So here's what happened... there was a local Guatemalan teacher working in a different classroom in the school, and she wasn't getting along so well with her class. Therefore, she was switched to my class to see if this would work out better. Not the greatest of circumstances, of course, but I am honestly happy that there is a local teacher in my classroom. It guarantees that changes will stick, and she can hopefully continue some of the programs that I have started after I am gone. One challenge of this place is that when volunteers come and go, the things they worked on don't last. I have been training her, but now have begun supporting the special needs kids in more indirect ways. I have been doing all of their annual goals and plans, so that there are decisive plans when I leave that the new teacher can follow. I have also been working on more administrative/social work tasks, such as their living placements within the orphanage and outside, their work opportunities, coordinating their caregivers, etc. It has been kind of neat, and I think this type of work makes a big difference in their lives.
It is weird being a 10-month volunteer. The mentality of many of the directors has changed towards me...they respect my ideas now, but at the same time understand that I cant carry them out all the way since I am leaving. Also, my mentality has changed a little. It is like that theory of "senioritis" that we all say we have the last semester of school. I am still working, but I am thinking alot about what is going to happen next, and losing some motivation. I am getting pretty tired in general, so I will be taking fair amount of trips in the next few weeks to distract myself.
P.S. I threw a pool party for my special needs kids last week!!!
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