Tuesday, January 15th Journal

Tuesday (January 15, 2013)

Journal Entry

Today I went to a school in Harmons, grades 1-6. I volunteered to be in a 5^th grade classroom.

When I got there, the teachers had switched rooms to teach different subjects, so the first teacher I met was actually not the 5^th grade teacher. The students were working on a worksheet about finding the perimeter. Then the 5^th grade teacher came back, and talked to the class about lightning.

After learning about lightning, she took the students outside to have class, which I was excited about because the view behind the school was absolutely incredible. The students were learning and talking about differences in weather and climate between the Caribbean countries. Tony (Jamaican photographer hired by Won by One to take pictures of us all week) came to take pictures, but could only take one of me sitting in front of the class. No students could be in it, which is disappointing.

Kerstyn, Rachel L., and Sawyer came outside to get me to go eat the lunches we had packed. We ate in the school’s “teacher’s lounge” and shared our morning experiences in our classrooms.

After lunch I went back to the 5^th grade classroom. The teacher had me write some questions out of a workbook about collective nouns. Then she asked me if I could teach them, and I said yes, and she left the room before I could ask her any questions! So since I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I just let the kids ask me questions about myself!             

They asked how old I am. I made them guess, and they said 19 or 20 (one kid said 100). They asked where I’m from. When I said Missouri they asked if I’m from Joplin, and I said no, but I’m sort of close to there! They asked if I live with my parents, and if I have a pool at home. Finally the teacher came back, had them complete the assignment, had me grade it, and then asked if I would mind taking the kids outside for P.E. I said sure, and she told me to have them race each other. When we got outside, they all raced each other a few times, then played some sort of game on their own.

One of the girls asked if I wanted to sit down on the grass with her, so I did. When I did that, almost all of the other girls came and sat down with us. Then the boys joined too. They were all fascinated by my tattoo. They asked what is was, how it got there, if it is under my skin, if it will ever come off. I said it’s a tattoo, it was put on with a needle and ink by someone I paid to do it, yes it is under my skin, and no it won’t ever come off. I was very surprised that they acted like they had never seen a tattoo before!

They also asked if I am leaving Saturday, and I said yes, I am going to Ocho Rios on Saturday.

Tonight was amazing, and really reminded me why I am here, and why I should be here. So great hearing about other people’s days and life stories that have molded people into who they are today. Tears all around, especially at girls’ night, while the men had courtyard time, playing dominos with the local men of Harmons. Leighton shared her testimony, then others shared very deep stories about things that have happened in their lives. Very powerful and amazing to watching people open up, and become vulnerable, while building relationships with each other.

After girls’ time was over, BK and I played the game “Signs” for a little bit with some of the boys, until BK then started a card game called “Mao.” It was Rob T., Zach N., Trent, Logan, BK, and I playing, and it was a lot of fun!