Behind the library

You will find IAVA, the loveliest school, my dream school. It used to be the prep school for the university, and now it is just another liceo, but one that gives all the IPA students celos. The observatory is available upon request.

Classrooms ascend like stairways to knowledge. But the rooms downstairs are more normal.

This is where Lu and Fer have their practice, with Carmen. The day I visited, they were having their goodbye party and receiving the grades, eating, hitting each other with balloons, arguing about the marks, dancing the macarena. It was great. Every student should be able to go to such a beautiful place to learn.

Paulo Freire's long-lost granddaughter

(Not pictured--Noelia was taking the photo for us.) But she has the same name and the same style of teaching, so it must be true. Her class this morning in liceo 23 was a model of openness and respect, and would have done her long-lost grandpa proud. The students actually asked me to stay an extra hour, which I was planning to do anyway, but it was nice they wanted me there. And many of them got up the courage to introduce themselves, so I didn't have to talk the whole time. There are even some whose favorite music is not cumbia!

Update:

Here's another of Noelia's groups, this time in 4th at liceo 9. They were shy today, but according to her they usually are very talkative. I couldn't help showing off a picture of the chivito I had for lunch, as cliche as it was, but only after we talked about more important things like our families, where we live, and the possibility of traveling with an exchange program or grant. It was the last class of the day, so I was afraid everyone would get hungry, but I am hopeful that one day we can all achieve vegetarianism, if we really try. Until then, it is great to be a carnivore in the Republica Oriental.

After a bike ride on the rambla or a sort of bittersweet last day at the IPA, nothing hits the spot like Chivitos Marcos and a visit to the high schools.

Whirlwind tour

That blur may be the effect of how fast the day went, visiting so many classes at school 53, in the Brazo Oriental neighborhood just on the other side of my usual stomping grounds in the Prado.

The blur may also be caused by the alarming number of kids who have been adding me on facebook. I hope this encourages them to keep working on their English. They can also see some of the photos from the places I talk about--Mexico, Spain, Ireland, and the US.

I met a number of famous people, too. The basketball squad and their coach are headed to Peru to represent Uruguay, after beating teams from private schools all throughout the city. Congrats! A blind student I met works on a radio program, and said he'd send me a link. And there was also a pair of young activists from Shoa, educating students in liceos about the Holocaust through the story of Chil Rajchman, a survivor who emigrated to Uruguay. They even gave me a copy of his book, Shh!

Thanks to the teachers, Patricia and Samantha, and all the students for putting up with me. I was getting sleepy by the end of the day, despite my chivito lunch and all their buena onda.

Zoo vs Natural Reserve

Neither--in fact this is a liceo. Number 31, in Malvin.

Just kidding, just kidding! The students weren't savage at all. They debated the matter like decent young scholars, although both sides got competitive and resisted Tamara's suggestions for compromise. And in a likewise civilized manner I gave my opinion of the natural wonders of the US. I tend to pull for the natural reserve, from the animals' standpoint. One student tried to promote zoos for lazy animals. But really zoos are for us, who live in cities and can't always go very far when we want to be in contact with nature. Luckily, we have high schools.

 (photo courtesy of el roodri. viva el facebook)

The liceo visit to end all liceo visits

I don't mean it was the last one. It's just an idiomatic expression that means it was super fun. The bee's knees. The cat's pajamas.  Fun!

This weekend was the end-of-liceo trip for sixth-graders at school 36, and I got to tag along.

We helped the Uruguayan military put up tents for us

and trekked along the hazardous lovely beach of La moza (the waitress?)

Each night closed with a bonfire with all 75 kids and the accompanying teachers and the principal, Margarita herself. The dance party afterward at the boys' tent was optional.

We took the fortress by storm.

Also stole the doggies' hearts.

Made lots of food

And lots and lots of friends.

 

And though the bus broke down just outside the park on the way home, it was fine. We took the time to 'moler cafe, a moler cafe' and play other silly games.

Then did some final star-gazing. We finally got home around midnight, and it was all good, because Monday was a holiday.

Many, many thanks to all the teachers and kids from the IBO who made the trip so wonderful!

All together now!

I just saw the Yellow Submarine for the first time yesterday, in a theater I'd walked past many times without ever noticing, so I was in a great mood even though I had to get up a little bit early to make it to high school 56 on time.

Unfortunately, Veronica, the teacher I was supposed to meet first period, had called in sick today. But I hung out with the adscriptor (secretary-type guy) and the director and librarian, both from Salto, until it was time for the next class.

It made them nervous at first to have their pictures taken. I don't even think about it anymore, but when I was their age, I would have been wary, too. I didn't even like Spanish then, either, which is something I usually tell students, since I can sympathize with them perhaps not liking English so much. But look how friendly we all are! And so it shall be with English as with the pictures--they'll come around.

The school is small, so the kids all know each other and like to wave to their friends from the upper galleries. And the cantina has some really good ham and cheese croissants, one of my favorite snacks from when I was in school.

This is out in the patio, shortly before I explained the Cold War and dominated the little tykes at ping pong. Stephen and Gimena, the two teachers I worked with today, are also students I know from the IPA. They'll tell you it's the truth if you don't believe me.

Pride of Sayago

Visiting school 23 last Wednesday was another chance to get to know a place I've always passed by on the bus without ever stopping to look around. Here is Erika, who's done a magnificent job with the ciclo basico students here, reflected in their relationship and the way they work together.

My young friend doesn't actually have flags growing out of her head. Just brilliant English that cannot be contained.

And even the kids in the back of the room got to work on my illustrious biography. Such was Erika's motivational power. I think even Fabiana was impressed.