June 20, 2014

The homework for today's class was to go through 75 competencies (in Spanish) and determine if we do them in our class or schools.  If not, we had to explain (in Spanish) why we didn't and how we could make changes.  Brandi and I were excited to be able to mark "yes" on all of them.  :-)

In class we were given a project to work on.  We had to choose a problem that the Mexican school system has that affects the US.  Then we have to come up with a plan to "fix" the problem.  Brandi and I chose literacy as the problem.  It affects the US because if the immigrant children coming into the country can't read and write in their native language, it will be much more difficult for them to learn to do that in English.  We thought it would be a simple problem with an easy fix.  We just needed to figure out how to get books into the classroom.  Well we were in for a shocker!  This is what we learned:

1. Most people in Mexico do not like to read.
2. Libraries do not have books for children.
3. Public schools do not have books for children, either in the classroom or the school library.
4. There are very few (maybe once a month or every other month) story times for children.  These are at a bookstore.  The local library does not offer story times.
5. Teachers do not read out loud to their students.
6. When the public school students begin high school, they can read but their comprehension is limited.

So the issue of literacy is a cultural issue.  The professor did tell us that some of the radio stations are beginning to give books out as prizes.  The understanding is that if you receive a book, you are to read it and then pass it on to someone else.

Brandi and I were completely overwhelmed by the problem!  We take so many things for granted.  We decided to focus on one small piece instead of being overwhelmed by the big problem.  Several ideas we came up with included:  

1. Focusing on just one school and raising the desire to read and obtaining books for the classrooms.
2. The other idea was to take a day in the Zocolo (park area) and have several people doing story time.  Each child would receive a booklet.  When they went and heard the reading, they would get a stamp or sticker.  When they received all the stamps/stickers, they could turn in their booklet for a free book of their choosing (one of the ones from the readings).

We have to come up with a plan, which includes resources, people that will be involved, etc. as well as how we would implement it.  That is on the agenda for this weekend.

After class we headed to our favorite restaurant and then went in search for some spicy peanuts.  I wanted the specific ones that the restaurant had.  We found the shop and finally figured out which kind of nuts were the ones I wanted.  I had to show a picture of them to the store clerk.  :-)  Then he told me the price per gram.  So I had to ask him how much a gram is?  How many are in a pound?  He smiled and put some in a bag--that was a gram.   It's not just the language we have to adjust to but also sizes, measurements, etc.  It's always a learning experience.  :-)

We then headed off to find sombreros.  I needed 3 for my grandchildren and Brandi needed 2 for her children.  We found the shop we had seen some in and went in.  I tried explaining that I had 3 grandchildren, ages 3 years, 18 months, and 4 months, that I needed sombreros for.  She had a hard time understanding that I had 3 grandchildren.  Then when Brandi told the ages she needed sombreros for, the lady was more confused.  It was kind of funny but finally a lady who spoke some English stepped in and explained.  :-)  We bought our sombreros, caught a cab, and headed home.  

After dinner, we decided to head to Chili's to work.  Their wifi was awful so we didn't get much done.  Back home and off to bed.  Hasta mañana!