A day in the life.....

Aaaha! While I sit and sweat and wait for pictures to upload, I shall type briefly about my new life as ¨Maestra Hanna¨ (which, obviously, must be said in a charming spanish accent). To the left you see myself and my newest amigos -- three other maestras (teachers) and the director, Lizzy (to my right), and thirty-some niños. YES, I know everyone´s names already (!!) and am rapidly learning songs, games, and the necesarry vocabulary one needs to work with three- to five-year-olds. Each day is a little different but the gist of it is generally the same. Each morning begins with a prayer, song, and breakfast (a meal children in this neighborhood otherwise do without). After breakfast I help brush gads of teeth, then help whichever maestra grabs me first until freetime. Then I´m not only an extra pair of eyes (or ears for the tattle-tales!) but a hungry customer, big sister to our dollies, a member of the family, or a famous actris (depending on the day)! Afternoon activites vary daily. We have singing classes on Tuesdays, time for arts and crafts, an hour of ¨reading¨ (or rather, mere exposure to books.....a rare treat despite the fact that we are yet too young to read!) or various other group activites. We end each day at 1:00 with a sending song: ¨Danos esparanza y paz. Danos ese tú bendición. Danos la luz de tú mirada. Danos tú amor.¨ Translation? ¨Give us your hope and peace. Give us your blessing. Give us light like yours. Give us your love.¨

For some unkown reason technology is not acting in my favor and I´m unable to upload more pictures. I´ll try again in the next few days, as I´ve pleanty more pictures of ¨mis niños¨ (my kids!) at La Buena Tierra.

In Peace,
Hannah :)