20th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well I had a lovely sleep on the bus considering it's a bus journey. I was served breakfast and had a nice cup of tea. I got the bus conductor to tell me when we arrive in Posadas. Marcelo met me and drove me to the house. I talked in Spanish to him and he knew some English. Seemed very nice and we arrived at the homestay which I am sharing with Marcelo and Veronica (husband and wife). When I arrived at the house Marcelo's mum was there and I didn't know whether I should greet her in the traditional Argentinian way. I then had time to take a shower and do a bit of journal before Veronica arrived. She showed me around the house, gave me a map and keys. Veronica was very nice but I was aware that she needed to get back to her other job so I tried not to ask too many questions. George (another volunteer who was leaving today and had been stopping in my room) came and we chatted in the room. It was interesting swapping stories as he had also done the GAdventures 45 day tour but a few months after me. He had Neil as a tour guide who I had met on the Bolivian section of my tour but none of the other tour guides were the same. We had done a slightly different trip and he was now going to ECELA Spanish School in Buenos Aires (while I had just come from there). He showed me around town. It seems quite a nice town and different to other places as not very touristy.

21st April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well got up later than I have been getting up. I got stuck in the bathroom as the handle jammed but it was soon sorted out and Marcelo fixed the handle so hopefully it won't happen again. I got my laundry together and Marcelo went to collect Elizabeth (another new volunteer-19 from USA). I met Elizabeth and we had our orientation together. Elizabeth asked why she had to have a visa for Brazil and I didn't. I said it's because USA does it to everyone else and unfortunately it's reciprocal. The light bulb fused when I went into my room so that had to be replaced also. We were then shown around in the car and I dropped my laundry off. It was expensive 50 pesos for laundry. The coast (riverfront) looks lovely and there is a 5km walk along it. Elizabeth and I then went off together to get to know each other and have lunch. I went to get my laundry that night, walking the wrong way to begin with but I soon realised as I couldn't see the road names on my map. I couldn't get back through gate and after trying for about 10-15 minutes I finally rang the doorbell. I had dinner and spent time in my room.

22nd April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well nothing very interesting to report today but its been a nice, relaxing day. Its what I've needed for a while just spending a day doing nothing much. I met Veronica's parents when I was drinking my tea. I think I committed a bit of a faux pas with Veronica's mum as I didn't get the Argentinian greeting right. I also got my timetable for my school lessons for the week. It made me a little worried as I've got Tuesday 10:30-11:45 as teacher assistant, 7:30-5:10 Wednesday teaching assistant (providing teacher turns up), Thursday leading my own class 10:30-11:45 and Friday leading classes 7:30-5:15.

23rd April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well its been a good day but a hard day. Unfortunately I didn't sleep very well so when my alarm went off I was tempted to roll back over and go back to sleep. I was just about ready for 7:50am even if I was still squeezing sun-cream into my hand for applying later. We then drove to pick up Elizabeth, we were shown where to get the bus and dropped off at the refuge (children's home).

It was straight into it-no time for talking. All these kids coming up to hug us. I was a little concerned as one look like he was just recovering from measles (Walter) so I hope I don't come down with anything. You can't treat him any different than any of the other kids though but actually he was so hard to deal with during the day. They were in a bare room just with a TV and a couple of plastic chairs. There were also bedrooms and a bare courtyard (apart from clothes drying and a couple more plastic chairs and tables.) They didn't seem to have hardly any toys and when I asked Veronica about it at night she says they break them all so they don't last long. The kids lead us around and pushed open a door on someone taking a shower. That was very embarrassing as we didn't know it lead to showers otherwise I would have stopped the kids. I apologised and we carried on. We played and hugged the children in the TV room. It began to hurt the back having them on your knee, keep letting them put their heads down to the floor and then hurling them back up again- arriba, abajo. We sang if your happy and you know it. I had a little bit of a complain to Elizabeth that she always seem to get one child on her knee at a time while I had ones fighting over my knee. I tried to teach row row your boat to a couple of kids. Its hard when you don't know the Spanish versions of songs. I realised one kid was scared of me when I wanted to hi-fi him. I think he thought I wanted to beat him. I put a thumbs up to him across the room when he moved away. It just shows what works for one kid doesn't work for all of them. In India the kids loved hi-fi. Think a couple of them had leaky nappies. I am not sure whether Matilda (a cute girl) just had a cold bum as her hands were also cold or whether she had had a little accident. That should be warm though.

