So last Friday the kids were all left in the hands of us girls as the teachers were all at a presentation at a local school. The older students were also invited so that left us with just a hand full of younger kids... easy enough! We played some games, danced, made paper airplanes then decided to take them to the quad to play some soccer and run around. Our clown friend was giving the kids rides on his skateboard and one little 6 year old girl, Tatiane, was so excited to tell us about her adventure! She came running at us but first tripped and fell on a cord causing her to smack her forehead into the cement steps- she got up screaming and crying as blood ran down her face, into her eyes and mouth. Instinct kicked in and Katie scooped her up and we ran back to PETI only to discover everything was closed so we were without a car! While the cook helped clean her up, we found an ambulance to take us to the health center. Katie and I hopped in the back and sang to the poor young girl the whole way there to try and calm her nerves- she just kept repeating that she did not want stiches, something she was clearly going to need! Note: this was my second time in an ambulance this year in Brazil, thank God never for myself or something too serious. It was determined that she needed to go to the hospital in Telemaco to get the stiches so we went and got her mom and sent them on their way... our first time being left in charge of the kids alone and I´m guessing our last! :) She is back and PETI now and doing fine with 3 small stiches on her upper forehead, thank God it was not worse!
After the dramatic morning we headed to Ponta Grossa, a nearby city a little bigger than Telemaco, to have a fun getaway! We were originally supposed to go with a coworker but when he cancelled we decided to make it happen anyways. We found an affordable hotel in the center of the city and spend the night walking around, checking out an outdoor rock concert where Megan took advantage of the free rock climbing wall, then we walked around the mall and got some dinner. The next day we did some cheap shopping in the "Little Paraguay" in the center of town. We thought we gave ourselves plenty of time to catch our bus home but we read the departure time wrong so we missed it and ended up staying in the city an extra couple hours until the next bus- so being 3 girls, we headed back to the mall! It was a fun, one day trip that allowed us to see a city that I have only been to to renew my visa.
A lot of this week has been focused on figuring out details for the beach, more specifically the buses that will be taking our kids to the beach in a week. We were told that they will locked and in place for months now yet somehow Monday when we went to double check, the process had been done wrong and we were without buses! This was something that would cost us $3000, something we absolutely don´t have. Luckily us Americans are not quick to give up and with a little pushing and perserverance, we found a way to make it happen in two days. This was such a blessing as Katie left on Tuesday for Argentina for a capoeira event- she will be gone until next Monday!!
We only have until the end of November in our ´center´that we are renting so we have been trying to take advantage of having children there as much as possible. We had groups doing math, English mock tests, photography posters, drawing with chalk and just playing games. It will be sad to have to give that place up after all the time and effort we put into making it a place for both fun and learning for the kids- it has been one of my favorite aspects of this year!
With less than 3 weeks left, I look back and give thanks for such an amazing experience thus far this year, not only in the Brazil but my time in the States as well. God is so great and from the beginning knew this year would work out just perfectly while I was busy stressing about where my life was headed. I am extremely grateful that I got to skype with my family last night for Thanksgiving... it was such a blessing to see them all gathered together to enjoy each others company. I am really looking forward to being a part of family get togethers again very soon! May we all continue to give thanks everyday to God for everything he has so graciously given us. Happy Black Friday- good luck shopping!!
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