Day 225 March 20
I slept until 7 and left at 7:30. I got to Franqui and Norma’s. They made me coffee and pancakes. It was delicious and hit the spot.
We got a cab up to school, where we spent about 5 hours melting in the sun, measuring out a map of Honduras to trace and mark on the futbol field. 1cm on our map meant 3 meters on the field. We traced it with powder after an initial outlining of rocks and dirt piles. A few of the parents worked on the indigenous styled house. Each grade is in charge of a different indigenous territory, so we marked where each hut is supposed to go.
I was amused that the mug given to me by Isaac’s mom to make up for the one he broke was broken by Nilvio’s father. The clown with dangly feet is still in tact, so I saved it to mount some time.
When it was all done we walked up to the bird park. I thought we were going in, but we were going so Franqui could decide if he wanted to take up touring on the weekends. The pay isn’t worth it though, so we went back down, checked on the progress, and went back home.
I met Megan at Villamil to show her pictures and give her the play by play of Belize. As I record everything anyway, I am the perfect person to give her a play by play. I already have a list written out.
After she bade me farewell, I got to skype with a whole lot of folks including almost a dozen camp folks. It was great. I miss them dearly and was glad to catch them at the St. Patty’s party.
I got home to get ready for a hike, but as this is Honduras, was waiting a while. I officially decided to stop reading both the books I was reading during my Belize vacation. I had thought about it while I was there, but I always hate to give up on a book. One is just so poorly written that the foreshadowing keeps slapping me in the face. And the characters are so flat I don’t even care about this dramatic secret that is going to be revealed that I can already figure out. I’d only continue reading it as a form of torture. The other is about the Trail of Tears and I feel like it should be good. It has all the research and story to have the potential of such a good and compelling story. However, when a story is so black and white as this and the bad guys are just evil and the good guys have no flaws, I struggle. I think if the author had stuk to one point of view it would be viable. Sure, she sees the soldiers as evil because of what they are putting her through…but no, we get to see through everyone’s eyes at different times and the soldiers aren’t just indifferent, they are heartless monsters. If you want to write a compelling story, it needs to have more life than this and what is so sad to me is that there is so much life in the history to be used…but it’s not. I picked up The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho, which has intrigued me before. Better luck this time!
Cid came over and we hiked up to Hacienda San Lucas. Apparently in the evenings you have to be on the list or they won’t let you through. Cid had called ahead, so we enjoyed the grounds and headed back as the sun was setting. On the way back we swung by the feria to see if it was still open. It looks sketchy.
We hung out in my house for a while and the power went out for half an hour. Shortly after it came back on, Abby, Allan, Michael, and Eileen came to the house. They were headed to the Feria, so we joined them.
Call me crazy, as I have heard several times, “Oh yeah the fair is safe, someone gets shot about every year.” Wait, what?
However, I have decided that it’s always local disputes, usually involving drugs, I won’t be there in the late hours, and I’ll be in a group. We went. We rode on two rides, the ferris wheel, which is the second one I’ve ever been on (the last one got $50 stolen from me in Texas.) It was fast and really really close to the electrical and phone wires. If you think carnival rides are sketchy in the states, try Honduras. However, I wasn’t really afraid and it was a blast. We also went on the whirly one that seems to strengthen gravity. I did an abdomen workout. It was funny, and difficult.
I saw several students and the haciadoras from school, which was fun. There was a sad, terrified wailing child outside one of the booths trying to get in. We tried to help him find his parents, but he slapped Abby. He was maybe two or three. It was very sad but he was inconsolable and no one knew him. I think he ran off while we tried to figure out what to do.
We went back to town for street food and the boys concert. This was their first paid gig and it didn’t go very well. Pedro is sweet, but he can’t really sing. People were mocking them. Allan and Michael have always seen the band for what it was, but I think it was a wake up call for Pedro. There were mimes from Tegus, though. They did a show while the band played and they drew a crowd. It was very interesting.
After a while I left and Cid and I talked for a while until I decided I really did need to sleep.
Day 226 March 21
I ate breakfast at Picame, as I still haven’t been shopping since I got back from Belize. I updated my log, showered, and went to Villamil at 12. I met up with Bob on skype, as planned, since we hadn’t had time yesterday with all my catching up with camp folks.
This time, Lucy Adams and Kim were there which was wonderful and they weren’t there when I got to talk to people yesterday. We caught up and chatted before Bob and I had our interview. He says my Spanish is much better than the last time we interviewed, even. I can’t wait to read his report on my Spanish.
After, I called the one and only Steven Shirley to wish him a happy birthday. It was a quick call, but it was good to catch up. I then got to talk to mom and dad for a little while, which was also good.
I got home and had a nice chat with Sierra before I left to meet up with folks for English worship. We’re all thrilled to have Francisco back in Copan for the next 5 months. I’ll be gone for almost 2 of those months though, which is sad. We listened to a good sermon, ordered food, and had a good discussion. I was writing in my “Figure out God, the universe, and everything” notebook during the sermon and was pleased to see the conversation go directly to what I’d been writing about. Still no answers, but a lot more questions.
While we were there, Megan discovered that her sub for Anne wouldn’t be able to make it and she mentioned to me that Cid hadn’t responded to her text. I was able to inform her that I’d already learned the lesson that his phone isn’t very functional and she just had to call. The screen doesn’t work at all.
When I got home Eileen and Michael came over for showers. We chatted for a while before I headed to bed.
Day 227 March 22
I didn’t sleep well, but I got ready just fine. I walked to school with Cid and showed him the ropes in the primary arena, including letting him borrow my elephant mug for coffee.
I set up for the day and had a slow morning, though the kids were good. After recess things went downhill. The afternoon became very long and after lunch I caved into a game of I Spy, justifying it with the vocabulary of descriptions. It had amended rules to work for my purposes more, using a lot of our new geometry vocab, but still…that was the best I could do this afternoon.
After school I cleaned up and headed to town to tutor at 3. It was a good session and after we just talked about our breaks. I asked Isaac a lot of questions and he answered them all as shortly as possible, but he definitely understood everything I asked, which is a great sign.
I went home before getting ready for our “cooking class” at Dona Nora’s house. I met Alex and Chris in the park to get a cabbie. There were two fighting over us and one claimed the other didn’t know the way. We ended up going with him anyway and I was amused to discover that he really didn’t know the way and the other had to tell him.
We showed up late, apparently, but jumped right in helping where we could and doing what we were told. When it all went in the oven we enjoyed drinks while looking over the view of Copan. It was gorgeous. I had forgotten how nice the Welchez house is. When we got to eating, it was all amazing. I had the best Mora juice I’ve had so far and the ginger/chicken/lemon grass soup was to die for. The enchiladas and carrot cake were also. Abby and I discovered that we both have huge egos in our ability to put away food. I can feel a throw down coming.
When it was all over, much later than I anticipated, Nora drove us home. Chris, Alex, and I rode in the back and let the other girls ride in the cab. It was a bit cold, but alright.
I got home, exhausted and collapsed into bed while Chris used my shower. He understood that I wouldn’t be up when he was done and to just turn off the light and close the door. However, Cid had left some things at my house and called after I’d gotten into bed. This ended up working out well for Abby, shortly after Cid arrived she came, phoneless and keyless because Allan and Cid had been waiting for us in Picame for the last couple of hours and when they left Allan left the keys in our hiding spot…which only works when Picame is open and you can get through the first set of doors.
Day 228 March 23
I set my alarm for 20 minutes later to make up for my late night. I was still very sleepy and drank lots of extra coffee to make up for it. Coffee will only take you so far.
The day was long and rough. Megan was about 20 minutes late for reading groups because something came up in the office, so I thought she wasn’t coming. We had moved onto an emergency Plan B for that time period. We she showed up we made a new amended plan for reading groups. However, my kids and I were having issued with respect.
Miss Helen took my class somewhere else, so I worked in my room for those 40 minutes instead of going to the hot teacher’s room.
I ended the day by teaching them the slap game and listening to music. Maybe part of their impatience is rooted in the very difficult vocabulary in both math and science right now. I don’t know, but I want to come up with a good plan for when we come abck from break.
I started walking home and was offered a ride from Lloyd, one of the owners of the bird park. We had a nice chat and it was nice to finally re-meet him (I met him once with all the other teachers, but he didn’t remember my name and I didn’t remember his. Since I’ll be here another year, I want to know, and be in the memory of, as many people as possible.
I dropped off my computer and went to tutoring. While I was there I got a text from Carolina and shortly after, saw her walk by. We chatted for a few minutes and then she left. The mormon boys came by and I took pictures of them with the family. I couldn’t figure out what exactly was happening. I got the impression they were leaving, which made me sad because these guys will actually talk to me. I later learned that one of them was leaving but the other is still my neighbor.
I had class with Luis, which was a little awkaward at first, but smoothed out as it went on. When I got home, I iced my toe before going to game night at Blair’s house. I saw Luis on the way up, so we walked together. We played dominos, and Megan and I played on a team since there weren’t enough spaces for everyone and we both wanted to leave early.
We were 4th of 8, which was frustrating, because we would have gone out the next turn if it had just gotten to us and then 2 others just had fewer points than us. Rats. Next time!
I got home and went to sleep.
Day 229 March 24
I woke up late and I left late. Really late. Around 6:15-late. I started to walk but I saw a Mayatan kid sitting on a corner above my house. I walked up to him and asked when the bus would come. He said soon. He obviously didn’t want to talk, but I asked him about his grade, favorite teacher, name. He seems rather disgruntled with existence, but then, he is in 7th grade.
He wasn’t just the first bus stop, but it was his job to help the driver start up the bus, which involves manipulated some wired while starting the ignition. It is a two man job. We drove all around town picking kids up. I saw where a few more of my students live, and learned where Kathy and her family live. I also saw how close two of my students live to Casa de Café.
I could have been to school around 6:30 had I walked, but by taking the bus, I arrived at 6:50. Technically 5 minutes late and only 10 minutes before the start. I scrambled to get ready, but kept my cool, and started the day.
We had a much better day. The kids were good and the only trouble was with the library. Diana told me in the morning that there might be a meeting she had to go to at the time my class was in session, but the woman left San Pedro late and so she wasn’t sure. I said I’d send a kid to find out and figure it out from there. My kids told me she was in a meeting and 10 minutes later she came to tell me that she was not. 15 minutes before the end of the class two kids came back to tell me library had to end because the woman had come. Oye! We worked it out and the kids were good throughout the whole ordeal.
