My Sunday

Yep, my Sunday afternoon, there it is. It was Sasha's third birthday, and I went to go bake cookies at Cindy's house. We've talked about baking together and have done a couple different things in my time here; I think we're gonna hit a good stride just now. I was gonna go over there to help bake a cake for Sash, but they postponed it until Ashley got back to be there for his daughter's bday (he was at Mapari with guests) so Cindy and I decided to bake anyway, we baked sugar cookies with M&M's in them.

Cindy had Sasha convinced the M&Ms were medicine for a long time, until she caught a glimpse of the brown inner part of the candies and she diligently peeled the candy coating off, licked the inside - and promptly went mad with chocolate fever. It was pretty funny.

We finished baking, and as Sasha's playing with my hair, styling it just so, Cindy says, "Let me put your hair in cornrows." Sure, why not? So we went to the front porch and she did half and Franzea did half; it took the better part of an hour, and even though I'm not too fond of cornrows, the time with the ladies was nice. A change is good every once in awhile, right? We gaffed a lot, and then after they had finished, we made plans to play volleyball in the afternoon, which was a lot of fun. :D

Making Plans

The day hardly ever goes how you plan it to, or even expect it to. :) Today, I thought I’d be on top of things, and make a list of stuff I needed to remember to do today- what I needed to work on with the girls, how I would approach our trip to Quatata’s school, what documents I needed to create for the library binder...

I also have to remind myself to not cram in too much during the day – for myself and for the others I work with, to tackle the day with enthusiasm and fun as well and to consciously keep myself in check to let the groove of the day work out. Getting better at it.

Jess has been sick, and it was clear she needed to go home and rest, so that changed things, for example. We realized grade 2 was coming for the story time Jess has been organizing with all the grades and Rosita, so we had to prep for that. Jess is establishing it and Rosita will carry it on, so now's the time when the two need to communicate efficiently with each other, though that's been a bit rough for some reason. The day was an example of the need for facilitation on my part with that communication.

Marva let Rosita and I know what they had been working on, and we established what the hour would look like with Rosita – Marva would do her phonics work with the class as Rosita helped, then Rosita would do the RALP readers story and vocab exercise with them. From Marva, we both learned they do one story per two weeks, and Rosita got a copy of the next story so she could prepare for it for next week. I checked on them once, and talked with Rosita about it afterwards. Now Rosita understands what should happen, more or less, for her story time with grade 2, once a week, and we can report back to Jess on the progress made.

Meanwhile, I was having Alicia think of our word of the week, and we were mini planning our ASP, the theme being “Language.” Alicia was participating well in the brainstorming, and then we were interrupted by one of our guests, a woman travelling on her own who came in and said she would like to help out today if she could. We explained what we were doing and she mentioned communication in general, and gave some activity ideas, one being “How to Make a Hamburger,” where the kids have to describe, in great detail, the exact process of making a hamburger as one person acts out what they describe. We tailored this game to be “How to Make Farine” and I left her and Alicia to plan the activity and to come up with a Word of the Week. I could hear Alicia's giggles as she and Melissa planned together.

We didn't have the time for a gaff session, nor had I had the time to work on the documents I planned to do, but that's not what the day was able to fit in; so be it.

I then decided the next possible thing I could do was give attention to the trip to Quatata Felix and I had planned for the afternoon. Between checking on Rosita and Alicia, eating lunch and checking in with Felix, I polished my plan for how our visit would go. The purpose of the visit was to check out their classroom library. Besides checking out the quantity and quality of their library books, Inez had said the kids were mistreating them, so I had a talk and activities planned with the school to get them more aware and respectful. I would do a story time with them using select demo books, get them to brainstorm adjectives that describe the wonder of books, come up with rules for their classroom library and inventory all their books. Novice mistake, Ambriz, novice mistake. An A for planning and ambition, a C minus for practicality.

Unaware of this at the time, I made sure the girls had a plan for the afternoon, and Felix and I headed out that way.

I took one look at their dusty bookshelves and then completely abandoned my plan. With a short speech about books that reflected my earlier inspirational oral plans, I directed the older kids to put the damaged books to one side, move the textbooks to a separate shelf, pull out the impractical numerous adult level books and then bring the other usable books into piles to be counted.

