School secretary Isela, school social worker Carolin, Sarah’s first grade teacher Lilli, myself, and Lilliana, the sixth grade teacher on el Día del Maestro

Peruvians celebrate lots of days, celebrate them publicly.  For Mother’s Day and Father’s Day there were celebrations at school, complete with poem recitations, special songs written and performed for the honorary family member, a sermonette about how important this role is, a meal or snack shared, and a gift.  Last Monday was Teacher’s Day.  All the staff at the school got to dress up in their black-and-white-with-purple-scarf outfit and sit on the front row of the school auditorium while we were honored by various classes and individuals, including a long, flirtatious folk dance and one don’t leave me love song sung to a teacher.  We all got pink plastic lap desks, even the men.  Our school director had some good words about Jesus, the Great Teacher, while one preschooler got up and played with the sound equipment at least one dozen times.  These kinds of evenings are very culturally enlightening.  If you are feeling underappreciated, come to Peru and we’ll create a day for your profession or role.