There is no end if there is a connection

                There is a commonly asked question: if you had 24 hours left to live what would you do? While I would love to take a hot air balloon ride, nothing can ever fulfill a life more than human connection. Nothing can ever replace the lifelong connection I share with my family, but in the past two week I also formed an unforgettable, everlasting connection with all of the students that I taught. When I leave the school knowing that my lesson went well and everyone learned something while also having a little fun, there is no other feeling like it. You feel as if your smile could never leave your face, you have an extra little pep in your step, and you feel as if you have at least made a small, but important, change in the world. However, truthfully I feel that the people of Morocco have taught me more in these past two weeks than I have taught them. They showed me determination in their school work, learning their fourth or fifth language trying to beat a system that is stacked against them (In Morocco it does not matter what level of education you receive it is very hard to get a decent job without connections to someone who could pull some strings for you). Their determination goes beyond choosing to come to school during their summer break, they would always come to class prepared and yearning to learn something new, and as I mentioned last time, they are always going the extra mile. One day Piper and I had asked the class to choose a topic for a discussion that was going to happen on the following day, Ibtihal suggested “the effect of technology on our lives” however, the class voted to do the discussion on climate change. None the less, Ibtihal came to class the next day with a research paper on “the effect of technology on our lives” and she asked us if we could read over it to make sure that it was grammatically correct. Not only did she spend her free time to write a research paper, she also wanted to improve and wanted us to help her to correct it. Additionally, they have showed me kindness. On the final day we chose to play trashketball ( a game where if you answer the question correctly you can shoot a crumpled up paper ball in to the bin for extra points), and while there could only be two winners, every time someone answered the question correctly, or make a basket everyone would cheer and clap.  Not only did I see kindness in the classroom, I also saw say kindness in our home visits, as Lisa Marie says, “Moroccan hospitality is like no other”. As you walk into their home, they welcome you with open arms and instantly it feels as if you are walking into the house of your long lost friend. They greet you and always apologize for not preparing enough, which seems crazy, because in America we offer a drink and maybe something to eat, but here that bring out as much as they can, such as pastries and tea. In addition to this, on the home visit to Hiba’s house we asked them what they would like to let Americans know about Islam, and the parents explained to us that there are five families living in one house and they all share one bathroom. Islam had taught them how to be kind and how to treat their neighbor, explaining how they are all close like family, thus helping them to live peacefully with one another and they wish that the same peace could exist in the world as well.

                Yesterday was the last day, they day of goodbyes. At the party, we all danced to the blaring music, and all the friends I had made over these past weeks tried to teach me how to properly dance to Moroccan music. Later in the night the music stopped and it was time to say goodbye. There is a quote that has been running through my mind a lot this trip, “You do not cry because you are weak, you cry because you have been strong for too long.” – Johnny Deep. At first, sadness filled my heart, but I did not cry. Then I looked around to all of my students, who were hugging and saying good bye while silent tears trickled down their faces. It hit me like a wave crashing onto the beach, I will never them again, and then the tears started to well up in my eyes as well. Kawtar came over and as she fanned my face to dry my tears, she told me, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.” However, as we said our final goodbyes and they walked out the door I saw the tears running down Kawtar’s face as well, and it made me start to cry all over again. I will never forget my students, how they came determined to every class and how their kindness has inspired me to be more kind. It is always sad to say goodbye, but I am glad I had the wonderful opportunity to spend these last two weeks with them.

A small spark can start it all

“Go the extra mile it is never crowded”

                In my class most of the students have been with the program for four years. In other words their English is very good and conversational, yet they keep coming back for more with such a strong desire to learn. In our class we have Miriam as our translator, and her sister Soukaina is one of our students. During our break I was talking with Soukaina and just out of curiosity I asked her how she learned to speak English so well. To my surprise she told me she was mostly self-taught, and that she taught herself through English movies and books, but mostly though English vlogs. She explained that through those vlogs she was able to pick up accents and slang words which I found was a really intuitive way to use pop culture to help one learn. I have heard this before (about using English movies to learn English) and each time I am struck by awe. One can watch anything in another language, but it takes another level of determination to be able to learn and translate from a movie or a show. Especially for being self-taught, I would feel overwhelmed, and would have no idea where to begin, yet with determination and an overarching goal to work towards, Soukaina taught herself from English vlogs. She has such a high level of English that I can have conversations with her during our breaks, and she can translate what I am saying during class if other students are confused. I am inspired by her determination and it inspires me to want to learn more languages so that I can communicate with others. I have always seen language as such an interesting and intricate topic, we speak and understand through our own language yet once the sounds change the words stop making sense and that is all it becomes, sounds. Yet with determination and a little practice these sounds become a language and that language becomes a key for connection, a bridge form one person to another. While I only know English and a little Spanish my experiences with CGA have shown me how languages can bridge cultural divides. On my second CGA trip, while in the market in Cambodia, Gaby and I were walking around when all of a sudden her face lit up upon hearing Spanish and she spun around to ask De Donde Estas (Where are you from)? All it took was for her and the stranger to share the same language and a connection was sparked between them. However in America we are given several opportunities to learn different languages, like Spanish, and yet we whine and complain about having to do it. Yet in other countries others yearn to learn more. For example, here in Morocco they start off learning Darija and French, and as they enter high school they start learning English. On top of all that, they also know some Spanish and can choose to learn German. These kids go the extra mile everyday to work towards a better future.

                This weekend we took a hike in Chefchaouen, The Blue City, while we were walking past the river we crossed paths with people lugging up water jugs, and it got me thinking about how grateful I am. I am grateful for how I have the opportunity to go on a hike with the ease of being able to fill up my water bottle with water from a jug that was given to me. As the hike got hot and treacherous, I kept thinking to myself that I am able to do this for fun to go see a stunning waterfall, but somewhere in the world there is someone making a hot a treacherous hike out of necessity either for water or for supplies. It tugs at my heart to know there are things that can be done to help but instead people choose to turn a blind eye or feel that they are powerless to help, and honestly I feel the same way sometimes. I mentioned this at dinner last night; I said I hope that even though I will not be able to do CGA forever I hope to keep the part of me that wants to do good for others. In response Karlie told me that you do not need to take 2 months off of work or donate millions of dollars in order to help, instead all you need to do is volunteer for a day, or just strive to make those small personal connections that can last for a lifetime. On that note I am also so grateful for the opportunity to be able to come here and teach all of these determined students. Their determination to learn English has filled my heart and will motivate me to help them to go the extra mile, while also inspiring me to go the extra mile in my day-to-day life.

