Thursday, July 9th-San Antonio Nature Preserve and the Club

Today we had a field trip instead of class. It was much closer than our first trip to Penedo, less than an hour of driving, and the sky was clear.

First, we went to the Club. This was sort of like a camp ground with cabins, a lunch area and a pool, and of course a beach.

People can rent the cabins, but it was a Thursday so we were the only ones there. We stopped there to put our stuff in the cabins and hang out for a bit. Then we loaded back up to go the the nature preserve. We had to split the group because of limits on how many people can be in the preserve. A lot of the kids changed into shorts at the club because it was so hot, but we made them change back into jeans for the hike. They complained but did not regret it.

We got to the preserve and listened to a guy talk about their work and projects and stuff. A sugar cane processing company created it. There was also a little shop where the locals created baskets and lamps and stuff out of sustainable fibers, so like banana tree bark and stuff. I really liked the lamps. Then it was time to start the hike.

The first thing we did was go down for a while to a sort of landing and photo opp.
 

There were many winged bugs that looked like ants. Based on all the nests up in the trees, I think they were termites. They dive-bombed our head and got stuck in hair. It burrowed all the way to my scalp and I had to rip out my ponytail to shake it out. My student with the afro had a terrible time. The coordinator of the trip was trying to get 50 kids to listen to the guide. This was impossible as we were being assaulted and it was really hot. Then we started the hiking bit.

It had been raining and the paths were narrow and muddy. Red mud that stained shoes. I would hear a bird or something and try to shush the students so we could find it, but again, keeping 50 teenagers quiet is impossible. I became very frustrated and hot and surrounded by bugs. THEN I slipped in the mud and fell on my face in front of all the kids. My pants and sleeves were covered in red mud. I was more embarrassed than hurt, but it also hurt. I started to cry and it was a whole thing because I wanted to be left alone but everyone wanted to help.

The hike finally finished and we had to ride back to the club. I was really hungry and hot so I felt sick. We got to the club and I felt so overwhelmed, on the edge of a panic attack. Every sound was amplified, from chairs scraping on the floor to the knives on the plates and even the ocean waves. I was sick so all I ate was rice and beans. After I ate it was a little better, but I was still too hot and frustrated with everything. The students weren't allowed to go in the ocean (too dangerous and hard to watch all of them) but I could! So I did, by myself, spend about 15 minutes out there. I was a whole new person.

Then we swam in the pool and hung out. I did not get sunburned. Victory! On the bus ride home, I talked to a few kids I'd never met, so that was nice. It was another long 6 a.m.-6 p.m. with the kids day, but at least it didn't rain!