I’m out here for real, FO REAL, this time. I’m out in the Paraguayan campo, living my life out here. I’m starting to work out here, and by work I mean have things to do besides go on runs to look guapa. I’m making plans, starting some projects, and finally doing (a little bit more) than just talking about doing things. I’m riding my bike out here from school to school, I’m watering plants out here, I’m hanging out with cows out here, I’m baking cookies (and banana bread, of course) out here, I’m taking up meditation out here… I think you get it, I’m finally feeling like I actually have my own life out here.
One of the projects that I’ve recently started working on is with the schools out here, and I’m super excited about it. Let me tell you all about it.
One of the projects that I’ve recently started working on is with the schools out here, and I’m super excited about it. Let me tell you all about it.
So remember ASB or Leadership, or whatever type of student body or student council type thing it was that your school had for you back in the days? Well, they don’t really have that type of thing out here, or at least they didn’t use to….
I’m currently working with a counterpart from DEQUENI to start a student council program in each of the schools in my area. We are going into every single grade and teaching about what a student council does, how it works, and how to elect a council for their grade. Every grade (1-6) is electing their own class delegate, secretary, treasurer, and representatives of health, education, and environment. I’m planning on working personally more long term with the health and environment representatives, but for now we are all meeting together. Bi-monthy my counterpart and I go to the school and have a leadership class with the students, hoping to help them develop leadership and team building skills. In the future, we hope to use to these students to address problems within the schools and find solutions, allowing the students to take a larger role in the decision making in the school.
Anyway, we have just started at two of my three schools in biking distance (the two farther ones from my house obviously) and so far I’m really enjoying it. We had our first leadership class with the student council, and it was probably the funniest thing ever. My counterpart taught the students about about the 5 rights every child has in Paraguay, and I led a team building activity afterwards. My activity, which I thought was simple enough, forced the students to plan for a “class trip” aboard a giant boat. They had to practice thinking of the needs entire class, working together to reach an agreement, and preparing for an emergency. They had to choose 15 items to bring with them on the trip out of the set of 30 cards they had with them. I wrote down things on the cards like soccer ball, machete, bread, a doll, a television, rope… etc. Some of the things were for fun while others were for basic survival or in case of emergency.
In the course of the activity, the boat hit a storm, the boat starting to sink, the class had to go into life boats, and then ultimately, they were stranded on a deserted island and the kids could only have 3 items with them. The whole time the kids were LOVING this activity and there didn’t seem to be too much disagreement. When finally, I asked every group what their final three items for survival were, I was actually shocked at their responses. I literally couldn’t hold in my laughter. For example, in one of the morning when we did this activity the 6th graders had chosen to bring 10 L of soda, pillows and blankets. The 5th graders also chose to bring pillows and blanket, along with a cell phone, while the 4th graders chose to bring blankets, 10 L of soda and 10 L of water.
Well, at least they would have something to sleep on during their stay on the deserted island…
I realized in that moment, that maybe a survival class, or possibly a girl scouts/boy scouts club may be beneficial to these kids.
SO although their survival tactics may need a bit of work and although I may have scarred some of them and brought them a fear of boats (one kid told me he would NEVER board a boat and another one told me she hopes they NEVER have to go on a class trip on a boat) the kids all loved the activity.
I look forward to going into the schools and working with their student councils and I can’t wait to see how this project develops and what it may eventually lead to in all the schools.
IN OTHER NEWS:
I taught a science class on the Scientific Method to a group of second graders. That was interesting. I’m co-teaching with a couple teachers for the upcoming science fair, and on my first day, the teacher had to “step out for a minute” and left me alone with them for nearly an hour. Regardless, I am channeling my inner Bill Nye the Science Guy and hoping to blow up lots of things to get the kids into science. They weren’t too amused by scientific method, but I still have hope.
It’s very possible that the next time I update you all, I will be the owner of a kitten and/or a puppy. Not exactly sure what I agreed to in Guarani, but I think it involves some baby animals.
Remember how I mentioned we got some flowers donated to our community center? Yeah, we FINALLY got those planted. Now I have 30 baby trees and four planters full of flowers to water. And I spend all day scaring away chickens. Yup, I’m a crazy plant lady.
Winter is ending, my coconut oil is officially in liquid form. But earlier this week I was so frozen I was sleeping in two pairs of pants, wool socks, a patagonia and a hat, so I guess we will see if the cold is gone for sure or if it comes back. The weather here is a bit like Seattle, one day its a rainy mess and then the next day its clear and sunny. Very bipolar.