Carnaval

Conversation upon seeing one of my first graders running in the hallway.

"Alejandro, come here," I said, motioning with my hand for him to return toward me.
"Es que...(it's that...)
"Come here."
"Es que...es que...tenía que...el profe me..." (it's just...it's just...I had to...the teacher let me"
"Alejandro..."
"Ah...(light bulb moment)...I no run...sorry teacher Erica."

Yay! No run, in English, from a very very very out of it first grader. It made my day. I'm such a meanie; I still made him go back and walk.

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Yesterday the school was chock full of strange characters: clowns, hippies, vampires, Roman soldiers, butterflies, princesses, cooks, etc. You would think that you had entered a strange new world. The kids were ready to celebrate Carnaval from before the school day began. I thought about staying for the celebration after school, but after a very full day, I just wanted to go home. I worked all Friday instead of the normal half day, making up hours that I had begged off to travel. The 27-2 of March I'm going to be in Sevilla with Angelita, staying with her son and his family. At dismissal, the parents, coming to dress their kids in costumes and to see the parade and celebration, filled the entryway to the brim, forcing me to elbow my way to fresh air. Even though I had left the school and my students behind, costumed kids were everywhere...in the grocery store, in the train, walking to the bus. What fun...the more innocent side of Carnaval. During the morning, the fourth-sixth graders delighted their teachers and classmates with songs and poetry (complete with noise-makers, masks, and party hats). One hour less of teaching for me. The first graders behaved better than my fourth graders and we enjoyed ourselves learning about the circus and singing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes." During my lunch break, I taught my Friday afternoon private class and grabbed a sandwich to eat in the park in the 20 minutes that remained before classes at the school started again. Me on one bench, and a homeless man sleeping on a nearby one. Perhaps that's why one man walking by gave me a strange look and muttered. Excess of food and joviality and homelessness...what a juxtaposition.

Did I tell you I got my residency card? Well, I did, about a week ago. It expires in September, when I entered the country. Have a good day everyone!