My last school....My last night....My last day.

It's very bittersweet for today's entry.  I visited my last school, yesterday, with Margarita.  We visited Escuela de Danzas.  Students go to school to learn their basic skills and also dance.  They can learn classical dances (i.e. ballet) or modern (i.e. interpretive) and also dances like Tango and Samba.  I visited two classrooms with a teacher I met last week, Macarena Cambre.  Both classes were full of girls but there are a few boys in the school.  The girls were very sweet and made my last day of visiting schools a happy one :)  The only thing I found to be most curious is the walls.  Some of the students admitted to contributing and some others told me they hate it.  One teacher called it "art" and another said "how terrible".  I'll let you be the judge!

Although "beauty lay in the eye of the beholder" in the classrooms, I was instantly intrigued by the sculpture and wall are in the entrance of the school.

Margarita and I went to Alma Zen for our last lunch together.  This place has "natural" food.  Even vegetarian.  I went for a chicken dish and it was delicious!  I don't even know what all was in it. 

I spent the remainder of my afternoon capitalizing on a very inexpensive treatment (which hurt and I will never do again....lesson learned)!! I felt very "Argentine" in my travels to the subte, on the subte, and home from the subte.  It was great.  I had dinner with some of my new friends at a restaurant names "Dominga".  It was beautiful and the food was wonderful (of course!).  I couldn't have asked for a better evening.  I am going to miss my friends and my "mommies" from Buenos Aires.  I can't wait to return in a year (with more Spanish) and to see things from a tourist angle and not just that as a teacher.  Don't get me wrong, my experiences here in the educational system have changed my life forever and I am so grateful for this opportunity.  BUT, there's so much more to see!!!  Buenos Aires is an amazing city that has tugged on these heart strings of mine forever. 

Today, I slept late and have been listening to the sounds of the city.  I'm going to miss the cars and horns and voices!  I'm going to miss having an external shutter to keep the cold and light out of my room.  I'm going to miss Maica (the family's dog) opening my door to come lay on the floor beside me.  (I will not miss the cold weather...but everything else...I will miss!!)  I have talked to friends, updated my blog and photos on Facebook.  Now, it's time to get busy and get ready to leave. 

Nos vemos pronto Buenos Aires!!

Eat, eat, and eat some more

Yesterday was extra special!  I was so happy to be able to witness the change of authorities for Cristina and Margarita.  There were so many Rotary members and their friends and families in attendance.  The food was "buffet-style" but nothing like we have in Plano, Texas.  The food was, of course, delicious!  We ate, drank, and had a wonderful time celebrating the new presidents and new governor for the district.  I was also very excited to receive the banners for both Cristina and Margarita's clubs.  I can't wait to take them back to Frisco.

It was a great day and I had a wonderful night with some on my new friends; Gabi, Gise, and Carlos.  Our original plans fell through but we still managed to have a great night!  We drove to Puerto Madero and all over the city (in reality).  My favorite part was getting to see the "Pink House" at night! 

I ate a pork dish for the first time in....years!  I was told I needed to try Choripan, and since I have no "real" reason not to eat pork, I did it.  I also tried some of the best ice cream of my life!  Buenos Aires sure knows how to make a person fat and happy! 

We are so spolied....*sigh*

Yesterday, Thursday, June 30, I visited a private Catholic school names Casa de Jesus.  There I was amazed by the beauty of the building.  It was originally established in 1874 (same as my sorority Gamma Phi Beta!!!) and refurbished in 1904.  Needless to say it was beautiful. 

I met a teacher, Rosario, and entered her classroom.  They said a prayer together and then proceeded with my "interrogation".  I love the questions they have for me.  The best part is when I tell them that we do not kiss people we meet for the first time.  They all look at my in disbelief!!  I visited a second class of approximately 55 students.  Needless to say, the expectations of teachers for student behavior are very different than in the schools I have been in (or attended!).  Students are typically a bit more talkative and more "rowdy".  Being in a room without carpet and with so many students talking at once sent my ears into overload!  But, as they say "when in Greece do as the Greek do", so when in Argentina, do as the Argentines do.  I did my best to just go with the flow as their teachers were doing.

In the afternoon, I visited Colegio Belgrano Uno once more.  This time I visited the Kindergarten classes (in a separate building).  I met Carina and her assistant Manuela in the first classroom.  I could not believe they had 27 students!!  They have their work cut out for them (these were 4yr old students).  I was permitted to read a story and do some songs.  I was so excited to see them follow along and sing with me (5 Little Monkeys and If you're Happy and you know it).  I loved it!  I also got to see them rehearse "Peter Pan"!

  Today was a "short" day for "work".  Margarita and I had lunch at the cafe next to the flat that where I am staying and then took a bus to Estaban de Luca No 1 D.E. 6.  This is a state school in the barrio of "Once" (eleven).  This is where I get my inspiration for this entry's title.  The state funded schools are usually in dire need of renovation and materials.  Although teachers manage and children learn, it is hard for me to imagine being happy in this environment.  Like I said in my title "we are so spoiled".  During my visits, I have noticed that our state/government funded schools have more materials than all of the private or state schools I have visited.  I hope some of my fellow teachers are seeing these pictures and can see just how fortunate we really are! 

It was interesting to find out that the teachers in (this) state school do not hand in daily/weekly lesson plans.  I spoke to a teacher, Macarena - who visited Kansas with the R.I.T.E. program, and learned that teachers turn in a general yearly overview and then a quarterly plan with more details.  Teachers typically have their own daily plans but these are not usually viewed by the headmaster.  There is an English supervisor who will come to observe the English teacher's classroom and view lesson plans, but this may happen once a school year due to the enormous case load he/she may have. 

This was painted on the school.  "We have a right to an education". 

Agreed.

Here's an extra picture with no educational relevance.  You've heard the phase "As American as apple pie"....well, not according to the cafe I visited today!  As a joke to hearing me speak, he gave me a piece of pie with the Argentina flag on it (and the American flag on the piece for Margarita!