Shrove Tuesday Field Trip

Feb 5
Today went much better than I feared! I had 6 students for the day, but 3 moms came on the field trip which helped considerably, especially since one of them was Luis’ mom and the other boys often get into it with him. Alejandro, our other little hyper one with the most charming of smiles and the most formidable of pouts, behaved very well too. My prayers were answered in that tomorrow is only a half day, which actually means some of the kids have to leave at 10.30 to catch their afternoon bus home, and I won’t have class in the afternoon when the kids have the hardest time behaving. We’ll see how it goes.
Our field trip today was to Belize City for a gathering of all the special ed classes from 4 area schools. It was so fun to watch the kids with the other Deaf classes! They were super excited. The older kids have met each other before so it was a happy reunion. Edgar especially was very content to meet a couple Deaf girls his age (he’s very 14) :). Misael was absolutely fascinated with everything. It might have been his first time to Belize City, so seeing the big boats and the ocean when we drove in was totally enthralling.
The physical set-up was far from ideal for interpreting, but we made do. Basically, the kids couldn’t see me and changing that would have taken a big effort, so I decided not to do something that would make me look like the Let-me-show-you-how-it’s-done American. Plus, the kids were happy just to chat with each other anyway. I figured talking with Deaf friends they don’t see often was a better educational experience than barely being able to get an interpretation from me, right? So it was a lesson in knowing my limitations and trying to remember the goal of the environment.
I also got to meet two more of the Deaf guys from Orange Walk that I hadn’t yet met. Elton (who attends the Jehovah’s Witness church now) and Marcel go to Post-Primary school in Belize City, but rode the bus back with us to Orange Walk. Everyone got home safely and happily I think; then I spent an hour waiting with Alejandro for his bus. When he got tired of thumb wars and try-to-slap-my-hand, and kept singing LONG TIME...LOOOONG TIME!, I gave him my cell phone to play with. Camera and calculator were a hit-- woot for technology.

Now Sulmi’s doing her homework and I’m updating my blog.

Elections for Prime Minister are on Thursday, which means no school, and a big party Thursday night or Friday. Should be interesting.

New Vocab Hold it (bathroom)/ Deal with it/ Wait it out: PATIENT. I asked the kids if they needed to use the bathroom before we left. Several signed PATIENT (“I can wait.”)
BELMOPAN: p-L B over heart, m= WOOD (like sawing heart)