I cleaned up and prepped for the next day before heading home. When I turned to my street, a river of water was flowing down it. I heard a rumor that it was for Semana Santa, but later heard it was because it was too dusty. It’s true that the roads get so dusty they are slippery. I’ve slipped and I’ve seen cars struggle up the hills in the same way they do during the rainy season. The water was piped in from the river and just washed the major hills in town.
I went to class with Luis and he asked if we could hang out later, so we decided we would tomorrow. I walked home and saw Hsuan in the comedor across the street and we talked for a while.
I went home and cooked, cleaned, and showered. Abby and Allan and I talked for a while, mostly about a confrontation at school between Abby and her co-teacher. Long time tensions had burst during the day, so hopefully they can understand where they stand better now and have a more professional relationship. We were also waiting for Cid, who’d be subbing for Abby tomorrow when she went to pick up her parents.
He was stuck at work until Howard came, and so he ended up being late, but we got it all figured out. Once it was all done, I collapsed into bed.
Day 230 March 25
Cid and I walked up to school together and I got him set up in his classroom. Abby had shown me where everything he would need was and so I gavehim the tutorial of Miss Abby’s room.
My kids and I had a great day. We worked on our letters and almost half the class finished. Our Thursday afternoon went swimmingly and after lunch they just worked on their champa.
When the day was over, I treated it like a Friday and left around 2. I got home and finished my homework before my early class, at 3.
When I left class, I discovered that I had left my keys at home before going to class. I’ve been doing that a lot recently, and so I sheepishly called Chris, who was working at Villamil. I went to meet him and we got to chat for a long time. It was nice. I don’t spend as much time with Chris as I used to and I should.
When I left Chris, I found Anne and Tammi chatting in the street and we talked for a while. Again, it was about yesterday’s conflict. Anne is feeling better about the situation, so hopefully Abby will also.
By the time I got home, Abby was there with her parents. I got to meet them and they seem lovely, though they had a hellatious day of travel and mayhem. Their luggage is elsewhere. I love meeting people’s parents. It’s fascinating to see the qualities that stick and the ones that don’t. It’s never exactly what you expect.
I left to meet Luis for baleadas at Katia’s mom’s place. They were delicious and we had a long talk. I saw both Katia and my student Edgar. For a little while Katia tried to subtly listen in on our conversation. Cid called while I was there, but I stayed with Luis for a while. He walked me home and then I took a quit rinse off shower. I headed into town and saw Sierra and Josue, who had just returned from several weeks in Guatemala. He had found me a jade elephant pendent and made a necklace for me. I love it.
I met Cid and Denny at Barcito. I’ve heard many things about Denny, who is basically the internet in Copan. It was nice to finally meet him myself and form my own opinions, and frankly I can see everything that folks had to say about him. He is very intelligent, but I strongly disagree with some of his fundamental ideas. He is herein Copan to help the people, but has become a self proclaimed racist. He seemed to like me a lot, and is certainly fond of Cid. He had a lot to say to me, and we talked a lot about literature. When we left to go to ViaVia he informed me that he wasn’t done talking to me yet.
When we got to ViaVia I met a couple of the archeologists from the ruins who are good friends of Cid’s. One is a Russian who is fluent in at least 3 languages that I heard while sitting at the table. They were a lot of fun to talk to, but I was exhausted and left around 11 to go to bed.
Day 231 March 26
I wanted to wake up at normal time to get in and get my grading done before Folklore day, but this did not happen. I got to school a little less than an hour before the event and didn’t even get any work done. Some of the students were already there in their indio clothes, getting their pictures taken in front of the champas (houses or huts.)
The program was a lot of fun. Some of the younger grades did dancing or singing, which was impressively well put together. The second graders rocked their song. After, there was the competition for India Bonita, in which there was one girl decked out in a people’s clothing from each class. My Nahomy was in a really cool dress with patterns of beans. 3B’s representative, Lindsey, got one of the runner ups, and her dress was just made of different beans. It was fascinating.
When the program was over, each of the champas prepared traditional foods and drinks (or coke) and people could go around and try it. I wasn’t very hungry so I just had some sopa de caracol (conch soup). It was delicious.
I spent a good bit of time talking with Luis’ student, who’s name alludes me now, some in Spanish and some in English. He works with computers in Canada and is here to learn Spanish and get to know the culture. Luis brought him up for folklore day for the cultural experience. Abby’s parents are also in town and this will be their one experience at the school. I tried to convince them that this is what school is like everyday.
Around 11, I disappeared into my room and started cleaning it up. People had begun to disperse, and I had a lot of work ahead of me. At 12, I came out and brought in all my class’s supplies to keep in my room for spring break.
I ended up staying at school until about 5. I was certainly not working the whole time, but I did get my grades done and e-mailed them to Marisol. I made a to-do list for break, updated my pictures on facebook, and got into a semantics/intellectual debate on chat, which was actually a little refreshing. Maybe not, but I feel like after more than 3 years of being slower, my wit is returning to me. What, three years ago, would have taken me three days to come up with a comeback, if ever, now takes me seconds. I feel like I can hold my own in a debate again instead of just feeling uncomfortable because I can feel that I would have a point to counter theirs…if I could just find it.
With subjects I don’t know, I try to gracefully back down. The only time that gets embarrassing, is the concussion was in the middle of my college career, right as I got into all my heavy lit classes. I remember some things, but many details, authors, stories, histories that I can remember were fascinating to me are no longer in my mind. I can hold my own in a conversation about literature unless it’s with someone who really knows their literary history, and because of my degree, I am expected to be able to know it too. That might be a new goal for the summer. If I feel like my brain is no longer a colander, maybe I can go back and look at what notes I still have from college and try to bring back some of what is lost.
I walked home before dark, bought mangos, and read in bed. I cleaned up the apartment some and did a large bit of my laundry before calling Cid. He was headed to Barcito and so I met him there. Josue came for a moment and I showed him I was wearing the elephant he found for me in Guatemala. He bought it with me in mind and could easily sell it for 25-35$, but he gave it to me for about 8$, if I wanted it. I paid him and after a while Cid and I moved to ViaVia to see Sierra and Josue. We sat outside talking for a while. There was a wedding reception in the back of the restaurant. When Sierra and Josue packed up, we went into Tun Club and I watched Cid, Venessa, Theo, and Theo’s friend Bill play pool.
As it had been a long day, I was tired before 12 and headed home for my Friday night, pre-vacation sleep.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Week 32: The Pool, Rodeo, and Belize
Day 218 March 13
To my dismay, I woke up at 6:30 after my 2am night. I stayed in bed, my form of denial, for a while, but eventually got up. I started on the Saturday morning routine of dishes, laundry, cleaning, and taking out the trash. I also went into town for some shopping. I finally bought the mug that my student Erika had pestered me about all week. It is the silliest looking elephant you’ll ever see. But her family runs the Cruz Bueso and she told me about it. Every morning at school, “Miss, you did not buy the cup!” I didn’t have time all week. They close at 5 and I’m never done by then. I was about 2$. I also replaced my diminished supplies of tea, thread, and saldo for my phone.
I chatted with Abby who was planning to meet everyone at the pool later in the afternoon. I went at 11 to meet folks as agreed, but knowing Abby and Allan were going later, and Nash and Tammi went early, I wasn’t sure I was meeting anyone, and I was right. Beth and Megan said they might come later. Luis said he didn’t have time. Sierra and Stacy said they’d meet me in a few minutes. Cid did not respond.
Sierra, Stacy, and Chris met me and we decided instead of paying 25 lemps a person, we’d hitch hike, we did have three ladies and that always makes it easier. We started walking and were picked up relatively quickly. Sierra and I enjoyed our ride standing up since the truck had a rack on top we could hold onto.
They dropped us off below the hotel and then we had to ascend the steep drive up. Apparently the truck had taken us further than their destination because they turned around and went back. We thanked them and started up.
This pool, though outside of town, has a pretty sweet deal. The pool is refrigerated, which is really nice on hot days like today. We pay 100 lemps to go in and then have an automatic 100 lempira credit. We all went up to the 100 lemp line, so with the tip we were 40 over, 10 per person. We got fresh fruit juices, nice guacamoles and cheese dips, the girls got huge soups. It was delicious and we all shared around. Nash and Tammi were there when we got there and shortly before Chris and I left Allan, Abby, and Beth arrived.
The sun here works quickly and I am usually in the shade when I’m outside so I was aware that I was reddening faster than desired. Chris wanted to head back to take care of school things (he was on a week long field trip all week, so he had catching up to do.) and I decided to get out of the sun and go with him. We hitched back and the guys who picked us up actually had us in the cabin. The driver insisted I buckle up and was a very safe driver. There was only one seatbelt latch and his seatbelt was tied on with a shoe less. Folks have strange ideas of safety in that they don’t understand the integrity of that belt is ruined by that shoelace or that a bike helmet will not help them out so much on a motorcycle. They were friendly.
I had Chris over for water and when he left I tried to nap, but failed. I read instead. A very sick Jesse visited and I gave him water and let him borrow my phone. A while later Alex, Stacy, Chris, and Sierra came over to make dinner. We invited Cid over and I discovered that my previous texts did no good since his screen was broken and he can’t read texts or see numbers that call. We all left my house and went to Alex’s for a music jam session.
We stopped by Jesse’s first to make sure he was okay and he was still in rough shape, but alive. We went and played a variety of songs. Sierra and Chris both know the original Circle Game, so I taught them the quicker, camp version with hand motions that are great fun for kids.
Cid walked me home again and we sat on the roof listening to the rodeo which is always in town while the Faria (like a State Fair) is here. I made it to bed shortly after 11.
Day 219 March 14
I woke up a bit after 8 and read in bed until I heard someone knocking on the door. I threw on some clothes and rushed down. Chris and Alex were heading out on their adventure somewhere between here and San Pedro and wanted to hang out while they waited for the bus. We talked on the roof and mocked my pink skin which should be done browning by this afternoon. It doesn’t look so bad until I show the difference on the other side of the tan line. It’s good to get a little sun before we head to Belize on the beach.
They left and when I came back in Allan and Abby were up. We talked and cooked breakfasts. I made my bachelorette meal of the month and brewed creme brulee coffee. I tried to get some internet to check my e-mail but the signal wasn’t strong enough. I hung around the house all morning until I got motivated to get out.
Sierra came by and we de-briefed each other and then I rushed off for some internet. I was only there for 20 minutes and went I went to go, the folks at Villamil were afraid it was a sign that internet wasn’t working but I told them I was just very busy today.
I went to the hotel Calle Real for worship at 3. Urban Promise had some guests in town there and I warned them that I had plans at 4 which meant I’d have to leave early. Folks didn’t finish arriving until around 3:20 and then Allan went to get his guitar and we got started finally at 3:45. I got in a prayer and the start of his story, which was fascinating. It reminded me a lot of Pi in the book I’m reading right now, but I wouldn’t have told him that. Hopefully Abby will fill me in later.