One in the same

                A book, a pencil, a lesson, step by step , all bring someone just a little closer to an overarching goal. Yesterday on a home visit, we met Kaoutar, a single mother, who puts every last ounce of herself into caring for her five children, saving nothing for herself. Being a single mother in Morocco is a huge taboo and is viewed the same as being a prostitute. None the less, Kaoutar was proud to be who she was. She was proud that she was able to get away from her abusive ex; proud that she could give her children dinner at night; and proud that she had a roof over their heads. Through a heart wrenching discussion, and as a pit knotted in my stomach, the mood lightened as she explained this. Through the eyes of an American, one could say that she had not much and would only want more, but Kaoutar was full of gratitude, and she kept reiterating how she was better off that some and she was so grateful for that. With only a Windows 98’ book, she was able to teach herself how to use computers. She read this book, written in French, cover to cover; taking notes and annotating each page along the way. She showed me how just one book could bring someone one step closer to their goal. For Kaoutar, that was to provide and make a better life for her kids. Even to this day she brought out this book, most likely one of the only books in the house. At first glance, one might not think much of it but there is a story so inspirational surrounding that book that is quite impossible to explain in words.

                This year I am teaching the advanced class. Bursting with nerves, I walked into the class with a big smile and sweaty hands. Last year I taught class 1 which consisted of 7-8 year olds, so going from that to teaching 13-16 year olds terrifies me. However, through my experience in these trips I have learned that if you are not willing to try, and possibly fail, then you will not find personal growth. With this in mind, I took a deep breath and started the class. Instantly I was surprised by how well they spoke English. I learned they wanted to be English teachers, translators, astronauts, photographers, and pilots. They have all been in the program for 2-4 years and they all had such a strong desire to learn English, in turn giving me such a strong desire to teach. Each year I travel with CGA, a feeling fills my heart and courses through my veins and all I want to do is to give these kids my all. I want to make teaching fun, while at the same time teaching content that will help them grow. Unfortunately, today when I taught I felt as if my mouth grew dry and thoughts became jumbled. Piper and I had a plan, which I stuck to, and it was not the plan that was the problem, but my inability to think on my feet. I have seen this in my self before, when I get nervous I tend to overthink everything. During hockey, I am always nervous for the first shift, I start to get in my head and have made simple mistakes that could have been avoided if I was more focused on the game and not my nerves. I feel that this is what happened to me today. I got too nervous and stuck in my head and became tongue tied. To improve, tomorrow I will take a deep breath and remember what I am here for, the kids. I know I am prepared and I need to trust and be confident in the work I am teaching. I will learn from my mistakes and grow, thus giving them my best each day.

                Ali, the director of the program, said something that really struck me “just remember that we are all the same.” I believe this to be true. The students in my class have similar dreams to mine, such as being a pilot, they all want to have the right answer, and they all enjoy spending weekends with their friends, just like everyone in America. While there are some cultural differences, we are all still human no matter who says otherwise. I believe in today’s world that this fact is also often forgotten, and I hope through my experiences here in Morocco, through the stories that I will share I hope to break this barrier.

A House is Built of Walls and Beams, A Home is Built of Hopes and Dreams

I have grown up in a beautiful valley and in a wonderful town. Throughout the year when I walk outside I love to experience that sweet earthy smell of rain, the rich greens of vegetation turn vibrant against the cloudy grey sky, in the spring. The crunching of the yellow and orange autumn leaves under my feet, during the fall. The warm sun beating upon my face as I take a breath of the hot summer air. Then as the winter continues the snow crunches beneath me, step after step, as the cold air stings my nose, and through it all the sun is still radiates in the bright blue sky 300 days a year. Growing up in the Vail Valley I have found appreciation for beauty, no matter dead or alive, large or small, colorful or not, every single thing on this earth possesses a beauty, and it is our job to find it, but no need to prove it. Just as there is a unique beauty in everything we also see beauty in unique ways creating a connection in all, as everyone holds the desire to share what they view as beautiful. By viewing what others think of as beautiful your perspective can be changed, enriching how you view the world. I believe that is one of the great parts of traveling you are exposed to the views of others, you create connections that will last for a lifetime, and even if it is just for a second, when they tell you a story it seems as if you can see the world through their eyes.

When I was younger I had always heard that we lived in a bubble. As I was young I took this quite literally and wondered why I had never seen this “bubble” when driving around town. The thought of an actual bubble around our town now makes me laugh, as I realize now that this “bubble” referred to how our valley was protected from the world. While we still get bad news, and a bank robbery even happened just last week, it is nothing compared to big cities or other countries, where some people can’t even leave their own house without fear pricking at the corner of their minds. Due to this “bubble” one could say I have lived a sheltered life, and to that I would agree with, but through travel I have seen the world through my own eyes and not the media's eyes. The eyes of the media are blinded by breaking news and biases leaving the peace and the beauty of the world to be unseen. By living in our sheltered valley I believe that I may be considered “soft” sometimes by believing too much or by putting too much faith into something, or someone. However, without faith or trust you loose what makes you human, you lose your heart. Your brain can guide you logically, but it is your heart, filled with emotion, that will drive your determination and you perseverance, towards the goals you believe you will achieve. So, yes I could be considered “soft” but there is also a part of me that wants to see the best in everyone.

Finally, I live in a very supportive community. This support has lead me to believe that I can aspire to do anything I want. I see the stories of my classmates going to nationals for athletics, or academics and all doing very well. With there success there is also the support of our community behind them celebrating their accomplishments with them. Just by seeing this support it proves to me that no matter what one thinks they are never alone. However a dream, is just that unless you put in the work to achieve it. In this case it is not the town so much that has shaped my view but more so my parents. They have taught me that with work comes reward, though it may not be instant. They have told me that they admire my determination, but truly one learns from example and I am so fortunate to have such great examples teaching me through life, but letting me learn from personal failures as well. Since without failure there is no growth, and without growth there is little to no success.

Good Songs, Good Memories

“Sometimes it only takes one good song to bring back thousands of good, old memories.”

Music seems to have a special power, a power which can bring people together, a power that can change any mood, and a power that can bring back memories. While in Nicaragua I heard Ariana Grande playing over the restaurant's speakers, now even to this day no matter the song, when I hear her music a thousand good old memories flood back into my mind. From Jesus showing me his amazing dancing, to playing ball with Miguel. Not only do I associate my emotions and memories with the music but with the artist as well, making it as if each song conveys a story. For those three minutes that song has the power to transport someone, it traps them in the beat and the stories fill your head. In Cambodia, the kids would play their music on the speakers and just let go and dance. Personally I am not a huge fan of dancing but in Cambodia the world melted away and all that was left was the laughs of the kids as we tried to dance with them. In Tanzania, we danced at the Maasai village and while although it was not like the dancing we do in America, it was more jumping, I will never forget how high they could jump, nor how fun it was to be apart of it.

