Old San Juan

Our first full school of week is over and we survived! And really, the kids are great. Nothing harder than what we experienced in Laurel. So, we are starting to feel more confident and comfortable. Friday was a very bazzare day, mostly because it was our first big day of rain. Thursday after school, Reyas, my teacher friend down the "getto hall" warned that we were expecting a "tropical wave" to come over the island after school. I guess that there are levels that a storm must go through before it becomes a hurricane - tropical wave, tropical depression, tropical storm and then a full hurricane. Luckly, we were only at the "wave" level on Friday and it turned out to just be a heavy rain all day, but what was amazing was that we had 1/4th of our kids not even show up. When I asked the other students where everyone was they said, "Missy, IT'S RAINING, no one should have school when it's raining - they are home in bed." Weird. It was just raining. Oh well, made for an easier Friday. I guess now that same storm has grown into a tropical storm called Fae - glad we never got to meet her.

Friday night we had a "teacher party" at Casa Benny (the house that Tom and Andy live at). There were about 10 other PR teachers that came to hang out, so it was fun to get to know them "out of school". They are great people.

Today, Saturday the 16th, we took a road-trip to San Juan. It was a great day, great weather and Barbara and Mandi came with us. I am very bummed because my camera didn't take all the pictures that I thought I was taking - I am missing about 15 maybe that I had taken throughout the day (tomorrow we are going to have to purchase a new camera) - so, anyway, I will share the pictures that did show up. The town is very quaint and clean. All the houses and buildings are painted bright colors and have great doors and railings around their balconies. There are horse-drawn buggies for the tourists and great stores and shopping. The next two are of a huge fort that was built on the western edge of San Juan. The city is lined with an old wall (used as protection against pirates and such) and this is the fort that San Juan is most known for. The others, I love the cemetaries here so I had so get a picture - and the last couple, a fountain which we were cooling off in. It was very toasty today. We even ran into one of Mandi's students and some parents of one of Jon's students. So really, Puerto Rico is a small world and we definatly stick out! But, the parents reasured Jon that the Junior class likes his teaching - especially the girls (who would have thought!). However, they do think that he has a lot of rules in his math class. :)

Okay, I wish I could show you the other pictures that I thought I had taken, but I guess you will just have to come see for yourself!