First Day of School

We are so proud of the spirit and determination of Endris, Shemelese and Yenu who just one month ago had not been out of their village.  Today, they live in Awassa and have started school in a new and potentially intimidating place.  We are humbled to report that they are tackling the challenge and embracing the battle.  

Below, they walk toward school on their first day. 

Life is short...work hard. 

Last Day in Barcelona

For our last day in Barcelona we planned NO school work and an adventure to an Urban Jungle. The Jungle was written up as a great adrelinaline rush with zip lines, log rolls, rope swings and even a small pungy jump. However, after taking the metro and walking almost 2 kilometers, it was closed. Of course. Yes, I did email them before we went to verify their hours, however they did not email me back until we were standing in the GPS designated spot of the location. They only open on weekends. I am almost sure the website did NOT say that, but I do have limited Spanish language skills.

Hey when we are handed lemons, let's make lemonade. Right close by was the Museu Blau, Museu de Cienies Naturals de Barcelona and even from one hundred feet away I knew what that was! A Science Museum. A quick internet check showed that kids were free and at the ticket counter I asked if their teacher was free also. Si!  Only 5euros (price for 1 adult to all exhibits) for a couple hours of exploration and fun.

 

We all had a great time! The exhibit - Planeta Vida was a wonderful discovery of three major concepts: the Biography of the Earth, the Earth Today and Islands of Science. Basically it had a ton of really cool interactive screens and audiovisual material which let the kids learn as much as they wanted about the topics that interested them. 

The first for Mabret was the huge display of minerals from all over the world. Grandpa Martin would have loved it.

The most entertaining and gross was the temporary exhibit - Enverinats- The Most Poinsonuos  Animals in Nature. This exhibit included 50 live animals such as rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions.  

While the exhibit did show us the purpose and uses of poison, as a defense against predators or to capture prey, we just felt lucky to have escaped Africa and India with getting bit or stung by any of those critters. Watch out, cousin Sarah lots of those bad guys live in Australia!

It was a bit cold and blustery outside but the boys enjoyed the playground equipment outside the museum.

 

     Soccer in the Placa again before bed. This time with the young and old locals.

    Good night Barcelona