At 3:59 I went down and met with Cid who had invited me to the rodeo, which I’ve been wanting to go to. We walked down and discovered it didn’t start for another hour, so we walked back to town and got coffee. We walked back and got our stamps saying we’d paid and took our seats. Shortly, one of my students arrived and convinced her mother, aunt, uncle, and cousin to come sit by me. She was decked out in her braids, boots, and cow girl hat. It was adorable. She did very well to speak English about the rodeo.
The extremely drunk man behind us spit when he talked and talked a lot. He was more amusing than anything, but sometimes annoying. He thanked me for being beautiful and informed Cid that he knew everything about me. I walk to school at 6:20, I’m 23, and I work at Mayatan. It’s close enough. Apparently I walk by his house.
Also, no one died in the rodeo, so I consider it a success. Most of the riders fell off quickly, but there were a few who held on really well and long. However, by the time I left they were only having one bull out every half hour or so. We walked home and chatted on the roof for a while before it was time to go to bed.
Day 220 March 15
I woke up an hour before my alarm and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I started to read. After my alarm went off I got home, grabbed some tea from yesterday that was still in my room and headed downstairs. In the dark, I missed the last stair and fell to my knees, spilling the tea all over, twisting and crushing my toe, and hitting my head on the concrete wall. My first fear was for my head, which terrified me a bit. I shook, but I slowly got up and went to the bathroom to look at my eyes. However, I was comforted by the fact that the pain in my toe was far greater than the pain in my head. It seems that my head is fine. My toe does want to bend and has pins and needles, but it walked me to school.
I walked up with Sierra and got to school early or on time, depending on how we are looking at things now. I got ready for the day and had a good morning with the kids. Periodically paranoid about my head and noticing more and more the pain in my toe as it swelled.
My kids were talkative all day, but that’s expected on a two-day week. I’m drinking enough coffee to kill a horse, or something. We had a full day and in the end, went to Sierra’s class to teach the first graders the refrain of The Circle Game, motions included. My kids rocked it. I was so impressed with them and when they were done teaching the song, we taught them to play 4 corners. One of my girls translated the instructions and Sierra’s kids responded very well too it, though it was very hot.
After school, we had a meeting about tomorrow’s father’s day celebrations that doubled as a surprise party for the fathers on staff. It was fun, but I felt hurried because I had a meeting with the parents of my students in the public library. I took the bus down and was 15 minutes early. I finished my Spanish homework while we were waiting.
We met about Folklore day and I left 10 minutes before they wrapped up to go to Spanish class, as it’s my only chance to go this week. I went to class, which went well. Some topics were skirted that I was glad to avoid and when it was over, I was happy to go home and shower because I smelled like I wore a thick polo in a hot climate and walk everywhere.
After I showered I headed to Casa de Café to visit with Cid. Who’s surprised, but I got a little lost. With Cid’s help, I figured it out. There were plenty of tourists around the hotel and they gave me the third degree about my work, but they were all so pleasant about it. I certainly did not mind and it seemed to add to their evening. They went off to dinner, after I recommended Baleadas because they hadn’t had them yet!
I stayed at the hotel chatting until past my bedtime and then I went home for some sleep (after finishing the wonderful book Life of Pi.)
Day 221 March 16
My toe isn’t better. In fact, a student accidentally kicking my foot almost resulted in the first time I cursed in front of my kids. I refrained and bit my lip and was quiet. It hurt a bit more than expected. Otherwise, the kids and I had a god morning. I drank extra coffee to make up for the lack of sleep the last several nights and they talked a lot, but we got along well enough. We played a fair number of games. Some were educational, some were not, but it helped make the day go smoothly.
After school we all grabbed our swim suites, which we planned to bring, and went to the bird park to go swimming. It was lovely and cool. We had a fun time and headed back to school for the Father’s Day celebrations. As to be expected, they started almost an hour late. The activities were fun, the food good, and the father’s seemed to enjoy themselves. Some papers were thrust upon me during the celebration so I found myself working through them and hunting down those students who were there to give them out.
Around 6:15 we were able to leave. Megan gave us our money for the Belize trip and we headed into town. I left at 5:40 in the morning, I arrived back in my house at about 6:40 in the evening. I forgot that I had forgotten my keys and called Chris to see if he could let me in, but as I got him on the phone, I saw his girlfriend sitting outside a closed Picame waiting for him to come back to town (it’s the closest house to the bus station.)
I showered, cleaned, and started packing. Franqi and Norma came by for some of the class money and when they saw my organized bag, which had not been changed at the bank for the biggest possible bills, with a tag saying how much I had in each denomination, they laughed. That’s fair. They also said we should hang out again, which made me happy.
A bit after 8 I headed to the park and saw the band for a bit. There were several students and parents out. Beth, Eileen, and Blake were on tourist street and we chatted for a while. I continued on to the hotel where there were fewer tourists, but a more constant flow of activity. I gave a frequent traveler to the area, but who never been to Antigua, tips about his trip tomorrow.
After such a long day at school, when sleep came, it was a beautiful thing.
Day 222 March 17
At 4:30, a loud advertisement for the fairia started home, complete with a loud speaker and fireworks. By 5 I was actively getting ready: showering, finishing packing, making sure I knew where I was going. Before six I was off to meet the other teachers.
Not surprisingly, the bus was late to take off as teachers straggled in. We took off and headed to the border where Alexis was supposed to meet us and make sure everything went smoothly. However, he’d just gone in the night before to talk to them. There weren’t any big troubles. They just took forever and wouldn’t give back any of our passports until they had dealt with them all, which means it took twice as long as necessary because no one could go through the Guatemala side until everyone was done on the Honduras side. We were there for about an hour. We finally got through and I got my standard bread and water regiment.
The bus stopped for breakfast around 9 and I got pineapple and cucumbers in a bag. I have to keep up the tradition of making money on any per diem I’m paid. When we got to the port, we stopped by immigration, paid the 10$ it takes to exit Guatemala and enter Belize, got stamped and got on our boat. We were about 2 hours late, but it was a private boat for us…so they had waiting. Unfortunately, the water was really choppy. The 45 minute ride became an hour and a half since they had to stick close to land. The ride was very bumpy and we got a little wet. I still enjoy traveling by boat.
We got to our old stomping grounds in Belize, including the old border stop off. This time they actually checked our bags instead of just asking if you were bringing anything you shouldn’t be. We wondered around looking for food, wondering if we would run into any of the locals we met last time. We didn’t.
We caught the brightly colored James bus which picked up teachers at a variety of locations around town. The bus ride was interesting and it was strange to switch bag to casual conversation on a bus in English. The land all around us was flat and the schools in Belize are much more open air.
The driver sped along so we could catch the next boat over. If we’d gotten there 5 minutes later we’d have to wait 30 minutes. We thanked him and ran to catch a ferry to Placencia. We got off and hunted down our hotels. My job was to pay for our hotel, which I did. The woman was very helpful. He gave me a little Placencia news paper, recommended places to eat, get coffee, and go drinking, as well as describing the town and the layout.
The Caribbean is beautiful and Placencia is worlds better than where we stayed last time, in Punta Gorda. The water is clean, the beach exists, and there are tourist places around. All of the buildings are bright colors, though many were just skeletons left over from a hurricane. The palm trees were low too because most of them were wiped out a few years ago. There was an abundance of coconuts to be had and we got pretty good at opening them and drinking/eating.
We went for dinner and drinks at a beach bar called Tipsy Tuna, which many teachers mistakenly called Twisted Tuna (as we’re used to Twisted Tanya’s here in Copan.) There was Garifuna dancing and we met a few of the other tourists in town.
However, I was exhausted so at 7:30 I went back to the hotel and turned in for the night. It was a good choice.
Day 223 March 18
I woke up refreshed at 6:30. Alex, who is also an early riser, and I went for coffee around 7. We split a breakfast and just watched the water as we refilled our coffees (a self serve coffee place, which was nice) and chatted. We decided the first endeavor of the morning would be to walk to the tip of the peninsula (which was tiny, at certain places you could see ocean on either side of us.) We headed back to get bathing suits and start walking.
Chris joined us for a while and we all had coconut milk water bottles and when we finished them, we broke them open and ate the meat as we walked. I had the best coconut I’ve ever tasted. We found a variety of sea stars. They were large and red. Beautiful animals. There was a long dock out and we hung out on it for a while, jumping into the giant school of fish that lingered below. We came out and lay on the dock to dry and after a few rounds of this continued walking.
At the end of the peninsula was an air strip. Alex and I sat on the beach as a little plane took off over us. It was a little terrifying, but a lot of fun. We wanted to see more of the town, so we cut through some yards to get to the ride and quickly decided the burning tar of a road was not a good place to walk and went back to follow the beach back to town.
We got lunch and met up with Nash and Tammi. I read on the beach for a while after and then Tammi, Alex, and I went for ice cream, which was to die for. After Tammi and I went shopping, but I found nothing I liked for a worthwhile price. I went back to the hotel and did some hammock reading until dinner.
We met up at Tipsy Tuna’s and waited for a long time for the whole group to get together. Many played an epic volley ball game while we waited and chris and I did balancing exercises/wars on a pole. I lost. I blame my toe.
The restaurant, Tranquillo, we went to was across the water on one of the keys. It was a really nice location and the owner and server took the boat over with us. We were the only people there. I’m sure we were a disappointment because they were no doubt hoping we’d stay for hours drinking and spending money. Instead we just had a complicated bill and left after we ate. The food was fine, but not worth the price. Plus, I was really excited when I decided to have crab but crab was not in season. It is not their fault, but I was still sad.
When we got back most folks went to get ice cream but I headed back to the hotel. On the way back, Alex and I noticed some wet cement and being the young teenage delinquents that we aren’t, we had to take advantage of the opportunity. We also decided that people who write “=42” in wet cement were obviously not the kinds of people who would have written in cement as kids because they were too busy reading strange sci-fi books.
I went to sleep around 9.
Day 224 March 19
I woke up at about 5:30 and stayed in bed until 6:30 when Alex and I repeated out 1 day old routine. We got breakfast and coffee on the water. We went around checking out the cooler places in town and checked on our cement spot to make sure no one had written anything like “6x7” or something like that next to it.
I enjoyed the signs around town. “Eating guava fruit is nice, throwing trash under the guava tree is not nice.” “Thieves are the lowest kind of man.” And other morality signs. Except for the thieves one they were all rather suave and nice about what they were telling you not to do.
