What a funny, gossipy town!

Yohanna has her period. She was not feeling well at lunchtime so stayed home to rest, and Juan Pablo and Jonathan asked after her, and Eva said, "it's that time of the month." Then Trinidad the Elder comes over to ask Eva for the key to the school, and asks after Yoa, and Eva explains that "the monthly bill arrived." "Ooooh," says Trini. Then Waleska stops by with Trini the Younger, and is worried when Juan Pablo says that Yoa is sick, and Jonathan mouths to her, "she has her period." Waleska suggests drinking boiled water with oregano, and Jonathan counters with a suggestion of chamomile tea. Everyone looks at him. "I have seven sisters," he explains. "I know these things."

I imagine that this scintillating bit of news about Yohanna's current well-being will reach the other side of town by 6 PM. :)

And now YOU know!!!

El Límite

"Siéntate bien, Matías."

"Pero tía, soy muy enano."

"Sit correctly, Matías."

"But teacher, I'm very dwarfish."

HA!

small story about small people

I had class today with PreKinder, always an exhausting experience. My classroom management tool is a poster with an envelope for each student, and three colors of paper inside each envelope: green, yellow, and red. All begin with a green card, and with infractions that can range from making incessant buzzing noises (Pepe) to cutting another student's apron (Jardy) to pulling a chair out from under their neighbor (Matías), they progress from yellow to red. Children with red cards have to leave the room for two minutes. Children with green cards at the end of class (aka, no problems) get a star and sometimes a sticker (5 stars make a special prize). Sooo... today, this funny little kid named Franco, who is extra short and round-headed even for a four-year-old, got a yellow card for the first time. He was unusually loud-mouthed, you see. At the end of class, I refused to give him a sticker, despite the emissaries he sent (fellow students Sergio and Matías) and repeated requests for his "prize," explaining each time that the stickers were rewards for good behavior and that he could earn one next week. After my last denial, as I was hanging the kids' artwork on the wall, he replied, "I'm going to go to the countryside and not come back to school. And I'm going to tell my dad. And my brother, who has a gun." Yikes.

I'm baaaaaaaack!

I arrived in Futaleufú last night after dark, expecting and dreading a cold, empty house where I had to figure out how to hook up the gas and start a fire.  Faced with my supreme incompetence, my complete and utter inability to do anything, I stewed in shame and self-contempt and nerves for the two-hour bus ride from Esquel to Futa.  But lo and behold, when I arrived the house was lit up from within like a happy jack-o-lantern and Eva, Juan Pablo, and Yohanna swarmed out to greet me and help me with my things.  O happy night!  We sat down to a delightful repast of chicken and, you guessed it, potatoes, and talked long into the night, or at least until I almost fainted from exhaustion at 9:30.  I plan to learn how to hook up the gas today.  

Photos from July and details of my wonderful vacation will come, in stages, over this fine weekend.  Chao!