Now as I am going to Morocco I can’t wait to be immersed in their culture and to listen to their music. However just like the lyrics to the songs Morocco has its own unique story. In the early 20th century there was a struggle for power over who would control Morocco, Spain was given the Spanish Sahara and France was given majority of Morocco, this lead to the French protectorate in 1912. It was not until 1956, that Morocco gained full independence. Thus their song took on a new tone, it was more up-beat and free. Since then Morocco has been rapidly modernizing by improving their renewable energy, and their economy. Thus the standard of living is improving as well. However, in the present they are facing difficulties from climate change, they are going through a water crisis and did not have enough rain for their crops last year. This lead to a drop in the income as many farmers were not able to create as high as a yield as they had years previous. Not only is the climate change causing a water shortage, but some of their drinkable water is being poisoned by waste from mines. The mines are a great benefit to Morocco as they are a very mineral rich country, specifically mining phosphate, but the waste is hurting the water of those who need it. There have been many protests against the current government to fix the pollution but so far not much has been done about it. These climate changes and shortages mostly affect those who are poor as they are not able to afford better irrigation systems for their crops or better filtration systems for their water. Thus this difference is how the gap between the poor and the wealthier is getting wider. Looking into the future there is hope, as the government wants to create renewable sources of energy to fuel their country that means that they are environmentally conscious and hopefully, will help out their people to get them through this water crisis. Thus their song can be joyful and full of hope as they persevere through the present and into the hope that the future holds.

One Smile has the Power to Change the World

“Use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile”

Hi my name is Berkeley, I am a sophomore at Eagle Valley High School. This year, I will be playing on two teams for hockey, a 16U team and a 19U team. I am really excited for the 19U season as I will be playing “up” (playing with an older age group). I am excited for the challenge that it presents, and the opportunity for growth. I also might try out for the high school junior varsity team, but I am not completely sure of what I will do yet. Besides hockey, I also enjoy making jewelry, and plan to sell some as a fundraiser. I love how while making jewelry and playing hockey I only have to focus on that one task, thus relieving me of the worries and troubles that had been plaguing my mind throughout the week.

This year, I have another challenge coming. I am traveling with Children’s Global Alliance, a 501(C)3 local non-profit organization, to Rabat, in Morocco. This will be my fourth trip, I am ecstatic to be back, and honored to be asked to be the student mentor. My whole world is transformed when I go on these trips, and when the opportunity arose to go on another trip, I could not refuse. I am excited to see how old Moroccan traditions are infused in the modern Morocco. On that note, this year in class we watched a TED talk on how in order to truly understand someone you need to hear multiple stories not just one story i.e multiple points of view. With that in mind, with the countries that I have been to before, it seems as if I hear one story about the country, and it is usually negative, but when I get to the country I realize how that one story failed to mention how amicable the people are, how rich their culture is, and how complex the history is. I can’t wait to find out more about Moroccan people, their culture and their traditions.

CGA has been such a huge part of my life for the past 3 years and I am so grateful that it has been. It has changed me in ways I have never expected and showed me that there is always something to look forward to and to work towards. In those two weeks that I am gone, I feel as if I am in a whole new world, one that is surrounded by hardship but conquered with love and happiness. The quote “Use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile” holds so many truths, but I think in this case it is not my smile that has changed the world, it is the smiles of those who I have met. The kids, that I have met, are able to smile through hardships, they come to school and are able to laugh and smile; their laughs make the world seem like it's radiating happiness. Their dedication and determination inspires me to try my best no matter what happens, and to preserve in order to accomplish my goal.

Finally, my family shared my excitement when I told them that I was accepted to go on the Morocco trip; they have always been supportive of me and this year was no different. Declan, my brother, was old enough to go on a trip this year but ended up not applying, I hope that next year I will be able to convince him. I would love to share the experiences that I have had with him.

Tutaonana Baadaye (See You Later)

             I have always been told, “Even if a person is not with you, keep them close to your heart and they will watch over you.”

When I was young, I imagined that my heart had a room in it with one whole wall being made of glass. When I am apart from someone, they go into the glass room showing how they will always stay in my heart. In my glass room, I have always had my grandpa, and God. Year by year, more people join them: Winder, Jesus, and Julio, from Nicaragua; Srey Tom and XO from Cambodia; and many others. Now as this trip comes to an end, the students and teachers of LOAMO will be joining them. Goodbye is always the hardest word to say, I have heard many times that it is not “goodbye”, it is a “see you later”. I hold on to this, because even though I will forever have them in my heart, I would just about burst if I got to see them again.

                Jordan Edward was one of the first students I really made a connection with. On the first day, he was struggling with his math work and the teacher asked me to help him. At first, I was scared I would not be able to explain it well, but after the first few problems, I learned that a visual aid thoroughly helps. We would count on my fingers together and when he would realize he had reached the right answer, his face would light up and he would quickly right it down. A warm feeling of happiness expanded through me as I realized that I was able to help him. The next day, when he recognized me and said good morning to me, my heart grew. The warm feeling returned, expanding through my body, radiating outward through my smile. In that moment, I knew I needed to give my all to these students.

                Friday was sports day. I could feel the anticipation in the class room. When the time finally came to play, it was like a dam opened and all the stress was let go. The teachers and the students all played the same games, and all the classes came together to play football or other small games. They have this one game similar to Monkey in the Middle, but they would try to hit the person in the middle. The person in the middle would try to duck, and when the ball would go out of bounds, they would try to fill up a coke bottle with sand. If they filled up the bottle, the person in the middle won. Yet, if they got hit with the ball, the two people on the outside won. Teacher Upendo and Teacher Lillian both played, it was entertaining to see them taunt the students as they dodged the ball and filled up the bottle. When I wasn’t playing Monkey in the Middle, I would play clapping games with the kids from my class. When someone would get out, the whole circle would light up in smiles and laughter. Then we would start again until we had our final winner. Even though they didn’t win, all of the kids would cheer, shout, and celebrate the winner. This touched my heart to see all the kids being happy for one another.

                Today was one of my last days teaching. I tried to cherish every single moment, every single laugh, and every single smile. I never want to leave, more so, I never want to forget. I never want to forget the warm greeting that slipped off the locals tongues, or how vivid the colors of their clothes looked in the Tanzanian sun. Most of all, I never want to forget the stories I learned here. They taught me to be strong and brave, and how you can conquer anything if you put all of your heart into it. No matter how bad the odds may be stacked against you, there is always a way to find happiness and laughter. In all, I think the kids at LOAMO perfectly represent one of my favorite quotes, “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit, when there are footprints on the moon.”