We packed up and got ice-cream again before we left. This time, there was a wonderfully friendly Frenchman who seems to have been born to work in an ice-cream store on the Caribbean.
We got to the boat and had to convince it to wait for a couple of running late teachers. This one was not private so there was a chance they’d just have to find their own way back to Copan, but they did make it.
Less than 30 minutes into the boat ride, which was actually enclosed, we stopped for our exit stamps. It was the strangest set up I’ve ever seen. It seemed really sketchy, but the stamps are legit and we paid our exit fee just fine. We were in the middle of a storage yard with construction workers and an empty mud field around. The border man was just there with his car, stamping our passports on the hood. I found it hilarious.
Once everyone on the boat, about 40 of us, went through, we got back on and headed toward Honduras, which took about 1.5 hours. Some folks sat up on the front of the boat and I did for a while. Once while I was up there a pod of dolphins swam around us, I saw about 10 and they were really close. It was very cool, but short lived.
A while before Honduras was in sight, I turned on my phone was still in “ninguna red.” After a time I entered, “limitado servicio” and eventually I got into regular ol’ tigo territory and started receiving the texts I had missed while gone. I shot one off to Megan telling her everything had gone smoothly.
When we pulled up to Honduras, we were basically just on the side of a street. The police had to keep the hustlers back because they needed to check our bags and collect our passports. This is one thing that always makes me nervous: a man took a bag with all of our passports and drove off to migration with it.
We hopped on our bus, which was waiting for us, and discovered a Swedish tourist who’d been traveling by herself on our bus as well. She just thought it was a bus to migration and since we had space and it was already paid for, we had no problem keeping her on board. However, we spent 20-30 minutes lost in Honduras before we found migration. It was a little nerve wracking, but all went well.
When we did get there everything went so much smoother than it ever does at our border. We also got new yellow sheets, so I shouldn’t have to get interrogated when I leave the country later. We let Ruth, our new friend, ride with us to San Pedro where several teachers split off to continue their vacations. The rest of us kept on and road to Copan. We got there around 8.
I showered and met up with the other teachers and Cid at ViaVia. They left and we walked around town chatted on into the evening until I decided I was tired enough and needed to sleep.
To my dismay, I woke up at 6:30 after my 2am night. I stayed in bed, my form of denial, for a while, but eventually got up. I started on the Saturday morning routine of dishes, laundry, cleaning, and taking out the trash. I also went into town for some shopping. I finally bought the mug that my student Erika had pestered me about all week. It is the silliest looking elephant you’ll ever see. But her family runs the Cruz Bueso and she told me about it. Every morning at school, “Miss, you did not buy the cup!” I didn’t have time all week. They close at 5 and I’m never done by then. I was about 2$. I also replaced my diminished supplies of tea, thread, and saldo for my phone.
I chatted with Abby who was planning to meet everyone at the pool later in the afternoon. I went at 11 to meet folks as agreed, but knowing Abby and Allan were going later, and Nash and Tammi went early, I wasn’t sure I was meeting anyone, and I was right. Beth and Megan said they might come later. Luis said he didn’t have time. Sierra and Stacy said they’d meet me in a few minutes. Cid did not respond.
Sierra, Stacy, and Chris met me and we decided instead of paying 25 lemps a person, we’d hitch hike, we did have three ladies and that always makes it easier. We started walking and were picked up relatively quickly. Sierra and I enjoyed our ride standing up since the truck had a rack on top we could hold onto.
They dropped us off below the hotel and then we had to ascend the steep drive up. Apparently the truck had taken us further than their destination because they turned around and went back. We thanked them and started up.
This pool, though outside of town, has a pretty sweet deal. The pool is refrigerated, which is really nice on hot days like today. We pay 100 lemps to go in and then have an automatic 100 lempira credit. We all went up to the 100 lemp line, so with the tip we were 40 over, 10 per person. We got fresh fruit juices, nice guacamoles and cheese dips, the girls got huge soups. It was delicious and we all shared around. Nash and Tammi were there when we got there and shortly before Chris and I left Allan, Abby, and Beth arrived.
The sun here works quickly and I am usually in the shade when I’m outside so I was aware that I was reddening faster than desired. Chris wanted to head back to take care of school things (he was on a week long field trip all week, so he had catching up to do.) and I decided to get out of the sun and go with him. We hitched back and the guys who picked us up actually had us in the cabin. The driver insisted I buckle up and was a very safe driver. There was only one seatbelt latch and his seatbelt was tied on with a shoe less. Folks have strange ideas of safety in that they don’t understand the integrity of that belt is ruined by that shoelace or that a bike helmet will not help them out so much on a motorcycle. They were friendly.
I had Chris over for water and when he left I tried to nap, but failed. I read instead. A very sick Jesse visited and I gave him water and let him borrow my phone. A while later Alex, Stacy, Chris, and Sierra came over to make dinner. We invited Cid over and I discovered that my previous texts did no good since his screen was broken and he can’t read texts or see numbers that call. We all left my house and went to Alex’s for a music jam session.
We stopped by Jesse’s first to make sure he was okay and he was still in rough shape, but alive. We went and played a variety of songs. Sierra and Chris both know the original Circle Game, so I taught them the quicker, camp version with hand motions that are great fun for kids.
Cid walked me home again and we sat on the roof listening to the rodeo which is always in town while the Faria (like a State Fair) is here. I made it to bed shortly after 11.
Day 219 March 14
I woke up a bit after 8 and read in bed until I heard someone knocking on the door. I threw on some clothes and rushed down. Chris and Alex were heading out on their adventure somewhere between here and San Pedro and wanted to hang out while they waited for the bus. We talked on the roof and mocked my pink skin which should be done browning by this afternoon. It doesn’t look so bad until I show the difference on the other side of the tan line. It’s good to get a little sun before we head to Belize on the beach.
They left and when I came back in Allan and Abby were up. We talked and cooked breakfasts. I made my bachelorette meal of the month and brewed creme brulee coffee. I tried to get some internet to check my e-mail but the signal wasn’t strong enough. I hung around the house all morning until I got motivated to get out.
Sierra came by and we de-briefed each other and then I rushed off for some internet. I was only there for 20 minutes and went I went to go, the folks at Villamil were afraid it was a sign that internet wasn’t working but I told them I was just very busy today.
I went to the hotel Calle Real for worship at 3. Urban Promise had some guests in town there and I warned them that I had plans at 4 which meant I’d have to leave early. Folks didn’t finish arriving until around 3:20 and then Allan went to get his guitar and we got started finally at 3:45. I got in a prayer and the start of his story, which was fascinating. It reminded me a lot of Pi in the book I’m reading right now, but I wouldn’t have told him that. Hopefully Abby will fill me in later.
At 3:59 I went down and met with Cid who had invited me to the rodeo, which I’ve been wanting to go to. We walked down and discovered it didn’t start for another hour, so we walked back to town and got coffee. We walked back and got our stamps saying we’d paid and took our seats. Shortly, one of my students arrived and convinced her mother, aunt, uncle, and cousin to come sit by me. She was decked out in her braids, boots, and cow girl hat. It was adorable. She did very well to speak English about the rodeo.
The extremely drunk man behind us spit when he talked and talked a lot. He was more amusing than anything, but sometimes annoying. He thanked me for being beautiful and informed Cid that he knew everything about me. I walk to school at 6:20, I’m 23, and I work at Mayatan. It’s close enough. Apparently I walk by his house.
Also, no one died in the rodeo, so I consider it a success. Most of the riders fell off quickly, but there were a few who held on really well and long. However, by the time I left they were only having one bull out every half hour or so. We walked home and chatted on the roof for a while before it was time to go to bed.
Day 220 March 15
I woke up an hour before my alarm and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I started to read. After my alarm went off I got home, grabbed some tea from yesterday that was still in my room and headed downstairs. In the dark, I missed the last stair and fell to my knees, spilling the tea all over, twisting and crushing my toe, and hitting my head on the concrete wall. My first fear was for my head, which terrified me a bit. I shook, but I slowly got up and went to the bathroom to look at my eyes. However, I was comforted by the fact that the pain in my toe was far greater than the pain in my head. It seems that my head is fine. My toe does want to bend and has pins and needles, but it walked me to school.
I walked up with Sierra and got to school early or on time, depending on how we are looking at things now. I got ready for the day and had a good morning with the kids. Periodically paranoid about my head and noticing more and more the pain in my toe as it swelled.
My kids were talkative all day, but that’s expected on a two-day week. I’m drinking enough coffee to kill a horse, or something. We had a full day and in the end, went to Sierra’s class to teach the first graders the refrain of The Circle Game, motions included. My kids rocked it. I was so impressed with them and when they were done teaching the song, we taught them to play 4 corners. One of my girls translated the instructions and Sierra’s kids responded very well too it, though it was very hot.
After school, we had a meeting about tomorrow’s father’s day celebrations that doubled as a surprise party for the fathers on staff. It was fun, but I felt hurried because I had a meeting with the parents of my students in the public library. I took the bus down and was 15 minutes early. I finished my Spanish homework while we were waiting.
We met about Folklore day and I left 10 minutes before they wrapped up to go to Spanish class, as it’s my only chance to go this week. I went to class, which went well. Some topics were skirted that I was glad to avoid and when it was over, I was happy to go home and shower because I smelled like I wore a thick polo in a hot climate and walk everywhere.
After I showered I headed to Casa de Café to visit with Cid. Who’s surprised, but I got a little lost. With Cid’s help, I figured it out. There were plenty of tourists around the hotel and they gave me the third degree about my work, but they were all so pleasant about it. I certainly did not mind and it seemed to add to their evening. They went off to dinner, after I recommended Baleadas because they hadn’t had them yet!
I stayed at the hotel chatting until past my bedtime and then I went home for some sleep (after finishing the wonderful book Life of Pi.)
Day 221 March 16
My toe isn’t better. In fact, a student accidentally kicking my foot almost resulted in the first time I cursed in front of my kids. I refrained and bit my lip and was quiet. It hurt a bit more than expected. Otherwise, the kids and I had a god morning. I drank extra coffee to make up for the lack of sleep the last several nights and they talked a lot, but we got along well enough. We played a fair number of games. Some were educational, some were not, but it helped make the day go smoothly.
After school we all grabbed our swim suites, which we planned to bring, and went to the bird park to go swimming. It was lovely and cool. We had a fun time and headed back to school for the Father’s Day celebrations. As to be expected, they started almost an hour late. The activities were fun, the food good, and the father’s seemed to enjoy themselves. Some papers were thrust upon me during the celebration so I found myself working through them and hunting down those students who were there to give them out.