The TV was then turned off and then problems began to start more and more. Luckily some of the kids seemed to go to their bedrooms quite a lot but Walter and Daniel were quite hard to deal with. Walter had an extra finger off his thumb. They were also heavy for giving piggy backs too and thats what Daniel wanted. Walter seemed to want food a lot of the time as he kept pointing to his mouth. He seemed to go in garbage too looking at it. Daniel would come with his mouth covered in what looked like food. Walter would try and pull plastic tables off or go and switch on and off the light. They weren't bad kids but they just had nothing to do. English kids would be terrible with nothing to do. They got out a bag of toys but there was nothing really in there and I am not sure that food wasn't mixed with the toys as we then had to move food items into garbage. They seemed to have got hold of nail polish so we had to get that off them in case they tried to eat it or something. Some of the little girls were so cute and Matilda would get upset that I wouldn't piggy back her but it was because if I piggied back her I had to piggy back the boys. At one time I was piggy backing her and Walter pulled at her hair while she was on my back. Walter also pulled my hair too at some points in the day and it is a good job that I'm not there for the full 4 weeks otherwise I would be bald. He got some large chunks of my hair. Matilda also wanted to play with my hair so I was a little worried that it may be like a hornets nest at the end of the day.

A few times Walter would begin to spit at you and then I would stop playing with him but then he usually would cause trouble. There seemed to be some dummies made out of clothes and when they were spun around so fast it was sometimes a bit worrying as sometimes both me and Elizabeth had to look twice to check that they weren't children. We found out that most of them were siblings. All some wanted was a hug. It was quite sad as the staff or possibly just older children weren't interested in them. When trying to play ring and ring a roses with some of them it would just get too rough or boys would spin everyone around too fast. I got two of the girls to take it in turns for piggybacks with me Matilda and another girl. The older kids were very good had some chats and hugs with them too-who were 13 etc but more mature than their age. Then you get Walter who is 11 or 12 and complete different bottle of fish. We started at 8:30 with them and I was quite relieved at 12:30 to get out. Some of the kids were lovely though and very affectionate but just having children for that long with nothing to do is a problem. If I had thought about it last night I would have translated some childhood songs into Spanish using internet.

We got on the bus at the wrong stop so the bus went in completely the wrong direction and then returned to Posadas. I had thought it was the other bus stop but Elizabeth thought it was this bus stop. We went out for lunch before returning back to our houses. I felt awful when I got back as I felt I had to shower. I felt dirty but then suppose I had all the kids cuddling me plus their snotty noses which again was mainly Walter. Poor Walter-really he is just a kid who needs care, attention and toys.

24th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

I love the way I now count the most minuscule amounts as a lie in. I am sure it will all change back again when I go back to England. I was due there at 10:30 at the school for the lesson to begin. I was getting a very nervous stomach as Marcelo didn't pick me up till 10:25. He couldn't get out of work. When I arrived there the lesson actually didn't start till 11:00 so I had time to have a little bit of a chat. The lesson went ok. I was a teacher assistant so was quite pleasant. The children did a written test of the days of the week and months of the year. The test didn't go so well for them as they had trouble with spelling etc. I then went round all the class helping them with their pronunciation of days of the week and months of year. Their pronunciation was better than I expected. Its always a thing with not native speakers is how much do you correct a pupil. Its unlikely ever to sound exactly as you say a word due to their native language. It's the same with me in Spanish. After that the teacher tested them orally. She said for the next lesson with her to prepare a presentation on professions and present it. I asked about Thursday but she said I will be with another teacher. However, I am not I am on my own plus got different lessons from 8:00-5:00 Friday. I was like do I do professions in class on Thursday or something else again. I think I am going to do seasons and weather.

I have then come back done various things and prepared two lesson plans and worksheets. Took ages to do but I am reasonably pleased with them apart from one of the wordsearches is really too hard but I haven't got time to do another one. I am quite apprehensive about having to teach on my own especially as my Spanish isn't fluent. I keep thinking the kids will be climbing the walls with me but I am thinking of English kids of 11 and 12. They would be terrible with a teacher if they didn't speak fluent English. I knew I would be teaching solo at times but I didn't think it would be in my first week and for such a long period to sort out myself. It should either make me want to teach or cure me of ever wanting to do it again anyway. It would be bad enough in an English school without experience but the language barrier is adding a whole load more pressure. Oh well will give it a go and see what happens. I talked to Veronica tonight and she said see how the week goes and then if it doesn't go well will have a look at things for next week. I just feel like I'm floundering out of my depth. Argentinian teachers train for 4 years to be a primary school teacher and I am sorting out lesson plans for a whole day Friday without experience and without enough Spanish. I do wonder whether they are short on teachers or something. I am beginning very much to look forward to returning home but then other problems will start anyway.

