Patio- Readers Digest Version

Patio: Colegio Agave (the school where I work)'s version of playground.

So you know how people refer to NYC as the concrete jungle? ...Well patio is like that, except a concrete playground.

In case that didn't set off any alarms in your head, let me paint a better picture for you.  The setting is quite literally a patio, with granite and concrete and a small plastic playset with a tunnel and a slide.  This is what the children play on everyday for 45 minutes. Now when I say granite I not only mean this:

I'm actually pretty sure it is the exact same granite as the table in my kitchen at home....

But I mean a few quite sharp corners as well.






There are also stairs and granite benches that are super fun to jump off of.

Its humorous, really, how unsafe it is.  But somehow we survive each day with minimal scrapes and bruises.

Here is a little poem I like to call "Patio"

First its the four year olds.
They come in waving and smiling as they run screaming towards the playset.
Its adorable.
Then this one kid pushes someone.
A boy with glasses makes it to the top of the slide.
Children are pulling up the watering hose.
And then reality sets in.
The next forty-five minutes are filled with "no" and "down" and "pee pee."
Let's see who the boy from before hurt this time.
"Off the stairs."
"... me ha empujado."
Then the four year old teachers arrive.
Clap Clap Clap... "Time to go."

Then come the four year olds.
They are much less excited to see us.
Immediately they begin play fighting.
Climbing up the playset in every wrong way you could imagine.
"Hello tee-chair"
"Off the stairs."
"No (so and so)"
Then I sit for awhile until the next kid falls.
Some kid says something I don't understand.
I reply "sorry."
Leaves are pulled off, dirt is thrown.
Then someone pees on the wall or in the corner.
WHERE DID YOU KIDS COME FROM?
At least they don't get hurt as much at 5.
"Hoy tenemos psico?" (Do we have psico today?)
Clap Clap Clap... "Time to go."


If you think that sounds amusing, please ask me for some stories, I've got plenty.

Aisha and I stay on that patio for an hour and a half. And THAT is why I have such a great tan on my shoulders.

El fin.

P.s. Random revelation I had during patio today...
Why do we say, "Why aren't you going?" or "Why aren't you playing?"
That's literally "Why are not you going?" or "Why are not you playing?"
Kinda backwards... isn't it?
...wait... "is not it?"
That makes no sense either!!!!

K bye.