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| Teacher Filder's Class |
I've been trying for a few weeks to take the older kiddos on a field trip. I knew that planning for this would be way different than any field trip I'd ever planned for, so I fastened my seat belt and sat back for the ride. After their unit of study on Haitian history, I suggested they take a trip to Musée du panthéon national. I had been there once, and enjoyed hearing Haiti's history from a Haitian perspective. So two weeks ago we set out for the museum. But our first attempt failed because I forgot to tell the nannies the night before that we would be leaving the orphanage. I knew that getting 13 children ready to leave would take a considerable amount of time, and springing that on them in the morning was not going to work. So we planned to go on Monday, February 7. That plan was quickly changed because there was expected to be violence since President Preval decided to stick around until May instead of leaving on February 7.
So Wednesday it was. We planned to leave at 8:30, so at 9:20 we rolled out. We have one child who gets carsick every time we leave. I've suggested putting her in the front seat, but each time, she gets in, she is ushered to the very back. This time, matches were put in her hair to keep her from getting motion sick. Somehow in her multiple vomiting sessions, she managed to keep the matches in her hair. I explained why she was getting motion sick, and again suggested she sit nearer the front. She was again ushered to the back of the 15 passenger van. I gave up, as I was not the one holding the puke bucket. We have to choose our battles, right?
The children were very excited, and they behaved extraordinarily well in the museum. The tour guide did an excellent job of working with the children, and they retained a lot of what was taught to them. Amazing.
After the tour, we walked across the street to see the National Palace. Most of the children had not seen it in its current state. The photos here were taken by one of the children. Filder talked to them about the Palace, why it is important, what happens there. I tried to imagine standing in front of a crumbled White House, trying to explain to students the tragedy of a crumbled government, but couldn't seem to stretch my imagination that far.
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| Neg Mawon, direct center over woman's head |
The children wanted to see the Neg Mawon statue. We walked around an entire tent encampment directly across from the Palace, but didn't see it. Finally when we arrived almost back where we started, Teacher Filder realized the statue, a symbol of freedom and independence, was completely surrounded by tents. Ropes had been tied around the arm and hand to hold tents up. We were able to see the hand holding the conch shell.
We packed the kids back into the van and drove to get a snack. Tampico and cookies at a gas station. One of the girls got my camera again, and began taking pictures of the Valentine's gifts for sale at the gas station. Sure looked nicer than any Valentine's gifts I'd ever seen in a gas station in the States.
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| Valentine gifts (I couldn't get this one to flip!) |
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| Snack time |
We headed home, tired and full of Tampico.
The children decided they like these things that Miss Angie calls 'field trips'. I may already have a couple more planned...
I've been trying for a few weeks to take the older kiddos on a field trip. I knew that planning for this would be way different than any field trip I'd ever planned for, so I fastened my seat belt and sat back for the ride. After their unit of study on Haitian history, I suggested they take a trip to Musée du panthéon national. I had been there once, and enjoyed hearing Haiti's history from a Haitian perspective. So two weeks ago we set out for the museum. But our first attempt failed because I forgot to tell the nannies the night before that we would be leaving the orphanage. I knew that getting 13 children ready to leave would take a considerable amount of time, and springing that on them in the morning was not going to work. So we planned to go on Monday, February 7. That plan was quickly changed because there was expected to be violence since President Preval decided to stick around until May instead of leaving on February 7.
So Wednesday it was. We planned to leave at 8:30, so at 9:20 we rolled out. We have one child who gets carsick every time we leave. I've suggested putting her in the front seat, but each time, she gets in, she is ushered to the very back. This time, matches were put in her hair to keep her from getting motion sick. Somehow in her multiple vomiting sessions, she managed to keep the matches in her hair. I explained why she was getting motion sick, and again suggested she sit nearer the front. She was again ushered to the back of the 15 passenger van. I gave up, as I was not the one holding the puke bucket. We have to choose our battles, right?
The children were very excited, and they behaved extraordinarily well in the museum. The tour guide did an excellent job of working with the children, and they retained a lot of what was taught to them. Amazing.
3 comments:
Angie, That is AWESOME that you took the kids on the fieldtrip!!!!
Angie, you are so great, I love reading your blogs and I could read one everyday. You make me laugh and cry and want to be there with you and the kids. God Bless you and keep you full.
I just reread this post. I also check often and could read one everyday. I love the picture of the Tampico. Wonder if we can buy it here in the States. Can't wait to read about the next field trip.
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