Bocachica

On Friday, the sixth graders and most of their teachers took a catamaran to Bocachica, an island about 15 kilometers away from Cartagena with no running water.  We met at 7:30 at the bay but didn't leave until eight because that's just the way things work around here.  

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, though the sun seemed stronger than usual.  The kids were all bright-eyed and excited for the trip, and the teachers were thankful for a day out of the classroom.  

Fuerte de San Fernando

I was assigned to 6A, the class who tries my patience the most.  They are all great kids, but together, they are incredibly loud and rambunctious.  Thankfully, they have improved immensely since the beginning of the year.  

The class was amazing!  They listened to the guide, asked questions, translated for Elizabeth and I, and were just a blast to be around.  The failing students were some of the most polite and interested.  It was such a nice change from the classroom setting. 

Has anyone heard of a selfie stick?  Well, I hadn't either until a couple months ago when they were making fun of it on NPR.  Quite a few of the students had them and would hold the sticks straight in the guide's face, recording every word coming out of his mouth.  Even the kids with cell phones were recording.  The guide took it well, but man, I bet he was happy when we left. 

The first place we toured was Fuerte de San Fernando, a fort built back in the pirating days.  They had a row of holes for toilets, a moat where they used to feed prisoners to sharks, and an underground passage to escape.  

  We swapped places with 6B and took a jaunt up the hill to visit Batería del Angel San Rafael.  This was another fort-like structure with cannons and tunnels filled with flying bats, probably the kids' favorite part.  There wasn't much of a tour here, just exploring around and snacking. 

Do you see the dog in the middle?  His name is Chicha (named by the kids), and he ate very well on Friday.  The kids even poured some water into a bowl for him to drink.  When we left the Bateria, he followed us down for lunch and beach time. 

We met down by the beach where we were fed a huge portion of fish, rice, patacones, and salad with a soda on the side.  The kids were then allowed to play on the beach and in the ocean...no lifeguards around.  The teachers all sat underneath a beach tent and enjoyed the day.  I really do lead a tough life.

Kids were told to bring their swimming suits, but even if they forgot, it didn't hinder them from getting in the water.

There was a litter of puppies by the restaurant that the kids somehow found.  After asking their parents, Santi and Estefania ended up each taking a puppy home.  Thank goodness because the animals on that island were not treated well at all.  

We arrived back at the bay around 2:30, where I hopped on a bus and took a lovely snooze back at home.  I wish we could do a field trip every month.