Preface Dos: Huelga! I experienced a strike at the Nicaraguan/Costa Rican boarder about 5 years ago. Truckers blocked the road for miles with their semis seeking easier conditions since they cross the boarder so frequently. They stopped traffic for about 8 or so hours. We just waited and waited and waited until finally they allowed traffic to pass. The strike last week stopped traffic again, but by different means and for different purpose. The neighborhood near my school would like the government to fix the road that leads to it. That also happens to be the same road my school is on.
Monday morning I arrive at school like any other Monday--excited for staff worship. Riding to school I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary that would make me suspect anything. (Well, I did see a SWAT truck but that looks just like the National Police except black instead of camo. A little different but it didn't seem like something that would end up affecting me.) I get to staff worship and that's when I first here of the strike. The community is blocking off the road with rocks and lighting tires on fire. About 5 minutes later we're informed school is officially canceled and to head home before the road is completely impassible.
I'm back home before 8:30am. I'm sitting on Facebook (because what else is there to do on a Huelga Day than post a status about it?) when suddenly it dawns on me--this is the day I've been waiting for. I'm off work but there no reason why JCS (my school in Jarabacoa) wouldn't be open. I think it over for a few minutes and quickly realize this would be one of those things I'd regret if I didn't go for it. I ask one of my house mates (apartment mate, suitemate?), she's in and we leave about 20 mintues later. Both if us like to have a plan and know all the details; this had spontaneous written all over it. But worse case scenario we can't visit at the school so we have a few hours to hangout around town. It was a win-win situation. Having lived inn Jarabacoa for 3 1/2 months, I'm plenty familiar with town to wander around for a while (and there's always Yogen Fruz for backup).
Turns out we didn't need any of those Plan B's. We got our buses, got into town, and walked to school without any problems. We stopped by the office and I'm able to head straight to the 2nd grade classes. I poke my head in both classes and ask the teacher it they have some free time for me to visit with the students. Both teachers agreed and give me a time to come back. I visit with some of the other teacher while I wait. The first class only had about five minutes for a break, but that was enough time to take a few pictures. This only had three or so of my students from last year. The other 2nd grade class, which is almost my entire class from last year, had a 30 minutes afternoon recess.
One of my favorite things last year was recess duty days (weird, I know). I loved having a few minutes to just play with the kids-run around, soccer, whatever. That's exactly what I got to do on this visit for their whole recess--lots of running, tag, and races. Of course, that was with my camera in hand the whole time. Each time I tried to take a picture, EVERY girl tries to be in it. It's crazy how quickly they all notice the camera when it seems like most of them aren't even paying attention to me at that moment. There were so many wonderful things I got to do and experience. This was all more that I could have ever thought possible the day I left Jarabacoa last year. Back then, I didn't even know the next time I'd be in this country. Here's some of those super special moments.
1. My 'little mouse' student running up to give me a hug every other minute. I remember last year her tiny, little whisper and cuteness that resembled an adorable little mouse or 'ratoncita'.
2. They Speak English!! My goodness, I was blown away by how much English they've learned since I left. Students who never spoke in English to me last year were able to do so without a second though! I'm so proud of them :)
3. My special needs student--Last year I had a student with some type of Autism Spectrum Disorder, possibly Aspergers. He quickly became so dear to me. I loved seeing his face light up after accomplishing a typical easy task. He would have this look of pure amazement, as if he was genuinely surprised at his ability. Without a special ed department, however, there was also good deal of challenges. Hitting other students, leaving class, refusing to come to class after recess, refusing to do class work, and the list could go on. He lives with his grandma and I don't think she had any idea what ASDs are. I left student teaching without any hope of him getting the help he needs. Pretty discouraging and heart breaking. During my visit last week, I was able to talk with both his classroom teacher and his grandmother. The situation has improved beyond what I could have hoped for. His classroom teacher said he is doing much better with his behavior in school. Talking with his grandmother was almost like talking to a completely different person than last year. The harsh "he's a brat' attitude is gone. She says she knows he has special needs and she's working together with his classroom teacher and the school psychologist. (Last year the psychologist left part way through my student teaching.) I'm overjoyed to hear that he's getting support, especially in a county where special education programs are nearly non-existant.
4. I Speak Spanish!! I left this visit shocked by how many people I had spoken to in Spanish. I just saw them and started a conversation without even thinking about. Many of those conversations where with people I almost never talked to last year, because I didn't speak nearly as much Spanish then and they don't speak English. It's so easy to look at how much I still have to learn and get discouraged. When your in the same places, it can be hard to realize the progress that's being made. It was incredibly encouraging to me to be able to have such tangible (if it's possible to consider language tangible) proof of the progress I've made in my Spanish since returning to the DR in May. :D
5. Timing. God's timing truly is perfect. Especially in the ways it worked out for me to see so many people, things that I never would have been able to plan for. Teachers from last who have moved on to other jobs that I just happened to run into. The ONE student that was absent just happened to be playing outside his house when we just happened to walked by. All those 'just happened's are really God's perfect timing.
Have I mentioned I'm feeling blessed? This story is just one of the many, many blessings since I took this job at SCS. Thank you, Jesus!!