I did a little math with these older students using the books. I directed the teachers on the importance of getting proper shelves for the books, because how their books are set up now, of course no kid will go to them and use them. The teachers admitted to not using the books with their lessons, either, to which I encouraged them to set an example and use the books. I realized that simply calling attention to these ignored books was the biggest task I could accomplish today

Felix and I made plans to come back once a week for a few weeks, and I realized that my plans for Quatata could/should probably span over this period of time. We made plans to meet the teachers here in Yups on Friday for them to pick out the books (I took the wise detour of first getting the teachers to admit to wanting new books, THEN asked them to give a day to come and pick them out themselves, thanks to Felix for that one). We had some shebay at Inez’s, and she sent me with some farine and sweet peppers.

I get back a few minutes before 4, and I hear laughter coming from upstairs in the library. Apparently Melissa’s involvement in the library went well. I rest my blistered foot (effect of previous day's hike to Katoka) as Verline comes up behind me, wraps her arms around my neck and talks with me. Verline poked my neck tattoo and asks “Does it hurt, Miss?” I tell her no, and she pokes another place. “Hurt?” “No.” A guest comes and shares a Cliff bar with Verline and Tresslyn, telling me “You’ve got some beautiful girls here.” I proudly agree.

I get home, with the intention to put my feet up and watch some TV on my computer, when Wendy meets me at my gate. I haven't had many kid visitors lately, so I invite her in and ask if she wants to read something with me. She snuggles next to me on my couch as we read two books together. So sweet.

So, a full, useful day. Not what I thought, but then who am I to call the shots, anyway?

Oh, Mother

Moms.

You know why (moms make) it's so hard to always remember to appreciate them?

Because they make you feel so… at home. Natural. Relaxed. Comfortable.

It feels like second nature to be (taken care of) by your mom, you forget that’s what makes her so magical, unique, special, indispensable.

I blame - I mean, I THANK you, Mom. You're too darn good.

You are my Sunshine

No matter what things happen around me, how I feel about them, what work I am doing, what worries I may have, I feel able to handle these things, I take strength from, feel at ease from and delight in the simple freedom of feeling the sun shine on me the breeze passing around me and the knowledge had that they are mine to savour daily. I sit on my front stoop here, taking it in, and am grateful, content. I want to always know that this sensation is near to me, wherever I am, whatever I do.

That's Not Juice!

I’m awoken to kids’ calls outside the house. “Miss! Miss, come!” Heads appear at one of my windows with open louvers. “MISS!” I tell them I’m coming; they stand there, waiting and watching. As I have no pants on, I shoo them away, throw on a skirt, then go and open the door. A passle of about 10 kids surround my door and I notice Belinda with a bucket of juice or something. What the heck? “What’s up?” I ask them. They pull me out of the door – and throw buckets of stuff all over me! “Whaaaaaaa?!!!!”

“Happy Phagwah Day, Miss!”

Jess had wisely remembered and stayed in bed to let me meet that wet jubilation on my own. I knew it was supposed to be Phagwah, but I’d never caught the festivities before; it’s an East Indian holiday, actually, always held around Spring/Easter time, where you celebrate by throwing water and colourful powders or dyed water over each other. The Essequibo coast is supposed to have the most colourful Phagwah celebrations in the country. It’s not really celebrated here, except for a day off from school. The last two Phagwahs here in Yups, I remember seeing kids running around with water a bit, though I was never caught in it.

Jess did come out of her room eventually, got doused with some red water and a lot of regular water, like me, then we were invited to join in on the fun of storming Mike and Fernando at Caiman House. Mike, Emmelita and Orina were ready for us, too. They had flour.

What a way to wake up on a Sunday morning. Love it.

Present frustrations

As my time away from site rounds in on a full month away, I begin to get a little more unable and pessimistic.

I cannot manage the library from far away.
I cannot be the queen of persuasion when it comes to making and staying on top of difficult plans.
I cannot count on a solid date, means, feasiblity of arriving at my house.
I cannot get relief from my music, as it is missing and broken.
I cannot be social with plenty people.
I cannot get rid of this cold.
I cannot have the control over my life as I'd like to. I am given alotted money to feed myself, I am given money and directions on when and where and how to get where I need to go.
I cannot take myself where I want to go.
I cannot count on keeping my things safely in my possession.
I cannot count on many things remaining stable that are around me.
I cannot directly/immediately solve any of the tiny little issues surrounding me.
I cannot get immediate gratification.
I cannot feel reinforced for trying to be assertive about things, because none of it seems to work out.

QOTD: The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do... me, for example, I can let you drown, but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesies, savvy?

Thank you, Captain Jack Sparrow.

What I CAN do...
I can accept that things are out of my hands.
I can wait patiently, optimistically and peacefully for progress to come.
I can find ways to enjoy myself while I wait.
I can keep trying, in different ways, if need be.

I can try to do these things, at least.