Noche Hispana at Patrick's Cabaret, July 15th and 16th, 8 pm. www.patrickscabaret.org 

First meeting of Summer Conversation Group

This Summer I am part of Project "Shine" through my college. It's an inservice learning assignment for my Intercultural Communication class. I've been going to Franklin Learning Center to tutor immigrants in ESL. I've been helping people with their English since the beginning of June. Mainly working one-on-one. Last week I submitted a proposal for a Summer Conversation Group. My initial idea was to do a Theatre Group to give people opportunity to express themselves in another language, to USE English in a certain context. But then I realized that would be too ambitious, especially since it would be my first interaction with a group of immigrants, all of them Somalian women. So I changed it to conversation group called "My story, your story, our story". Today it was the first meeting. Even though I am used to a "class" setting, I was a little nervous. It's been a long time that I don't teach English. I could see how some of them were really shy at the beginning, but in the course of 2 hours we all felt more comfortable. The meeting or "class" was very positive and most women expressed an interest to come back the following Wednesday.

Reports, papers, studying and more!

Wow! I can't hardly believe it's June 24th already. Classes have been great! I am a little behind, though, so all this week has been (and still is) almost reading and writing non-stop! Besides my midtern for Cultural Anthropology is on Monday, so I don't think I will be out much this weekend. And it's so gorgeous outsite! Summer is fully here and I love to walk to the local coffee shop (and then plug myself to my laptop to furiously cath up with my paper work). Last nite I went to the last of the four plays required for my "Theatre in the Twin Cities" class, and it was awesome. "Entertaining Mr. Sloane", with Justin Kirk (HBO's "Angels in America") in it. It was fun. We also had the opportunity to interact with Jungle Theatre artistic director, the director of the play and the actors after the show. That really enhanced the theater-going experience.

Classes must go on...

It's been more than a week already since I started classes at MCTC. I love my classes. Intercultural Comm. and Cultural Anthropology are demanding but very exciting. Theatre in the Twin Cities is pretty easy, but I love it as well (easy credits, fun and theatre!)
I already had my first challenges in a paper where I had to examine my cultural identity. Since I have been away from Argentina for almost 6 years now, I have adopted certain behavior patterns from my surrounding culture, for sure, but I am far from being absorved from it :-)
Something else that seems to be changing is my skin :-) I am goingt EVERYDAY (some people might not believe this, yes everyday) to swim at YWCA! I hope to keep that at least for the summer.

Last day of classes at Spring Hill School

Today is a partly festive, partly sad day. Last day of classes at Spring Hill School. Sure I want to have my summer and do different things! But I will certainly miss my students, they are a source of energy in my life. The "Closing Ceremony" was lovely. All grades did some presentation in Spanish:
1st grade: song "La Farolera"
2nd grade: verse "El Castillo de Chuchurrumbe"
3rd and 4th grades: songs "Que llueva, que llueva" and "Fray Martin"
5th grade: song "Himno a la alegria" accompanied by flutes!
I was very proud of all of them!