Our Two Week Adventure Comes To An End

The last two days have been enhanced by celebratory experiences with the students—everything from food at the end (or beginning) of class, thank you comments from the students, presentations, and, most special to me, the songs sung by students for us. I was moved to tears yesterday when the students in one class sang a song for us at the end of class in both Spanish and English, accompanied by a student playing the guitar. The song began “Do you know how much I love you? Do you know how much I care?” These students are sweet and kind; respectful of us, their teachers and each other; committed to learning English and very appreciative of our efforts to help them learn. They are precious beyond words.

After a short morning of classes, our day and adventure at UTEQ ended with a party for the teachers which began with Bill speaking a message of heartfelt appreciation which touched and moved all of us and then us singing two songs composed by Tom to familiar tunes—“Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and “Anything Goes” which the teachers seemed to love. Then two spokespersons for the teachers expressed words of thanks and appreciation and sang “Ceilito Lindo” for us in Spanish. On to sweets and goodies and informal visiting one on one and in small groups with the teachers, where over and over we were told how valuable we are and what a contribution we make to the students. Then back to the hotel for picture-taking and free time before dinner this evening—our last time together as a team.

I end this journal piece by saying that I can’t find a way to put into words how precious this experience has been.