Around 6:15 we were able to leave. Megan gave us our money for the Belize trip and we headed into town. I left at 5:40 in the morning, I arrived back in my house at about 6:40 in the evening. I forgot that I had forgotten my keys and called Chris to see if he could let me in, but as I got him on the phone, I saw his girlfriend sitting outside a closed Picame waiting for him to come back to town (it’s the closest house to the bus station.)
I showered, cleaned, and started packing. Franqi and Norma came by for some of the class money and when they saw my organized bag, which had not been changed at the bank for the biggest possible bills, with a tag saying how much I had in each denomination, they laughed. That’s fair. They also said we should hang out again, which made me happy.
A bit after 8 I headed to the park and saw the band for a bit. There were several students and parents out. Beth, Eileen, and Blake were on tourist street and we chatted for a while. I continued on to the hotel where there were fewer tourists, but a more constant flow of activity. I gave a frequent traveler to the area, but who never been to Antigua, tips about his trip tomorrow.
After such a long day at school, when sleep came, it was a beautiful thing.
Day 222 March 17
At 4:30, a loud advertisement for the fairia started home, complete with a loud speaker and fireworks. By 5 I was actively getting ready: showering, finishing packing, making sure I knew where I was going. Before six I was off to meet the other teachers.
Not surprisingly, the bus was late to take off as teachers straggled in. We took off and headed to the border where Alexis was supposed to meet us and make sure everything went smoothly. However, he’d just gone in the night before to talk to them. There weren’t any big troubles. They just took forever and wouldn’t give back any of our passports until they had dealt with them all, which means it took twice as long as necessary because no one could go through the Guatemala side until everyone was done on the Honduras side. We were there for about an hour. We finally got through and I got my standard bread and water regiment.
The bus stopped for breakfast around 9 and I got pineapple and cucumbers in a bag. I have to keep up the tradition of making money on any per diem I’m paid. When we got to the port, we stopped by immigration, paid the 10$ it takes to exit Guatemala and enter Belize, got stamped and got on our boat. We were about 2 hours late, but it was a private boat for us…so they had waiting. Unfortunately, the water was really choppy. The 45 minute ride became an hour and a half since they had to stick close to land. The ride was very bumpy and we got a little wet. I still enjoy traveling by boat.
We got to our old stomping grounds in Belize, including the old border stop off. This time they actually checked our bags instead of just asking if you were bringing anything you shouldn’t be. We wondered around looking for food, wondering if we would run into any of the locals we met last time. We didn’t.
We caught the brightly colored James bus which picked up teachers at a variety of locations around town. The bus ride was interesting and it was strange to switch bag to casual conversation on a bus in English. The land all around us was flat and the schools in Belize are much more open air.
The driver sped along so we could catch the next boat over. If we’d gotten there 5 minutes later we’d have to wait 30 minutes. We thanked him and ran to catch a ferry to Placencia. We got off and hunted down our hotels. My job was to pay for our hotel, which I did. The woman was very helpful. He gave me a little Placencia news paper, recommended places to eat, get coffee, and go drinking, as well as describing the town and the layout.
The Caribbean is beautiful and Placencia is worlds better than where we stayed last time, in Punta Gorda. The water is clean, the beach exists, and there are tourist places around. All of the buildings are bright colors, though many were just skeletons left over from a hurricane. The palm trees were low too because most of them were wiped out a few years ago. There was an abundance of coconuts to be had and we got pretty good at opening them and drinking/eating.
We went for dinner and drinks at a beach bar called Tipsy Tuna, which many teachers mistakenly called Twisted Tuna (as we’re used to Twisted Tanya’s here in Copan.) There was Garifuna dancing and we met a few of the other tourists in town.
However, I was exhausted so at 7:30 I went back to the hotel and turned in for the night. It was a good choice.
Day 223 March 18
I woke up refreshed at 6:30. Alex, who is also an early riser, and I went for coffee around 7. We split a breakfast and just watched the water as we refilled our coffees (a self serve coffee place, which was nice) and chatted. We decided the first endeavor of the morning would be to walk to the tip of the peninsula (which was tiny, at certain places you could see ocean on either side of us.) We headed back to get bathing suits and start walking.
Chris joined us for a while and we all had coconut milk water bottles and when we finished them, we broke them open and ate the meat as we walked. I had the best coconut I’ve ever tasted. We found a variety of sea stars. They were large and red. Beautiful animals. There was a long dock out and we hung out on it for a while, jumping into the giant school of fish that lingered below. We came out and lay on the dock to dry and after a few rounds of this continued walking.
At the end of the peninsula was an air strip. Alex and I sat on the beach as a little plane took off over us. It was a little terrifying, but a lot of fun. We wanted to see more of the town, so we cut through some yards to get to the ride and quickly decided the burning tar of a road was not a good place to walk and went back to follow the beach back to town.
We got lunch and met up with Nash and Tammi. I read on the beach for a while after and then Tammi, Alex, and I went for ice cream, which was to die for. After Tammi and I went shopping, but I found nothing I liked for a worthwhile price. I went back to the hotel and did some hammock reading until dinner.
We met up at Tipsy Tuna’s and waited for a long time for the whole group to get together. Many played an epic volley ball game while we waited and chris and I did balancing exercises/wars on a pole. I lost. I blame my toe.
The restaurant, Tranquillo, we went to was across the water on one of the keys. It was a really nice location and the owner and server took the boat over with us. We were the only people there. I’m sure we were a disappointment because they were no doubt hoping we’d stay for hours drinking and spending money. Instead we just had a complicated bill and left after we ate. The food was fine, but not worth the price. Plus, I was really excited when I decided to have crab but crab was not in season. It is not their fault, but I was still sad.
When we got back most folks went to get ice cream but I headed back to the hotel. On the way back, Alex and I noticed some wet cement and being the young teenage delinquents that we aren’t, we had to take advantage of the opportunity. We also decided that people who write “=42” in wet cement were obviously not the kinds of people who would have written in cement as kids because they were too busy reading strange sci-fi books.
I went to sleep around 9.
Day 224 March 19
I woke up at about 5:30 and stayed in bed until 6:30 when Alex and I repeated out 1 day old routine. We got breakfast and coffee on the water. We went around checking out the cooler places in town and checked on our cement spot to make sure no one had written anything like “6x7” or something like that next to it.
I enjoyed the signs around town. “Eating guava fruit is nice, throwing trash under the guava tree is not nice.” “Thieves are the lowest kind of man.” And other morality signs. Except for the thieves one they were all rather suave and nice about what they were telling you not to do.
We packed up and got ice-cream again before we left. This time, there was a wonderfully friendly Frenchman who seems to have been born to work in an ice-cream store on the Caribbean.
We got to the boat and had to convince it to wait for a couple of running late teachers. This one was not private so there was a chance they’d just have to find their own way back to Copan, but they did make it.
Less than 30 minutes into the boat ride, which was actually enclosed, we stopped for our exit stamps. It was the strangest set up I’ve ever seen. It seemed really sketchy, but the stamps are legit and we paid our exit fee just fine. We were in the middle of a storage yard with construction workers and an empty mud field around. The border man was just there with his car, stamping our passports on the hood. I found it hilarious.
Once everyone on the boat, about 40 of us, went through, we got back on and headed toward Honduras, which took about 1.5 hours. Some folks sat up on the front of the boat and I did for a while. Once while I was up there a pod of dolphins swam around us, I saw about 10 and they were really close. It was very cool, but short lived.
A while before Honduras was in sight, I turned on my phone was still in “ninguna red.” After a time I entered, “limitado servicio” and eventually I got into regular ol’ tigo territory and started receiving the texts I had missed while gone. I shot one off to Megan telling her everything had gone smoothly.
When we pulled up to Honduras, we were basically just on the side of a street. The police had to keep the hustlers back because they needed to check our bags and collect our passports. This is one thing that always makes me nervous: a man took a bag with all of our passports and drove off to migration with it.
We hopped on our bus, which was waiting for us, and discovered a Swedish tourist who’d been traveling by herself on our bus as well. She just thought it was a bus to migration and since we had space and it was already paid for, we had no problem keeping her on board. However, we spent 20-30 minutes lost in Honduras before we found migration. It was a little nerve wracking, but all went well.
When we did get there everything went so much smoother than it ever does at our border. We also got new yellow sheets, so I shouldn’t have to get interrogated when I leave the country later. We let Ruth, our new friend, ride with us to San Pedro where several teachers split off to continue their vacations. The rest of us kept on and road to Copan. We got there around 8.
I showered and met up with the other teachers and Cid at ViaVia. They left and we walked around town chatted on into the evening until I decided I was tired enough and needed to sleep.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Week 31: Dehydration sickness and getting to know Hsuan
Day 210 March 6
I woke up a bit after 7 and started getting ready. I had plans to go hiking around El Ruby with Caroline, Alex, Chris, Jesse, Katie, Sierra, and Josue at 11, so I wanted to fit as much of my usual Saturday routine into the morning hours as possible. I made breakfast, but realized I had no coffee, I boiled water for my new tea, but realized it was free of caffeine. I used my last caffeinated tea bag. I started up laundry, but only of my school uniforms. The last two weeks I haven’t been able to get them smelling good, so I spent a lot of extra time on them. I put them up on the roof to dry.
I swept up and did the dishes. I cleaned up my room some and updated my log. I edited my pictures from yesterday and showered. Caroline came to the door to let me know the first folks had arrived at Picame. I went out and had coffee, or three cups of coffee, while we waited for the others.
We headed to the bus, but it was full, so we decided that we would start walking instead of waiting the 20 minutes for the next bus. We walked toward the ruins and when we passed the police station there they stopped Sierra to ask her why she had a machete. We were amused that they stopped her but not Jesse or Josue, who had passed. We figure she looked more like a tourist and thought she was headed to the ruins.
We tried hitching for a while before a truck pulled over and we all hopped in. We got to Santa Rita and hiked to the El Ruby, showing a tourist we’d picked up the first falls, but he had to head back to town to meet up with a friend. We explored the area and I did some sturdy-vine rock climbing. We then headed up to above the waterfall to follow the river to more falls.
At the jumping chasm, where you can jump, or if you’re brave/stupid dive and do flips like Chris and Jesse. There were Hondurans having a barbeque. I think our antics gave them a show and they were all very friendly as they gawked at us. We continued on and saw a trail to the side that leads to a very narrow but incredibly steep chasm. The path crosses the chasm. So, it would appear someone jumps it on a regular basis to get from place to place. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. We stopped in a couple of fields for frisbee golf. We also had a snack stop of scrambled eggs in a bag, avocado salad, and fresh bread. It was wonderful. We followed the river for a while and stopped a new field. Sierra and I were sitting on some rocks watching the water when a very old woman in a brilliantly colored dress came up with a machete and jestfully said, we are going to fight. She then asked if she could buy the machete that Sierra had. Sierra told her that she’d have to talk to Josue. He decided not to sell it, but the woman did like repeating that it was a very nice machete. She went off in the woods to cut off part of a dead tree that was larger than her. Jesse and Josue helped and he did end up giving or selling the machete. They helped her get the giant piece of wood up on her head so she could carry it back to town. This woman is amazing to me.
