Monday is La Dia de La Maestra (Teacher’s Day). But, since they all get that day off, and we have a conference for the teachers tomorrow, we celebrated today with a big party. The students all sang (well kind of…) and signed a song to their teachers. Then, Byron and Yadira (who both have some hearing) danced together to some salsa music. It was so adorable that even a heart of stone would have melted, watching them wiggle around. They actually managed to keep pretty good time to the music.
Then, they had the teachers play musical chairs in front of everyone – it was pretty hilarious to watch grown ups fighting for chairs and accidentally sitting on each other. Pretty funny to watch, until they made all of us from the states do it. I’m sure we looked totally foolish, but it was fun. I ended up winning (I think that Julie let me…) and the kids attacked me in the chair with hugs and congratulations. At one point, there were so many kids jumping on me that I was sure the chair was going to give out – I couldn’t even stand up! It was like being at the bottom of a dog pile – except in a chair. Part of my hair clip got snapped off, but I otherwise emerged from the pile unscathed.
After this, we had cake (which was absolutely delicious! – kind of like a pineapple upside down cake but without the pineapple) and pop. Then the kids danced and played for the rest of the day. Even though most can’t hear the music, they can feel the beat and love to dance. It was so much fun to watch them – two years ago most of them were to shy to dance in the Mother’s Day program. Now though, they have all come out of their shells tremendously and are so social!
Even though Nicaraguans are typically very poor, celebrations are very important. Many of the students gave their teachers gifts and the school gave each teacher (and even us visitors!) gifts as well. Carmen and I both received a little wooden house containing a notepad, with a place to stick pens. The director, Maritza, wrote inside in English, “The children school love to you so much”. The people here are so giving, even though they have so little.
Check out the pics from today, especially those of Juan. He cracks me up!!
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