day seven.

taught 4 classes of kindergardeners this morning. we did a fun game with a stuffed animal bear (in order to learn the word ´bear.´mainly because it was the only stuffed animal i could find. then say sang a song... i think i sang it about 5 times in each of the four classes. and it has about 15 words to it. then we played with some different colored toys in order to learn the primary colors. i played simon says with the three commands: stand up, sit down, be quiet. and we sang the first four words of head, shoulders, knees and toes (meaning we learned those exact four body parts. after writing all this out, it actually sounds like we got stuff done in class! the kids are so quiet and shy around me, since i am new and all, and so it takes a long time for them to warm up and to get things going. i have about 40 min with each class. it went a lot better today than yesterday, so im thinking each day will get better as well.

i walked aorund the downtown area after kindergarden let out. i got a chitchi (i dont really know exactly what its called, but thats what i hear when it comes out of the panamanians mouths). went back home, at lunch with my host fam. and as many of you will be so happy to hear, this is when i BROKE MY VEGETARIANISM!! (at least for the first time purposefully). i ate vegetable soup. but it had chicken broth. i didnt have the heart to tell my host mom that it was not vegetarian because she had made vegetable soup especially for me since i dont eat meat in it. i felt ok, just a little mentally ill i think. but im already over it.

i went to my next school (where i teach grades three and four) and did 5 classes there. these kids are a lot older, and so i taught them some new vocabulary, did some dancing, singing, and games. im starting easier, and then im gonna toughen up and drill some ingles into them. we´re starting the letters of the alphabet on monday- im giving them til then, because they dont even know the alphabet yet.

ive learned that school really is important here. as much as we think the educational system is not as important in other countries, the families here really take pride in their knowledge. right this moment i am listening to my host mom drill my host sister in the multiplication tables. my host brother is studying religion, and so the mom is drilling about g-ds creation as well. but im the one who helped them with their english homework today!

anyways, yet again i am too exhausted to do anything cool tonight. some of the teachers (who are in their twenties so its not too weird, i promise) said they would take me to town and show me what its like. im hoping ill have the energy tomorrow. im only teaching early morning kindergarden mondays and tuesdays, and so i get to sleep in tomorrow. should be good.

IMPORTANT INFO: i think i fixed the blog so that everyone can comment!!! if you still cant then tell me again, but we should be good to go!

hasta manana mis amigos!