Just after 7am I walked across campus under my umbrella through mud and puddles. Normally at this time it's humid and the school is buzzing with students starting their day. Yesterday it was it was positively chilly (for Santa Ana, anyway) and there was not a soul in sight. I ran into one of the kitchen staff and asked if class was cancelled (this is Colombia after all, it wouldn't be unusual for schedules to change.) She looked at me strangely and said straightforwardly that no students had arrived yet because it was raining. Of course, it's raining, why didn't I think of that? Apparently when there is heavy rain, the students arrive late, if at all and today was no exception. I taught my first class to one student, and we were later joined by three others. I wondered if I really should have just stayed in bed after all.
It was in my next class that I had a moment which made my day. While my five students were working quietly, my co-teacher signalled for me to listen to the Jardin (3-5 year old) class next door. I looked over and saw a small group of students playing. 'Yo soy la teacher!' 'I am the teacher!' one said, and another protested that they too, wanted to be the teacher. Once they had decided on a teacher she used the greeting that I start with in every class, 'Good morning, good morning, good morning to you. Our day, is beginning, there's so much, to do, so, good morning, good morning, good morning to you.' I proceeded to listen to them act out my English class, sing songs that we have learnt, request video clips that I have shown them and say things that I say. It warmed my heart that these tiny little people, when left to their own devices, were pretending to be in English class and were using the vocabulary and songs that I have taught them.
It's often a frustrating experience teaching here and can be difficult to see past the challenges that come up each day. It's easy to question ourselves and what we do. 'Am I making a difference?' 'Are my students learning?' 'Am I appreciated and is what I am doing worthwhile?' Sometimes it's difficult to step outside of our own thoughts and see past the questions and doubts that we have. Although only a tiny thing, what I heard yesterday made me incredibly happy. It helped me to reflect and see past all of those questions and doubts and feel really proud to influence and have an impact on these kids. I'm so glad I got out of bed.
Some of my little Jardin students.
