Last night for Spirituality Night we spent some time writing our stories from the day. I thought I´d take the time to share it with you--un dia en la vida.
I woke up this morning at 6:40am. I layed in bed for four minutes thinking about how I really did not want to get up. I finally got up and went to the bathroom. Breakfast was disappointing--oatmeal again. I miss eggs. We ran out on Monday and we haven´t had peanut butter in months. I took the 120 ruta to Casa Ben Lindner. I got the first bus that pulled up. Usually I end up waiting because they are too full and sometimes do not even stop. I arrived early so I pulled out Heart of Darkness and read for awhile. Two cooperatives came to share what they do. Some cultivate land while others run a sewing shop. No one I knew well was at Ben Lindner so I bounced out of there as soon as it was finished. I went straight to work via the 110 and then the 210. I got to work around 11am and was immediately sent to sub for a sixth grade class. I went in with lots of energy and a cool activity in mind. They were not having it. The teacher left no work for them so they were running around and thowing balls of paper everywhere. I then laid down the law, took a couple kids outside to chat, and put things back in order--momentarlily at least. I do not like being a hardass but sometimes it is necessary.
After class I was standing around chatting with some older high school students when I saw a hoard of kids rushing away and circling two kids fighting and rolling around on the ground. I rushed over pushing kids out of the way and grabbed one of the boys under his arms and lifted him clear off the other. He was kicking and screaming, calling the other boy a piece of mierda. I told him to calm down and take a deep breathe. My heart was racing with exhilaration. It felt like a scene from Dangerous Minds.
After I took a minute to calm down I practiced guitar with Fabiola, a senior, and a great student. I am teaching her the song I´m Yours by Jason Mraz and she in return is teaching me some Nicaraguan folk music. I ate rice, beans, and a little speghetti for lunch. I drank some Big Roja pop. Only one kid showed up for English tutoring. He wanted to practice reading English and the only book I had on me was Heart of Darkness. So, he slowly read through a couple paragraphs and we called it quits. I give him credit; it´s not the easiest read.
I came home an hour early. I stared out the window the entire way home. I was bored. When I got home Megan and I went to Papy´s for beer and converastion. I took a cold shower. I layed in the hammock with Jenna. We ate dinner--rice, beans, beets, and bread. I dried the dishes. We had spirituality night and then I went to bed at 9pm. That´s pretty much it. A day in the life.
patrick, i just so happened to stumble on your facebook and then blog, i was wondering how you were. i like the whole part when you had to lay down the law. hows managua? and how did you end up doing this? and it sounds like you had a good end to this night
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