All You Need Is Education

          Teacher Lillian explained to me that a child’s mind is like a blank piece of paper: you can write anything and it will stay, because they have not learned a lot yet. That is why they learn and remember information so easily. Education is vital here in order to get a sustainable job one would need a good education. However, there is a flaw in their system. In order to get into secondary school, past Class 8, you have to pass the exams at the end of Class 7. While this may seem reasonable, in government schools they teach in Swahili all the way until Class 7, then the exams to get into Class 8 are all in English so it is very hard to pass. The kids at LOAMO all learn in English so that part of the exam will be a little easier in that way, but the material of the exam is still extremely challenging.  Yet with the odds stacked against them these kids still try their hardest every day.

          Last night I was asked the question what has impacted your heart the most on this trip. I think it is the fact that these kinds have to be on their “A” game all of the time, no matter if they’re 4 years old and in kindergarten or if their 13 years old and in Class 7. They always have to try their hardest, slacking is not an option. This really destroys me on the inside because at home we take our education for granted and slack off and complain, and here are these kids who deserve so much more than they are given and yet they come to school every day laughing and smiling, and are elated to be sitting in a class room. These children who come to school laughing and smiling have spectacular stories, of what they have been through and conquered. Glory is in Class 5 her house is made out of cement with electricity and water from a tap, for drinking. While they may seem pretty well of her father got laid off of his job as a security guard as he did not have a certificate of education. Suzie, the mother, is also unemployed. She worked at LOAMO for 16 years; since she worked at the school she was able to send two of her four children all the way through LOAMO. Unfortunately, two years ago she discovered she had a disease in her spinal cord preventing her from being able to bend over. The doctor told her if she wanted to recover she would have to leave her job. Since she has LOAMO Glory and Suzie’s youngest child will have to finish their education through public school. While telling us this something snapped in Suzie and the tears started to roll down her cheeks. All she wants for her kids is for them to get a good education so they can go and live a good life with a good job.

          I also go the chance to visit Teacher Lillian. When Teacher Lillian talks, it’s like her words start to fill the room and transport you to another world. It is as I you are standing right next to her experiencing her life and feeling her feelings. Teacher Lillian lost her dad when she was 17 to AIDS then five years later when she was 22 she lost her mother to AIDS as well. Not only was losing her parents hard, but she was left as the guardian of five younger sisters, the youngest being 5 years old. Most of them got sponsors to pay for their school fees, but Lillian had to provide the money for them to eat. I could not fathom trying to provide for five people by yourself, anger rose inside of me as she explained how none of their relatives would take them is as they were all girls. My respect grew for Teacher Lillian as she explained all the set-backs and hard times she experienced, and how she always persevered and was resilient.

         Seeing the work ethic of these kids is astounding to me it has and will be my motivation to work harder. Any struggle or road block I will encounter is incomparable to what these students will do just to sit in a class room for the day. There are time in the school year when I take my classes for granted and start to let up a little and slack off, making excuses for myself, but this year when I start to do this I will remind myself of how Glory and Teacher Lillian and all of the others persevere and fight through it all just to get an education.

A great start to a new beginning

I have always struggled with starting my blogs. Ideas racing through my mind, feelings jumbled inside of me waiting to be put into words, and this year is no different. Arusha is so much better than I ever could have imagined. I thought it would be dry and dusty with minimal trees scattered across the plains, and yet there are lush trees and bushes almost everywhere I look. The culture is also different than I was expecting, they are very welcoming. On Saturday morning we took a class on Swahili and Tanzania culture, our teacher, Nai, explained to us that they do not care about the time they care about the people. Later when we walked through the market I discovered what this meant; you enter the market and you’re greeted with mambo, jambo, and habari, each with a different response you are to give. At this market we saw many handmade goods including jewelry, clothing and many more intricate, colorful objects. We then went to a food market, which had all kinds of food from spices to passion fruits. The smells of the food enveloped me making me feel like I was in a giant kitchen. At the second market our guide, Rasta John, picked up two eggs and told us that the bigger egg was the mzugyu egg, i.e. the foreign egg that was processed and came from machines; you could buy this egg for cheap. Then he brought out a smaller egg he claimed that it would make you stronger and healthier, because it was from Tanzania, it was an “African Egg”.

                On Sunday we went to a Maasi village, I was nervous that we would not be welcomed, as we were a foreign group coming into their homes. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised when we exited the car and were warmly greeted. We were shown to where they keep their cows, a sacred animal. They explained to us that when cow blood and milk is mixed together it is considered a remedy for illness. We then got dressed in multiple shuka’s and conga’s (basically scarves), and made chapatti, one of the best breads I have ever had. After we finished making the chapatti they brought out goat and salty vegetables, which I gladly received. After eating we danced with the Maasi warriors, they started with high pitched sounds and transitioned into song; their dances consisted of many jumps. These warriors seemed to jump more than two feet into the air. After a whole day at the Maasi village, it began to sink in how nervous I was becoming knowing the next day would be my first day teaching.

                My stomach was twisting into knots as we rolled up to the school. I was terrified of messing up, but in the end I taught and tried to think on my feet. While I still have plenty of room for improvement, I will learn from my mistakes today, and improve throughout the week striving to be the best teacher I can be.

                In all, Tanzania has exceeded all of my expectations from their welcoming culture, to the colorful landscape I see when I look out my window. I have had many memorable experiences in the short time I have been in Arusha starting with the Maasi tribe, teaching, and exploring the markets, I am eagerly anticipating the many more to come.

Breaking the Cycle

I was researching the topic of what are nonprofit organizations are doing to help eradicate poverty in Tanzania when I scrolled over this headline, "Is Celebrating Women the Wrong Approach?" I was instantly intrigued. My first thought was wondering what could they mean, how could that be bad? The organization, Aid for Africa, wrote this article, they claim that while the world is making efforts to close the inequality gap we cannot celebrate now, as the gap is not completely closed yet. That reminds me of the saying "Don't count your chickens before they hatch", the world has made progress but if they stop to celebrate now they will never actually complete their goal.