25th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well I really didn't feel like getting up today but I had to as lessons started at 8 o'clock. My alarm went off at 6:30 and I got myself out of bed at 6:40. I have to admit questioning why I am doing this volunteering lark in another country when at home classes start at 9 and finish at 3:30. Plus I wouldn't have the problem of learning to teach in 2 days as well as not understanding a lot of what the children say. I also wasn't due to finish till 5:15. I didn't take into account time for getting out of Fort Knox (house) at 7:30 in morning. I set the alarm blaring off so Veronica was woken up with a start and then had slight trouble getting through the gate. I first started off in the wrong direction towards town but I realised at the first intersection and came back the other way. I made it to the school for 8:00 and watched two lessons of evaluation before the teacher sent me home. She was just doing tests with them. I also talked to headmistress and it came to light that they didn't know I had never taught before. I felt bad about it but that least they know now. When I got back it was just starting to rain and I let myself in and started the alarm blaring again. I managed to stop it and then went on my computer.

Veronica (my hostess and co-ordinator) was really nice to me at lunch and I nearly began to cry as I do feel out of my comfort zone at the moment. I stopped myself though. She was telling me there were some issues between Veronica (the teacher at the school) and the school but it shouldn't involve me. I carried on with some lesson planning as it was chucking it down with rain. At 3:10 the rain seemed a bit quieter but I thought it was about time I went and got something to eat. I set the alarm off again trying to set it for going out so this time I woke Marcelo up from his siesta. I went in miserable rain to look for food and I realised I had got out at the wrong time as I had clashed with siesta. Not many things were open and the odd place that was were very much local places full of men. I thought the supermarket would be open but that was closed till 4 o'clock. I almost walked all the way into town. I did find a bakery and bought cheese, ham bun, coke and a chocolate bar. I came back and began my lesson plans for Friday. Veronica kindly went through my lesson plan for tomorrow with me and said it was ok when she got back from work. She also printed a lot of my stuff off for me but I've got to call at a printers/photocopying place on the way to school tomorrow.

26th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

It rained pretty much all night last night and managed to just about stop before I went to walk to school. I got out of the house gate, walked up the road and got my photocopies done of my wordsearch quiz. As there was a queue it took a bit longer to do than I expected. I then tried to get my printing done in another place but they only had black and white printers. I got it done there but then tried to find another place that did colour. In the end I settled for going to the supermarket and buying some coloured pencils. I then went back cut some sheets out and did some colouring in in the staff room. I was then shown to my lesson and I was glad to have other teachers present while I taught the lesson. It was difficult but went as well as could be expected really as I am not a teacher. I did my best but it could had done with being better. However the kids didn't crawl the walls. I started by introducing myself and I had problem of not being a particularly good writer on the blackboard. I then played hangman with the children. I was surprised by how good they were with the months and days of the week. I ended up shortening the hangman game as they were so good and I thought they were getting a little restless. I then began teaching them about seasons and then the weather by using flashcards. I then gave them the wordsearch which kept them entertained and quiet. I didn't have time to do the matching words to pictures. So I taught my first lesson and didn't go too badly. One of the teachers comments was good but I needed bigger pictures and it was something I thought of too. My only problem is having to print reams and reams of paper is either costly for me or costly for my homestay so I used smaller photos than I would if I had my own printer. Headmistress asked how I got on when I left and I said it was difficult but she just said practice, practice. I was still smiling anyway.

I walked back to the house and I was so pleased that I managed to stop the alarm from sounding off. A nice looking male wouldn't stop looking at me today at lunch. He mouthed something at me but I don't know what it was as it was mouthed in Spanish. Afterwards I planned out my lesson. Dad came on Skype and did a tour around all the family in London- I couldn't remember hardly any of them apart from Terry. It was really nice to speak to Carol and Andy on there as well. I was introduced to the weird animals that the Essex family had which ate mice. My answer to that was I could have done with them in India but I wouldn't get them through customs. I then carried on going with my lesson plans and then Marcelo and Veronica took me to a place so I could photocopy them. I am going to teach around 120 pupils tomorrow I think at different times of the day. We then came back and I sorted out the paperwork-so much paper. Veronica corrected my Spanish instructions for games tomorrow. Very long day tomorrow-work 8-5.

27th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Set my alarm at 6:30 and was out of bed by 6:40. I wasn't too bad about the teaching last night but I am nervous this morning. When I arrived at the school, first I was took to where the children all lined up, sang, raised the flag and I was introduced. It was a little uncomfortable being introduced to the whole school at once. My lesson plan was play bingo with them, do Simpsons worksheet with them then play battleships then pictionary. The children were disappointed as they thought they were going to have a PE lesson this morning but they got an English class with me instead. I thought this is a bad start. In the first lesson the bingo went on for ages but I think I may have made it a bit too hard for them with the numbers written in words on their bingo cards. I started writing the numbers in words on the blackboard as well as in numbers. We then did the Simpsons worksheet and I began writing the translations of family members on the board but there wasn't time to do it as they needed help with the worksheets. It was hard as there was only one of me and they all needed help. I only got to do the Simpsons worksheets with them. I had no break in between this lesson and the next lesson because pupils were asking me questions. The first class was ok, they were nice pupils but I had been a little optimistic about their level of English. As in their test the other day they had written out the spellings of numbers, I thought they would be able to recognise them. In the first class, I had other teachers at the back of the classroom.

