We are present at 7am when the students line up at a countdown done through a microphone and a portable speaker. In front of a Maria and Jesus statue the children recite the Lord’s Prayer and get some instructions; next they file off class by class.
I did a repeat of the day before, Mathilde handed over the pens right from the start. Today was a bit more challenging on the one hand as the novelty wore off, on the other hand it became easier as I knew what to expect.
As we walk from school to school, Mathilde asks if I would work with her on her English. I say I would be delighted, and she proposes to do so 1-2 hours a day if that is ok for me. She proposes to get together at her farm in the afternoon. She wants to make sure Heidi and Alicia will also be ready at 14:00.
We get offered a ‘bric’ of school milk and cookies While we wait for class and Leendert plays football with the kids. The next class is great (on tourism on the island). At the end the focus returns on Leendert and his height. Though the kids in the class go up to 18, none is taller than Leendert. Laughs all around, especially when the 16 year old girl comes only to about mid-chest.
We return home, and at exactly 14:00 Mathilde is in front of our door with a car/pick-up truck. Her brother is driving and about 15 min later we find ourselves in the Highlands (a stunning view, see picture tab). Upon arrival we were welcomed by an sweet smell of citrus blossom. We shake Mathilde’s husbands (sweaty) hand. He’d been working hard to get the property looking nice. The house is surrounded by fruit trees; mango, papaya, guanava, lemon, bananas (regular, small and black) and tons of oranges. Soon Leendert and Alicia were also picking oranges.
We visit her neighbor. As it turns out it is actually a very known site: Campo Duro. Today Mr.Wilfredo runs a restaurant/camping ground/tortoise reserve on it, and is a good friend of the family. He lets us freely roam the terrain, and as we step through the oranges on the ground we see at least a dozen tortoise.
The kids take their afternoon dive in the sea, and we have dinner back at home.
I was almost envious on Mathilde as she got her chance first to host you … us… had the kids first and we will be delighted to share with you on Wednesday afternoon at our farm on the Highlands to explore our fruit farm to have a delitious candle lite dinner with you at our Restaurant located in the middle of Paradise … only oppened for special ocassions as it will be with you… Looking forward to it
We can’t wait!!