Nicaragua 2013: Monday, April 15: Day 2

Over view:
Today we got our first change to work with the kids. Each of there faces will remain in my mind for ever. I started out working with the preschooler, working with Francisco, Victor, Jose, and Ever. In that classroom were two other kids but I didn't work with them, or learn their names. Francisco cried for the first 45 minutes of they day, which made me sad because he was just so cute that I wanted to hug him, even though he pushed me away. Eventually he became more comfortable, and stopped crying. Almost immediately after he arrived, I grew attached to little Jose.
Nathaniel and I worked with the preschoolers for the first 4 hours of school. We played with the play-doh, small tambourines colors and color books, and other things to keep them busy and happy. Around lunch time the kids doing the home visits arrived, and Nathaniel and I, along with some other kids, switched which class room we were in. I moved along to the arts and crafts classroom. I wasn't certain what they were doing at the time, but I know that from the time I arrived to the time I left, all we did was talk.
At the beginning I was talking with Dayana. I couldn't figure out which disability she had, and forgot to ask. We sat and talked, and I was able to put my Spanish to the test through a conversation with someone who knew very little English.
In the center of the room, where Gena was siting, she was working with some of the kids who signed. I went over to get a better idea of what they are doing, and found out that once the kids meet you a little, they gave you a sign. Gena's was the "G" letter, followed by moving your finger over your lips. Mine became the "M" sign, followed by tapping your head, because of my bandanna.

Lessons:
Throughout the day, I learned two lessons. One I learned from the working with the students of the preschool class, and the other from Diana. The students showed me that sometimes all you need is a little freedom Jose could have walked, had he not been told that he needed the hand to help him, and some of the other kids seemed like they were full function, but had never been allowed to do anything. The other lesson I learned was that sometimes you had to look close in order to find the problem. I couldn't tell the real problem with Diana, but due to the fact he was at the school, I know she had one.