B.E.S.T. Boys Go Global

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Beach chilling

After class I gave the boys yet another quick talk about the cultural differences etc that I prepped them for before we got here. For example, eating all you food, taking a quick shower, etc. I have quite a few students not eating the way they promised and taking too long in the bathroom. We also talked about home sickness and culture shock. All very hard to experience, yet still a natural stage in adjusting to spending time in a foreign country.

We also planned our Thursday free day which will not really be free our plan is to

Choose Picasso Museum or Beach playtime in the morning

Go to the movies at 3:44 pm

Then visit another high school for a basketball match.

I’ll give you all more details on Thursday as the day actually unfolds.

Next up was chillin and playing on the beach before lunch with the host families

https://youtu.be/9Hug-eBOv38

https://youtu.be/qgUZQinmMpQ

We all went home for lunch then met back up here at 3:15, before walking to school together at 5 for our tour of La Alcazaba de Málaga.

Tuesday morning classes

Looks like fun toy me!!! And most importantly they are learning A LOT!!!

Level 2 class

https://youtu.be/p2HWH-RDJ84

https://youtu.be/LKxZQhkMbvc

Level 1 class

https://youtu.be/KyPOy6kQq90

Monday, April 1, 2019

Scavenger hunt on the beach & playtime

Our 5 o’clock activity was a scavenger hunt on the beach. I really liked this activity and the groups seemed to as well. 4 groups had to race to interview people on the board walk t answer questions like, who is the president of Spain? Etc

Then they had to find items listed on this card

A blue rock

A red flower

Etc...

The winner group had Big Baby, Mrs. Shumpert, and Chelsea. Great job guys!!!!

Listen to Ms Pyron explain how the game went for her team.

https://youtu.be/28ihywb0PK8

After the hunt we al just stayed and started playing it was great!!!

The boys are here swinging on a tire zip line. They all had so much fun together.

Then they met friends from France and started a soccer game. BEST Boys make friends with everyone... you gotta love them... truly!

https://youtu.be/eMKebMx0wa8

https://youtu.be/hwkkgsRS6CI chancellor scoring

https://youtu.be/I8QYlvmGT0k

https://youtu.be/liZv8ojDgxU

We game stopped at about 8:20pm, then I sent the boys to their families and to bed. Tomorrow we have class at 9am... whoever is late can’t participate in our afternoon activity tomorrow!! And we are having so much fun no one wants to miss out!

Happy Birthday Jordan & Eric

When I envisioned this trip it was the calm warm climate I saw online and heard from friend who’ve lived here. When we gotnherr last week we had the opposite. Gale force winds, cold, and rain. Since we got here it’s been strangely cold and they got more rain this weekend than they didnthe entire winter!!! Today was the first day that the sea was calm and we could take off our coats... and boy did we make the best of it!!!

Last night we didn’t even get to Malagá until 11pm. I gave the kids some grace and told their teachers to start withering them because we are just all exhausted and a few most definitely will get to class late. For the most part they were on time, but a few were late as I predicted. While they were in class i prepared for a quick birthday party for Jordan (who turned 17 while we were in Germany, and my son Eric who turned 10 today on April 1st)

https://youtu.be/cBu45-ACYTo

For the last 5 years I’ve missed my sons birthday because it’s during the spring break when I take my students abroad. For the last few years Ive been able to celebrate Jordan’s bday with him. This year I get the both of both worlds I’m thankful to be able to celebrate both of these awesome guys and to do so in Europe makes it even better.

After singing happy birthday and eating our cake indent everyone home to eat and sleep. We don’t have to be back at school until 5 so that gave everyone a good 3-4 hours to catch up on sleep. Before getting myself to my own much needed sleep I took a student to the pharmacy for meds because he feels a cold coming on. Also helped here and there with getting the newly arrived ladies get acquainted.

Haggling in Morocco & sea sickness

After leaving the argon oil place we had a short while to shop in the market. The vendors are extremely aggressive and swarm you trying to buy anything and everything. It’s part of the culture to haggle, never except first offer...

I promise I was looking for a magic carpet to help get more students here to experience the wonder of seeing the world.

Once we were done shopping we headed to the port area where we caught our bus. We could hear the 4:30 call to prayer... absolutely enchanting.

https://youtu.be/cjEN6E4LRto

Our boat left at 6pm but this time there were a lot more people and a lot more cars coming to Spain with us . The trip back was horrible the sea was rough and we were hitting huge waves caughting the ship to flying up and come crashing down. It was a roller coaster times 1000!!! I’d say about 1/3 of the ship started throwing up. First I hear our guide Vito start vomiting then many others, then the next thing I know I was next. It was horrible. There were many people who didn’t throw up, but everyone stepped off that boat green from nausea.

This time our exit documentation was yellow in color and we had to fill out everything in a certain way. I wish we could have spent more time in Africa but I truly believe this small taste of an amazing beautiful continent will make them hungry for much much more.

Moroccan markets

The streets of Morocco are like brightly colored mazes. A labyrinth of colors and aromas and people. Most of the women are in hijab and when the call to pray is announced over the loud speakers everyone stops to pray. Even the simplest things are well adorned and decorated.