algunas refleciones

Just a few thoughts to leave you with today.
I decided that I´m very mimada, spoiled here! I have yet to clear my own plates, change my own sheets, make any food, I´ve had dinner in front of the tv more times than I can count. All I have had to do is wash my own clothes which they let me do for free in their house instead of walking to the lavanderia. I am very lucky to be with a family who takes such good care of me. I have a little bit of a cold right now and they made me tea the other night and offered me cough medicine. The culture here is so caring and conscious of everyone else. I wait in the mornings at a bus stop for my ride to school and there have been three different occasions where other school families or teachers have passed by there and offered me a ride because they thought I was waiting for the bus. It will definitely be a culture shock for me to return to the states and it´s much more individualistic society.
Today I went with my host brother to some of the mercados, markets, in downtown. I needed to buy candy for my students for valentines day so we went to a dulces market first. There were all kinds of fabulous goodies there. I got some suckers and some dulce de leche candies for my students. Then we went across the street to the mercado de independencia. It was huge. It´s like going into the exhibition hall at the Wisconsin State fair except this place is full of stuff you can actually use! (Just kidding, that was a cheap shot, I really shouldn´t talk seeing as I will be working there one more summer, so come to the fair and buy a belt! Those are actually useful!) It was incredible. There were stands full of fresh fruit, of meats, cheeses, honey. There were stations where you could order food. There was a giant section of fresh flowers. There were clothes and shoes and even stands that sold all different kinds of herbs. It was really cool. I wish we had more things like that in Wisconsin. I know we have the occasional farmer´s market but this really showed up any farmer´s market I´ve ever seen.
My teacher voice is really getting a work out this week but I think that working with this class is a good challenge for me in classroom management. I am thinking of starting a behavior chart with them with the incentive of the number of stickers the class has by the end of the week earns them that many extra minutes of recess on Friday. I am going to talk to my teacher about it tomorrow. I am very excited for tomorrow. I have never been on the teacher end of a Valentine´s day party and I am excited for the fiesta the school is having for the kids tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes on Friday and I will have pictures of my students to post!