The next class was a horrible class even though it had some nice pupils in. The teacher said she would wait outside in the corridor. It started off bad as I was just about to start the lesson when bread and soup/milk came in so the pupils had to eat that. I had no idea whether I was supposed to keep teaching or not. In the end the teacher told me to wait till they finished eating so I could save my voice. Then I started the bingo game off again but it was apparent that they were struggling. People kept asking me was it ok what they had filled in on their bingo cards. I stopped the game again and told them to write the numbers underneath the words and I would come around checking it. Most of them didn't do it and I went round writing all the numbers underneath the words. One person had wrote them correctly and then rubbed them out. So by the time the bingo class got underway, the class had really disintegrated. I had to get them back sitting down. With them I only did bingo in that class till they got 1 line as I was aware now I was short on time. We then started the Simpsons worksheet and this class hadn't learnt family so that was made more challenging. A girl also offered to hand out the sheets and she only handed the first page out so that meant I then had to keep looking to see what sheets they had. I would try and talk at the front of the room and think they were filling in the worksheets. However, when I would come round and look they hadn't filled any of it in. I spotted someone using their mobile phone, other people ask could they get water or go to the toilet. Some kids also began to run around the classroom. Next week I am going to ban getting water or going to the toilet. Both them and I were glad to get out of the lesson.

In between this lesson and the next I began writing numbers on the bingo cards. I was so glad when they told me I didn't have another lesson till 1:00. I was trying to find a restaurant to sit down in and be able to go through my sheets while walking back to the house. Unfortunately I didn't find any until I got right back to the house. There was the one that I passed on the way which was very close to the house but I didn't feel comfortable sitting there. There was an over-friendly old man there who was trying to get me to pull up a chair next to him. He said something about girlfriend as well so I am not sure he wasn't looking for one. I went back to the house and gave poor Marcelo's mum a scare as she wasn't expecting anyone at the house. I then spent some time on my bedroom floor organising some sheets. I then raced back walking, stopped in a bakery on the way and bought some empanadas. I suddenly realised that it might be considered impolite to eat on the streets in Argentina.

I only just made it in time. I was introduced again at the lunchtime singing and problem was the lady was whispering to me what to say in Spanish. I couldn't hear how I was supposed to pronounce it so I had to ask her again which was a little embarrassing. The first class after lunch was ok-I did bingo and the Simpsons worksheets. The second class I thought great as I had less pupils (some were having an evaluation) and a teacher in a room but that class was terrible. The bingo went ok but I began to notice a behavioural problem with one of the boys. We then started on the Simpsons worksheet and only one person in the class knew the names of the family in English. So he was racing through his worksheets. The boy with behavioural problems began to imitate what I was saying, disturb the rest of the class and walk around the class with his hood pulled up. As they hadn't learnt family before I thought the 3rd sheet would be too difficult for them so I missed it out. I thought I would play pictionary but it was the worst thing I could had done as they all gathered around the board. The boys were very noisy and my stopwatch wouldn't work on my phone. The boy began asking how to pronounce Frankenstein.

I had to remind myself that there was only one more class left but they were probably the best class I had of the day. Two of the pupils were very bright and got on to a game of battleships. I played bingo with them and the Simpsons worksheet. This class had done family before. I didn't realise the lesson finished at 5 for the taking down of the flag so I almost made one of the pupils late by helping him finish off his sheets. Another thing I found hard about teaching was having so much paperwork that I carried with me and if they got disorganized there wasn't time to sort them out.

I talked to Elizabeth on the phone and she told me Danny (a kid at childrens home) had been in the dustbins and thrown a dirty diaper at her. So my volunteering isn't all bad.

28th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

I couldn't believe how long I slept for. I haven't done that in months. I had blackout curtains and it was very quiet. I did keep waking up and I thought this is really odd I don't usually keep waking up in the night. I heard Marcelo and Veronica's voices so I thought I'd better check the time. It was 12:00 midday and I was due to meet Elizabeth in town for 1:00. We then had a walk along the coast (riverfront) and walked to the beach. Elizabeth began trying to plan what we should do tonight and to be honest I didn't want to do anything. I was ready just to go back and relax. I feel quite sorry for her as I am the only other volunteer and I am quite happy to sit and relax. It took longer to walk back from the beach than I expected and then I walked the wrong way from Elizabeth's so I got back late. Veronica luckily hadn't been waiting for me and was about 5 minutes behind me.

