nothing on a small scale.

i remember reading ginny's blog around this time last year, and i would like to echo her sentiments. when people in san pedro do something, they really DO it. in capital letters. if they go for a run, they wear a matching outfit; if they plan a party, they have it catered; if they build a starbucks, they build 14 more (there will literally be 15 starbucks' in san pedro by december, last year at this time there were only 4). there is more money in every square inch of this place then i will ever have in my whole lifetime. it is so bizarre to me. teacher's know what is going on at school. the PTA really values us. if you have a problem in your apartment, they send a worker within 24 hours. this is a luxurious lifestyle that i will never live again. i can understand why people never leave.

last night, the parent's council hosted a welcome bbq to introduce new teacher's to mexican food and culture. first of all, the setting was spectacular: the backyard was under a huge canopy of plants, the tables were decorated with hand-made paper flowers and there was unlimited food and alcohol. the mothers welcomed us like family! we got to try:

-cactus cooked in a red sauce.
-chicken in a mole sauce. i quote, "there is chocolate in the chicken? this place is the BEST." - ellise
-hand cooked tortillas.
-margaritas.
-some sort of cheese dish. and a mushy looking beef dish.
-tamales.
-mushy refried beans.
-spicy peanuts.
-weird mushy candies... are you noticing a trend?

the thing about mexican food, is it looks incredibly unappetizing. the refried beans look suspiciously like vomit and the rest is all messy and mushy and gets all mixed together. while i DO understand why people don't like it - if you get over the look of it - you will discover the magical mystery of deliciousness. it is incredible! i could never eat it every day because it is too fattening, too spicy, too much.... but i am so glad it is here. good thing i am not in a picky phase.

you may think the greatest surprise was the catered dinner and free alcohol... but NO. it gets even better. mid-way through the meal, a 12-man mariachi band marched in and surprised the bejeezus out of us! in 'stylish' huge red bowties, heavy suits and incredible voices, they serenaded us for almost 30 minutes. now these guys can entertain! choreographed movements and all. apparently mariachi bands are not only for tourists, they are a legitimate part of mexican culture. if a boy has a crush on a girl, they will often have a mariachi band play outside her window. a girl can dream.

today was another busy day. we had a FULL staff breakfast (also catered) over at the high school at the beautiful luxurious huesteca campus. dean showed me his classroom and it looks almost new! it was a nice chance to see familiar faces, and then all the staff met in the auditorium for service awards. some people have worked for asfm for 25 years! i almost cried during his acceptance speech, even though it was in spanish and i didn't understand a word he said. the elementary teacher's came back to san pedro for more sessions, team meetings (there are 8 grade 2 teachers in total) and finally we got a few more hours in our classroom this afternoon. i went through a few moments today when i felt really underprepared for the kids to come... a week tomorrow! but luckily, ginny and everyone have been SO supportive, and i am realizing that not everything has to be in place for day one.

from the way we have been treated and valued by administration, i can't imagine not being able to pour my heart and soul into this school. i truly believe this is the first organization that i have worked for that has got it right. if you value your employees, make them feel special, and make their lives easier, then OF COURSE we will be able to work harder for students. by making our personal lives more enjoyable and efficent, they are only benefiting the school. they understand that teacher's need balance, and they certainly provide a work-hard/play-hard atmosphere here. over the next few days, i imagine i will be at school for long hours preparing my classroom, my library and planning. but i won't hesitate for a moment because i know in exchance, they are working hard for me.