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So, after a slight misunderstanding with Urbano (hasta la vista baby weekend program boss extrodanaire), Lizzie and I have ended up at the crappy internet cafe once more. We thought that he was going to the town, so we said we'd join him, but he kind of said bye at the gates, we started walking towards tepo in confusion, then sneaked back austin powers stylee in the other direction because we couldn't be bothered to spend another 25p on a bus to the better cafe in town as we weren't sure if it would be open. Oh well
This week has been mad. We've had english classes with all the other schools, some of which have been excruciating, most of which have gone fairly well (although I wasn't too sure about the teacher who offered us his stick to hit the kids with if they weren't listening). We've also tried to do some english classes with the becarios, the kids who live at the camp. Again, a couple were rip roaring successes, but a couple consisted of lizzie and I asking them if they knew anything, ANYTHING??? in english.
We did our first spot of gardening (I don't think I have ever been so close to dying from exhaustion in my life. Let's just say it was 30 degrees, and there were a lot of leaves), and Matias, the head gardener is ace, asking us all about english weather, how we were getting on, recomending places to see, asking if we would like our cabana fumigated to get rid of the cockroaches etc. before inviting us for a beer with him and his family one day. (we turned down the fumigation thing, they really only creep under the gap in the door, so we've put a raggy towel to good use)
Also, this week has seen the much celebrated St. Valentines Day, el dia de amistad y amor. We went to pick the kids up from school, and they all had like, a million roses and heart shaped lollies. So we embarrassed all the girls asking if they had boyfriends and wound up the boys asking if they had more than one girlfriend. We also got to make cards (nothing special, just some scrappy paper and felt tips with special heart envolopes). The becarios were made to write one to a friend, then made to read them out after dinner. It was excruciating. Lizzie and I made one for Alfredo, the camp admin guy, and for jorge, luis and luisa, the people in charge of the becarios. Then later in the evening, the becarios had a bit of a disco! Let me tell you, it was nothing like good old englishstylee school discotheques. Get this - the boys and girls actually danced... TOGETHER. Proper holding hands and everything. I think lizzie and I spent a good five minutes staring with our mouths hanging open. we were shocked. Of course, we showed them a bit of 5678 and saturday night, oh and macerena and big fish little fish. The thought we were wierd. But we did have a little dance when a couple of the younger lads asked us. It was hilarious.
This weekend, we have been working on the camp as consejeras, like, camp counsellor type people. We woke up earlyish on sunday and were introduced to all the other consejeros (only four this week) and there was much kissing and shaking hands as is the mexican way. We offskied to matias' bodega shed thing to get a well sexy uniform (pics to follow when we find a decent computer) and then were sent of with a mexican consejera each. I was looking after a group of swimming kiddos from the city with a consra called pamela. Some of the kids were nice, but the rest? I wanted to drop kick a couple from here to the other side of the tepozteco (a mini pyramid thingy on top of a very high cliff). I basically spent this weekend standing making sure they don't drown in the pool (no qualifications necessary) or kill each other playing on the swings, or choke to death on the constant supply of sweets, lollies and crisps that they seemed to eat just before meal times. In fact, I think meal times were the highlight of the weekend, the food is way better than what the becarios get, burgers and chips and everything, and NO NESQUICK! But it was fun during the downtime when we just sat in urbano's office, watching amusing powerpoints of dressed up dogs and teaching him and the other consejeros the cha cha slide. I think they may have wet themselves laughing just a little bit.
We also had a bit of a quickie campfire and a few flag raising/lowering type things, during which me and lizzo felt ever so slightly akward because we didn't know all the words to the songs or to salute when some crazy guy called fubu yelled YA! etc. Oh, and there was an EXTREMELY bizzarre show at brekkie today. It consisted of all the 'lideres' who were at the camp for a presentation of leadership qualifications (they were all 15-18ish) singing something to the tune of 'jolly good fellow' and then alternately slapping and kissing other people who were named in the song. There were many chants of CINCO, CINCO! when a particularly cocky lad was picked to do the kissing (five pecks on the cheek) and a couple of times, the whole dining room got up an formed a line to slap some of the older lads on the cheek. Another mouth hanging open in amazement moment I think.
So - until next time. I hope we've left it long enough for urbano to think we went into town :s And I also hope the cooks aren't mad that we're late for dinner. oops.
xxxxxx
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