First day of volunteering
Yesterday was my first day of volunteering at the elementary school!
Before that happened, though, my friend was out jogging or something, and decided it would be a good time to pick up the CD he had asked me for some couple of days ago. I was still in PJs, so he came up to the door, and I handed him the CD. He said “Thanks.” Then he went on his way.
But I guess my sister heard him talk/cough, and ran to go to tell my mother about it. They came to the conclusion that I had let a man into the house and we partied all morning… or something. Whatever I did, it was bad. I got chewed out. I told my friend later, and he said something like, “Your family is awesome. Like, you’re that quick and neat, they don’t need evidence of anything, but they still genuinely feel you could pull it off. They must think you can rob banks and cheat on SAT’s and shit, too. I wish my parents believed in me that much.”
Which is a very good way to turn it around and boost my ego~ And it’s true. They do believe in me an obscene amount. It would be nice if they didn’t jump to bad conclusions, but what am I gonna do?
Anyway, volunteering. There were four classrooms and rotations, and I went with the first and second graders everywhere.
First, they learned about St. Patrick’s day. (“What kind of holiday is it?” asked the teacher. “Leprechaun!” said Irene.) I got to hand out the snacks.
Then, they ate ice cream. Oh, while they were waiting for their turns to get ice cream, I told them jokes. Which was awesome. I like lame jokes, and everyone’s heard my jokes, but not these kids! They loved the jokes. “What do you call a tiger with carrots in his ears? Anything you want. He can’t hear!” I started a riot with the “boobies” joke, though. (What kind of bees don’t make honey? BOOBIES.) I hope I don’t get in trouble.
Next was the scavenger hunt. This is when they started warming up to me. Myra asked me if a scavenger hunt was like an Easter egg hunt, and yes it is, so I told her she did a good job seeing the connection. Caroline was like my shadow. She was right next to me the whole time, telling me about her family. Poor Carlos had to go to the restroom, and of course, all the kids suddenly wanted to go, too. So, we had to go as a class. I figured out I could turn on the bathroom lights (they were scared of the dark, aww) by flipping a tiny switch with a bobby pin. Caroline helped me along with her bobby pin.
Last was a board game session. Irene asked me to sit next to her, and Diamond played with my hair, and Isaiah, who arrived pissed off, calmed down. We played “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” They asked me multiple times if I had kids, or if I was married, or if I was going to get married. No, no, no.
We had to head back to the original classroom, so the parents could pick them up. Irene and Diamond held my hands on the way there. I had to let go so they could stand in a straight line with everyone else. We watched Shrek while parents walked in quietly to pick their kids up.
I can’t wait to go back!
♥8 March 14, 2010