Centro Franciscano

I wish I had a good excuse for not posting sooner, I was sick for a while but the best thing that I can think of is that I've been busy falling absolutely in love with my job. I work at Centro Franciscano Pedro Chaves Barcellos helping teach kids English, doing art projects, and most importantly tying lots of shoes. Since the kids only go to school for half the day here, places like Centro are for them to be and participate in all the electives that they don't teach at school while they are there. Centro is run primarily by the four nuns that live on campus, one is the director, one the music teacher, one the art teacher and I have yet to see the fourth but I do know she exists. There are no religious classes but we do sing some sort of prayer every day before the kids eat, and it took me a while to realize that they weren't singing the same song every day considering I still am not completely sure what they're saying.

Group 2 with Their Eagle Art Projects

Gustavo and Luis

I spend the majority of my time with Group 1 which are the youngest kids from ages 6-10. The entire program has 3 groups up to ages 15 but so far it's easiest for me to work with the little kids because the older kids have more discussions that are harder to keep up with whereas the little ones are easy to help with the activities they do. As far as instant gratification, dance class is the most fun for me to watch, there isn't a lot of talking I just have to keep their shoes tied and some of the music is even in English! I do most of my talking with the kids during snack time where the cooks make all sorts of food. In the middle of the week, the food is smaller like a hot dog but on Mondays and Fridays, they get an entire meal normally with dessert in case they aren't able to eat a lot at home over the weekend. Other than dance, the kids participate in music, technology (which is just an hour of them getting computer time to play games), P.E., and art. I'm trying my best to learn all the songs they sing but since that isn't going as well as one would hope I mainly clap and hum. I play more of a supervising role in P.E. after being fought over my first week only for them to find out they didn't really want me on their soccer team anyways. I couldn't bring myself to knock over the kids like they were knocking over each other to get the ball so now I just watch. During art if we have a project I help with the things they aren't allowed to use like big scissors and the hot glue gun, and if it's a free day where nothing is planned I draw lots and lots and lots of flowers for them to color in.

Kids playing Simon Says in P.E.

I've started some great relationships with the kids, they are all so sweet and always want hugs and to give kisses on the cheek. I can't wait until my university Portuguese classes are over and I'll be able to go to work every day of the week!



Eu amo meu trabhalo! (I love my job)