We walked back to Santa Rita. Most of the gang got ice cream but I wanted mangos. They were good and salty. We caught the bus back and went our separate ways agreeing to meet at Caroline’s for a dinner.
I read for a while and took a shower. I thought I’d be late, but of course I was not, I was still the first one there. We talked and once everyone was there, Chris broke out his guitar. We sang all kinds of songs while Jesse cooked. While we were sitting around I was struck with being really tired. My stomach was a little achy but I just thought it was the mangos.
The food was delicious. Sierra ate quickly so go to the fair. Ffarah’s daughter was in the runnings for child-queen of Copan. I had wanted to go, but when I found out I had to pay to get in, I was disinclined since I’d already spent my splurge money for the week. Then, as the night progressed I felt less and less good. Caroline thought I was going to burn from my time in the sun and I did feel sun-beaten. I walked home and was crushed to discover I had never put my key back on my key ring after our hike. I was locked out. Abby was picking up, Sierra was occupied, and Chris, who also has a set to our house, was still at Caroline’s house. He offered to come down, but I knew he’d be coming down in an hour so I went on the roof to lay in the hammock. I called Abby again but she didn’t pick up.
I was feeling cold enough I was thinking of asking Chris to come down anyway, but Abby got home. I yelled down for her to leave the door open and thanked her. I chatted with her and Allan for a while before really needing to go to bed. I was beginning to wonder if all of my achy, head-hurt, sick-ness was dehydration. I had 5 cups of water while chatting with them and had another two before I went to sleep. I finished reading Albert Camus’ The Stranger, which was interesting. Then I went to sleep.
Needless to say, I had to go to the bathroom a few times in the night. I felt worse as the night went on. I would stumble off to the bathroom, be very thirsty still, and drink another large cup of water. This happened maybe 6 times between 9:30 and 1:30. It was miserable.
Day 211 March 7
I woke up early and with a pounding headache. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I continued on the hydration trail. I moved slowly and infrequently from my bed, always making my way back there to recover from my 2 minute journey. Eventually I made it downstairs for long enough to get a refill of water and start my laundry—back to bed. I got more water and worked on my laundry—sat down. The morning went on like this until past 10 when I decided I wasn’t going to make it to mass.
By 11:20 I felt motivated to get ready for worship and Abby was heading to the market. I hopped in the shower and went for a quick look in the market. The giant bin of snap peas was gone, which broke my heart. There was one bag left and I bought them. I hope I see them again, they brought so much joy into my life.
I cooked quickly and went to Blair’s house. We had a good sermon and I wrote a lot. There was no singing this week, which was actually okay with me. I ended up having a cup of coffee before I left.
I returned The Stranger to Blair and took Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This author…this author was porn in Spain, grew up in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada, where his parents are from. His bio concludes: When he’s not living somewhere else, he lives in Montreal. What a life.
I was tired all day from the lack of sleeping and dehydration. I only had half an hour at home after worship before going to Villamil for my skype dates. Mom waited very patiently for her turn. When I go on skype, it’s only short if the power or internet go out. It’s not something I do often.
I got home and caught up on school work before going to bed at 9.
Day 212 March 8
I was late/on time, but because it was so cold I walked quickly to school and made it in less than 17 minutes. Awesome.
We had a pretty good day, though busy and hectic for me. I had copy issues over the weekend and then when I went to the printer, someone was using it. By the time I got back, it was out of toner. John was in a bad mood about it, but did a good job of not taking it out on me. I eventually got it sorted. I also had to write up an assessment of a student who was caught cheating and who’s grades are dropping for her sponsor. It was a touchy thing because I was obligated to touch all the negative bases and don’t want her to lose his scholarship, but he deserves to know what he’s funding… apparently he was very pleased with the information and my outlook on how to help her. Yay win!
We started on geometry and how matter changes, which will make for fun experiments. Geometry is all vocabulary and, for the most part, doesn’t sound like Spanish (or even if it did, they wouldn’t know the words in Spanish) so it’s another thing we’re just going to take slowly. Unfortunately, I’m finding it more difficult to make entertaining, at least for an extended period of time.
I was behind on grading and spent many a-spare moment catching up, which I did, but by the end of the day I was ready for it.
I had class for the first time in over a week and was able to have it at 4 instead of 5 because Isaac is still out of town. We’ve started so much new material that it’s going to take some work to catch him up.
I met Sierra’s friend Stacy on my way out of class. I know how excited Sierra is to have her in town. I hope all goes well.
I went home and ate pasta. I read the beginning of Life of Pi and saw Hsuan, which I’ve previously spelled Shin waiting outside of the comedor across the street. I decided to go ask him if he’d found a travel guide book for his trip to Antigua. We ended up talking for a long time. Turns out that the comedor across the street is run by the woman who runs the orphanage, which I hear is corrupt. Hsuan gets paid a stipend of 500 Lempira a month, which is about 25$. She will feed him for free at the comedor, which he has to do because he doesn’t make any money, but she often gives him old food and he has to wait for hours. His attitude is so positive but I told him if he will bring a vegetable, I will cook for us (when I first mentioned it he very adamantly informed me that he can’t cook.) I may not be a great cook but I can break up the monotony, make it quicker, and feed him veggies, which he doesn’t really get.
We also talked about Guatemala, which he hasn’t seen much of and I have. I’m glad he’s going to get to travel there. His Spanish is so-so and his English is pretty good, so I know he’ll be fine in Antigua.
We chatted until Luis came over and then I left Hsuan to his dinner, but exchanged numbers so we could coordinate a dinner (and so he could take a warm shower like the other teachers do. He apparently never gets a hot shower, if they have water enough for a shower at all.)
When Luis left I chatted with Abby and Allan before going to bed.
Day 213 March 9
I walked to school in about 17minutes, but this time I was closer to on time. I left around 5:55. I squandered my early time at school, though, and still ended up scrambling. Get it together, Barr!
Megan had to cover for a teacher taking care of a sick child, so I managed reading groups alone. They were not well managed. The day was loud, my children seemed needy, and I got tired quickly. Maybe it was me, maybe it was because they were going to the ruins, maybe it was both, but oye!
Helen continued to fail to communicate anything to me and I mostly just guessed my way along, though I did confirm the time we were *supposed* to leave. It was very poorly organized, but I was able to go in for free with my class. We had less than an hour in the ruins and my kids were still very excited and happy. Helen didn’t secure a guide in advance and tried to use one of my students, a relative, to rope a guide into giving a free tour. He wouldn’t. The kids, all 40 of them, sat around being watched by just me while Helen and Norma went to try to talk prices with him, for 15 minutes. We did get the guide, I don’t know the cost.
The kids were great, and the three parents that came were from my class. Some of my students hadn’t been in 2 years. Apparently only one second grade class went lest year. There was a tourist who stopped to take a picture of my class while they were on tour, which amused me. We had a good time taking pictures and looking around. Everyone did what they were told, if they were reminded .
Isaac came back today and we had to call home to get permission for him to go, I paid. My two students who always need financial help got it. I appreciate Marlon because he asks and I understand Juan, but I wish he wouldn’t be embarrassed. I was pleased that he had a really good time.
We got back, but it was really hot, so we spent most of our last half hour in the caseta getting water and ice cream. We cleaned up and went home. I had tutorias with Maria Jose and learned that the new geometry vocabulary really isn’t getting in some kids brains.
We then had a staff meeting and I, late as this week tends toward, got a meeting note to Megan to have ready for my parents tomorrow. Those meetings drag out and there’s often a fight (often complaining that something didn’t need to be said because it kept us all here longer, but now the complainer is keeping us all here longer.) I felt rushed because I wanted to get to Isaac’s as early as possible to get as much in as possible before heading to class. However, when I got there, 15 minutes later than usual, but I had told him between 3:30-4, Jaqui wanted to go to Camino Maya. It’s a fancy hotel with a pool you have to pay for and good, but expensive food.
It was an interesting atmosphere for tutoring, and apparently it’s where I’m tutoring tomorrow. I’m not sure why, but that’s where Isaac’s dad and cousin are hanging out and they want him near them whenever possible, even during tutoring? I cancelled class because I knew I wouldn’t get into town in time even if I finished tutoring at 5. Isaac was tired and his English has fallen back in the last 5 days so working was slow, but, luckily, steady.
I was very thirsty from the rushed walk down from school and had several glasses of water and a huge pineapple juice. They insisted I eat too, even though I tried to say I was only thirsty. I didn’t want them to have to pay for a meal for me there. Jaqui is good at this, though, and she pointed out two meals she thought I would enjoy, including garlic shrimp, which were not cheap, but on a reasonable end of the pricing. Plus…shrimp! It was delicious. Isaac informed me that he would not try them because they were ugly (an adjective used for all the senses.)
I went home and tried to relax, but I’m not sure how I’ll fit in tutoring and a meeting, and if I’ll then be able to have class tomorrow. I read and got very sleepy, but new sleeping now would betray me later so I kept awake. I had plans to go to Blair’s for game night at 7:30, and I even left. I didn’t make it past my block, though. I was over taken with sleepiness and realized I did not want to go to sleep in two hours, I wanted to sleep now. I went back home and wasn’t even able to read myself to sleep. I just went to sleep.
Day 214 March 10
I’m having an easier time getting out of bed, but still slow. I got to school and chatted with Megan before getting to my class. I set up for the day and collected supplies for science. I brought the rusty pot to show that chemical change. One kid brought vinegar, another brought baking soda. We had a pretty good day, though I think the heat is making them too talkative.
It is Rubdy’s birthday and he asked to be under my protection, so I made an announcement that no one would touch him with water or they’d answer to me. After recess I made an announcement and serious talk about thievery in the school recently. The librarian had 1,300 Lempiras stolen from her cabinet and yesterday Miss Beth had 900 stolen from her purse. Either the culprit confesses, the money appears anonymously, or, if we find out on our own, they are expelled. I also told them the door will be locked at all times that I am not there, which is hard to remember.
We are having fun learning all kinds of things in math and in science I had them fooled. After yesterday’s “is it a mixture or solution” with sand and sugar in water, today’s hypothesis for baking soda and vinegar was that it would be a solution. Ah! A chemical change! Then, we showed the expansion when we did it in a balloon.