This validates my belief that if secondary education was more accessible to girls then there would be a decrease in poverty around the world. I think that educating women and girls would be beneficial to the countries in with a large population in poverty because with a higher education girls can get higher paying jobs, have more awareness about health risks, and can educate their families as well. With a secondary education they will have more skills and knowledge that will be applicable in life. Furthermore, the World Bank states that “Increasing the share of women with secondary education by one percentage point can boost the annual per capita income growth by 0.3 percent on average.” This proves to me how women getting a better education can get a better job, which becomes more beneficial to the family because they can gain more income. On that note, the World Bank also states that  “Every extra year of schooling beyond the average boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10-20 percent.” Hence, proving that with a better education a woman can better support herself and/or her family. Also, when women are more aware of health risks and have a higher education, they will have knowledge on how to keep children healthy. An educated woman will also be more aware of her financial stability and if having a child would be a good choice, as family planning and birth control would be part of her education. Finally, as a educated mother she will be able to teach her kids. Women are seen as the people who are supposed to care for the child. If the mother is educated she will be able to pass on her knowledge to her child. I know this from experience as well, I have probably learned more from my mom than from school for some topics.

I hope to be a catalyst for this change by going on these trips. On this service trip I am going to teach in Tanzania. I want to give hope to the students that they can do whatever they want if they follow their dreams. I feel that this trip I could give hope to the girls in school and give them a role model, Lisa Marie, as she is well educated and they can see how much she has accomplished and they know her. She always inspires me to try my best and work my hardest and I know that she has the same effect on the girls in Tanzania. That is one of the reasons I do these trips, I know that even though it is a small step I can make a change in these children’s lives. I feel that I am letting them down if I don't put all I’ve got into these teaching opportunities. In all, I can help make a change in helping more girls get a secondary education if I put my all into teaching them and try to be a role model for them as well.

I did some research to find efforts to help end poverty in Tanzania I found a successful project and an unsuccessful project. A successful project that helped to rid poverty in Tanzania is, the World Bank is starting a Conditional Cash Transfer program to help get families out of extreme poverty. This project gives families about $13 a month. This extra money helps them to get more protein in their diets and cover some of the schooling costs. Many families who apply for this cash transfer are families lead by a single mom, this extra money helps her to provide for her children. A failed attempt at helping to end poverty in Tanzania would be the company, Sun Biofuel's, attempt to create a biofuel plant in Tanzania. The company promised to give new jobs, create a better education and health system, and said that they would get clean water to the community. However, the company failed and abandoned the project. This left many villagers unemployed and their land was destroyed in the effort to produce the plantation, leaving them without a job and without land. This failed project had a detrimental impact on the village, it shows how even though the company thought that they would help they ended up making things worse. I think that while it is important to see what has succeeded and learn from the pros, it is equally important to research the mistakes and learn from those as well. The biofuel project was a bust, which was good in a way because now future projects can see how much the failed project not only affected the company but how it devastated the village as well. Hopefully they can plan so that that type of disaster will never happen again. As John Powell once said “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”

All You Need is Confidence

   "One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else."- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

My goal for this trip is to gain more confidence in myself. This weekend I had my Martin Luther King Jr. hockey tournament. All the teams were really even in strength, so all the games were really close. The final scores were either a tie or a difference of only one point. Now, I play defense, so when someone gets a big rush at our goalie it's my job to stop them and make sure they don't get a shot off. As my dad had pointed out to me when I get scared I tend to stand up tall and be stiff. This is a big mistake in hockey because when I stand up tall my feet stop moving and my stick gets stuck to my side; I basically have tied myself up. Thus, letting the person skate past me and giving them a possible scoring opportunity. My dad gave me the advice to stay low and to believe in myself, because if I don't give up then I will be able to steal the puck from the other person. I believe this applies in my life too. When I get scared I draw back and stay quiet, or second guess myself. This is like standing up straight and tying myself up, I know what I am supposed to do, however I just don't have the confidence in myself to go forth and do it. To counteract that my personal goal is to have more confidence, which will allow me to take risks and to believe in myself, like staying low in hockey. In Tanzania, this will be beneficial to me because I find it really intimidating to think about teaching in a classroom; I only get one chance at this lesson so I better make it count! I believe that if I am more confident in myself I will be able to teach a greater and more effective lesson as confidence shows on the outside. As a result, this goal is important to me because I believe that one can see confidence in another, and having more self-confidence will help me to achieve more and create more opportunities for myself.

In order to enhance my knowledge about Tanzania, I did a little research on their history. I discovered that the earliest proof of human life was found in Tanzania, the remains date back to around 5,000 B.C. The discoveries include skulls and other fossils that can be related to human-like beings. During the 1500s Tanzania was discovered by the Portuguese. Although the Portuguese found Tanzania it was never really colonized. However, a couple years later the Germans colonized Tanzania, much to the dismay of the indigenous people. A big revolt was lead by Chief Mkwawa of the Hehe people. Chief Mkwawa gained his fame by resisting the German colonization and winning a battle in the Lugalo Hills. This was a big win for Chief Mkwawa, it is said that only 2 German soldiers and 15 officers escaped. Chief Mkwawa was such a big threat to the Germans that when they finally defeated him they shipped his skull back to Germany to put on display as a trophy for their victory. Furthermore, Britain then took Tanzania from the Germans and remained in control from 1916 to 1954.

Tanzania declared independence in 1961. The first couple of years they were off to a rough start having a prime minister the first year then having different presidents each year for the next three years, which created some political instability. I find it fascinating how, Zanzibar, a small island off of the coast of Tanzania, has its own laws and president. This allows Zanzibar to have its own government even though it is still considered to be part of Tanzania. This is because when Tanzania gained independence Zanzibar had some conflicting political views creating two different governments. Currently, there are 120 different tribal groups in Tanzania. Most Tanzanians live in rural places and grow what they eat. However, there have been more and more people who have started to move to developing towns and cities.

I find it very interesting how the Germans kept the skull of Chief Mkwawa. The Germans didn't even kill Mkwawa themselves he had decided to take his own life; which in my opinion, makes it even more gruesome. This means the Germans had to track down and find the head of Mkwawa to ship back to Germany. There were many efforts by the Hehe people to get the head of Mkwawa back. They said that until the head was returned there would be no peace. To me, this shows how they were loyal to their leader. Finally, in 1956 the skull was returned to the Hehe people although, some speculate it is not his skull. In all, I am excited to work on my personal goal of gaining more self-confidence, and I am excited to learn more about Tanzania because it broadens my global awareness.

A New Chapter

“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and think of what could go right."-Anonymous 

     Hi, my name is Berkeley Kelly and this is my third trip with CGA, I have been to Nicaragua, Cambodia and I am excited to go to Tanzania this coming summer.  Currently, I am in the Civil Air Patrol cadet program (CAP), Speech and Debate, and hockey. I am delighted that I am given the opportunity to try something new this year, Speech and Debate will be a great experience. Also, I think that my hockey team is really strong this season and I am looking forward to this coming season. As for CAP I am weary on the program, I really want to become a pilot and CAP (being a cadet program), is very similar to the Air Force, I thought this would be a great way to get a head start on being a pilot, unfortunately our CAP squadron is fairly new and the meetings are inconsistent, my hope is to stick with it and become a pilot one day.  My mom and my dad are fairly concerned with me going on this trip, considering how much conflict there is in Africa, but I know that I will be safe. My brother, Declan, is 11 years old and is in 6th grade, which means he can go on a trip next year. I really hope he will go, I think it would be great for him.  I hope to share our experiences one day and talk about how they were similar and how they were different.      

