Teaching English

To put some of our skills to use, we have started with English-lessons for the children/youth in Belen. All the "promotores" that are a part of the project have the chance to come and learn English. So two times a week for two hours, we try to teach them the difference between "how are you" and "how old are you", but also numbers, colors and different phrases. It is interesting and a challenge to teach them. Some pick up things very fast, while others have some very challenging concentration problems. We wonder how the kids learn at school, because the classes are even bigger and there is only one teacher.
The kids are lovely and very eager to learn. Especially when we play different games like "bingo" and Twister with words and numbers in english. Following the rules and not just write in the numbers as you go along, is a bit difficult for some ;)

Learning the alphabet by making the letters with their whole body

The classroom is a house that is surronded by the water and all the kids have to use boats to get there. So we never know how many will come and especially on rainy days, when the people in Belen usually stay inside. To get to Belen and our classroom, we have to take a motortaxi to Belen, walk down some stairs, get our balanced tested walking on planks with running children and dogs and for the last little bit we take a canoe. Now we are used to it, but sometimes we realize how special it really is. :)

Belen under water

Also, it's been raining heavily in Iquitos for the last week, which has resulted in cold weather (for the circumstances) and a red alarm from the government, who are concerned that the river will increase even more and cause damage (but this happens every year apparently). We have missed our Converse and jeans :)