CEDEI School Performance!

This past Thursday, we had the opportunity to attend a CEDEI school performance.  I’m not sure if I have completely explained the whole CEDEI School situation...and even if I have, I am going to try and make it more clear.  There are two CEDEI Schools that we have been involved in during our time in Ecuador.  We teach classes that are taught in English (such as language, math, & science) at CEDEI School.  This is where all of our students attend school.  Then, there is also a CEDEI School for older students along with international students that is located in downtown Cuenca.  This CEDEI School is where we have our classes and whatnot.  I hope that this all makes sense!

The school performance took place at one of the local malls. They had a stage set up and everything.  We walked to the mall after we finished class and got there a little early.  Oh my am I glad that we went up and saved seats right away.  By the time the show started, the place was packed.  All of the seats were taken and there was basically only standing room left open.  Our seats were right up in front, so that we could cheer our students and friends on.  Not all of the grades at CEDEI School, where we teach, had the opportunity to perform.  Many students that were not performing still attended the performance.  It was neat to see the kiddos out of the school setting, and with their families.  It reminded me of the different school activities that I went to with my family when I was young!

~The stage that the students performed on!~

~The crowd at the mall~

~Two of my sixth grade students that attended the performance~

There were two different classes from CEDEI School that performed and then the fall semester students also did a skit.  The first grade class did an awesome dance that was taught to them by the dance instructor from CEDEI School.  These kids were absolutely adorable in their costumes and I have to say that they did a great job dancing.  For some reason I can’t get the videos to post on my blog, but I will definitely show you all once I get home!  Their performance was great…I was truly impressed! 

~Some of the first graders, before their dance performance....so CUTE!~

~One of the little boys during the dance performance~

The other class that performed was the seventh graders.  They sang a song that was taught to 
them by the music teacher at CEDEI School.  It was neat because the song was actually written by one of the students within the class!  It was funny because the little kids came out on the stage and busted out their moves like there was no tomorrow.  When the seventh graders were performing their song you could tell that some of them were nervous.  The age difference and awareness of surroundings is so interesting!  There are two students within the seventh grade class that have special needs.  The expressions on their faces were so priceless.  Words cannot describe how excited they were to be up on a stage and included in what was happening!

~The seventh grade class singing their song!~

~The sign that they held up at the end of their performance!~

A couple of the other performances were done by older students from CEDEI School, where we take our classes.  The last performance was done by our fellow fall semester international students.  They did a skit about being a study abroad student in Ecuador.  The skit included different experiences that they have had as a group along with the cultural differences that they have experienced.  I have to say that their skit was pretty funny, and I could relate to many of the scenarios that they included. 

~Pretending to get RoUdY while watching a soccer game!~

~This was the end of their skit...pretty much summed up what living in Ecuador is like~

As the CEDEI School performance came to an end, most of us had tears streaming down our face.  We are all coming to realize that we only have about two weeks left before we head home.  What a bitter-sweet thought this is.  We are definitely all excited to get home and see our families and whatnot…but on the other hand we are leaving a city in a different country that has been our home for the past two months.  I’m thankful for the experiences that I’ve had thus far, and can’t wait to see what’s to come for the next two weeks!  I do know one thing…that time is going to fly by!

Talk to you soon!

Love,

Aimee