     Last year in Cambodia I learned so much  about the history, what the Cambodian's went through, and also about who I was. My last trip was a huge turning point for me, I learned a lot about who I am and who I want to be. It brought to my attention to how much I second guess myself; I have grown from this and try to be more confident in my daily life. For example, this year I have felt that personally I have gained a lot of confidence, just this past weekend my hockey team played New Mexico, the best team in the league last year. I could remember last year, how I was so sacred and how they towered over me like giants, but I was able to be confident in my team and myself,  we beat them 2-1. Also, it showed me that whenever I am in doubt now I just remind myself of what I have learned, I look down at the bracelet that Srey Tom gave me, and take the risk, "... think of what could go right."

     Cambodia was such a life changing experience for me, which is why I am excited to be back with CGA and going to Tanzania. We will be teaching at L.O.A.M.O school in Arusha, Tanzania, I am excited to teach again, knowing that last year teaching was a challenge for me. I am excited to advance and learn new teaching strategies so I can improve my teaching skills, so that I can help out in the classroom. I am also really excited for the home visits, in Nicaragua it was so eye opening to see the living conditions, and to meet the families; I can't wait to meet new people and to make new friends. In all, I am very excited for the adventure that's awaiting me in the challenge of fundraising and the new experience in Tanzania.

The hardest word to say is goodbye

                A tear falls down my cheek as I realize that this is goodbye, but a smile lights up my face as I realize who I met and what I experienced. It’s crazy how much I already miss all of the kids and I haven’t even left Cambodia yet. These children will have a special place in my heart forever. They have taught me to be confident in what I say and what I do and that is very valuable for my everyday life.

                I could tell that everyone at the orphanage knew it was our last day there. There was a sad awareness of the goodbye that loomed ahead. It motivated me to live in the moment more. When we went up on the stage to dance I didn’t think about what was going to happen or what had happened I just thought about dancing with everyone. We stayed longer to watch their performance and have a small goodbye party. In their performance they did traditional dances, a pop song dance, and a comedy skit. The skit was in Khmer but Mimi, the main actress, was such an amazing actress I was able to get the gist of the whole skit. Srey Tom sat on my lap and watched the act, she was laughing and smiling. It made me laugh and smile too, not because I understood what they were saying, but because it showed me how these kids opened up and let us into their lives. That is something really hard to do, it takes so much to show someone who you really are. I feel like that trust was everywhere in every hug and in every smile. The trust wasn’t only with the kids it was with our group too.

                At dinner we were asked personal questions so we could get to know each other better, everyone answered honestly. I was still scared to answer the questions but seeing how honest everyone was I felt I was able to open up too. Maybe not as much at dinner but I feel that I can really be myself with these people. My friends being open and the kids being open has really showed me that if you share with others you can make once in a life time friends.

                At the end of the day we sat in a circle and they handed out paper chains and cards that they had made especially for us.  Then they presented the picture boxes. I didn’t really know what to expect, but when they rolled out the picture box it felt like our whole trip was put into it. There were pictures and names in the boxes and each one told a story. In each picture there were people smiling. Usually in pictures, you are just told to smile and you do it, but these smiles are different they’re genuine and they tell a story. They show what a person has been through, and they show how the person has persevered and how grateful they are to be there.

Saying goodbye to everyone was a lot harder than I was expecting. Everyone was crying, I looked around saw all their faces for the last time and I started to cry too. Srey Tom who is at the orphanage with her sisters and her mom welcomed me the first day and stayed by my side for the whole trip. Saying goodbye to her was like leaving a piece of my heart there. In a good way. I left them with memories of me and they filled my heart with memories of them. We went to the temples for the last day. Seeing all the temples and visiting a nice hotel made me feel guilty. At the orphanage we visited the slums. The people live in tiny tin huts with barley enough to survive, and I’m here never missing a meal of going hungry, and I have an extraordinary family and home to go home to. The guilt I was feeling led me to be very appreciative of what I have and I’m glad I was given such a great opportunity as CGA to come and help the people of Cambodia.

                So as I finish up this trip I know that I will try to remember this for as long as I can. I will remember every name, so I can label every picture, I will remember all the songs, so I can find them at home, and I definitely will remember the connections and relationships I made with all of the wonderful people I met.
 

Living life to its fullest

                Going through the open gates of the orphanage opens up the gates to my heart. All of a sudden, the world starts to revolve around only the kids and nothing else. There is still a little annoying voice in my head that’s making me be less confident and is making me second guess myself. I am working hard currently in Cambodia to break free from that voice. I am holding back and I don’t want to do that here. I don’t want to have regrets when I leave to go home.

                When you walk into a classroom all the kids faces light up because they have a new teacher with a different teaching style and there excited to see how that class will play out. Unfortunately, when I was teaching I lost control of the class. I broke the class into three small groups and that helped quite a bit, because all the kids started to focus on their small group teacher. I now have a greater respect for all my teachers because I have experienced how hard it is to keep a class going in the right direction. After attempting to teach them how to say ‘tree’, I realized that I need to focus more on how I pronounce words so that I can teach the pronunciation right.  Now whenever I say a complicated word I notice how my tongue and my lips move to make that sound. Tomorrow I will be very passionate, fun, and interesting and get them excited about what I am teaching. This morning in the tuk tuk I got a lot of tips and I was able to make a great lesson plan for teaching packets and I feel a lot more confident and prepared. I really hope that will show in my teaching tomorrow.

                Today and on the weekend we were doing manual labor. I like having a structured day normally when I am doing a task. Doing the manual labor there isn’t a schedule and sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough. I guess I am just scared to mess up because these kids have so little compared to me and I feel like I need to be perfect for them. I learned today that maybe I don’t need to be perfect; I just need to learn from my mistakes. That’s going to be really hard for me because I hate it when I mess up, I feel  really guilty like I let everyone down. That is my goal now, I want to be able to be more confident, not second guess myself, and learn from my mistakes. This confidence will help me in my everyday life. I won’t second guess that I did my science project wrong or second guess my answer to my math homework. This will save me the time I waste when I re-recheck my work even after I’ve checked multiple times.

