Life is Healthy

Final day up early-ish to see that all the necessary things are taken care of, rooms are sorted and lost clothes are found and returned.

Lunch was interesting with all the teachers wearing wigs, it made for quite a sight. Then after a few more photos we got ourselves ready to for the long trip home. But first Luis and I couldn't resist winding up the Chica's (girls) so we went onto their bus and said from the heart that after this week and getting to know them all we would miss them so much... ...NOT!!
They responded in a typical girlie way, so we fled.

The trip back was long and yet again we got dropped where we didn't expect so yet again we took over local transport. Finally at 9pm i made it to the hostel before it all starts again next week for me at least its with adults for the other teachers its with a whole new bunch of kids, i just hope they enjoy it as much as I'm sure they really did this week - good luck guys!!

Well for the photos I taken over the week check out:
HERE ARE THE PHOTOS and yes it was THAT much fun!!

Don't just take my word for it here are some quotes;
David says: He enjoyed the treasure hunt the most!
Juan says: Painting rocks was TOMA (cool)
2 Chica's say: SWIMMING!!!
another 2 chica's say: the loved the treasure hunt

Martha (camp organiser) says: The night shows, were brilliant
Mario (camp organiser) says: he enjoyed spending his freetime with the kids
Luis says: Playing football as the kids are so competitive
Emma says: Interacting with the various personalities
Helen says: the fashion show was very funny
Siobhan says: the talent show / and the stone they painted for her
Carmen says: she enjoyed the nature walk

Up in time for breakfast, my neck is sore (from sunburn), after two coffees I am ready to take on the world – well at least the kids. It’s off to swimming for lesson one, let the screaming commence! After that we had football and tennis, boy it makes you know how old you really are.
Then after lunch more swimming; I’m beginning to grow gills! In my free time I walked around the golf course, the peace and quiet was remarkable. I took a few pictures and had a go on the driving range which was fun; although I must confess I can’t hit a ball properly for toffee, (where did that saying come from?).

Tonight is a talent show and disco so should be fun. The kids have their own gossip mill and have paired all the teachers up and one teacher with a waiter (although that one is true, let me tell you; well.... they’ve got me at it now, lol).

Anyway the talent show went without a hitch only problem was it took a long time; with 8 groups each doing ‘their bit’ and also a Vaughan Town newspaper which the kids put together – gossip really but very funny then straight after we went into the disco which the kids loved and certain members of the teaching crew got a chance to shine on the dance floor.

Our suspicions about a waiter’s orientation were confirmed, when shown up later that night (enough said). The kids danced until they exhausted themselves, which was great; off to bed, very little messing about, and left us with some time to have adult conversation – it’s been SO long!

Up earlier today although the night was long, at least I got breakfast. We organised a treasure hunt, each tree had a clue attached to it, and the children had to perform a task before they could move on. The final treasure was a teacher with a pocket full of sweets (needless to say all they all loved him, lol.)

The first group went out and for an hour we were out in the hot sun, and didn’t we know it – my forehead was red hot. The kids found the prize and went off happy enough. Group two, yet another hour in the sun for us – now my arms are getting red and the kids really got into the games and completed in 45 minutes. Then a break, sandwiches and refreshments and welcomed they were as we knew we had another 2 hours ahead.

The next group we took out they were even quicker and finished the tasks in 30 minutes – so we played Ball Tick (where you throw the ball whoever it touches then has to throw the ball etc), now I’m not being funny but as Lucia and I were the biggest we were singled out but as I am a better dodger than Lucia, she was targeted far more. What I found very amusing was to watch her plead with 8 year olds “no not again, leave me”

The final group went out and again almost record speed as they too had completed it in 30 mins (they are very competitive) The boys almost lost as they refused to do task 11, because they thought they had completed 12 already – after much heated discussion from their team mates as the other team were ahead at this point they finally completed task 11 and went onto 12; at this point the girls team had already found the item (a smiley faced golf ball) – but the real treasure as mentioned was the teacher with sweets, so the boys ran their socks off and found the teacher!

