I can never again say that I've never lost my voice

So, I've always been able to say that I've never lost my voice before... not at camp where I would scream my lungs out, or teaching where I'm talking all day. This all came to a close this week. I've had a cold since Tuesday and if you add that to teaching all day and then having parties/ get togethers in the evening and doing more talking, it all leads to not being able to speak.
Yesterday, I was teaching and while I did have a voice, it was not very strong, but I could get the class' attention and teach a couple subjects. Some of my students asked if I was sick and what was wrong with my voice, but it didn't hinder me too much, except that it was strange when my voice would squeek, it sounded funny, and every so often I would have to repeat a word, because it hadn't come out the first time. One of my students, who was also not feeling well, told me that if he could give me part of his voice he would.
So, after abusing the little bit a voice I had yesterday, today I have none. This should be exciting in this culture that is so noisy and people are expected to be loud.

The other day I said I would tell you what the surpises ended up being, and I forgot to do so.
So that night, the teachers gathered together in the principal's office and gave me a wooden box with a hidden key (that I had boughten for one of them who had asked me to get it to send to a friend). Throughout the rest of the evening this box got filled with notes from the school staff and other friends. Anyways, after they gave me the box, they all prayed for me and then we went out for coffee and food. After this, we went to a party at another teacher's house and met up with much more of the school staff. (this party I was expecting) We ate lots of delicious goodies and did some improvisation games and laughed a lot. It was a lot of fun.

The second 'surprise' came yesterday at school. My teacher had told me to be in the classroom at 2:30, so I was walking around the school running some errands and it was about five 'till. So, I walked up to the classroom and the door was shut. I went to push it open and a chair was in the way, so I knew I should wait. I then glanced in and saw one of my students who said "Ms. Stoneman, she's here, and my teacher told me to leave. So, I walked down the hall to the fourth grade class that was about to start watching the end of 'The Polar Express.' I sat down to watch with them, when one of my students walked in and told me the principal needed me. I knew this was a plot to distract me, but I went along with it. The principal was not there, but the student who went to talk with her asked the teacher who was in her office to distract me, so we sat and talked a while in the office, until they came to get me. I walked into the classroom and could see the students hiding behind the desks and my teacher with two other students casually said 'Hi, Ms. Mejia' and I greeted her and then they all popped up from behind the desks... the thing that scared me, was a student was right behind the door and popped up right in my face, which made me jump like a foot in the air. After this, they sang me a little song and we had drinks and snacks. The students had asked me what my favorite snacks and drinks were and gotten these for me specifically. They also gave me a book with pictures and notes from the students. One of the students who wasn't feeling well all day told me after this party that this was the only reason he stayed at school all day.

So, here I am today, 22 hours before I leave this city. I'm excited to go home, but know that with that will come a lot of reverse culture shock. I'm ready for a break, but I don't know if I'm ready to leave this place premanently... maybe God will bring me back someday.