                Nothing will hold me back when I teach these kids tomorrow I will prepare lessons and teach them to the best of my ability so that they can learn all that they can from me. When that voice comes back into my head, I’ll just have to ignore it. I’ll assure myself that I am capable of doing the right thing and I can get the correct answer without over checking my work. I will buy a souvenir here to always remind myself that I am capable of great things!

The start of an adventure of a lifetime

                 After 8 months of preparation and over 30 hours of travel, I’ve finally made to Cambodia. It is amazing being here all of the preparation, every minute, every second, was worth it.

                On the first day we went to S-21, a genocide museum, and the killing fields. Cambodia has had a very difficult past that started with a genocide lead by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s. At S-21 they would torture the innocent people until they got confessions out of them, like they were CIA spies or Russian spies, if the confession was not what they wanted they would keep torturing the person. After they got a confession out of that person they were taken to the killing fields. At night the Khmer Rouge would play loud music and a diesel engine to drown out the noise of their screams. The music kept the secrecy of what was going on in the killing fields. They had an audio recording of what it might have sounded like and it was haunting, it sent chills down my spine. All I could think of was these innocent people not knowing what was going to happen next and then they were beaten to death. It brought tears to my eyes; I just can’t comprehend how people can do that to their own kind. All of this happened from 1975-1979 so it wasn’t that long ago, and now the killers and the victims all live together, and that astonishes me.

                Now knowing the background of the people I feel like I can understand more of why there is so much poverty. We arrived at the school and all the children ran towards the tuk-tuks and were yelling hello. A girl named Sery Tom pulled my hand and introduced herself. She was so welcoming I knew I would be able to remember her for a lifetime. Teaching in the classrooms involves a lot of repetition, it is read and repeat read and repeat. This is the one time out of the whole year that they get a native English speaker that has come to teach them, so I am glad that I can help them with their pronunciation. Today I did some manual labor around the orphanage. I didn’t know that I could sweat so much! All of us had sweat dripping down our faces, but at the end of the day the feeling was so rewarding when you see the kids smiling faces and you know you what you did was for them.

I love spending the end of the day with all of the kids. Yesterday we played a type of jump rope with some 10 year old girls.  The “rope” was like a big rainbow loom bracelet.  They would hold the rope on top of their heads and then they would jump over the rope. This rope was at my shoulders when the girls were only as tall as the middle of my torso, and they were able to jump over it, it was impressive to see how high they could jump. Today we played some volleyball and then we had a dance party. Srey Neath, a girl who lives at the orphanage, showed us all the dance moves. It was so much fun, it felt like all worries, pains, and problems, melted away into thin air.

                To wrap it all up I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. All these kids have a huge smile and when they smile at you it makes you smile almost as big as them. I love the rewarding feeling of knowing that, I have helped even if it’s only picking up a bottle cap or helping them pronounce ‘very’. I can’t wait for all of the surprises the rest of the trip holds.

So close

     "Everything worth doing starts with being scared." - Art Garfunkel. My fears for this trip are I won't be able to communicate with anyone. I know the basics of Khmer but I am not conversational in it and I don't know if I pronounce the few words I know right. Also, I am kind of scared to teach. When we do presentations in class at school, I get nervous. I feel well prepared, so I know I'll do fine, and I know everyone in the class. In Cambodia, I won't be presenting I'll be doing a whole lesson plan and in front of many people I do not know. I am really nervous for that. But I know that we will be preparing with lesson plans with CGA so I should be excited to teach. Last year I loved teaching in Nicaragua and I hope I'll love it just as much when I teach to the kids in Cambodia.
     I am really excited to meet new people. These people and kids I will meet I will never forget. I have experienced this by going to Nicaragua I still remember them to this day even what they were wearing the last day I saw them. Also, I am really excited to see Cambodia's culture, I know it is very different from mine and it will be exciting to experience new things. One of my goals is to try and communicate with someone so I can know what they experience and maybe just talk to them like I would with one of my friends. Furthermore, I want to be able to look back on this and know that I did the best I could do and gave all that I had. Also I know that from experience I will make great friends on this trip both on my team and with the kids, so I can't wait to see what I learn about everyone and to meet new people.
     My fundraising has been interesting this year some of the things I have tried to do to earn money for the trip, have not worked while others have. I had originally wanted to make bracelets to sell but they ended up taking me to long to make for what I would make from them. Also, selling my hockey sweatshirts has been hard because I thought there were a lot of people to sell them to but I just couldn't find the right way to advertise them, and therefore I wasn't able to get the word out to much. I am going to do concession at a hockey tournament next weekend and I am doing a lot of babysitting. So I am still finding ways to fundraise.
       I am so excited to go to Cambodia! I am really excited for the plane ride, I want to become a pilot when I grow up. I love the excitement of going some where new and trying new things and I can't wait to meet new people.

Learning from the past

     "Life is tough, but darling so are you." Stephanie Bennett Henry. In 1975, Cambodia was controlled by Pol Pot during his regimen 1.7 million people died from being executed, overworked, or starved they were put into mass graves known as killing fields. Everything was under a strict rule even the rice fields had to have a certain checkered pattern in them. Living under his regime was torture all the educated were tortured and executed, children were taken away from their parents to fight for Pol Pot. The country was put into chaos because Pol Pot was taking out all of the educated so he could have an uneducated society that he could mold and form into what he wanted them to do. They did this by closing schools, businesses, and killing all the educated. They took over a high school and made it a secret prison. They called it S-21. At S-21 many were interrogated, tortured, and executed, out of the thousands and thousands of people that were brought there only seven survived. They were innocent people tortured till they gave a false confession. Then they were taken to the mass killing field were a blow to the neck was given ant that was it. These people did not deserve this but the paranoid leaders thought everyone was a spy for the CIA or KGB. But in 1979 Pol Pot fled from the forces who captured Phnom Penh letting Cambodia be free of his tortuous regime. 
      Cambodia's culture is very religion based. There are many temples for Hinduism and Buddhism throughout the country. Cambodian's try to show a lot of respect to others. When meeting someone they greet with Sampeah, this is when they press their palms together and bow. The higher the hands are and the lower the bow the more respect is shown. I find it very cool that there is a way to show more respect to different people by doing a different bow, unlike how in America where we only have a handshake. Cambodia is said to have a collective society, which is when groups are valued over individuals. I think this is cool because it is different then what is in America.
     Cambodia's recovery has been rough. All of the educated were taken out when Pol Pot was ruling and he left the country in a pretty bad state. But just like Stephanie Bennett Henry life was tough but Cambodia was tougher and they will recover and rebuild. Fortunately my life has not has tough and hopefully will never be but fundraising always represents a challenge to me. I am doing fine this year and I am selling sweatshirts to my hockey team as a fundraiser. Through all my fundraising this year I learned that people were a lot more generous when they know that their money is going to a good cause. It was really heart warming to see people donate then add a little tip when they knew where their money was going to a good cause. All in all, fundraising has showed me that there is good in people, and learning about Cambodia has taught me that no matter what you can always learn and recover from your past.

