Wed, Sep. 24
I love it here. I can’t imagine life right now without a hug each morning from the kids that arrive ready to swing on trees, glue things on paper and sing ‘Sol Solicita..’ while dancing in a circle. As I begin to know the kids and we remember each others names (I have become Profet Courley..Courtney just seems too difficult for everyone) I feel more and more attached to my work here at the school. Each day I seem to glean more and more responsibility and the teachers are becoming more comfortable putting me in charge of other things. Most of the time I’m just playing with kids, passing out papers, manning the gate or rounding up the troops, but none the less, I’m a part of the system.
On of my favorite students, Kenner Uscho, is one of those kids who is never in a bad mood, always ready to sing at the top of his lungs, and usually has to be repetitively called out for having to much to say or taking too long to return in from playing outside. Often times Kenner is the last child to be picked up and we get extra time to chat or play with the toy truck in the front yard. Although I’ve met Lorena, his twelve year old sister who picks him up, I don’t recall every seeing either of them with a parent or other adult. They usually just walk off together, Lorena talking his backpack and Kenner running along ahead. Today Kenner told me that I should walk home with them as I was getting ready to leave by the time Lorena came to get him. I happily agreed and began the long journey up the hill with the two kids. Lorena, who was fascinated by the fact that I spoke English, told me that she took care of Kenner every day and only attended school on Saturdays. She said that they had a ton of other brothers and sisters but I’m not quite sure where they were, maybe waiting at the house. She liked soccer, math and history, and seemed, for the most part, just like a normal kid. But her ragged clothes and eyes that seem aged beyond her years told me otherwise. I walked with the two of them to their house, said my goodbyes, and headed for my bus that daily takes me back to my other life
I love it here. I can’t imagine life right now without a hug each morning from the kids that arrive ready to swing on trees, glue things on paper and sing ‘Sol Solicita..’ while dancing in a circle. As I begin to know the kids and we remember each others names (I have become Profet Courley..Courtney just seems too difficult for everyone) I feel more and more attached to my work here at the school. Each day I seem to glean more and more responsibility and the teachers are becoming more comfortable putting me in charge of other things. Most of the time I’m just playing with kids, passing out papers, manning the gate or rounding up the troops, but none the less, I’m a part of the system.
On of my favorite students, Kenner Uscho, is one of those kids who is never in a bad mood, always ready to sing at the top of his lungs, and usually has to be repetitively called out for having to much to say or taking too long to return in from playing outside. Often times Kenner is the last child to be picked up and we get extra time to chat or play with the toy truck in the front yard. Although I’ve met Lorena, his twelve year old sister who picks him up, I don’t recall every seeing either of them with a parent or other adult. They usually just walk off together, Lorena talking his backpack and Kenner running along ahead. Today Kenner told me that I should walk home with them as I was getting ready to leave by the time Lorena came to get him. I happily agreed and began the long journey up the hill with the two kids. Lorena, who was fascinated by the fact that I spoke English, told me that she took care of Kenner every day and only attended school on Saturdays. She said that they had a ton of other brothers and sisters but I’m not quite sure where they were, maybe waiting at the house. She liked soccer, math and history, and seemed, for the most part, just like a normal kid. But her ragged clothes and eyes that seem aged beyond her years told me otherwise. I walked with the two of them to their house, said my goodbyes, and headed for my bus that daily takes me back to my other life
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