You may not believe the following story, but I swear that it all happened this afternoon.
As so often happens, I was informed, on Wednesday, that there was a meeting with the parents of the school after classes finished. I was supposed to go to town to make copies of exams, but I just assumed that the meeting would end after an hour or two and I would go to town later. I didn’t have anything to contribute, but in case the parents had questions about grades or exams, I wanted to be able to answer them.
Sure enough, the meeting didn’t start until 40 minutes after it was supposed to. Everything was going along well until a certain mother, snapped at my host mom. She argued that her son was being treated unfairly and that it was somehow the fault of my director, who coincidentally does not ever teach him. The woman only moved down here a few months ago and her youngest son got kicked out his first week for fighting. I don’t think that she’s a particularly good role model for any of her children, but I don’t see them at home, so I can’t really say.
A lot more accusations started to circle the room. Voices rose and people started taking sides. Then, before I knew it, my host mom was choking back the tears. I was pretty upset, but my Spanish still isn’t good enough to debate the way I would like. Luckily, some of the mothers in the community came to her aid and made it clear to this “new” mother, that my host Mom goes above and beyond the call of duty for these kids.
It was at this point, my host mom invited all of the parents present to come and teach for a day. To see what she deals with and to see how little respect the children have for all of the teachers at the school. I chimed in and said that the kids have no respect for each other, no respect for us and no respect for animals. This brought up a sensitive issue because one day some of the kids had found a birds nest with two baby birds and had run around with the babies and the nest, sending the mother bird and the babies into a frenzy.
Then after we got off of that subject, a little girl named Patricia, who should still be in elementary school but isn’t, was accused of doing stealing paper and calling one of the kindergartener’s dads a cranky old man. Both the cranky old man, Patricia and Patricia’s mother were there, which led to another yelling match.
Suddenly, from the corner, came a crash and my student’s VERY pregnant mother went into a seizure. I was sure that she was going into labor except that she was shaking. (The woman has looked ready to pop since August, to be perfectly honest: every time I see her still pregnant I’m surprised.) Her 3rd grade daughter started crying in the corner while the woman’s sister and Mother-in-law (both parents at the school) tried to bring her back. The seizure stopped but she was still unconscious. However, the most amazing thing is that, after the seizure stopped, the meeting carried on as if nothing was happening in the corner.
If it was up to me, I would have send someone to call for an ambulance immediately, but as we remember, there is no cell phone service and the phones haven’t been installed yet. So after the woman had been unconscious for about 15 minutes, it was finally decided that she needed to be taken to a hospital. Of course, no one had a car and we couldn’t call an ambulance, so 3 of the town fathers had to carry her up to the highway, where they had to flag a truck to take the woman into town. She is still in the hospital, but I am under the impression that she is okay now.
I had to remind myself that I was in a Parents meeting in Costa Rica as opposed to an episode of the Jerry Springer show. It was a scary and unforgettable afternoon, but I’m very glad it’s over. The parents seemed concerned that I was leaving before graduation and several have invited me over for birthdays, special dinners, coffee and most surprisingly, whiskey. I can’t believe I’ll be home in a month.
I went to Buenos Aires (a city just north of me) on Tuesday and ran into Mikki Jean on the bus. We spent most of the afternoon making copies, sending mail and waiting in lines. It was a pretty splendid afternoon. She inspired me to make Rice Krispies treats with my family and we have decided to have a barbeque with our families before we go.
The Rice Krispies treats were a huge hit. I am going to make them again in a couple of days. I think I’ll make macaroni and cheese next, but I kind of want to make Tacos. I feel like that would be a fun thing for my family. They always ask me what typical American food is and I never have a real answer for them. That’s as close to real Californian food as one will get.
In other news, I have confirmed for the World Teach Chile Program next year. It seems like the right thing for me to do. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do. It’s only a 9-month program, so I won’t leave until some time in March. I’m probably going to be placed in Santiago because that’s where most of the other volunteers are. To the best of my understanding, I’ll probably lead a couple of the orientation meetings for the group, which should be an interesting experience, considering I’ve been teaching to Children and will now have to teach a group of my peers. (Yikes.)
I’m very afraid of the cold, but I’m sure I’ll adapt somehow. Luckily, mail and phones both work in Chile. Now that’s my idea of a developing nation. All this really means for you is that we have to cram in our time together.
If you didn’t come to see me in Costa Rica, you are going to be highly pressured to visit me in Chile. Sure, it’s not the jungle, but I’m sure we’ll find something worthwhile to keep ourselves entertained. That’s all for now. See you in a month.
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