A Fresh Start

         FEAR has two meanings Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. (anonymous) I learn't that it is usually better to do the last option, Face Everything And Rise. This year I will have less fear because I have risen from last year. I was scared and fearful because I was going on my first service trip to Nicaragua and I had never been away from my family and I had no idea what to expect. I chose to face everything and rise. I learned that these kids we go and help deserve so much more than they have, and that since I can help them I Will help them. 

        That is why this year I am going to Cambodia to help teach, clean, and improve the Cooperation of Peace Orphanage outside of Phnom Penh. I am going with CGA to an orphanage with 57 orphaned and abandoned kids. Last year I wished I was there longer so I could spend more time with the kids and be able to help them more, now with this trip there is more manual labor and it is longer so I will be able to do both those things. The kids showed me that even though life is not perfect and you don't live in a mansion you can still make the best out of everything. I want to do this because the world has given so much to me that it is time I give back to the world.

         My name is Berkeley Kelly and I am 13 years old and an 8th grader at Eagle Valley Middle School. I love to make crafts and art ,anything from making jewelry to drawing pictures, and play hockey , I been playing for 9 years. I have an amazingly supportive family who are my mom, dad, and my brother, Declan,  he's 10 years old. They are happy that I am doing this and I hope I can talk Declan into going on a trip. 

          This is my chance to help others and I am going to take it. I can't wait for the upcoming meetings, learning about the people in my group, and my trip to Cambodia!! 

Wrapping up

If you take a moment to stop what you’re doing and look around you will see happiness everywhere around you. On my afternoon home visit on Wednesday, we visited Anjelica. When Mario, our translator, fell out of his chair it made Anjelica laugh so hard that everyone started to laugh too. Anjelica is 26 and when she was 7 she fell out of a tree. She had liquid in her spine and they had to remove vertebrae, which made it hard for her to move or walk. On another home visit we met Esteven. He is 6 years old and has one of the most heartwarming smiles in the world. Esteven has PC and could not walk but he was one of the sweetest kids ever.

When I was in Mrs. Rosivals class yesterday Greybi would smile every time he got a question right or someone told him his picture was bonito. Jose Carlos would smile every time he got a math problem correct. Both Greybi and Jose Carlos loved to play around and they loved to laugh and smile. All the kids at Esquela Especial are some of the happiest people I have ever met. 

              Today I went on three morning home visits to meet Mateo, 2, Gary, 3, and Iriany, 2. Mateo has liquid in his head which they have to drain and he does physical therapy four times a month.  He has a really nice family, and is one of the most joyful and smiley kids ever. Gary has Down syndrome and was really antsy but I was told he loved to dance so I can't wait to see him dance tomorrow at the Fiesta. Iriany has Down syndrome and a heart problem. We met her at the local town clinic and I can't wait to see her again tomorrow.

               When I got back to the school I went to the class room for the young men and women who are deaf Alaina, 17, Christian, 16, Carlos, 10, and Juan Luis, 16. They were all very nice and where very understanding. If I didn't get something they would try and help me understand by signing slower or pointing to what they were talking about. Alaina is studying to be a hair style list and braided my hair. She is amazing. They were learning math so Margaux and I got to go up and do a couple problems too. The intelligence of the people at the school truly amazes me.

                 I really don't want tomorrow to be my last day. I love all the kids there and seeing them smile and laugh makes all my troubles go away because happiness is contagious. I know Alaida won't be at the party tomorrow because she has to work and that just crushes my heart because I want to spend tomorrow with everyone. During the Fiesta I plan to give Alijandra a bracelet I made for her. It is a turquoise stone wrapped in silver wire with a white and blue wrist band. I really hope she loves it because now whenever I see turquoise I will think of her and Nicaragua and I hope whenever she looks at the bracelet she will think of me. 

                The Spanish here has been really cool to show me how different countries speak different languages and how diverse our world really is. It has been really eye-opening for me to see the world I live in and not just to see "perfect" America. I really do not want tomorrow to be my last day with the kids because I am going to miss them all so much and I will treasure the time I spent with them forever.    

The adventure continues

        So far this trip has been amazing. Yesterday I taught with Mrs.Yahoska. She only had one student show up because one student was sick and I don't know why the other wasn't there. The name of the child who was present was Jesus. He is blind and a very nice kid. So while we were waiting for Jesus to come Mrs.Yahoska and I tried to talk. She showed me how to write in Braile, how everything has been modifyed for the blind in the class room and alot more.
       Jesus arived and then a little 2nd grade girl came into the class room too. Her name was Rachel and she was not blind but she is autistic and has a ton of energy. She was playing and thouching everything so I took her out side to the swing set. We were swinging for around 10 minutes then we went back inside.
       When we went to lunch where all of the students were hugging everyone it was really sweet to see how loving they are. That was where I met Winder. Winder is deaf. He a very sweet, and seeing and hearing him laugh makes my day. We had a  recess and since Jesus was just sitting on a bench and all I could really say in Spanish was ?como estas? I let him play with my bracelets. I have around 15 rubberbands on my wrist so I bunched them together and let him feel them. When Jesus left, Winder came in and played with my legos and drew in my note book. I find it easier to communicate with Winder because I don't have to speak Spanish for him to understand me.
         When everyone was getting ready to get on the bus I sat next to Julio who was all alone on the bench. He wouldn't respond to me so I stopped tring to speak Spanish and tried a new way to communicate. So I waved infront of my face as if I was hot to see if he was too. I guess he really liked that because that was all he did until I left. Whenever he needed my atention he woiuld tap on my shoulder and fan in front of his face and smile.
          Today I was teaching in Mrs.Raquel's class. There were seven or more kids in her class with a range of special needs. It was a preschool/kindergarden class. I don't know what special needs Yondell has but he was really energetic. There was a toy where you could stack blocks on top of each other but Yondell would just throw the blocks across the room and bang the base on the table. He was really sweet. For the rest of the day I just tried to interact with the kids and keep them occupied. At lunch I helped  Erick who is very malnurished, and Alejandra who was nice and friendly.
           At the end of the day Winder came in and gave me a big hug. Then I watched Michal who has Down Syndrome and was in a high chair because he was so young. He would throw everything I gave him and slapped me in the face but he was really cute.
           I am really excited to see what tomarrow has to bring and I cant wait to get back to the school.