10 weeks; 2x/week; 2 hrs/class = 40 hrs!

I just had my English class over for an end-of-class "party" (their word; not mine). Although I was more than ready for the end to come last week, spending 4 hours with the 10 who came most regularly was a blast. [there were 17 in the beginning; 2 had to drop because their school schedule got bumped; 1 dropped because the opportunity to play soccer overshadowed his desire to study English...shocking...; 2 more dropped because they had to go to work; and 3 came regularly but weren't able to come today].

We played Jenga and then ate. It's fun to introduce "exotic" foods here - if people actually decide to try them. Today's adventure was lasagna and then strawberry jello for dessert. I cracked up a few times watching how carefully they chewed and examined these fine specimins of "the West." [one friend all but gagged as she watched me eat a taco one day. I fed leftover Thai food to some youth and they were appalled by the mixture of sweet and salty - although they all agreed that they liked it. Usually when I make something that I enjoy - more exotic foods like potato soup or spaghetti for example - I try to remember to have spare bread and balogna just in case].

We then played other games and joked. I handed them their certificates right before they left. Although some might come to a movie on Saturday, I'm all too well aware that the connections I had hoped and prayed to see didn't develop quite as I had imagined. (stinkin' idealism.) That said...something was built. Some things were taught and learned. I survived my first stint being called "teacher" (even if it first made me cringe and squirm). I learned. And I'm looking forward to the possibility of interactions with these peeps when I'm called Roberta instead of Teacher.