29th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Elizabeth and I decided to try a different restaurant today so we ended up having a half/half pizza. My half was obviously ham and pineapple. We then walked for a little while trying to find a taxi to take us to the bus station. We finally found one and disturbed a taxi driver having his siesta sitting in the front of his taxi. We got to the bus station, after asking in one office did they have buses to San Ignacio (it only had one at 9:00 at night) we found an office selling a ticket for a bus in 5 minutes time. We got on the bus and it took about an hour to get to San Ignacio. The conductor was a very quiet speaker when he said where we were so it was a bit difficult to hear. We arrived in San Ignacio and didn't really have a clue to go but we were helped by a girl in one of the bus office. San Ignacio was very quiet and we walked up a dirt track with red sand wondering whether we were still going the right way. When we got to a junction I asked a lady again for directions and she told us the right way to go. We got to the ruins created a bit of a queue while sorting out the tickets but we were relieved not to be asked for passport. On signs it said we needed it but neither Elizabeth or I had our passports with us. At the ruins we were asked whether we wanted a tour in English- we said yes so after going around the museum alone a tour guide showed us around the ruins. She had similar problems speaking English as I do in Spanish-pronunciation issues and also had a few words we needed to look up in our dictionary. She was a nice person but she did find it hard speaking in English. It was a nice area to look around though the ruins.

Once it was 6:00 we could book our tickets for the sound and light show and then we walked again to the bus stop going a different way to check the times of the bus. We then walked back to the ruins and stopped in a restaurant opposite so Elizabeth could get some food. We then went back in ruins for Sound and light show. There we talked to a Brazilian before it and watched the show- which was full of dancing figures playing instruments with music. It was very good, quite enchanting seeing those figures through the woods in the air but also a little eerie. I wasn't sure what to expect. I just thought we would all sit down in front of the chapel and it would be like the Sound and light show in Delhi. It was sometimes a bit difficult to get in a good position to see the figures and I tried to help Elizabeth get in front of me as I am taller. We walked back different way again so we would be on a more busy road with better light. Wish Elizabeth wouldn't talk about rapists and stuff when we are walking. We just managed to get on a bus for 8:45 and it was only waiting for us and Elizabeth was cooing over a cat. I was like come on we need to get on the bus. We arrived about an hour later in Posadas and got a taxi back to our houses. It was about 10:15 when I got back to the house and then I had a meat dinner. It was tasty meat but I wasn't going to ask what it was as it looked like a liver or a heart.

30th April 2012 Posadas, Argentina

I found out around midday that it was too late to go to Santa Ana today so Elizabeth and I walked down to the riverfront. We got a scare by two small dogs which were spotty like Dalmatians but weren't Dalmatians barking at us through a grill in window. I swore only the s-word as I jumped. There was then a terrier a bit further on which barked at us. There we went in a restaurant and I enjoyed steak, coke and chips. We spent quite a long time there just chatting. Again the toilets were a little odd with exposed rock-which I think used to have water flowing down it and dark light. After that we walked down to the beach and sat there chatting. We saw a colourful train go by. Again the walk back seemed a lot longer and I got back after 7 again. Walking back there were lots of Argentinians drinking mate and playing music from their cars. On way back took some photos of bridge and islands etc but there were lots of mosquitoes out.

1st May 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well I am now in the month that I return to England and what a fantastic time I've had in South America. However, I am now looking forward to returning home. I don't know whether it will all change again in the next few weeks. I'm looking forward to having a Chinese again, being able to understand everything that people say, seeing family and friends as well as not having to rely on buses all the time.

At 10:00 I left the house and we first went to the bus station. We bought our tickets and we got on probably the oldest bus I have been on in S America. It had poor suspension so the bus was shaking, I think I could smell petrol/diesel fumes as well as it having a very ancient looking television. I was very glad not to be on it too long as it was making me feel sick. I managed to ask the conductor will he tell us when to get off at Santa Ana. I tried to close my eyes for a bit so I could relax and maybe not feel so sick. Possibly it was my malaria tablets affecting me also. When we arrived we went into the café opposite the bus stop and found out the directions to the cross and the ruins.

We walked down to the Jesuit ruins in Santa Ana and a guide explained to us in English about it. He said his English wasn't very good but it was. Thats what I notice about people in Argentina they are very modest about their language ability. We spent a pleasant time walking about the ruins. We then walked back to the restaurant. I think we were probably having lunch for about an hour and a half as we left the ruins at 1:00 and we didn't leave the restaurant till 3. We got a taxi up to the park where there was a large cross and there we bought tickets. We created a little bit of a queue behind us again at the ticket booth as we had to ask some questions. We got in the carriages pulled up by the tractor.

