It was a beautiful morning in Mexico City! The sun came up - the first time we have had a sunrise without clouds since we have arrived! The children were so excited to get to Olinca today. Yesterday was Father's Day and we did not have group activities...we did not see each other! Everyone was on their own with their host families. I talked to each student when they arrived this morning and took a group photo outside of the Olinca Periferico Campus main office.
The Graham ISSE delegation at Olinca Periferico campus main office
I will summarize what each student did after leaving the PYP Exhibition on Saturday. Grant, Addie and Mikey went to Reni's Birthday party - I wrote about it in Saturday's journal entry. Justin and his family went to watch Toy Story 3 in 3D. He said the movie was in English with Spanish subtitles.
On Father's Day:
Addie spent the day with Reni's father and his family. They rode horses and Ren's dog ate her socks!
Justin went to the supermarket and shopped for some new and different fruits and vegetables to try.
Grant and Justin at lunch - OUTSIDE and trying lychee fruit. Justin packed them in his lunch!
Grant went to Chapultepec Park and fed fish animal crackers. He said when you threw the crackers the fish jumped out of the water. He ate at a Mexican Restaurant and ate hotcakes for dinner. He also played football (football in Mexico is called soccer in the United States).
Mikey spent the day at Mauricio's cousins house. They played soccer and ate Mexican food.
Today school began with an Assembly. An Assembly is when the entire primary grades assemble outside in the courtyard. This happens every Monday and all the students wear their uniforms on this day. Today was a special assembly because there was a changing of the flag "color guard". The students who were responsible for the Mexican flag this year passed the flag to those who will care for it next school year. We heard the Mexican National Anthem an witnessed the "changing of the flag".
Part of the Assembly was changing of the flag color guard from this years students to those who will care for the flag next year
During the Assembly, the Ohio delegation was formally announced. We received gifts and peace letters. Each student was called to the front during the assembly and received their peace letter. This is an exerpt from the letters each student received:
" We know that you are conscious of your social,moral and intellectual responsibilies."
"We congratulate you because we are sure that you will tolerate differences, and based upon your own principles, you will analyze new cultural forms and assimilate what you believe will enrich your life. We know that you will give of yourself all that you are...always knowing that your way of being is not neccessarily what other people need at given moment, and by this you will not be offended."
"Remember that a smile is a part of universal language...KINDNESS."
"We hope to recieve news from you, your experiences will help us, your friends, to become better human beings."
"Welcome to Mexico, Welcome to Olinca, Welcome to Our Hearts!" "One Family, One Mankind, One Home, One Earth"
Graham ISSE delegation being recognized at the Monday morning Assembly
After lunch, we practiced our presentation we will give on Ohio and the United States. Then we played a Brain Quest game...a team game asking questions about Ohio and the United States. Addie,Mikey and Justin somehow ended up on the same team!
Addie, Justin and MIkey were on the same team while playing Ohio Brain Quest...that is not quite fair is it?
Then back to classes for more work...and then home for another night with our wonderful host families. I am going shopping for my FIRST "soccer" jersey so that I can "fit in" during the soccer game tomorrow! The WHOLE school will be watching Mexico play Hondurus!! Signing off from Mexico City, this is PolarTREC teacher Chantelle Rose!