Camp at Parkside!

Wendy and Fer have had their first few days of summer camp at Parkside, Gigi's school. All the teachers and staff there are wonderful -- so warm and kind. Every week the groups go on two field trips and then have three days of school, doing academic work and also specials like yoga, art and gym. The girls have been very pleased, though sometimes I do think they must feel like they've been dropped into an alien world of some kind. For example, today Fer was explaining to me that in her class if they are good, they get a "moneda" (coin) and if they are REALLY good, they get two, and once they have a lot, they get a pizza lunch with a teacher. Apparently the monedas are brown and kept in little jars. She doesn't know how many she has, but seems very pleased with the system. I don't think that was the usual approach to discipline at San Mauricio! It kind of reminded me of the day they came home a few weeks after starting St. Peter's describing with great excitement that a bell rang, teachers were clapping, classes lining up, they left the building suddenly in the middle of the day, waited on the street with no talking, then came back in again. A fire drill! But their first, so all new and different.

They have had so many firsts in the past year -- it's amazing to think it's been a year since we met them. Every day I am so impressed by their bravery and ability to experience and enjoy new things. Many adults who had gone through the changes they have would be curled up in a corner somewhere, but they amazingly take it all in and take it all on and keep going. We are so blessed!