We walked around a short trail which was a combination of nature and religion. We then went up on the cross and got some views of the surrounding forests. We should have really paid to go up there but there was no-one at the reception to pay. We had tried to pay at the ticket booth earlier and he had said pay later. We got a mini-bus back down the hill and then waited for a collectivo (bus) for 40 minutes. We got off at the bus stop for Santa Ana and then got on Rio Uruguay crowded bus to Posadas. When everyone was sitting down we had a good view as really we were in the drivers compartment sitting on the stairs. People were firing rapid Spanish at us. My only problem was I was almost sitting on someone's feet. It is probably the most crowded bus I've been on in S America but it hadn't quite reached Indian standards. We arrived at Posadas and got a remise back to houses. For dinner I had typical Argentinian food for the 1st May like a stew and empanadas. I've prepared a very rough lesson plan just in case the teacher isn't in tomorrow. I really hope she is. Covering for other teachers when I am not a teacher is a little annoying. I am getting nervous about the lessons again. At the moment I don't think teaching will be for me but its probably just because its new. Each day I get the same feeling about it like I did in the bank. I don't want to go in tomorrow.

2nd May 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well what a horrible, horrible day. I didn't feel that well in the morning then when I got to the school Veronica wasn't in so I had to lead lessons all day alone. I didn't have too well an organized lesson plan as I didn't know that Veronica wouldn't be in but I had decided on some games last night in case she wasn't. I still had things I hadn't done with them on Friday so I decided to use some of that material. In my first lesson the students didn't understand my game of battleships but they were a good class as the teacher was in the room so while they were waiting for me to explain things they did their art work. I don't really get a break as one of the children asks me for information in English but at least she is enthusiastic. I like her as a pupil. In second lesson I had two teachers in the room so they got involved and helped explain to the children so that was very helpful. The only thing was the children weren't saying the words in English but in Spanish during the game of battleships. The third lesson one of the teachers explained again. In both lessons still the students were having trouble grasping what to do. I played hangman with them after. I still don't really like the students in the second lesson but they are alot better than my afternoon class. It was better than the other day as well as other teachers were present. Last Friday I was left with them. After that I walked to local supermarket and just managed to get some biscuits and coke for lunch. There is not really time for anything else as I only get a 45 minute break before lessons start again. First lesson in afternoon was ok- had a little bit of trouble and I wish all the students wouldn't all call for me at the same time-I cannot split myself in 4 much as I might wish too. Had trouble with the game again. For the next lesson I didn't have enough papers for them all for the battleship game. I knew it was probably going to be impossible to teach them what to do with the game as they were so disruptive and I didn't have another teacher present in the room. I had one keep coming whining up to me that he needed the toilet but I knew he was pretending. I tried to amuse them with hangman but I was losing more and more of the class so I tried to do something else with them. Most of the class ended up at the window waving out to people. It was a nightmare and both me and them couldn't wait to get out of the class. I had to stop them writing on lockers etc. Unfortunately the other day the last class had been good but the behaviour issues also spread to this class so trying to teach them battleships was a problem. The teacher left the room as well and it had been fine up to at point. After battleships games I then began playing hangman with them and once the teacher was back it was ok. In one of these two classes the children hid my worksheets and put chalk in my folder. I am not sure that one of the girls didn't tell me that they had put it in a dustbin. I came home very disheartened, tired and wondered why I was putting myself through it.

I just can't wait to come home now. I planned my lesson for tomorrow.

3rd May 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Today ended up being an ok day. The problem isn't really the lesson plans its coping with student behaviour especially as I can't speak Spanish properly. The lesson went ok as other teachers were also in the room. It wasn't a fantastic lesson that I taught about professions and I should have done my lesson plan in a slightly different order- drilling before wordsearch but hopefully the students learnt a little. I will carry on teaching them about professions next Thursday. On the way back from the school saw a lovely golden Labrador puppy and on way to restaurant I saw a dirty cat which I thought was strange as he was almost playing in a puddle. This afternoon I looked at my lesson plan for tomorrow and designed some bingo cards. In the evening we went to pick up Elizabeth, pick up Veronica, went to travel agent and then photocopying place once we had dropped Elizabeth back off at Martha's. Dreading lessons tomorrow but Veronica said if you need a teacher go and get one even the headmistress. She said she was worried about me yesterday as my face was a picture.

4th May 2012 Posadas, Argentina

Well it was a good day today when I wasn't expecting it to be. I came home satisfied that I had done a reasonable job of teaching. It was the best I could do anyway. I managed to get most of my bag packed before going to the school. Today I taught 10 professions in English-pilot, teacher, electrician, hairdresser, doctor, dentist, nurse, lawyer, architect and vet. I played bingo with the pupils to revise numbers, days of the week, months, colours, toys and family. I then did a bit of drilling of the words and then I got them doing a wordsearch of the professions. Then writing the words underneath the cartoon pictures of the professions. I think the students learnt something from it. Drilling is a little bit hard with them. It was so nice to come back happy with what I've done. I talked to headmistress and said that I was expecting to have trouble with the pupils so I presumed she talked to the other teachers.

