So as a change of pace, I figured I'd tell you all about our community outreach projects, instead of continuing to just talk about fish...
On Saturday we had our first day of community cutreach at the center, where we invite the kids of Cockburn Harbor over for swimming lessons. They were so excited that they started lining up outside the gates an hour before the lessons started! Since only a few kids can be in the pool at a time, those of us who weren't teaching had to keep the rest of them occupied. I worked at the crafts table, and helped kids make Valentines and tissue paper flowers. This description probably makes it all sound more structured than it was, we basically just had thirty or so kids under the age of 13 running all over the center. Favorite quotes from that afternoon:
"DEER live near you? I thought they weren't real!!!!!!!!" -after asking me what animals live near my house
"You can see the veins in your arms! You're an ALIEN!" -after tracing the blue veins in my arm and trying to count my freckles
Yesterday we all went into the local schools, and I went to a kindergarten class to read stories. Never will I say that the kids I substitute for are crazy again. There were only twelve kids in the class, but it felt like at least 50. From the moment we walked in it was a stead stream of yelling, pushing, grabbing, hitting, and crying. We finally just took them outside and let them play on the playground, where at least the open space made them seem a little quieter! That being said, they really were adorable. When the teacher opened the door they all came running over and hugged us, and sat in out laps as we (attempted) to read them stories. I learned that long hair is magic wherever you go, and the little girls began to put little braids all over my head and declared they were a "saloon." We also sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells about 50,000 times, accompanied by very enthusiastic drumming. Apparently Jingle Bells never goes out of style, even in February. As exhausted as I was by the end, I still can't wait to go back next week. Especially now that I know what to expect!
On an unrelated note, I've been declared "close enough" to be a ginger. I'm kind of psyched about it.
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