Field Trip

I heard the whispers.

I heard the questions.

I wanted to do it, but I just didn't know how.

Confusion and denial accompanied me  throughout my waking hours.

Every class takes a field trip. Its the highlight of the year for most elementary students. The kindergarten class took two, or was it three? But those poor second graders. No field trip for them. First grade parents were concerned. When their children became second graders, would they be tripless also? Meanwhile, the second graders waited expectantly, patiently, hoping that their new teacher would somehow come through at the end.

Which she did. 

Barely.

Field trips aren't difficult.  But imagine trying to plan a field trip in a country you can't speak the language, or read it either.

My first stumbling block was where to go. All the good places already seemed to be claimed by the other teachers. You know- the zoo, The Flying Cow Ranch, the cardboard factory, and the old fashion train ride. I had no idea what was out there. And no way to find out. So I asked my parents for advice. Then waited for suggestions to come flying in. They didn't.

Eventually, one mom took pity on me and my quickly tarnishing reputation as a cool teacher. She did a little research, a little phone action, and boom. We were in business.

Now on to the permission slips, collection the entrance fees, renting the bus, ordering lunches, arranging for the first aid kit......

Finally the day arrived..

And there was great rejoicing!

What second grader couldn't smile at....

Animals

Butterflies

King size swings

Plants

Dirt

Then there was this little fellow. Cute isn't he?

Believe it or not....

I just couldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime
 (or maybe last-in-my-lifetime) opportunity!
The spider was actually spinning its silky web
 as it crawled up my arm!