Victoria!

Well, we had quite an epic showdown with the rival bilingual school on wednesday in soccer. Our team took the field at around 9:30 am. The field is located adjacent to the school, so it's a short 2 minute walk to get there. Cofradia Bilingual (CBS) was already on the field warming up. They had 4 or 5 boys on the team who were pretty big boys. So, Tim and I had just gotten our team in a huddle when we hear yelling coming down the street. The rest of our school is stampeding down dirt road to the field, first graders, sixth graders, all. It was awesome.

The first half didn't go so well. CBS scored 2 goals in the first half and put us behind. I could tell our players were feeling pretty dejected at half. But what happened next was nothing short of a miracle. If we had solid film of the game I'd submit it for sportscenter and possibly one of the greatest comebacks of all time. To be honest, CBS whipped us pretty good in the first half. We were having some trouble moving the ball downfield and clearing it from in front of our goal. lOn top of that we were having some trouble keeping the rest of the school kids off the field. So at half, gave the team a little pep talk and put them back out there.

We caught a break something like 5 or 6 minutes in. One of their players passed the ball back to their goalie and he picked it up with his hands, which isn't allowed. Penalty Kick! We put Clint in there and he pulled the trigger and put one through. SJBS (our school) went nuts. Game resumed (score now 1-2, CBS). Then, Glenin was rushing down the field as another kid was catching up to him. At the last moment he stretched out his foot and put another one into the tall grass behind the goal (the phrase "in the back of the net" doesn't work, perhaps in Cofradia the phrase could be "hit the loitering cow" as there is more likely to be a cow behind the goal than a net).

We went to penalty kicks. To make it even more intense all the kids gathered around the goalie box as every kid stepped up. I can't express the emotion that was in the kids. Some of our players were obviously really nervous as they prepared to kick. We ended up winning 3-2 in penalty kicks. When CBS's last player missed his shot, the kids went absolutely nuts and dog piled. Quite possibly one of the more exciting sports moments of the last couple years... in the world.

Two weeks and then home.

Tim and I have quit working for BECA.

Frankly, we got a better offer.

Someone asked me

recently what was something that I've learned thus far in my time in Cofradia. One thing stands out. One thing stands out above everything else that I have supposedly learned. Do not bring/buy body wash with exfoliating beads. If there is one thing I've learned during my time here, this is it. The showers here are cold, and you will regret the extra time you are forced to spend beneath the water trying to get those stupid little specks off your skin. Oh sure, the excess skin has been removed from my body and my arms are lush and smooth, but it's not worth it. Trust me. Body Wash with Exfoliating Beads + Cofradia = bad.

My Students' Blog

www.Comingoutoftheclouds.blogspot.com Go There! It's my 9th Grade Students' blog. Write them some comments so they know people are reading them and it will encourage them to write more in the future.

Please do not make any mention to my blog or anything of that sort (meaning any other mention of me). That'd be dank.

Disaster Strikes.

Sketch Ball has been terminated from his position. Puchika!

November

Well, it´s november. It´s kinda hard to believe, but it´here. I´m sitting in an internet cafe, typing on a keyboard that is constantly sticking. The man to my right is wagging his finger playfully at a web cam at who i assume to be his girlfriend. It´s a little chilly here. The last few nights Tim and I have been sleeping in sweat pants. I just got a whiff of something that smelled like BBQ. I´ve been a nostalgic this past week with the change in temperature.

We´ve had a lot of people coming and going over the past few weeks. And by a lot I mean Marilyn and Laurence. Marilyn was a former volunteer here few years back and was here making a documentary/promotional video. She lives in DC now. I do love the idea that when I leave here I´ll be apart of an Alumni. I think I´ll be proud to join such a group of people. Laurence is our soon to be director. He was here bribing us with licuados (and doing an excellent job of it). Every time I say goodbye to someone down here ¨Dust in the wind¨ by Kansas plays. No joke. It´s nice to spend a few days or so meeting other people who have done the same thing we have and are also invested in what we´re doing here.

Tim and I have been keeping track of the number of Licuados and Baleadas we have consumed (started in October). I would have assumed Licuados to be ahead at this point but Baleadas have a commanding lead of over 20. I credit it to the temperature change. A small note, strawberry licuados were had this past weekend and they once again showed why I them to be the best (only competition is banana with oatmeal).

I´m home in like a month and a half. I´m excited to get home and sit and drink coffee and chill and see everyone and use an internet connection where it is possible to watch a youtube video or load a video online etc. I am confident I will miss Cofradia and its saggy nipple dogs while I´m away though.

A couple weeks ago someone posted a message in my comments, inquiring about the organization with whom I am serving. Could not access their email. If you read this, this is the website of the organization: http://www.becaschools.org/