Today I was a teacher...I think.

As I sit here smelling somewhat like a sewer, I feel the need to try and recreate for you what was our first day of school. All of us teachers have been preparing lesson plans like crazy this week – lessons on class rules, lessons on sharing about our families, lessons on the bathroom procedure at school. No one ever told us that we wouldn’t actually get a chance to execute the lesson plans. That’s probably because the first day went a little something like this…

First Day of School Pictures

I woke up EARLY this morning because I was so nervous for the first day of school. I haven’t had that feeling since I was a little tot. I arrived at school, and with the help of Charlie, had my room perfectly set up for the little angels that were soon to arrive. Our team had a time of devotion and prayer and classic first day of school pictures, and then one by one our new students flooded the little yellow schoolhouse.

My classroom

I met my students and immediately wanted to adopt at least half of them. I gave them their name tags which each had a different jungle animal on them as my classroom theme is the jungle. I was so proud that each of my 3 and 4 year olds could correctly tell me the animal on their nametag. And that they could “formar en una fila” or “form a line” upon first instruction. I knew the first day was going to be a breeze.

FALSE.

Before school...

After school...

As we enter the classroom, Elijio begins to sob because his mother left. Pretty much your pre-school norm. Is vomiting all over the floor where we need to sit for Morning Meeting a norm? It is in my classroom. Yes, Elijio vomited, not once but twice on the floor of our room and on me (hence my sewer smell). I also came out of this day with someone having peed on my clothes unbeknownst to me...

So, then Yaiqui (which is pronounced Jackie), begins to cry too. I later find out that we have misinterpreted her name (due to thick Dominican accents) and her name is NOT Yaiqui. I will have to change that nametag…as soon as I figure out exactly WHAT her name is.

We actually begin to proceed with our morning. There are crying children at all times, but we must press on. Thankfully, all Makarios staff (outside of the teaching staff) was at school today as well and provided many extra hands for the diaper changing, vomiting, bottle feeding and biting…

Biting…that reminds me. Another one of my angels, David, escaped my class during the morning. Robin and Charlie ran, rather sprinted, after the child who was running towards the river that separates his village from the school. Charlie jumped in the river and grabbed him, only to receive a deep bite on his left shoulder. Robin felt bad for the pain Charlie had to endure, but no worries, she was bitten on her wrist by another child later in the day. Did I say child? I meant angel.

All sarcasm aside, today was nothing I expected but everything I needed. These hilarious and sometimes painful moments were interspersed with adorable smiles and little voices yelling, “Profe! Profe! Yo sé!” or “Teacher, teacher, I know!” Ultimately, I am not in control, and I will be learning that anew as each school day passes. I am more than excited to spend the next school year with these children. They may bite and vomit at times, but they genuinely want to love and hold your hand and give an infinite amount of hugs that can make anyone and everyone’s day better.