La Mejor Maestra? Creo que no.

This past Thursday as everyone knows, was Valentine's Day. For me it was a day of very mixed feelings, but definitely one that I will remember. It started off great, with hugs and compliments from adorable smiling kids on the bus (the teachers all ride the bus with the kids!). Several kids came throughout the day to bring me candy or handmade valentines. One from a fourth grader named Alba said, "Hy Miss Carls you are beatiful woman because you are teacher good." Another favorite was from a boy in the class I was subing for. "para Miss Car, de Victor. la quiero mucho Feliz dia de san valentin. te quiero mucho usted es la mejor maestra." This means: "for Miss Car, from Victor. I love you a lot Happy Valentine's Day. I love you a lot you are the best teacher." So those were some nice things about the day. However, it was probably the worst day to substitute on, because the whole school was bustling about candy and valentines all day. I had a very difficult time trying to control the third grade class I was in. The way children behave in schools here is very different from the way they do in the States. Not to say that kids in schools in the States are angels, but the relationships between children and adults in general is just very very different. At one point I yelled out (I was yelling the whole day just to try to be heard) "This is not the way children are supposed to behave! Do you know what the word "rude" means?" They definitely didn't know what I was saying. To me, rude is when you are writing something on the board, and while you are still in the process of writing a kid says "Excuse me Miss" because apparently you are in their way. Rude is when you are passing out something not that exciting like a piece of paper, and they run up to you and stick their hand in your face, clearly not understanding that everyone is going to get one. Rude is when you're trying really hard to make a new concept more understandable for them, and there are maybe two kids actually paying any attention to you. But I don't think any of those things are as inappropriate here as they are in the U.S. For these kids, I think school is probably the only place where there is structure and where they don't have to fight to get something because it's being handed to them and there is always enough for everyone. Nonetheless, my heart goes out to teachers, and after trying it out for two days, I can see pretty clearly that I'm not cut out to be one. Fortunately, Annie said that I wouldn't be subing anymore, that they needed me to work with the small groups. I'm happy about that, because I think I will be a lot more successful that way.

Tonight we all went to a birthday party for Christian, a fifth grader at Santa Clara. It was really fun and I'm so glad I got to be there. As soon as we got there all the kids were so excited and came running to hug and greet us. We danced with all the kids and ate a lot of food. They had a pinata and presents and a big cake. It's funny how similar birthday parties are no matter where you are in the world.