As of today, I have officially been in Granada for two weeks. It is already going too fast! I started volunteering with La Esperanza de Granada last Monday and so far, so good. I really like the program because it is sustainable and actually beneficial (in my humble opinion, of course) for the communities that we work with. I tutor five second graders every school day for half an hour in math and reading. In the afternoons, another volunteer and I, Sophie from France, do our reading groups. We have two reading groups that we meet with for an hour and a half twice a week. We have about 5 students in each reading group, so we walk to their houses, pick them up and then take them to one of their classmate´s houses and read together. I like the tutoring a lot, but I think the reading groups are even more beneficial. It is still small group instruction, but we´re in their homes so their brothers, sisters, cousins, parents, grandparents all get to see how we work with the students on their reading. The parents seem to be really grateful for the work we´re doing and it gives us the opportunity to talk and get to know them. I love it!
I´m living in a volunteer house, which is just a block from the main street in town. It´s fantastic. I feel completely spoiled. I live with 14 other girls from all over and, as I´m sure you can imagine, it´s hilarious. Besides having a great house to come home to, 90 degree days every day and a job I love, I also have a gym with yoga every morning and evening. Really? I don´t think life gets better than this! Hence the reason I am extending my stay as long as possible. :)