My first two classes I had other teachers present so I felt quite comfortable with any discipline issues in the class. I was also a lot stricter with some of the pupils today which worked. The first lesson a parent came in and put a cake on my desk-this ended up making some of the sheets sticky. A couple of times I had to remind myself and the pupils to watch the cake. The only problem in my second lesson was I was holding a pen and then pointed at something or counted on my fingers. I suddenly realised that it was the hand signal for swearing. I had been that busy trying to concentrate on the teaching I had used the wrong finger. Luckily only one person seemed to notice as I quickly realised myself. I realised another thing today as I saw someone that looked identical that I had in my class yesterday. I thought oh no why have I got the same person in two classes. Then I realised that I had seen him in another jacket earlier that day. I realised that they were identical twins in different classes and to prove my theory the other boy came into the class. The third class I was left on my own with and the teacher went out of the room. I thought oh no but I kept order and I was quite pleased with myself for that. Hopefully the students will have learnt some things from it. When the teacher came in the room she shouted at one of the pupils-I didn't understand what for but the boy began to cry. I hope no-one thought I had made him cry- I am sure no-one did as I am too soft with them at times anyway. Its not helped by my lack of Spanish though. I then had my fourth lesson to teach and the teacher reminded them to be quiet at the back.

I then had my fifth lesson which is the lesson that I dread teaching but one of the troublemakers wasn't in. He is very bright, I think his parents teach him English at home possibly as he was the only student the other week who already knew the names of the family. One of the troublemakers was in but this time I was strict on him, stopping him disrupting other people, confiscating things off him like plasticine or playdough and sort of raising my eyes at him. He tried to do his best to disrupt the bingo game by messing around with it saying bingo when he hadn't got numbers. He also Drew all over his bingo game card but unless he was distracting other people or getting out of his seat I left him to it. I couldn't make him do the bingo game but I could stop him from distracting etc. The teacher warned me she said be careful of this class before the lesson began. I said I know I had terrible trouble with them on Wednesday. Unfortunately I swear that lesson is longer than the others as they were the only ones that finished the sheets quite early. I gave them jumbled letters to sort out on the board which someone did rub a few letters out on board. I then had to write them again but the other teacher ended up letting them go slightly early for break. We could both sense them getting restless. I don't think the other teacher likes teaching them either and I think she struggles also. The other teachers seem to keep better order from the back than she does but she was still very helpful. I am so glad she was there.

At break I talked to teachers about the behaviour problems. I was saying they hid chalk in my files (which I found Thursday morning) then they also hid my papers. The only problem was I didn't know the name for chalk in Spanish. I said Chalka when it is supposed to be Tiza. This concerned teachers as I had said that the students had hidden drugs in my folder. They said what they hid drugs in your files. I was like no not drugs so they were quite relieved. I was saying how it was so much better with them in the room with me.

My last lesson of the day went ok but I think that lesson is shorter as they have milk after break and then take the flags down at the end of the day. I walked back happy, finished my last bit of packing and went to go outside with my cases just in time for my taxi. We got our bus booked at the bus station and got on the bus to Puerto Iguazu. When we arrived at 11:30 Elizabeth wanted to have ice cream but I managed to persuade her to snack on the snacks that I had bought us as I was exhausted. I knew we needed a full day tomorrow at Iguazu so I didn't want us up too much later.

5th May 2012 Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

Well we got to Iguazu falls too late. As we walked past an office for the bus station we saw that they were offering the lunar (full moon) walk for 270 pesos. I knew this was the price that was on the internet while the hotel had been trying to offer it for 400 pesos. I knew this had been a rip off and after checking the internet again we didn't book it. We went in got bus tickets, Elizabeth booked the boat tour and we were took over to another office to book the moon walk. When we got to Iguazu falls I was quite disappointed that I couldn't do both the Macuco trail and the San Martin Island today as they both closed at a similar time. I bought a cheese and ham sandwich and I questioned what I was doing in Iguazu falls when I already done it. I had to basically hang around for Elizabeth while waiting for her to do the jeep ride and boat ride. I would have loved to do it again but it was too expensive to do again. I walked around some of lower circuit while waiting for her and it was still very beautiful. I was quite jealous of everyone who had a cool off in the falls with the boat. I then met Elizabeth again and we went across to San Martin Island. I was glad to see that as I missed it last time when I was there. There was some good vulture watching as well as a beautiful rainbow when looking over the falls. There was also quite a strong spray which was a very welcoming cool down. After walking (which was no-where near the two hours that it suggested on the map) we spent a little bit of time on the beach on San Martin island. I fancied a swim but I wasn't sure I could as there were now no buoys. The boats also seemed quite close to the shore so I just paddled. We didn't make it in time for last train to Devils throat. We were 10 minutes late so we walked around the Upper Circuit instead. That was very beautiful again and it was nice as it was less busy than when I was there in January. I then looked around the interpretation centre and asked about whether it would be possible to walk the Macuco trail alone tomorrow. They said yes so I got my ticket validated so I could come back tomorrow. We then spent time talking to the worker who validated the ticket in Spanish and waited around till we could go back in the park.

