Thursday morning I went, as always, to the library to help with tutoring when I learned:
- My counterpart didn’t receive my frantic phone calls and texts saying that I wouldn’t be able to tutor on Wednesday like I promised because I was trapped in a protest
- The librarian didn’t invite the children to my reading course like we had planned because I never showed up to go with her
- The two men actually did die (the other volunteer saw it on the news and texted me)
- Some mother in my site savagely beat her 8-year old son and my counterpart had to go take photos of the child to show the police
- I was to give a computer lesson that day
Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed. It all turned out ok… I guess. I got through it.
In the afternoon, I decided to make a sign up sheet for English help. I refuse to teach English—I am not equipped to do that nor is it my job, but I have no problem helping children with their homework. The deal is that I will help children one-on-one for half and hour each on Wednesdays in the library. We’ll see how it goes. The librarian and I then went to invite children for my ‘Libros y Arte’ (Books and Art) class. Everyone seemed pretty keen on coming.
Friday morning was my first ‘Libros y Arte’ class. I was really nervous. In the end, only three kids showed up. I was kinda disappointed, but I know that it is normal for people to not show up. I should be happy that three came. Hopefully more will come next week. We’ll see.
This morning I went to a meet my friend online. We hadn’t talked in awhile and it was great to hear her voice. She has recently moved to the D.C. and mentioned to me how hard it was to move to a new city and not have friends nearby that know her with the intimacy that comes with time. I replied that I definitely knew how she felt—only I’m in a country where no one has known me for longer than several months and most people don’t speak my language. She asked me how I deal with it. I responded, “I write a lot of e-mails.”
When I returned to the house today I realized that the people next door are hosting another cockfight tournament. I have to listen to drunken men cheer on roosters ripping each other to bloody shreds for the next two days. Crap!
1 comment:
Wow, your day does sound incredibly overwhelming. I'm so sorry to hear about the men who died and about the abused child. Did he end up getting any help? Thanks for the shout-out in your post. It was great to talk to you and hear your voice too. :)
Good to hear that the housing seems to be working out! Hope the painting goes well. I'm off to Missouri this weekend for a conference - wish me warmth!
Love you!
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