Feed The Monster! Fun and games?

It feels like I've finally figured out what I'm doing here in terms of volunteer work.  With trouble in a couple of the favelas, my coordinator has had to make changes a number of times but it seems we've settled on some English classes with preschool aged children in two different favelas (and possibly a third one).  These classes are short (and intense!) and I use my ukulele as well as some games - a favourite one of which is "Feed the monster".  I found this idea online (thank God for the internet!!!).   
The picture on the left is my students 'feeding' their vocabulary words into my makeshift 'bin' monster.  Thankfully I did bring my sharpie with me and have found something akin to Officeworks near my hostel.  
Because I'm only here for a few weeks and these preschools have no resources for the volunteers to teach English, I'm putting together a box of flash cards (hand made) and instructions for games and songs that other volunteers can use.  This way, hopefully the kids will get to continue learning.  Speaking English, even just a little, offers them the opportunity to get better paying jobs and can help them get out of poverty.

On the weekend I enjoyed being a beach bum with a couple of the girls from my hostel.  On Friday night I even went to a samba class with a friend who lives out in the Rio 'burbs.  She introduced me to the delicious street food 'tapioca'.  
 
 
 Tapioca is made from the ground up manioc root, which is lightly moistened and cooked on it's own in the pan, then covered in either sweet or savoury toppings.  Delicious - and yes, that's chocolate on banana on ours!  I'll be on a vegetable only diet for a few months after I get back I think!!!  Aside from beach bumming, dance class and street food, I went again to "Brazooka" in Lapa and danced to a live samba band and DJ with some other hostel buddies.  One of the upsides of staying in a hostel is that you always meet people.  And in a place like Brazil, where you really shouldn't go out alone at night, this is a good thing!

Well, less than 2 weeks left in Rio now and I've got work to do, so I'll say bye for now...
"Bye for now".
Linda xo

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