An alarm and a flurry of running and shouting people started off my class today. With my students, I followed the crowd and evacuated the building, thinking at first that this must be a drill. However, there was actually an earthquake! I learned as we stood waiting on the grass that the school’s earthquake alarm goes off as soon it registers a 4.8 on the Richter scale. This happens fairly often, and the students were unfazed by it. Some people claimed to have felt it, but I didn’t notice, perhaps too caught up in the confusion. After about fifteen minutes, the alarm ceased and we returned to classroom.

The time for my lesson was thus significantly shortened. This, combined with the fact that only six of my students were present, led me to cancel the debate I had planned for the first half of class, moving right on to the day’s lecture. As the students are accustomed to lectures, I decided to use this style today, with my own twist. As I prepared the slides with the required material, I came up with various relevant anecdotes to add in, most of which were personal stories. For example, while discussing the process of fermentation, I told a story from my childhood when I once drank a half-glass of bad milk. The students loved all of the anecdotes and were thoroughly engaged throughout the lecture. While I still believe that lectures should be kept to a minimum, I think that making the material more personal by adding in anecdotes is a good technique that I can use back in Canada as well.

Next week I will be working in Tec de Monterrey’s daycare rather than the high school, so today was my last day working with David. I presented him with a small thank-you gift and a card, and he responded with some very kind words, among them that my students in Canada are very lucky to have me. It has truly been a pleasure to work with him, and we plan to keep in touch.

In the evening, Kristina and I ventured to a restaurant that one of her students had recommended, called Mi Viejo Pueblito (my old little village). It was absolutely beautiful, and their fajitas were superb. We are continuing to find new places to enjoy in this wonderful city.