Independence Day Mexican Style (9/12-18)

My first day back was pretty typical full of all the normal chores and responsibilities.  Tuesday started off a little rough however when I lost my keys in the morning.  They somehow fell out of my pocket during my 6:30 to 7:20am duties.  They were only missing until Thursday when a kid finally turned them in after I posted a "Reward" sign, but it felt like forever.  English class went well that week with my usual process of movie clips working well with my Grandes A boys.  I also enjoyed a lot of the show Sex in the City, a generous loan from a friend back home.

Friday was Independence Day in Mexico.  September 16^th commemorates the start of the Independence War by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810.  This of course meant that we had a huge party the night before and no school on Friday.  Thursday afternoon was therefore spent decorating the comedor for the dance that night and the kitchen slaved all day making amazing tamales for dinner that night.  We had hot chocolate, an Independence Day court, and a good time.

One of my cuties with her tamale.

Me and Moni enjoying our hot chocolate.

Dan and Andrew showing off the Mexican colors in support of the day.

Becca with her really cool Justin Bieber toothbrush that arrived that day.  It plays two of his songs for a minute to help you brush properly.  Quite the event in volunteers and the envy of all the girls of the house.

The court of the house voted on by the kids.  The school had its own court as well.  Three age groups were represented: lower primaria, upper primaria, and secundaria for king and queen.

The court princes in their mariachi splendor.  Too cute!  The one on the right is one of my English students.

Wesleigh breaking it down with a couple of her girls at the dance.

Independence Day itself was pretty chill and a lot of lazing around.  Everyone was exhausted from the night before and almost the entire house fell asleep accidentally at some point over the course of the day.  The activity that night was a night swim and even then one of my girls fell asleep on my lap.  Sleepy day!

Sleepy 1...

Sleepy 2...

And Exhausted!

Saturday was fish day for secundaria in the morning and mass in the afternoon.  The activity that night was interesting.  All the encargados hid in the school with most of the lights off and then the kids had to come find them.  You won according to how many encargados you found.  The trick was you couldn’t just find someone to claim them; you had to figure out who they were as well.  I didn’t actually get to hide.  I was in my section while that took place.  Instead I ended up escorting a group of chicos around the school and rescuing kids from precarious positions themselves as they looked for their caregivers.  It was an interesting activity, but a lot of fun!

On Sunday, I headed into the pueblo for market day with the girl who found my keys to get her reward.  The afternoon was spent trying to tire the kids out by having them literally running all over the house.  Cena and a little time in section later, my girls were in bed and I was grateful for school the next day. :-D