Peace Mural!!

The Peace Train Class has ended. Yesterday we had our graduation and unveiling of the Peace Mural and it was awesome.

The kids were especially proud of the mural and, after a brief conversation, decided they wanted to have it turned around with the back out (it's on a piece of plywood) so it would be a surprise to show their families at the end of the graduation. One of my students, Miguel, asked me about 3 times in the middle of the graduation if it was time yet.

The creation of this mural was a huge community effort. It was designed by the first Peace Train Class. Chomingo, a local muralist, transferred the design from the butcher paper to the plywood (and added a few of his own ideas) and finally, the second Peace Train Class painted it.

We only had yellow, red, blue, black, and white paint, so the kids got to mix their colors. That was one of the most exciting things. They chose what color to paint each thing and told me and I (or one of the other teachers/helpers) would be the needed colors on a paper plate and they would mix them together, all the while exclaiming to their class mates "Look! Look! it's turning out orange!" and telling each other what colors they had had originally.

Here are pictures from each step along the way! Enjoy!











after day one of painting:






Showing off the final product at Graduation:


It's home outside the museum! (with the Peace Train!)

RollerCoaster Life

So it has been quite the week of teaching -- particularly in Peace Train Class. Wednesday we had 13 kids in class (the number should give you a clue about how class went... I don't know if I believed before that 13 really is unlucky, but now I'm definitely considering it!). Thank goodness one of our helpers was there! She came, even though a little sick, and just saved the day!. Of the students, 10 were boys (two of whom were guests, not signed up in the class) and 3 were girls. One of boys just really struggles, and asks for attention in many many negative ways -- swearing in English, giving the finger (though usually subtly), or just generally acting. Several of the other boys tend to follow his lead. Then, one of our "guest" boys was right up the same alley. Several of my other students, who tend towards the calm sign were just spun out of control. Though everyone was mostly fine in small groups, it was impossible to do any of our whole group activities.

Class ended. We survived. And I thought... "why did I want to be a teacher? why did I ever think I could do this? I am in SO far over my head!"

Then today happened. We had a small group -- only 6 students, 2 girls and 4 boys (which was normal for the first cycle and small for this time around -- I can't help but think that it wasn't just me that was worn out after Wednesday!). It was one of the most beautiful classes ever. We started by making different emotion faces to decorate the train car of the week (Examine emotions for each solution), worked with potato stamps in one station, did music in another. For our group game/activity in the middle, a helper and student acted out a conflict and then made "emotion sculptures" out of the students to represent how each person in the conflict felt -- and then we brainstormed as a whole class a solution. I stood in for our special guest (who ended up not coming...) who is a muralist who is going to help us paint a peace mural! We talked about guidelines for painting and, with paint on paper plates, used the primary colors to make the secondary colors. Everyone participated, everyone was super engaged. And at the end of the class, in our closing circle reflection on "moments of peace" from the class and "what we liked," more than one student said "EVERYTHING!"

To top it all off, after class I talked for a few minutes with the parents of one my students. This is my little girl who came to the first cycle of Peace Train and then wanted to come back and do it again! In all of the classes since starting May, I think she has missed maybe 2. I was worried that it wasn't as good an experience for her this time, with all of those rowdy squirmy boys, but her parents say that she still looks forward to coming. That one Friday she missed to go on an excursion with her dad and she said "I don't know, maybe I shouldn't go so I can go to Peace Train." ! On top of that, they told me they are seeing benefits and growth in her at home and at school that they attribute to her participation in class. They see her able to focus for a longer period of time and being super creative!

And I remember ... this is why I want to be a teacher. I read somewhere that those moments of regression are important (maybe even good) because they are an inherent part of the process of learning, growing, moving forward.

Some pictures! (in the craziness of this week I forgot to bring my camera to both classes, but here are some good moments from the class so far)

Opening Circle


Learning about Peace Maker Monsenor Romero


Music!


Story Time (using the Story Glove to review the story)


English Lesson!


Drumming with our Special Guests: The Centro Arte Drum Corps


Exercising with Special Guest Colin


Visiting Centro Arte's Museum

here or there?

The minimum monthly income per household in El Salvador is $238 (and the take-home pay is less than $200) -- if you work in retail or services. For those who work in the campo, it is $85.50*.

As my time begins to come to a close here, money has been on my mind. How close have I stayed to my budget, for example. How do I steward those funds I was so generously given a year ago?

These Money Matters were something I was really intentional with when I came down. I wanted to live simply, to live in solidarity, with the people here. To go as deep as I could, to understand more. So I budgeted low and have been able to be faithful to it for the most part.

And at the same time, my experience is so different. In addition to my small weekly allowance, I had funds to go to the states twice while I was here -- to renew my visa but also to see family, friends, my boyfriend. What a huge privilege. Families here are often split between El Salvador and the States, with (usually) the dad sending money back to support his family, while the mom works, raises kids, and takes care of all those household things. Many many people are in the states illegally and so visiting is impossible. Not only did I have the funds to go back, but I had the paperwork!

This week, I have been worried about my budget. How to see all of the people I want to see before I go (many not in Suchi and so requiring money for bus fare, for lunch etc...), little good bye things I want to do for people here. How to live simply, intentionally, and also take advantage of my time here. It's a delicate balance -- and one that strikes me with my privilege, with my resources every time I think about it. Because for me, it is a choice. I do have the resources to do those little things that many many people don't. As I have worried, I have been gifted by little circumstances that have called me back: the boat not running across the lake both days I went to school this week so being given free rides in pick ups by others who were driving to town, a friend taking me out to dinner last night, another friend paying my bus fare on the way to the capitol. I have been relieved from my financial worries by these dollar or twos here and there, but even more struck by this unsolicited generosity and called back to relationships, friendships, the importance of going beyond my own immediate "best" interest

It makes me think of the generosity of people here, their open hearts homes and hands. And it illuminates the real question: how do I live in solidarity (and so simply) and be as generous with all of my resources as my friends here are with theirs. That, I think, changes the questions. It is important to stay in budget, to not spend beyond ones means, but it is also important to give generously.

I was listening to a podcast last week from The Psych Files and it was talking about a study done on the phrase "It is better to give than to receive." They found that people, once their basic needs were met, were happier if they spent money on gifts for others or gave to charities rather than something for themselves.

It's a balance, and a heart attitude. If the woman in the temple could give her last two coins, what can I give? and how?

*http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43355