Running barefoot on the beach.

6-13-11

Last night another volunteer and I arrived in Tonsupa (the coast).  Before everyone went to bed, four of us played a card game called “Cuarenta” or “40” in English.  It was fun learning a new card game and being with everyone again that I met before.  Today was a very productive, but enjoyable day.  Now, there are a total of 5 volunteers helping out at the school in Tonsupa.  We took a bus that drops us off in the middle of nowhere, and then walk about a ½ mile to the school. It was a learning experience for me as well because I had never been in a classroom setting teaching an English course to 7^th graders and 4^th graders.  The 7^th graders were well-behaved, which I guess is very unusual.  The students had already learned part of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, but I taught them the rest of the song; “Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Nose”.  They seemed to catch on pretty fast.  The fourth graders on the other hand, were very naughty (not as naughty as the kids who I tried teaching in the store).  It seems safe to say it’s just because they’re younger.  We taught them phrases like “What is your name?”, “My name is” etc.  Since we had so many volunteers in one classroom, it was great to split up the class into different groups so that more kids received more attention and we could go around the classroom individually to help with pronunciation of words and what not.  After about 3 hours of teaching English and helping the teachers, we walked the other ½ mile to the “bus stop” (which is just on the side of the road and a bus just happens to pick us up).  For lunch, we ate what resembled dirty rice, chicken, and an oatmeal style juice. After lunch, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, John (the retired doctor)  goes back to the school and has “office hours”, where people from the community can come and tell him their medical problems, etc.  He is not able to prescribe medication, but he can recommend something/give advice on what to do.  Another volunteer and I accompanied John, however no patients showed up.  I think we need more publicity that he is actually coming these days.  Later in the evening (about 5PM), John and I headed for the beach for a run.  I didn’t end up bringing any “running clothes” with me, so I decided to try running barefoot.  It was a huge success!  I enjoyed the sea breeze in my face, while my feet stomped in the salty water with the sun setting in the distance.  It was my first time running since the half marathon, so it was nice to get back into it again, especially running on the sand barefooted! :-) For dinner, we ate rice, shrimp, and some type of salad with home-made pineapple juice.  The shrimp was actually really good and I don’t even like shrimp! Maybe because it was fried? To end the night, we played “Cuarenta” again, which was a lot of fun.  Off to bed for an early rise tomorrow morning!  

Andres, me and Rocio at a bar, where most of us ordered Batidos instead of alcoholic drinks, because they're unbelievably delicious AND less expensive :-)

Cherie, Yukie, me and John.

All of the girls and the owner of the bar, and thus, salsa instructor.  He was not a very good instructor.