Rialoves2cook: It's hard to believe this is the final prompt of the month and a personal favourite Tastes of the World! I've loved sharing my Thailand adventure through these posts, and it's pushed me to get creative without having a traditional kitchen. Your support has been incredible, and my first two weeks in a new country would have been miserable without you (and yes, I'm also looking at you, my lovely Thailand crew). Friday night calls for a sweet treat, so I'm taking you to France for a crepe with a tropical twist.
#sweettreat #Frenchbliss #crepes #internationaleats
Posted: October 26, 7:00 PM
***
On the last afternoon of October camp, Maria supervised her students in the gym, sweat dripping down her forehead. The kids bounced, unaffected and clutching cardstock cutouts they tried to place on the savannah, mountains, and rainforest scenes in front of them. They shouted the English words they'd learned as they recognized the animals in their chubby hands. Maria couldn't believe two weeks had flown by, and she'd be saying goodbye after this.
"I didn't know there were elephants in the Rockies. I'll look harder next time I visit," Emma joked as her class waited behind Maria's.
"They're so into it. I don't have the heart to correct them." Maria turned to her students. "Class, three more animals, then we move to a new game."
Kru Jan spoke to the kids in Thai, and they pouted.
"One more, Miss Ma-lia?" Ploy asked, clutching a moose with wide eyes.
"Yes."
"This moo?"
"Moose," Maria corrected.
Ploy focused on the cutout and repeated the word without cracking a smile. Maria fought laughter at Ploy's intensity as she approached the mountain summit and placed it there. She'd become much more engaged and upbeat since their first day of camp.
"I'm going to miss this," Maria said.
Emma laughed then glanced over to Shawn and his older students. "I am ready to teach my regular classes, though these guys are adorable. You coming out tonight?"
Maria pressed her lips together. Becca had mentioned it several times, but Maria wasn't looking to humiliate herself again, and she had an early video chat with Adrian. "Not this time."
"Why not?"
"Feeling a little run down."
Maria guided a few of her students toward Kru Jan, who was waiting with the group who'd finished playing then waited for the last three.
"That's too bad. It's more fun when you're there."
Maria laughed. "I doubt that. I was a mess last time."
"One part of the evening doesn't define you. If going out is the issue, we could hang out. I don't think I can take another night of the Becca and Mitch show."
"They seem all right." Other than some understandable irritation at Mitch's aloofness, Becca seemed happy enough. Mitch was harder to read. Maria sent her final three students off with Kru Jan to the next station, so Emma's class could have a turn with the game. "But, if you want to stop by, I'm making crepes and don't mind sharing."
Emma grinned "I'll bring the tropical fruit."
***
Adrian: Hey, beautiful! I hope you're treating yourself to a nice night in after your busy week. I'd have kombucha and cashew cheesecake for you if you weren't so far away. You deserve all the treats super teacher <3.
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