Fantastic Progress

Team Journal Entry for Wednesday, March 9, 2016

We gathered for Tatiana’s wonderful breakfast at the terribly early hour of 7 a.m. The Message of the Day was from Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Roberto gave a fabulous presentation of our activities on Tuesday. Then it was off to Colegio for our third day. We climbed up to Sonia’s ecotourism class. It is her first year at Colegio, but she inherited a wonderful classroom. It is decorated with wildlife charts and masks and other great things like a world globe. There were about eighteen students in the class and we introduced ourselves. Then off to our day with the students. Robert, Barb, Sharon, and I went to continue the flower bucket project. The buckets once contained ice cream but now they are being sanded, painted, and filled with flowers.

Volunteers and students planting together

Bill sifted the dirt for the flower pots with the other students. He attacked the big hill in front of a row of classes later, making it fit for more flower pots. “I had the best experience with students today — they worked hard and responded, ” Bill said. One of the girls, Angélica, spoke English very well and her friends came over and talked to Bill as they worked.

Barb was off to Sergio’s class where he asked the words for underwear. He showed her his cell phone and asked about the clothing — underpants, panties, jockeys, and bikini underpants.

Barb painted a lot of buckets and organized the operation later. Then, Maggie and Barb went to the hardware store for more paint and brushes. They bought red, yellow, green, and lavender paint; five paint brushes, and turpentine.

Robert worked with the buckets and the girls loved him because he took out his cell phone and played music that they liked. He got into the bucket decorating and made many beautiful designs.

Volunteer Barb in conversational English classes

Sharon placed the flower pots and supervised the digging. In class, she had the kids draw pictures of themselves and learn body parts.

I was in Ílfido’s class in the morning. He had flash cards with English and Spanish. I pronounced some of the words and talked about their meaning, synonyms, and antonyms.  He had me emphasize the importance of learning English. I explained that it is the international language and all business is conducted in it. Some of the students had attended private school and had a really strong grasp of English.

We had great nachos for lunch. It was back to our buckets in the afternoon. Fantastic progress was made and many more are in the ground near the entry to Colegio. I went to Sergio’s class in the afternoon. We played Tumbler so the students would know their right and left hands and feet. The winners received Raisinets. Then onto an English lesson. After school we headed to CASEM, the cooperative of women artisans from Santa Elena and Monteverde. Dinner was a delicious a pasta primavera. During dinner we saw a sloth crawling along the electric wire.

Pura Vida.

Entry submitted by: Vicki

Message of the Day – Vicki: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss

Volunteers, teachers, and students standing proudly with their turned tire