woke up at 7:40 somethin got a text at 8am from a school i want to work with asking if i can come in at 8:30 0_o i said nope but 9 is more doable. i get there expecting to sit down with the prof. da cultura and maybe 1 or 2 other people but she directs me into the schoolyard here i see EVERY child in school that day sitting/standing bc there’s an assembly of sorts. i ask whats going on she said i’m going to speak in front of everybody. mind you i try to keeps it calm, cool & collected but i immediately shake my head & say nope bc i still don’t speak solid portuguese & this was unexpected so i’m nervous (mainly bc of the former reason bc obvi if i had to speak english it would’ve been no probz).

she said ok and would separate the “culture club” so i only had to speak with them…then she came back like naw. just seak to all the kids at once. needless to say i was MORTIFIED but introduced myself, mentioned a few words about JUNTOS then finished! i haven’t been that embarassed in a min (probz since our single ladies “flash mob” during pdm). anywho my frown quickly turned upside down when 20 or so kids came up to me afterwards wanting more deets on JUNTOS and had an interest in starting a club!

bc i was still hype when i left i decided to stop by the orphanage bc it was abotu 15mins away from the school. walked over and talked to one of the ladies who runs it bc i want to help them get a rice donation. the brief meeting went well then i stuck around to say hey to a friend who was on her way to work at the orphanage….then went to meet another friend at immigration and chat it up about rest of the week/weekend plans.

as i was walking back to the office 2 girls came up to ask me about JUNTOS bc they were in the crowd i spoke to that am. got back to the office & ate cereal (w/ soy milk!) then told coworkers about my weird, productive morn. soon the guy at the mailbox calls me to say i have a package & he’ll bring it to my office (yaaaaaaaaaas to delivery).

decided to not work as late so left thinking all i wanted to do was work out, eat din din & chill BUT on my way home i stopped by a few house to chat (1 actually relevant as i want to start a program for kids in a remote area w/ a lady here). ran into 2 neighbor girls who needed help w/ english homework (not a quick assignment, but 12 open ended questions about human rights). then some boys show up to my door dumb late (ok it was only almost 8pm but thats late to me) to borrow my markers & design a shirt! i was so done with the day all i could do is call a friend to complain about how tired i was & how i’m going to take a shower so the kids get the hint i don’t want to be amicable bc i’m tired.

all in all a good, vale a pena day though!