Mrs. Conti here,
Just wanted to give you all an update on the incredible experience we had today at the Mayan elementary school. The girls all worked diligently to execute the tasks at hand which included digging holes for the see-saws, mixing concrete, and setting the wooden posts in place for the see-saws.
The other half of the girls worked on sewing bean bags for the bean bag toss game we'll be making tomorrow. I think the objective of this trip has already been acheived, in only one day of work, and I cannot be more proud of the Pegasus students. We still have several more days of work, but if they were my daughters, and I hope Mia will experience this one day, I would be incredibly proud of the way they work together, work with the children, and "stretch" themselves in a totally different world than what they are used to.
They were polite, hard-working, friendly and very interested in everything that has been presented to them thus far. We especially enjoyed working with some of the students today. My personal highlight was helping the teacher with a class of 30 students in two speparate grades, probably 2nd and 3rd. I worked with one group while she taught the other. We mostly worked on reading skills.
I promised to come back after lunch and several of the girls came with me, even though it was their "down-time" they still wanted to work with the kids. We are very much looking forward to going back tomorrow.
After we worked at the school we walked down the village road where we are staying and visited the Maya Museum. Very interesting, hands-on instruction and insight into the Maya world unfoled before our eyes. It's a tiny little shack, but much was learned. We made our own tortillas, and if ours "puffed" up it meant we would make a "good Mayan wife", we ground coffee beans, pressed sugar cane and learned all about the different pottery and all of the natural resources and materials used in the Maya world. The musuem hopes to help the younger Maya generation hold onto their culture, while educating the outside world.
This has been an unbelievably valuable trip on many, many levels that I know will have a profound impact on all of the students and Mr. Hartwell and myself forever.
Just wanted to give you all an update on the incredible experience we had today at the Mayan elementary school. The girls all worked diligently to execute the tasks at hand which included digging holes for the see-saws, mixing concrete, and setting the wooden posts in place for the see-saws.
The other half of the girls worked on sewing bean bags for the bean bag toss game we'll be making tomorrow. I think the objective of this trip has already been acheived, in only one day of work, and I cannot be more proud of the Pegasus students. We still have several more days of work, but if they were my daughters, and I hope Mia will experience this one day, I would be incredibly proud of the way they work together, work with the children, and "stretch" themselves in a totally different world than what they are used to.
They were polite, hard-working, friendly and very interested in everything that has been presented to them thus far. We especially enjoyed working with some of the students today. My personal highlight was helping the teacher with a class of 30 students in two speparate grades, probably 2nd and 3rd. I worked with one group while she taught the other. We mostly worked on reading skills.
I promised to come back after lunch and several of the girls came with me, even though it was their "down-time" they still wanted to work with the kids. We are very much looking forward to going back tomorrow.
5 comments:
Really awesome that you are interacting with the kids on "down time." So where is the report on the temple? Tomiko (the spell checker insists on changing Tomiko to tomato)...Maybe that upcoming current event? Can you send some puffed up tortillas home? They look good! Hey, do I see some kids with shovels digger holes? Tell them I know a place where they can further enhance their new found skills! Mia and I say hello to everyone. we miss the Pamster
Pamster,
It wasn't possible to blog back to you until today. The dialog box wasn't there. WLS must have fixed it. Trip sounds really awesome so far. It is obvious that everyone is fully enjoying the cultural immersion. Tell all the kids I said hello....and that we will continue to be proud of them from afar. Mia will blog when she wakes up
Mrs Conti (aka Pamster), Thank you for the detailed update. I am so proud of the girls and so thankful to you for organizing this trip....and that you and Mr. Hartwell are there with them too.
LOL I just wrote a post and then it disappeared! So if this is a duplicate you will know why :) Anyway as I was saying- WOW! What an amazing trip you are having! Keep the fabulous stories and photos coming! We are so proud of all you girls and grateful to Pamster and Enrique for leading you on such an inspirational and memorable journey. We will make sure to share your posts with the Pegasus at Mammoth contingent. Miss you! xoxoxo
hi! kate here! i was wondering which child looked like me? miss you a lot!
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