¡Feliz Dia de San Valentin!

(Pic: Top, the Royal Court; Bottom, Our class)

February 14, 2009...
It began as a normal day. Most of the class was at least a half hour late, followed by a brief lesson, and then an interactive activity, group discussion, and a game. Just before the break, I passed out the hand-made Valentine´s Day cards I´d made for everyone. The students were very sweet upon receiving these; they express so much gratitude for the little things. It made me really happy I´d spent the time doing it. Especially because of what was to follow the 10:30am break.
At about 11:00am I was using the internet at the cafe across the street from the school when Julia came running in, strung with colorful curling ribbon and covered in confetti.
¨Come, quick!¨She said, making frantic motions with her hands. ¨They are having an absolute baby that you´re not in there right now!¨
I quickly signed out of my email, threw 50 centimos at the internet cafe girl, and ran across the street and into our classroom. They´d rearranged the entire thing, so that the desks were in a U-shape, facing three lone desks that were set in the front, as if to honor the royal court. The students sprung on me as I entered, confetti fluttering from the sky like celebratory snow flakes. They wrapped the colorful ribbon around my neck and kissed my cheeks and gave me hugs and said, ¨¡Feliz Dia de San Valentin!¨
They escorted me to my seat at the royal table, alongside Monty and Julia, and served us chips and cookies and cake and coke and popcorn. They´d brought in a small radio, and with the volume pumped all the way up, a dance session began in the middle of the classroom. For the rest of class we danced Salsa, along with some other dances that were unrecognizable to me. One looked like it was mimicking a sprained ankle, limping motion. But it was so fun. There wasn't a single person without a perpetual smile on their face for that hour and a half.
Back home, being alone on El Dia de San Valentin is always a bummer. Hearts and pink and couples echo back that thought I always try so hard to ignore. But this year, I'd forgotten about the day altogether. And when it did arrive, well, I have to say, I have never felt more special on Valentine 's Day.