I was very pleased that mostly all the children really enjoyed the games and got VERY involved with the tasks – from singing happy birthday to Lucia (she loved it really) to building human pyramids.
Later that night we had an amazing fashion show with each group of children playing roles such as superstars or mummies, the groups were extremely creative but one group in particular had an advantage as their male teacher (for some reason) had a vast array of wigs to share with his class. The show had an added bonus with Mario and Luis dressing as sporty ladies – you have to see the photos!!

All in all today has been a most enjoyable day, with plenty of variety for both teachers and students, as a side note I’m sun burnt pretty bad, just taken off my shirt and suddenly all becomes clear (well red really with white bits), all I can say is oOwWW in advance.

Today started later for me not only did I not get a lot of sleep because of the children making noise, going the bathroom and knocking on the walls etc, but also because my cough is still playing up and worse at night when lying down. So I arose at 10am, to no breakfast and kids running everywhere, lol.

The sun was back out the day was set to be very nice indeed. In my free time I prepared for the show I have to perform in tonight – magic and tongue twisters, more on that later when I have done it.

I taken the children to play Tennis and Football – lost at football 5 – 2 because I was on the girls side; really, girls need to learn how to play football! I watched the classes in full swing and they were going very well, although I don’t envy them one bit, having said that they ARE getting invaluable experience with the children.

Okay, we had dinner and it took 1hour 20 mins as appose to the 50 mins usual – we found out that because the boss had gone home they were taking their time and with a room full of 75 children didn’t we just know it! With dinner out of the way, we got down to the fun. Due to time I dropped a few parts of the act and just as well, it reminded me why I don’t perform magic for children.

I did a few basic tricks to get them involved then had their teachers doing tongue twisters – which the children really enjoyed and wanted every teacher including me to have a go at. I was told that I have again started to speak my famous broken English, DOH!

Anyway along comes bedtime, and yet again all hell breaks loose, kids don’t ya just love em!!

This is day one of my Salamanca Training Camp with 75 children aged 9 – 12. Well things didn’t get off to the best start when the bus we all turned up for early didn’t show!
We then had to get a public bus to the school and meet the coach, OK picture the scene – 8 teachers fully laden with bags and suitcases taking up most of the public transport; it was like a day trip for gypsies.

Anyway we finally met the coach and then had a 200km trip to Salamanca. The trip was long but kept busy with the hundreds of questions kids ask from “where are you from” to “how many tattoos do you have”. They are really perceptive and their grasp of English was better than expected. So I looked forward even more to the camp. Rather than teaching on this one I was going as a ‘monitor’ to ensure the children behave and are entertained, that at least I can do.

First lessons start and I survey my surroundings – OK first we are in a prestigious golf course, nice facilities; sauna, jacuzzi, driving range, squash court, tennis court, basketball, swimming pool etc you get the picture it’s the business, oh and by the way the weather is beautiful. When the lessons finished for the afternoon the games began; my bit. We started with a quick throw with the Frisbee, then joined by another group so we played a capture the flag type game (Quake to computer users) only on the field giving them an object to retrieve, that went well only I was on the girls team and they have obviously never played Quake, needless to say we lost 4 – 1.

However the boys had their own dirty tactics by getting four of them to hold my legs and stop me running or even walking, but it was funny. Then just to finish off a three legged race – which in itself took only two minutes but 10 to untie the laces

Then I took them swimming and to the jacuzzi they loved it, bodies diving in the water in every angle possible and some not so, but enjoying themselves; such a small area though the noise was amplified and soon a headache was on the way.

After dinner we had some games, we got the groups into teams – allowed them to pick their own names, shout out all their energy, and tax them one last time mentally with a quick fire quiz, this went down very well I thought, and it appeared all enjoyed it; even the teachers.We finished off with each group having to make a song using the following words – Spaghetti, Helicopter and Bumble Bee, it was like the Eurovision Song Contest all over again, words that make no sense and no real tune to hum to, but they loved the chance to perform.

Looking forward to tomorrow where we do it all over again, but different, that is if we all get through tonight.