Audios to Day One

I woke up on Saturday both the most excited and most nervous I can ever remember being. I woke up on Sunday nervous and happy. And now I’m sitting here more amazed than I’ve ever been in my life.

I don’t know what I was expecting when the kids pulled up in the van, but whatever it was, it wasn’t what I got. The second the first van arrived I had arms wrapped around me and tiny little fingers laced in mine. As could be expected there were some shy students that didn’t open up right away, but I was shocked at how many of the kids weren’t shy at all.

Once all of the students were in their classes and the greeting was over, I headed down to Ms.Rosa’s first grade classroom. At first I didn’t know exactly what to do. There were 8 students and a teacher all speaking Spanish faster than I would have ever been able to follow and not a translator to be seen. I tried my best to answer all of the teacher’s questions, but many times they had to repeat themselves. 

After about half an hour of this, I remembered the phrase that probably saved today from being a total disaster, “Despeacio por favor.” The phrase simply means “slow down please,” but once I started using it I realized I really did understand the majority of what I was being asked to do.  I was able to help the teacher, Ms.Rosa, grade the students homework, then I was able to work one on one with three or four of the students. 

I worked a lot with a little girl named Odili. She is very smart and very sweet. She was barely willing to tell me her name she was so shy, but by lunch her little fingers were laced with mine as she pulled my toward the cafeteria. I worked more with Odili when we got back from lunch, but I also worked with her twin sister Alicia and two other little girls, Natalie and Susan. I helped them write their cursive vowels until the final bell rang. 

I walked out of the classroom with children still hugging me. One by one they all climbed into the van and waved as they drove off. Today was my first day at Escuela Especial, but I already have made memories I will never forget. 

My day got even better when I got into the car to go to the homes I would be visiting with Natalie, Ella, Whitney, and our translator Eletta. We visited three homes and were lucky enough that all three were in surprisingly good situations. We met Angelica Maria Orteez, Steven, and Carlos. All three are loved and cherished in their homes and are three of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. We were welcomed with open arms into their homes and they willingly told us any details about their past that we asked for.

I can’t wait to see them all again on Friday at the party and I can’t wait to help in Ms.Nora’s class for autism tomorrow. Any doubts or fears I had are vanishing before my eyes as the trip is finally beginning, and I’m loving every second I’m spending with these kids.