As mentioned in a previous post, each week day J. and A. would walk up a series of steep cobblestoned lanes to get to their elementary school, Colegio Público Gómez Moreno.  In a matter of months, they were fluent in school-yard Spanish, had progressed academically, and were attaining a cross-cultural pedagogical experience.

Compelled to hold unintelligible sign.

Does not yet understand message he is promoting.

The walk up….

…and up….

….and up….

…to get there.

A.’s 5th grade class.

Months later, sign is easy to read and understand.

Throughout the school year, the comedor remained a place of noise, confusion and interesting lunch options.  The kitchen staff made healthy, organic fresh food every day.  The children who ate it remained unimpressed.

Wonderful Spanish meals were offered every day.

A lot was accomplished in a small space.

Unable to properly capture chaos and anxiety of lunchtime.

Seat choices were limited.

If you turned away, some kid might put her or his food on your plate.

The staff changed the seating arrangements every couple of months.

You had to stay until you finished your meal, even if you hated gambas.

Mesa 9 turned out to be a good arrangement for a certain A. and R.

Lavado de manos was strongly encouraged prior to eating.

Learning took place in all manner of shape and form.

Learning through writing and drawing.

In the class room.

On the school buidling.

On overnight trips.

Learning by playing.

Via cooperation.

Through joy.

On bulletin boards.

Learning by sitting.

By remaining still.

With positive results.

At the end of the school year, any pretense of study was abandoned as students, teachers and parents were ready to celebrate the coming of ¡Felices Vacaciones!  After-school parties, in-school parties, and spontaneous gatherings ruled the day.

Home made treats to celebrate the end of the year.

A. & R. whooping it up.

Random children.

A school assembly marked the close of the semester:  dance, music, poetry and drama all took place in a raucous gymnasium with poor acoustics and ecstatic displays of joy.  Good-byes were heartfelt.

The director of school emcees the event.

J. recites Rafael Alberti’s “Se Equivocó La Paloma”*** while dressed as Sancho Panza.

J.’s classmate F. is also dressed as Sancho Panza.

Dancers and performers wait stage left.

A. had a speaking part…..

….but it was difficult to hear her lines.

In the end, it didn’t really matter.

J. says good-bye to Muestra Auri.

Josephina, the Spanish tutor, says good-bye to some of her ex-pat students.

A. and M. say good-bye to Muestra Maria Angeles.

***  “Se Equivocó la Paloma” by Rafael Alberti

Se equivocó la paloma,
se equivocaba.
Por ir al norte fue al sur,
creyó que el trigo era el agua.
Se equivocaba.
Creyó que el mar era el cielo
que la noche la mañana.
Se equivocaba.
Que las estrellas rocío,
que la calor la nevada.
Se equivocaba.
Que tu falda era tu blusa,
que tu corazón su casa.
Se equivocaba.
(Ella se durmió en la orilla,
tú en la cumbre de una rama.)

“The Dove was Wrong” by Rafael Alberti

The dove was wrong.
The dove was mistaken.
To travel north she flew south,
Believing the wheat was water.
She was mistaken.
Believing the sea was sky,
That the night was dawn.
She was mistaken.
That the stars were dew,
That the heat was snowfall.
She was mistaken.
Your skirt your blouse,
Your heart your home.
She was mistaken.
(She fell asleep on the shore,
You at the tip of a branch.)

La graduacíon de los estudiantes de sexto grado signified the completion of all activities for the year.  More performances, more cervezas, and more clapping marked the occasion.

Parents, teachers and students offer their rapt attention.

A discerning critic surveys the scene.

Daniel receives his diploma!

By the end of the school year, even D. and M. had something to show for their efforts.