Day 78: Happy Jack!

Today we made a jack-o-lantern! It was so much fun! My brother, Mark, typically gets our girls their Halloween pumpkins and this year he mailed Hannah's to her here in Culebra! What a guy!!

Happy Jack, sitting with the students who helped create him!

Only one of the students has ever seen a pumpkin before and she was so little she doesn't remember it. The rest of them were amazed at the sight, the feel, and the inside. They pulled out the seeds and wondered if they could grow a pumpkin here on the island. They weren't sure how they grew; on a tree, perhaps?? So they had a lesson in what grows in Michigan in the late summer and early fall. It was evident that they were having a very hard time wrapping their heads around a change in seasons. They were enthralled by the idea of leaves falling off the trees, making the trees look dead. They are giggly when they think of how wonderful snow must be, and can't imagine what it would be like to have apples and pumpkins to go pick rather than mangoes and papayas.

They decided they wanted a happy Jack-o-Lantern, and our little Sophia, whose birthday happens to be today also asked for two teeth in a happy smile! Of course that was much better to me than one of those creepy-looking ones, so we drew it with marker and then they watched with eyes glued while I carved out each piece. They were beside themselves when I cut out the top! They got excited every single time an eye, nose, or mouth popped out, too, so it was pretty fun!

You may or may not remember, but on Sunday we went to Zoni Beach. On the way we happened to see some guys by the road with the biggest crabs I've ever seen!!! The thing on the left is a frozen chicken, so it gives you an idea of the size of these things! WHOA!

Robot Man on the beach

Another picture I forgot to post on Sunday is this one. Hannah made a robot from beach sand (in honor of her cousin, Bres,) and I forgot to post it, so here he is!

Today was another really good day at school. The little ones are learning so much and the bigger ones are being very responsible and staying focused, although I am giving more one-on-one attention to the littler ones. We had time at the end of the day to still have music class, and today I taught them a couple of silly songs. What a fun way to end the day!

God, thank you so much for the joy of teaching today. Thank you for the gift of excited students who marvel at carving a pumpkin!