Back to school, back to school

Welp, we opened our school on Monday! We only had 10 kids the first three days, but as of this afternoon we have filled all 15 slots. If you don´t already know, Loryn and I have a class of 3 and 4 years olds, which isn´t really my preference (seeing as my interests lie in secondary education) however it is very important that these students adopt practices now to become successful students later on. Basic skills such as sitting in chairs, remaining on a schedule and wearing shoes for an extended period of time are foreign to these children. Our main goal is to get them accustomed to a classroom setting and teach them basic listening skills. It is common practice here in the Dominican for parents or neighbors or siblings to give kids what they want when they throw a tantrum. To them it´s easier to give in than to discipline. (They mainly discipline by hitting.) To each their own, however, our program refuses to reward children when they act up in class. Loryn and I are both pretty good, due to our experiences in child care, at tuning out kids tantrums. It is when you acknowledge them that they continue to carry on.
So anyhow, the school is going as well as we expected and we are thrilled. With the exception of no bathroom, we are sitting pretty. However, this does leave my afternoons pretty open. Ive noticed that I get far more homesick when I have downtime. So, after talking with a teenager of the family we eat lunch with, I think I have decided to start some type on English language tutoring for teenagers, ones both in school and drop outs. Loryn doesn´t seem to have much interest in this, however, it is something I would love to do more on my own. I´d love to establish more of a personal identity in these villages.¨However, there are other opportunities in the villages for an afternoon adventure...a family asked for an English tutor for their children and the local school in Pueblo Nuevo wants Loryn and I to work with those kids afterschool...however, they are still younger than my personal interests lie. Who knows, but I have to start thinking about what I want to do. It´s exciting to think about and I think working with Dominicans without Loryn or Chris will help me with my spanish in a lot of ways.
Well that´s what´s going on for now. Still using the motorcycle as my main form of transportation. Next I wanna master a stick shift when I come home. (Someone tell my brother in law that I´m coming for him :) ) Oh, last night I wrote down in my diary a list of things I won´t be doing while I´m down here...here´s a few. 1.) Taking showers with running water. 2.) Wearing make up. 3.) Styling my hair. 4.) Drinking alcohol. 5.) Getting Frisk. 6.) Having deep conversations in Spanish (not this trip anyhow, I suck too much) 7.) Use the phone without worry that the connection will cut out. 8.) Wearing a seatbelt.  And there are more...but thats a taste. Okay well I love you all. It nice to know we are sleeping underneath the same big skyyyyyy.

Love James