First Month of School

The above picture was taken on a walk through the city with my German buddy Karsten. I haven't taken any recent pictures of the kids at school...but I will. The volcano in the background is El Misti.

Anyway, school is going really well. The kids are behaving well for the most part. The older kids (4th through 6th grades) are learning all the vowels and their many sounds with corresponding vocabulary and have already painted a primary and secondary color scale. The younger ones (1st through 3rd grades) have learned primary and secondary colors in various exercises and third grade has painted a little as well begun to learn the vowels and their sounds.

The real story is behind the scenes working on a comprehensive library proposal and translating it so that CDCA and both Kindness Connection(s) can approve it and send money to get the library going. The proposal for just the library is divided into nine sections such as "Hours of Service", "Library Resources", "Mural Project", "Improving Library Ambiance", "Leadership Program", etc. Each section focuses on the Objective, Implementation, Person Implementing, Evaluation, and Budget. The last two weeks I've written it and made all the appropriate supplementary documents such as the library inventory and check-out procedure list, library flyer/announcement of services, and library membership permission slip for the children's parents. I've started translating it in the past few days and hopefully will be done by early next week. After everything is approved, money can be sent to buy new furniture and books for the library. Its a lot of work but very exciting. All the teachers at the school can't wait to see the translated proposal and see the work begin to make the library a functioning body.

Alan and Joshua are still helping out at the school. They are looking into how the grounds can be leveled for a playground and volleyball court. Alan is writing the part of the proposal for the playground and sports areas. Things are moving along.

Semana Santa has been amazing in Arequipa so far. Last Friday night I went walking around the city with Karsten and we ended up in the Plaza in front of the church where they had all 13 stations of the cross set up for the Procession done every Friday during Lent. It was so exciting to watch all the people come out and see all the beautiful decorations. Karsten is a theology Masters student in Germany, so he took lots of pictures while I participated in the ceremonies:)

Last night Josh and I went to the church at the Mirador de Yanahuara and asked around about Good Friday ceremonies. We found out that tonight there is going to be a Stations of the Cross Procession starting at that very church at 7pm to 12 other churches (one for each station). We plan on participating in the Procession...it should be very interesting. I think Karsten is joining us as well.

I promise to take some pictures of the kids for next time...