Well this had been one busy week, and its still not over! On top of all my normal projects I had two graduations and a field trip! Check out the photos!
First was the CALLS graduation (Center Where Adolescents Learn to Love and Serve). I helped teach an art class and did computer tutoring here. This was one packed ceremony. First the Bishop came up from Roseau to do a blessing of a new building at the school. The school asked if I would play my flute during the ceremony, which I did. It felt great to pick up my flute again and play! And hey, I still got it!
After the blessing I got a ride to the school from the Bishop, yep Im cool like that, where we had the graduation ceremony. It was a pretty low-key ceremony complete with gifts for each student and personal stories. Their life stories are amazing! You wouldnt believe what some of these kids go through just to graduate from high school! They are truly an inspiration! After the ceremony there was lunch prepared by the cooking class and all the art and crafts that were made during the year were on display. Even some of the art from the class I helped teach was hanging up! It was an amazing graduation, and one I will never forget!
Next was the Roosevelt Douglas Primary School graduation. This graduation ended up being a little more formal then I thought it would be. The sixth graders even wore caps and gowns! It was your pretty standard graduation, with the keynote speaker and handing out diplomas, and music you know the norm. But there were a few little extras, one was a little boy, maybe about 4th or 5th grade, came up with a calypso song about reading and performed it at the ceremony. It was so good, and I think he might have a future has a calypso king here some day!!!! All in all it was a good ceremony.
Yesterday I went on a field trip (yep a field trip after graduation) with the first graders to the Carib Territory and Emerald Pool. A few other classes came along as well. Each students parent had to come along on the trip, just for safety reasons, but one little boys parents could make it so I was his parent for the day. His name is Marvin and we had a great time together other than the bus ride. You see Marvin suffers from carsickness, not the kind where you just dont fell good but can make it through the ride no Marvin threw up every 15 minutes for the entire hour and a half bus ride into a little bag that we had to throw out the window each time. It was lovely! But as soon as the bus ride was over he was back to normal! We ended up doing a tour of the recreation of the Carib Village. It was pretty interesting to learn about the Caribs and how they feel about Columbus discovering them still not sure they think it was a good thing. The students questions were the best part things like why didnt they wear cloths and what made them turn into Catholics you know only questions kids will ask, out loud anyways. :)
After the Carib Village we went to the Emerald Pool for some swimming It was a total nightmare for me! 30 kids swimming around splashing and dunking each other. And I was in charge of two of them! (One girls parents wouldnt make the hike to the pool so I took her) Anyways it was crazy! And at one point one little boy, from the other class without parents on the trip who couldnt swim, decided to jump off the rocks into the water, just cause everyone else was, and one of the dads had to jump in and save him. He ruined his camera and cell phone in the process, but he saved the kid so you know small price to pay. I guess that is why my teacher made sure each kid had a parent present. Despite the near drowning, I think all the kids had a good time, and so did I. I love those little guys and I am gonna miss them now that school is over. They are all grown up and 2nd graders now! Oh and Marvin made it all the way home without getting sick probably cause he was so tired he, and all the kids, feel asleep on the way home and maybe me too!
Sounds like a great week huh; well its not over, full day of work today at the Town Council and teaching computers at the Womens Center. And then a 4th of July BBQ with all the PCVs tomorrow!!! I cant wait; Im bringing the stuff to make smores. Ill tell you all about it, but thats a different post altogether!
