Soy una maestra

The way my class schedule is here in Sevilla makes it so I have just one class every Monday and Wednesday and three on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this makes for some very dull mornings on Mondays and Wednesdays because my friends all have class until after lunch. While it was still a little chilly out I would try to fill my morning with window shopping, this was a bad plan because I usually would end up buying something, so to save my bank account a little pain I decided to volunteer at an elementary school here. 

The school I volunteer at is a Catholic elementary school, called Colegio Sagrada Corazón Esclavas del Divino Corazón del Jesús, sounds like a happy name right? Since it is a Catholic school all of the kids wear navy/green/white uniforms, the little girls always have bows in their hair and it is beyond adorable. My job at the school is to help out in an English class. Originally I was supposed to be helping in a classroom with kids who were about the age of fourth graders, however, there was a change of plans and I ended up in "infantil" or kindergarten. I don't regret the change at all, they are the cutest kids! It's funny too because I am at least three feet taller than all of the kids and a good foot and a half taller than their teacher. Have you ever tried to do the cheek besos with someone who is significantly shorter than you? No? Well it's not easy. 

The kids are so little that the are unable to read and write in English, so all of their tests are oral. On my first day in class they were testing on their knowledge of "eyes", "ears", "nose", "mouth"and "happy", "sad", "tired", "mad". They stood up in front of the class and said the corresponding word as the teacher pointed at the body part or made the emotion. It was funny to me that even after seeing many of their classmates go they could still get the words wrong. Another thing that surprised me was that the supposed English teacher can't really speak English, in fact it is much easier for me to communicate with her in Spanish, but she knows the basics and they're so little I suppose that is all they need. 

Some of my favorite things I've gotten asked (all in Spanish of course) are: 

• "Can you talk?' I'm not sure if they meant in Spanish or English but it was still cute. 
• "This is my book, Sofía la golondrina" that means sparrow, and it wasn't a question but she was so cute showing it to me.
• "Teacher Yani" That is how they pronounce Jenny. 
• Lastly, two little girls brought me flowers in from recess, again not a quote but so precious. 

I feel so lucky to have found this volunteer opportunity while in Spain because I really feel like it fills in a little something of what I had been missing without even realizing it. I had subconciously been missing volunteering at Sherman Middle School, back in Madison, where I help 6th grade non-native English speakers with their homework. I can't wait to go back and use my new Spanish skills there! While the two experiences are drastically different I feel appreciated and like I am making a difference at both schools, which I love. 

I know this was a slightly boring post but I hope you all enjoyed it anyways! Nos vemos! Un gran beso :)