Mr. John and I met and planned our dates and times for giving the standardized tests after the holy days. Two testing periods a day for 6 days instead of a full day of tests, like in secondary. It’ll still be rough on them, but it will be much better. Three on one week, three after the weekend. It’ll be an adventure. The key is prepping them properly and monitoring them for a) cheating b) answering without really reading the questions.
In the afternoon we celebrated Rubdy’s birthday. The kids were pretty good about it and we all had fun. Since there are no tutorias on Wednesday I spent my time cleaning up the room and planning. At 2:30 I rushed into town for tutoring at the pool.
It’s a very strange location for tutoring. Isaac has to get out of the pool for tutoring, which is a torture in and of itself. There are gringos and his cousins playing in the water. Loud dance music is being played. I wonder how much he can retain. On the upside, I get shrimp and caracola, which is conch meat.
I left after an hour for the class meeting. It went relatively smoothly except that we had a first time showing of a parent and he didn’t like what the other parents wanted to do. There was argument and this is one time I really enjoy that my Spanish is poor. No one expects me to step in so I am able and allowed to sit back and wait for a conclusion to be drawn. Though, my parents now want to get a water dispenser for my room. I told them I’ll just have to make rules so that it does not disrupt class.
I finished early enough that I decided to rush to Guacamaya and see if I could still catch Luis for class. So, from 5:15-6:15 we had class. When we were done, I called Hsuan to see if he wanted to have dinner, but he was interneting and didn’t expect to be done until close to my bedtime. I cooked up vegetables from breakfast and lunch the next day and went to bed.
Day 216 March 11
The power went out at 4am, and I had some hope that it would be back on for school, but this was not the case. It stayed off until 7pm. A day practically coffee free.
I got a ride with Dona Olga, the caseta owner. I’ve noticed that recently I’ve been on the caseta ladies’ good side, which I previously remained either a person of indifference to them or on their bad side. I don’t know what has changed, but I will try to keep it up.
I spent my morning doing reading assessments while Megan ran the class. I got through 8 kids. The rest of the day was rough. The lack of coffee was catching up with me, though the kids and I talked about it so they’d know they hadn’t done anything to make me cranky. Because there was no power, there were no copies made and I couldn’t give my science quiz, which was then a period I had to fill in, with the little brain power I had.
This was a long Thursday.
I spent our afternoon cleaning up things we had not taken care of on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the field trip and birthday celebrations, like homework checking and sticker giving for completed work.
I had tutorias after school and then walked home in the unbearable dust. I got to the pool, and though I brought my bathing suit, I did not go in for the third time. This time I had fish soup and I forgot that fish soup in Central America means whole fish, which I don’t have a problem with, it’s just more work than I want to devote to my food while tutoring.
I decided I did want class, since I wasn’t going to swim, but I hadn’t had time to do my homework. I rushed home to get money to pay for class and to finish my homework. I almost got it all done in time. Luis gave me a hard time, but he understood.
After class I went up on the roof to read, but my hammock spot was yoinked by Abby and Allan was sitting next to her. I joined them for a while, until the sun got too low.
I made fresh beets for dinner, which were way more delicious than canned beets. People in the States are missing out on the wonderful world of vegetables by eating so much from cans!
I read more in Life of Pi and went to sleep.
Day 217 March 12
I was running late enough that I just took the bus to school. I filled up on coffee and we had a good day. It was full, though I was stood up by the 9th grade presenters from Chris’ class. Instead we played the science board game, which they are getting rather good at.
We took our science quiz, which was apparently too hard, so I graded it on a curve. I need to spend more time on the changes to matter. I think we made up for it with multiplication bingo.
After school, we had a meeting about Belize and Dona Olga brought out ice cream bars for everyone. It was really sweet and I know the collective sigh of joy traversed language barriers. I stayed after the meeting to update pictures, chat, and do a little work. I also finished up my homework for class, which I left at 3:30 for. A how dusty the walks are.
I had class and when I got home I found Abby, Eileen, and Beth about to go to dinner. I decided to join them, instead of showering. We saw Cid on his way to meet with some of the other teachers and pointed him in the right direction. Dinner was good and the view was nice. After, we split ways so that I could go to the Stations of the Cross, and they headed to the new bar in the river (this is how it is described, I have not seen it but they insist it is in the river.)
On my way back home, I saw Hsuan and 4 of the orphans. Marlon, a boy I have met through Hsuan, was with them and his smile was huge. He ran at me and hugged me very hard. Two of the others followed suite, the girl jumped up around my neck and kissed my cheek while the other boy just squeezed my legs. The fourth boy was more shy, but we hugged also. Hsuan explained that he had told them about 10 minutes ago that he would take them to the Copan Faria, which is a bit like a State Fair. They were stoked. I told them all to have fun and didn’t keep them for long.
My stomach was aching a bit when I got home and I went to Stations late. Unfortunately for me, it was a week where they start at the top of the hill and march down. I confirmed with one of the last stations just to be sure, and he said that yes, they were up there. I hurried up and, when I reached them, I sat on the side walk for them to finish the station and start marching past me. Two older gentlemen sat with me and asked me where I was from and if I worked at the Mayatan. They then asked if I would take old students in my class of, what grade do you teach?, third graders. I said that if they wanted, they were welcome to join third grade again.
I walked and observed and wished I understood more Spanish. I was able to understand most of the Hail Mary prayers, though. I picked up some of the verses and some of the meanings just from my past experience. It wasn’t much of a religious experience for me, either because my stomach continued to ache, or because it was so new to me I couldn’t quite get into the swing of things, but it was very culturally interesting.
About ¼ of the crowd kneeled at times we were expected to kneel. Women who did had a cloth they lay on the ground for their knees. There were so many thin, poor children. Mothers carried infants, and kneeled with them, the whole way. Protestant spectators waited along the streets. I couldn’t quiet tell if they were mocking us or just watching those crazy Catholics going by again. The tourists were starting to get on my nerves, and I did decide to keep my camera away. Some took discreet pictures, but others were putting flashes in people’s faces. I understand the quest for a good photograph, but respect of people is needed when you photograph a person. The statue of Christ carrying his cross was on top of a coffin, which was decorated with nice clothes, and there were six pallbearers who carried it the whole way. They put it down at each station. I also think that there was a microphone attached to it for when verses and prayers were read. Ultimately, the giant box with the statue is why they sometimes do the stations going down. This way it can stay at which ever church they end with for the week and the next week it goes to the other church. When we got to the park things got very difficult and interesting. Many more spectators came, friends who had something to say to someone in the march would come and start talking. It was hard to pay attention.
In the end I decided to meet up with folks to listen to Los Petros y Los Hijos de Tio Sam at Tun Club. Beth, Eileen, and Abby were playing gin rummy, which I joined. While we were playing Luis, Theo, and Cid arrived and sat closer to the band. When the girls left to go to iaVia for better/cheaper drinks, I moved up with the boys. We talked in a mix of Spanish and English. Vanessa, one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, was sitting with them. She wanted to dance with Theo but he wouldn’t unless we all went up. We were just going to do a kind of circle dance, but Luis refused to join us. I tried to convince him to come on the floor, that I too am a horrible dancer, but he wouldn’t. We were then two women and two men, so we coupled off. Cid said he couldn’t dance either, but that was a lie. He taught me to dance the dances he knew and we were on and off the dance floor for the rest of the night. Luis left shortly.
We stayed at the bar until about 1 and then Cid walked me home. We talked for a while in the street and then migrated to the roof until 2 when I decided I really needed to sleep.
I woke up a bit after 7 and started getting ready. I had plans to go hiking around El Ruby with Caroline, Alex, Chris, Jesse, Katie, Sierra, and Josue at 11, so I wanted to fit as much of my usual Saturday routine into the morning hours as possible. I made breakfast, but realized I had no coffee, I boiled water for my new tea, but realized it was free of caffeine. I used my last caffeinated tea bag. I started up laundry, but only of my school uniforms. The last two weeks I haven’t been able to get them smelling good, so I spent a lot of extra time on them. I put them up on the roof to dry.
I swept up and did the dishes. I cleaned up my room some and updated my log. I edited my pictures from yesterday and showered. Caroline came to the door to let me know the first folks had arrived at Picame. I went out and had coffee, or three cups of coffee, while we waited for the others.
We headed to the bus, but it was full, so we decided that we would start walking instead of waiting the 20 minutes for the next bus. We walked toward the ruins and when we passed the police station there they stopped Sierra to ask her why she had a machete. We were amused that they stopped her but not Jesse or Josue, who had passed. We figure she looked more like a tourist and thought she was headed to the ruins.
We tried hitching for a while before a truck pulled over and we all hopped in. We got to Santa Rita and hiked to the El Ruby, showing a tourist we’d picked up the first falls, but he had to head back to town to meet up with a friend. We explored the area and I did some sturdy-vine rock climbing. We then headed up to above the waterfall to follow the river to more falls.
At the jumping chasm, where you can jump, or if you’re brave/stupid dive and do flips like Chris and Jesse. There were Hondurans having a barbeque. I think our antics gave them a show and they were all very friendly as they gawked at us. We continued on and saw a trail to the side that leads to a very narrow but incredibly steep chasm. The path crosses the chasm. So, it would appear someone jumps it on a regular basis to get from place to place. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. We stopped in a couple of fields for frisbee golf. We also had a snack stop of scrambled eggs in a bag, avocado salad, and fresh bread. It was wonderful. We followed the river for a while and stopped a new field. Sierra and I were sitting on some rocks watching the water when a very old woman in a brilliantly colored dress came up with a machete and jestfully said, we are going to fight. She then asked if she could buy the machete that Sierra had. Sierra told her that she’d have to talk to Josue. He decided not to sell it, but the woman did like repeating that it was a very nice machete. She went off in the woods to cut off part of a dead tree that was larger than her. Jesse and Josue helped and he did end up giving or selling the machete. They helped her get the giant piece of wood up on her head so she could carry it back to town. This woman is amazing to me.
We walked back to Santa Rita. Most of the gang got ice cream but I wanted mangos. They were good and salty. We caught the bus back and went our separate ways agreeing to meet at Caroline’s for a dinner.
I read for a while and took a shower. I thought I’d be late, but of course I was not, I was still the first one there. We talked and once everyone was there, Chris broke out his guitar. We sang all kinds of songs while Jesse cooked. While we were sitting around I was struck with being really tired. My stomach was a little achy but I just thought it was the mangos.