We got back in park, exchanged our tickets, had an introduction talk in English (which was a lot smaller group than the Spanish group). We then went on the train and I was looking out for the wild animals. My eyes I think were playing a lot of tricks on me. We then walked along the bridges to Devil's Throat from the train in the moonlight. It was so beautiful and at Devil's Throat it was stunning as well as peaceful. Everything was well timed so there weren't many people there. I didn't want to leave when they said to go even though by that time I was very hungry. We then went and had a buffet in the restaurant. My face was a picture when I saw Elizabeth's plate but then I remembered she was American. She had her desert on the same plate as her main course. Typical American behaviour- I said to her I've now found something that makes you American as mine is cups of tea for being English. I was the first one in the restaurant to spot the mouse running around near the air conditioning unit. I am glad it didn't come too near me. I was a little annoyed when I left as I was charged for coke but Elizabeth could have 2 capirinhas for free. It really annoys me when I have to pay more for soft drinks.

When we got back to the hotel we had to ask whether we could have the room for another night tomorrow. They said we had two options to go in the hostel next door or get a junior suite. Elizabeth didn't realise till I told her why the room was so much more expensive the next night. Her eyes lit up when she realised it was a Junior Suite but no-way was I paying for a room that much if there was another option. I knew we would only spend the night there sleeping anyway.

6th May 2012 Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

I walked the Macuco trail at Iguazu falls while Elizabeth did the lower circuit and upper circuit. It was fantastic even if I was a little scared that I may come face to face with a big cat. Walked through the rainforest trail- I was just getting a decent photo of a small rodent when a couple came the other way talking loudly and then his mobile phone went off right where the animal was. I had spent ages in the same spot trying to wait for the animal to trust me and get a decent shot. It was so annoying. I saw monkeys jumping from tree to tree above my head. That walk made me think how spectacular S America is and how much I will miss it going back home to England. I also saw birds, butterflies and lizards on the way down to the waterfall. The waterfall was beautiful even if it was a little difficult to get a decent photo of. I walked so slow taking it all in-took me ages to do 3km. On the way back I spotted a tarantula or very large spider on the path. I am so glad that I walked that trail. We then got the train to Devil's Throat which was as spectacular as ever. We then got the bus back to the town and when we arrived at the hotel we used the swimming pool and Jacuzzi. The Swimming pool was very cold as it was nightso I only did like 2-4 lengths then got in the Jacuzzi. We then got a taxi to the other accommodation.

7th May 2012 Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

I originally went the wrong way to the bus station so I had to keep asking in the street for directions. Unfortunately I just missed the bus to Cataratas so I had to wait for the next one. I got a ticket for La Aripuca 20 pesos and just had to pay 2 pesos for the bus. I had to keep asking people how to get to La Aripuca once I was off the bus as it wasn't well sign posted. I must have almost walked past it a few times. First when I arrived a guide spoke to me in Spanish and he spoke slow so I managed to get most of it. I remember thinking when I was taught or read the word to hunt in Spanish, I thought I will probably never use that. It meant that I could translate part of what the guide was saying though. I got quite a lot of what he said. First I went in the building made up of tree trunks. At one point it looked like you were allowed to climb off ground level up the steps but they had stopped this. It had a few things in English for me to read. It was mainly just a marketing area of arts and crafts in La Aripuca but I got some nice jewellery that I wouldn't be able to get at home. I spent time wandering around it and sat and listened for a bit to person playing the harp. Its quite a pleasant area but nothing special. I was surprised that the women playing the harp had been on tour around the world.

After asking for directions to the Guiraoga I set off walking. It was further than I expected along the road so I had to check with someone in the bus stop that I was going the right way. I arrived at Guiraoga then I had had phone calls from Elizabeth who was lost. While I was waiting for her I decided to go over to the imagines de la selva museum which was dedicated to a life of an artist. His carvings were quite good. I then walked down the footpath to see the chapel and the sanctuary. The sanctuary was in the middle of the forest which was quite interesting. Elizabeth then rang me and she was back at the animal refuge so I then had to walk back fast along the footpath to get back.

We had a great tour seeing first the information centre, then the animals and the nutrition centre. We saw monkeys, birds-parrots, toucans, eagles, falcons, capybara, coatis. One monkey was very sweet and was allowed out of the cage so when we all began to leave him he looked fed up. We were told the animals stories- the toucans- one had survived after being smuggled and seized in like a tennis ball case. Later, we had the long bus journey back and arrived in Posadas at 10:15pm.