Two weeks away from home already?!?! The shine hasn’t worn off yet. I wake up a bit confused about my environment everyday, still, but I once I realize where I am I become so happy and grateful. Yesterday was full and fun. The kids have “opening exams”, or baseline tests that serve as a yardstick for progress, at the start of every year. Yesterday was the first of two test days (today being the second). It was fairly easy, I passed out exams and then sat in a room proctoring—making sure the kids weren’t cheating or being disruptive.
It was hilarious watching the kids take the tests (yes, multiple, they had 3 different subject tests, each one and a half hours). They have such innovative but idiotic strategies to try and cheat. Many don’t care to be covert and simply turn to ask their friend for the answer. Others are a bit more sly, sliding little notes along with answers. What’s funny, though, is that most kids are doing poorly on the test from what I’ve seen. The blind are leading the blind.
We decided to let the kids have a little playground/recess time after breakfast and lunch to get a bit of energy out so they would be a bit more settled for the next exams. We played some duck-duck-goose, Mr. Lion, and a ring-around-the-rosy type game. The kids were very interested in me, especially my hair; they kept feeling my hands and skin saying “woooowww” and running their fingers through my hair.