The Bateys

Once again I have to say that Makarios is progressing nicely. I am spending 3 days a week working in the public schools around Monte Llano. I am spending one hour with each grade from first to sixth in two differnet school. In Caraballo, one of the bateys, the school has become so overcrowded that the third grade has moved into a church next door. The first grade in this school has about 50 students and they are waiting to find space to split this class. The other school I am working in is in a place called Severet. It is really far in the country and the third and fourth, and fifth and sixth are taught together. The schools each have their own challenges. Caraballo is overcrowded and can be very loud with a mix of creole and spanish speakers. At the earlier grades the language barrier in Caraballo is very large.