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.