Tina Thorburn GVI You Are The Difference

So, I didn't know if I would, but I LOVE kids.

I love everything about them. I love their snotty little faces. I love the way their eyes light up when you say "muy bien". I love the mischievous look they get when they are plotting something. I love their giggles. I love their unconditional affection.

The first two days with Inicial, 3-5 year old kindergardeners, were rough. I was feeling sorry for myself, lonely and somewhat deflated after having to say good bye to Monkey again, and exhausted by the mere thought of having to entertain, educate and earn the trust of 30 little munchkins. Monday was only a half day, and I remember that sinking feeling of "how on earth am I going to ever remember all their names?"

Tuesday was my first full day, and boy was it full. We had tears. We had hugs. We had lunch, which invariably means feeding the 3 year olds, airplane spoons and all. I remember falling asleep on the bus and dribbling everywhere, I was so exhausted. Who knew teaching kindergardeners was more exhausting than mixing cement?

Its a different kind of exhausting. Instead of that dull ache in my muscles, I had a throbbing in my head. What did we have to do for class tomorrow? How am I going to engage the tricky kids? How am I going to ensure the fast kids stay engaged?

But on Tuesday afternoon as I walked from my Spanish lesson to the gym it dawned on me. I don't have to be perfect. I just have to be me. And I just have to offer attention, kindness, patience and energy. I've got all those, so as I plodded along I made a promise to myself. For the next 3 and a half weeks I going to give these kids everything.

So on Wednesday, I started my day with this in mind. Art day. Our lesson plan offered colouring in, glue, cutting- what more could a 5 year old want, right? So armed with stencils for Christmas wreaths and other Christmas goodies, enthusiasm, hugs and my dungarees, I set out to engage 30 children. And did it work? Yes, and it was a glorious flurry of green pens and pencils, glue, multicoloured candy canes, and orange bows. It was a glorious hour, and while I stood there, a giant among these little joys, I sighed a breath, this is home, this is where I belong, right now.

So again today, while Senorita Carmen, the Peruvian teacher, was away for the morning, Laura (a beautiful, tall American with a kind heart), Ally (a sweet young Australian gappy) and I managed 30 kids- in a foreign language, mind you- offering stencils of presents for the Christmas tree I am going to put up in class, or playtime and eventually an impromptu Maths lesson.

I get such enjoyment from thinking on my feet- how am I going to keep Maruchio engaged when he churns though the work so quickly? How am I going to get Melany to eat her sandwich so she can start work? How am I going to get Maria to actually sit at her seat and colour her work? And where on earth did Aldrick go?

So as we celebrated birthdays- which involved shoving cake in the birthday boy or girl's face, why not eh? I looked around and my heart swelled. This weekend Ally makes her way back to Australia leaving me to work with Senorita Carmen and these hip high bundles of energy. And I honestly cannot wait.

Tomorrow, Friday, we are taking 80 students from the various GVI schools to the beach. I am looking forward to the challenge of earning the trust of these teenage terrors, being reunited with the sea and making a giant sea turtle out of sand.

But before I go, earlier today during a volunteer meeting I was asked what my highlight of the week was, and after letting my mind rush to the moment when Omar said 'gracias' without being asked, to the time when Luz ate her lunch without any help, to watching Berli colour more presents than anyone else, I had to hold my tongue. These moments I share with the kids are not only educational for them- while I am trying and teach them numbers and colours, they are teaching me patience, love and reminding me that life is precious and as Jeff wrote in a farewell note: "when you have life, protect it, nurture it, and treat it with respect."