Machuca - part II

Now it is Sunday evening. Before I start writing about Machuca I'll make a couple of comments about the home and todays adventures. Today I managed to have two flat tires at once but they got resolved - thanks to our always very helpful driver. Three girls went off to camp - this is for the 9 to 11 age group. The staff told me that last year one of our girls was not cooperative in chores - so I called her over and read what I had written that she could do (since she has some developmental disabilities there are a few things she cant do - basically academic stuff where she is far behind). I read out loud to her that she coud wash dishes, sweep, wash clothes, make her bed, set the table etc. I then told her that she was to do these things at camp. She said, "yes, Tia Sue". We have some of these issues with her at the home. We will see.

While I was away at Machuca two new girls came into the home. They are sisters, one 7 and one 10 and the (and no other female in their family) have never been to school. Between now and the second week in March they will have an intensive school preparation - they need daily practice in using school tools (sissors, glue, crayons, etc.), an opportunity to inctease their vocabulary (for example the name of the three meals a day, names of many common farm animals (goat - which we do have here .. ). I am looking forward to it. One of the child care workers also has some special training in preparing (younger) kids for school so she will do that as well.

In addition one of the 8th graders failed math for the year and has to take a test covering the entires year's work on Feb. 13th. She has an outline of what is covered. She is studying 5 hours a day! I'll keep you posted.

Day two of dentist practice at Machuca. There were more people waiting for us than the previous day - the news spreads by word of mouth. Some who had been their the day before came back bringing relatives. One was an aristocratic older man, the father of the woman who had four teeth pulled the day before. He was 88 and the dentists felt we should take his blood presure first - it was 130/80! Around 10 when the Ministry of Health dentisis arrive the came with a portable teeth cleaning device. It provided a typical powered brush that was effective with kids teeth - they have less tarter. People were vary happy and many many kids had teeth cleaned. At the same time our two dentists and one of the Ministry of Health dentists continued to pull teath. Most of these teeth are too decayed and broken to save with fillings. If the dentist thought that a filling would save the tooth the cost and what was involved (bus, and there for bus fare and the cost of the work = 1.25 for kids, 1.50 for adolescents, 4.00 for adults. A resin filling in the front teeth is 8.00. At least in that area for bridges or false teeth a person has to go to a private dentist.

More tomorrow - MAchuca III and more about the home.

Tia Sue