Update #6

May 9th, 2008

In this issue you will find:
1. Directors update
2. Class update
3. Current Needs
4. Volunteer needs

Directors Update: Hello friends and family of Adelante! It certainly is cookin' here in León. As I write this update my computer tells me that it's 95 degrees outside this air-conditioned oasis. That's about the average daily temperature. I'm getting quite a tan here ha ha. In an effort to save a little more money, I have recently learned how to wash my own clothes. This, I'm sure, sounds much easier that it actually is. I now wash all my clothes by hand on a concrete "pila". Needless to say my hands are paying dearly for this new skill. But it's a nice get away as I can put on my iPod and just relax.

On another note...Adelante is cookin' too! This week we are finishing up our first English course. The final evaluation for the students in the course is to go to the main square in León, where there are a lot of tourists, and find someone that speaks English and engage them in a conversation. The main challenge with this assignment is that the students need to be sure to use some of the greetings that we have been learning in the classroom. For the past week we have been practicing and finalizing a dialogue and list of questions to ask a tourist. All of the students are very nervous and excited about getting out of the classroom and using what they have learned in the real world. On Monday, our final day, they will all come back and report how their experience went. I can't wait to hear the results!
In the house I have recently finished doing some personal construction. We took out one of the large gates and put up a wall that has a wooden door and wooden window. It looks awesome. I'll have pictures up very soon. As is to be expected, I miss and think about everyone back home all the time and appreciate more than you could probably imagine all the phone calls and letters that have been sent. Thank you!

Class update: As the closing of the first class is upon us this week, I have been inundated with requests for our classes. On June 23rd, we plan to open up the course to the public, and just in time! Word of the school has spread and people are already eagerly scratching at the door! Adelante is dedicated to having at all times half of the class full or partially scholarshiped. I am very excited to be able to offer these classes to people that are truly interested in learning English.

Current Needs: One thing that I would really like to give to all the students are English dictionaries for their personal possession. I have about 7 that I lend out during the class, but I would love to be able to build up a good stock of dictionaries. That being said, any new or used English Spanish dictionaries would be very helpful here. Please send to:
Mateo Garibaldi
Del Texaco Guido
2 al sur, ½ abajoLeón, Nicaragua
Central America

Volunteer needs: Volunteers are always more than welcome here. We will have more information as positions materialize, but if you anyone feels eager about the opportunity, please contact me personally so we can work out the details.
Next Update May 28th