Day 13

Best of yesterday: a cloudless night in Bogotá--a rarity--during which I saw many stars. Or also the moment I shared with SV, a student who got her watch taken away for being a distraction: she is a good kid, and rarely gets punished, so the situation was accidentally too much for her. She was overcome with sobbing, and the teacher diverted her to me, so that I could speak to her in the more familiar, certainly more comforting, Spanish. I prayed for peace with her, and explained that it wasn't that she had done horribly wrong, just that Teacher is interested in helping her learn without distractions. It was beautiful.

Worst of yesterday: feeling tired.

Best of today: receiving my own special pastel de pollo (yummy croissant type thing with chicken...rather chicken pot pie-ish) from JV after tutoring his daughter again tonight. Feeling the love!

Worst of today: having to hold kids back from recess (new consequence system) for 5 minutes.
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Yesterday was another day of teacher aiding and exhaustion. Both, of the best sort. I was thrilled to hear their sweet prayers in the morning, thrilled to see them learning about the jealousy God has for us (in Bible lesson), thrilled to see the kids playing so well at morning recess, thrilled that some of the girls chose to make me "base" for tag at lunch recess, thrilled to...be with them.

After school, I headed home. Soon after, I went out for coffee with D, whom I met at church this week. Some deliciously scrumptious arequipe cold coffee drink...incredible. Photo included (and contrary to Dad's perception,  it's not a giant coffee, just an artsy angle). :) Then, D and I walked around the Santa fé mall, chatting, looking in bookstores, browsing Falabella and a homegoods store (good man to be up for that!), and then pizza at the mini mall called Mirandela. Well, technically really tasty panzerotti. The closest North American equivalent I can guess is a calzone--but anyway, mine was mexican, therefore picante (spicy) by Colombian standards, and his was chicken and mushroom. Yummmm.


We basically headed back to the park in my apartment complex after that, and that's when we saw the stars. Let me tell you, they're stellar here as well. :)
It gets so very fresquito, cool in evening, and then downright chilly at night. I love it.
Pretty soon I was knackered, and so he made sure I got home safely, and headed home.

Have I mentioned Colombian caballerismo (chivalry), all over the place? It's a grand place to be a chica. Not just D, but also FeLo, and the other Colombian guys I met up with from my Argentina adventure, and also the guys from ECA. Qua-li-ty upbringing. Rock on, Bogotá. ;)

As for today, it began with awaking to the alarm. As we all prepared for school, a glass-dropping incident led us to be a bit tardy in before school prep. What a blessing that just as we kicked into hyperdrive to get out the door to the van, Mrs. A. called and offered us a ride. Shorter walk and more time to get ready? Yeah, sure. Thanks, Señor. :)
On the way to school, we hit a snag--the second teacher van hadn't arrived yet, so I jumped ship to allow a (truly important) teacher to get to school for lesson planning. Ms. W. and I planned out our teacher skit for the kids' chapel this morning while we waited. She is the first grade teacher--I really like, respect, and love to learn from her. Her outlook on life, her carriage of herself, her way with the class, her manner of ruling the school day have all very very much impressed me. So glad to be a part of her lovely first grade class. :)
The school day was a tad rough today, due to the personality of the first grade class. They are known Elementary-wide as behaviorally whacky and out of control--of no one's particular fault. Just the group that they form. Hence the new consequence policy, involving loss of recess minutes for disobedience and disrespect. Staying in line is another tough one. But, they will grow. They are certainly learning.
I spent a lovely lunch with one of the librarians, and a graduate of ECA who comes back to tutor. We will be spending Saturday with him, Dad! He speaks English very well, and loves to play tourguide. Así que, so, when he heard you are coming, he came up with a smashing agenda. Looooove it.
After lunch, we went out to watch the latest in the 11th grade vs. 12th grade fútbol match. It's one intense tourney, let me tell you. :)

Back to class for some of the math activities, and 100th day of school celebrations, and then I had my second Spanish class. WHICH IS AWESOME.
I am now learning, for free, legitimate Spanish grammar--kind of like diagramming sentences type stuff, but on words and their accentry, at the moment. And I have homework. :)

I love Spanish all over again. And still Bogotá. I'm touring more of it tomorrow, as there is a "no-car day", so there are no classes for the kids. Let you know what adventures I find!

Que Dios les guarde y les cuide. Los quiero. May God guard you and care for you. Love y'all. xox