Pink Paraguas (umbrella)

Today started very overcast and chilly and very early again. We felt comfortable with our long sleeve shirts as we left at 6 am to make the bus to the Melotto school. When we were done with our work at the school we did our necessary shopping and thought it wise to purchase an umbrella. In the best Spanish we could we asked for a 'paraguas' (an umbrella) pronouncing it American style. The lady we were speaking to laughed and gave us the correct pronunciation and directions in the mercado in which to purchase one. We wanted small ones that would fit in our bags. At the 'stand/shop' a grandmother and granddaughter were working together. The young one knew where one black umbrella was but couldn't find another. The old women knew every inch of her squirrelly little shop and produced a pink floral one for me. She was very pleased with herself.  It was a wise purchase because it began to rain as we walked from the cemetery to our apartment.

 I know it seems that I am fascinated with the chicken buses but you would really have to experience these to get the real humor of the things. We have been leaving the apartment by 6 am to get to Antigua to catch what I call an 'express' bus. We get up so early because the buses are beyond loaded to the gill slits. This morning one passed us by with people standing next to the driver and down the steps. The ayudante was holding on to the outside of the bus like a spider monkey! He had one hand in a window, one in the door and was clinging to side as the bus tore past us! It is a 25 minute ride into Antigua from here! Some of the people get off along the way but the bus stays pretty full all the way.

We have one more day to put into the Melotto school to finish doing what we can with the junk computers they were left with. We think they will be able to use Word on 4 computers. Two of the computers have very little brains and are the kind that can boot off of a floppy disc! Not much you can do with those. We did this trip on our own even when the 'express' bus said they would not pick us up at the Child Aid warehouse. We said we did not want to go there today but the bus and ayudante just pulled away and continued their trip. So we made a sign that said 'La Antigua' and stood at the bus stop hoping they would pick us up and bring us back (and they did). The alternative bus collection would have been more difficult.

The children at the school are fascinated with us and the computers. We had a group of boys in today during their recess. I opened up a Word document and let them type their names. They got most of their class done and were very pleased with themselves. Next I showed them the Paint program which they thought was fun.
These children have hungry little minds and there is so little being taught to them. They are bright and clever and fun and their little class rooms are so empty it tears your heart up. There are no fancy posters, art centers, book shelves and No books. They can check out ONE book from the school library. The Child Aid staff are doing teacher training with books-- modeling how to interact with a book and a child. How to develop lesson plans. The light bulb sometimes goes off and a teacher will exclaim that she could do such a thing in her history class!

Kristin wants us to finish up with Melotto because she has another school she wants us to work at this week. We will meet her at 9 am on Wednesday to check out the situation there and make plans once we know what we have to work with. We have a couple of batteries to install in the oldest computers at Melotto to help them hold on to their brains. They will boot better after tomorrow.

I bought a fancy Mexican mop today. It is a stick that you attach a towel to the end of it and call it a mop. We keep spilling water on the floor and I wanted to be able to mop up from a standing position. This thing my go home with me disguised as a crutch! Don and I are still discussing this . It would make an excellent conversation starter!!!

Day is done and so am I. Catch you all tomorrow.  Good night