This last weekend some friends and I decided to celebrate Valentine's Day by having a spa day. So I traveled to Meconta, about 2 and a half hours away to celebrate Valentine's Day with my friends Jamie, Liz and Pam! We had a lot of fun...Liz made us some chocolate coffee face masks and we even got to soak our feet and have manicures and pedicures. It was just a really fun and relaxing weekend.
I ate better in Meconta than I have in weeks! The amazing chef, Liz, made us pad thai, guacamole banana pancakes with mango and guava jam, cucumber and avocado salads, french toast and even lasagna (that tasted just like america)! It was so fun I wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy the good food and chick flicks but I came back yesterday to prepare for my English classes this week.
Last night I got everything planned and decided to go to bed early to start off my week right. This morning is when the confusion and frustration began. I got up and was walking to the school office for the morning national anthem when my counterpart, Irma Rita, called me. She asked me to come over to her house right away. When I got there she told me the primary school had a problem. One of the classrooms was flooding with water every time it rains...and it being the rainy season it rains pretty much daily. They currently have no other free classrooms for the students to move into since one of the buildings is being used by the secondary school (until they finish building their new classrooms hopefully in March or sometime after that). Irma Rita then told me that the 5th grade class in the morning and 7th grade class in the afternoon had no place to learn and therefore weren't having classes. I agreed with her that they need to have classes but the only way this can happen is if they study in the classroom currently being used as the library.
Here comes the bad news. In order for them to use this classroom we have to take everything out including all the books, materials and even the bookshelves. So there is no more library until the secondary school finishes building their classrooms and the 5th/7th grade class can move out of the library. I'm hoping that happens next month but I have a feeling it'll be longer than that. So this afternoon I have to go over there and put all the books back in boxes and move all the materials, wood and bricks into a storage room.
I was so excited to start the library activities this week but it looks like that won't be happening. I know I can still do activities with the books outside until we have a library so I'll try and do that. I felt like I got so much accomplished setting up the library and getting organized just to have to be pushed back a few steps and undo the library. It is important for that 5th and 7th grade class to have their own classroom and learn each day like everyone else so until they have a new space the library will be put on hold.
Nacuxa is always bringing me surprises. Now to figure out and plan some outdoor/mobile library events so I can start those this next week and continue them until we get our space back.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Biblioteca Hakuna Matata
As promised (but a little late) here are pictures of the finished library! We still have to hang up a few signs and paint the library name on the wall outside but it's almost fully completed :) We haven't had our official opening since it's been crazy the past 2 weeks with school but hoping to have it soon! We're also getting ready to start training tutors for the Reading tutoring program.
A primary school student helping me label books by level with colored stickers
They wanted to get a picture after helping label the library books
The library in progress...
Some of the medium level books and Alphabet poster
A view of the library. We have some fleece floor pillows & some wall hangings that need to be put up
Full view of our finished library-Biblioteca Hakuna Matata de Nacuxa
Some of the supplies sent from the Bergan Mercy Auxiliary for use in our library. They sent us crayons, pens, pencils, markers, notebooks, coloring books, flashcards and small prizes for the kids!
A signed picture of the Bergan Mercy Auxiliary that came with the supplies
Some reference books and mini chalkboards the students can use
Nothing else new to update. Tomorrow is Valentine's day and I'm celebrating by going to visit my friends Jamie, Liz and Pam for the weekend! We're going to have a spa day. Happy Valentine's day!
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