Today was a very productive day. We saw two new Creche classes and taught them 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'. Dorigna was, once again, our right hand helper. I, however, am now fluent in naming parts of the body in Portugese, so I got along pretty well on my own! Sue got some great pictures from today's creche classes.
Our 9:00 was much better behaved today. No one came in with food, no one refused to sit far away (and even if they did, I decided not to mind them). They got pretty excited about singing once I started dancing around the classroom. I wonder why acting strangely makes them sing louder. Ah, well. At least it worked!
Franciella was back in our 10:00 class today. She had been absent for two days because her mother was hospitalized. I certainly hope she's doing better. The 10:00 class is always a good time. One boy named Leonato has really really great posture, it's fun to watch him sing. Of course, he's not as good when I'm focused on him.
I have fun news! Kids who are part of the Saint Joseph Association have sponsors from the US or other countries. They help pay for some of their needs. I have decided to sponsor two children who are singing with us: Gustavo and Edna. They are really great kids and I am very happy to be their 'Madrina'. Edna is in our 2:00 class, so Ana Paola suggested we tell her today. When we did she was very excited! I am excited, too. I wish I could support more of them but clearly, I am no millionaire. Definitely teared up a bit after she hugged me and said thank you. Her mother was there, too and I got a really REALLY big hug from her. Yep, I cry a lot, I know.
Our 3:00 adults saw a bit of conflict (it was bound to happen, right?) The adults are singing the Prayer of St. Francis and it so happened the band knows it as well. I had never heard the band play it. After our first combined run through, I much preferred having only string instruments playing with the choir, but wasn't sure how to ask the band without offending them. I want the instruments to join us, but I also want to maintain the reverence of the Prayer. Trumpets and saxophones don't lend that kind of mood, in my opinion. I hope we can explain it better to Paolo and his kids tomorrow without offending them. The adult singers didn't like having the instruments play with them at all. They started to express their opinion about it and Ana Paola and I tried to calm them down. Like I said, tomorrow we will sort it all out.
After class, Aunt Racquel and Pedro took us to a churascurria (steak house) downtown for dinner. We had a really great time, mostly because we were trying to distinguish what the other person said! Pedro was very kind and said my Portugese gets better every day I am here. How nice!! I am really trying to communicate without Ana Paola's aid, but it would take more than three weeks of being here for that to work! Racquel was very glad I am going to be Madrina to two kids and she is so grateful to have us visiting. You should hear her laugh, it's so great!! We had about 5 bottles of Skol with dinner, so we got tired pretty quickly by the time we left. Please note- the glasses we drank out of were pretty small. Just want you to know we were spacing out our libations!
Until tomorrow. Bom Noite!
Jamie
PS. Happy Birthday to my Grandma 'O' !!!
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| Telling Edna I will be her Madrina |
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| Gustavo. I love this kid! |
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| Cute Creche Kids |
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