft of Writing) by Roger Rosenblatt
This story follows one semester of Professor Rosenblatts "Writing is Everything" class. If profiles the students and follows their conversations, interactions and their work.

8.The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
This novel is about the disappearance of two 9 year old best friends, Calli and Petra and the toll the investigation takes on their families.






If anyone has any suggestions for what else to read while I am here please pass them along!