The food was delicious. Sierra ate quickly so go to the fair. Ffarah’s daughter was in the runnings for child-queen of Copan. I had wanted to go, but when I found out I had to pay to get in, I was disinclined since I’d already spent my splurge money for the week. Then, as the night progressed I felt less and less good. Caroline thought I was going to burn from my time in the sun and I did feel sun-beaten. I walked home and was crushed to discover I had never put my key back on my key ring after our hike. I was locked out. Abby was picking up, Sierra was occupied, and Chris, who also has a set to our house, was still at Caroline’s house. He offered to come down, but I knew he’d be coming down in an hour so I went on the roof to lay in the hammock. I called Abby again but she didn’t pick up.
I was feeling cold enough I was thinking of asking Chris to come down anyway, but Abby got home. I yelled down for her to leave the door open and thanked her. I chatted with her and Allan for a while before really needing to go to bed. I was beginning to wonder if all of my achy, head-hurt, sick-ness was dehydration. I had 5 cups of water while chatting with them and had another two before I went to sleep. I finished reading Albert Camus’ The Stranger, which was interesting. Then I went to sleep.
Needless to say, I had to go to the bathroom a few times in the night. I felt worse as the night went on. I would stumble off to the bathroom, be very thirsty still, and drink another large cup of water. This happened maybe 6 times between 9:30 and 1:30. It was miserable.
Day 211 March 7
I woke up early and with a pounding headache. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I continued on the hydration trail. I moved slowly and infrequently from my bed, always making my way back there to recover from my 2 minute journey. Eventually I made it downstairs for long enough to get a refill of water and start my laundry—back to bed. I got more water and worked on my laundry—sat down. The morning went on like this until past 10 when I decided I wasn’t going to make it to mass.
By 11:20 I felt motivated to get ready for worship and Abby was heading to the market. I hopped in the shower and went for a quick look in the market. The giant bin of snap peas was gone, which broke my heart. There was one bag left and I bought them. I hope I see them again, they brought so much joy into my life.
I cooked quickly and went to Blair’s house. We had a good sermon and I wrote a lot. There was no singing this week, which was actually okay with me. I ended up having a cup of coffee before I left.
I returned The Stranger to Blair and took Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This author…this author was porn in Spain, grew up in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada, where his parents are from. His bio concludes: When he’s not living somewhere else, he lives in Montreal. What a life.
I was tired all day from the lack of sleeping and dehydration. I only had half an hour at home after worship before going to Villamil for my skype dates. Mom waited very patiently for her turn. When I go on skype, it’s only short if the power or internet go out. It’s not something I do often.
I got home and caught up on school work before going to bed at 9.
Day 212 March 8
I was late/on time, but because it was so cold I walked quickly to school and made it in less than 17 minutes. Awesome.
We had a pretty good day, though busy and hectic for me. I had copy issues over the weekend and then when I went to the printer, someone was using it. By the time I got back, it was out of toner. John was in a bad mood about it, but did a good job of not taking it out on me. I eventually got it sorted. I also had to write up an assessment of a student who was caught cheating and who’s grades are dropping for her sponsor. It was a touchy thing because I was obligated to touch all the negative bases and don’t want her to lose his scholarship, but he deserves to know what he’s funding… apparently he was very pleased with the information and my outlook on how to help her. Yay win!
We started on geometry and how matter changes, which will make for fun experiments. Geometry is all vocabulary and, for the most part, doesn’t sound like Spanish (or even if it did, they wouldn’t know the words in Spanish) so it’s another thing we’re just going to take slowly. Unfortunately, I’m finding it more difficult to make entertaining, at least for an extended period of time.
I was behind on grading and spent many a-spare moment catching up, which I did, but by the end of the day I was ready for it.
I had class for the first time in over a week and was able to have it at 4 instead of 5 because Isaac is still out of town. We’ve started so much new material that it’s going to take some work to catch him up.
I met Sierra’s friend Stacy on my way out of class. I know how excited Sierra is to have her in town. I hope all goes well.
I went home and ate pasta. I read the beginning of Life of Pi and saw Hsuan, which I’ve previously spelled Shin waiting outside of the comedor across the street. I decided to go ask him if he’d found a travel guide book for his trip to Antigua. We ended up talking for a long time. Turns out that the comedor across the street is run by the woman who runs the orphanage, which I hear is corrupt. Hsuan gets paid a stipend of 500 Lempira a month, which is about 25$. She will feed him for free at the comedor, which he has to do because he doesn’t make any money, but she often gives him old food and he has to wait for hours. His attitude is so positive but I told him if he will bring a vegetable, I will cook for us (when I first mentioned it he very adamantly informed me that he can’t cook.) I may not be a great cook but I can break up the monotony, make it quicker, and feed him veggies, which he doesn’t really get.
We also talked about Guatemala, which he hasn’t seen much of and I have. I’m glad he’s going to get to travel there. His Spanish is so-so and his English is pretty good, so I know he’ll be fine in Antigua.
We chatted until Luis came over and then I left Hsuan to his dinner, but exchanged numbers so we could coordinate a dinner (and so he could take a warm shower like the other teachers do. He apparently never gets a hot shower, if they have water enough for a shower at all.)
When Luis left I chatted with Abby and Allan before going to bed.
Day 213 March 9
I walked to school in about 17minutes, but this time I was closer to on time. I left around 5:55. I squandered my early time at school, though, and still ended up scrambling. Get it together, Barr!
Megan had to cover for a teacher taking care of a sick child, so I managed reading groups alone. They were not well managed. The day was loud, my children seemed needy, and I got tired quickly. Maybe it was me, maybe it was because they were going to the ruins, maybe it was both, but oye!
Helen continued to fail to communicate anything to me and I mostly just guessed my way along, though I did confirm the time we were *supposed* to leave. It was very poorly organized, but I was able to go in for free with my class. We had less than an hour in the ruins and my kids were still very excited and happy. Helen didn’t secure a guide in advance and tried to use one of my students, a relative, to rope a guide into giving a free tour. He wouldn’t. The kids, all 40 of them, sat around being watched by just me while Helen and Norma went to try to talk prices with him, for 15 minutes. We did get the guide, I don’t know the cost.
The kids were great, and the three parents that came were from my class. Some of my students hadn’t been in 2 years. Apparently only one second grade class went lest year. There was a tourist who stopped to take a picture of my class while they were on tour, which amused me. We had a good time taking pictures and looking around. Everyone did what they were told, if they were reminded .
Isaac came back today and we had to call home to get permission for him to go, I paid. My two students who always need financial help got it. I appreciate Marlon because he asks and I understand Juan, but I wish he wouldn’t be embarrassed. I was pleased that he had a really good time.
We got back, but it was really hot, so we spent most of our last half hour in the caseta getting water and ice cream. We cleaned up and went home. I had tutorias with Maria Jose and learned that the new geometry vocabulary really isn’t getting in some kids brains.
We then had a staff meeting and I, late as this week tends toward, got a meeting note to Megan to have ready for my parents tomorrow. Those meetings drag out and there’s often a fight (often complaining that something didn’t need to be said because it kept us all here longer, but now the complainer is keeping us all here longer.) I felt rushed because I wanted to get to Isaac’s as early as possible to get as much in as possible before heading to class. However, when I got there, 15 minutes later than usual, but I had told him between 3:30-4, Jaqui wanted to go to Camino Maya. It’s a fancy hotel with a pool you have to pay for and good, but expensive food.
It was an interesting atmosphere for tutoring, and apparently it’s where I’m tutoring tomorrow. I’m not sure why, but that’s where Isaac’s dad and cousin are hanging out and they want him near them whenever possible, even during tutoring? I cancelled class because I knew I wouldn’t get into town in time even if I finished tutoring at 5. Isaac was tired and his English has fallen back in the last 5 days so working was slow, but, luckily, steady.
I was very thirsty from the rushed walk down from school and had several glasses of water and a huge pineapple juice. They insisted I eat too, even though I tried to say I was only thirsty. I didn’t want them to have to pay for a meal for me there. Jaqui is good at this, though, and she pointed out two meals she thought I would enjoy, including garlic shrimp, which were not cheap, but on a reasonable end of the pricing. Plus…shrimp! It was delicious. Isaac informed me that he would not try them because they were ugly (an adjective used for all the senses.)
I went home and tried to relax, but I’m not sure how I’ll fit in tutoring and a meeting, and if I’ll then be able to have class tomorrow. I read and got very sleepy, but new sleeping now would betray me later so I kept awake. I had plans to go to Blair’s for game night at 7:30, and I even left. I didn’t make it past my block, though. I was over taken with sleepiness and realized I did not want to go to sleep in two hours, I wanted to sleep now. I went back home and wasn’t even able to read myself to sleep. I just went to sleep.
Day 214 March 10
I’m having an easier time getting out of bed, but still slow. I got to school and chatted with Megan before getting to my class. I set up for the day and collected supplies for science. I brought the rusty pot to show that chemical change. One kid brought vinegar, another brought baking soda. We had a pretty good day, though I think the heat is making them too talkative.
It is Rubdy’s birthday and he asked to be under my protection, so I made an announcement that no one would touch him with water or they’d answer to me. After recess I made an announcement and serious talk about thievery in the school recently. The librarian had 1,300 Lempiras stolen from her cabinet and yesterday Miss Beth had 900 stolen from her purse. Either the culprit confesses, the money appears anonymously, or, if we find out on our own, they are expelled. I also told them the door will be locked at all times that I am not there, which is hard to remember.
We are having fun learning all kinds of things in math and in science I had them fooled. After yesterday’s “is it a mixture or solution” with sand and sugar in water, today’s hypothesis for baking soda and vinegar was that it would be a solution. Ah! A chemical change! Then, we showed the expansion when we did it in a balloon.
Mr. John and I met and planned our dates and times for giving the standardized tests after the holy days. Two testing periods a day for 6 days instead of a full day of tests, like in secondary. It’ll still be rough on them, but it will be much better. Three on one week, three after the weekend. It’ll be an adventure. The key is prepping them properly and monitoring them for a) cheating b) answering without really reading the questions.
In the afternoon we celebrated Rubdy’s birthday. The kids were pretty good about it and we all had fun. Since there are no tutorias on Wednesday I spent my time cleaning up the room and planning. At 2:30 I rushed into town for tutoring at the pool.
It’s a very strange location for tutoring. Isaac has to get out of the pool for tutoring, which is a torture in and of itself. There are gringos and his cousins playing in the water. Loud dance music is being played. I wonder how much he can retain. On the upside, I get shrimp and caracola, which is conch meat.
I left after an hour for the class meeting. It went relatively smoothly except that we had a first time showing of a parent and he didn’t like what the other parents wanted to do. There was argument and this is one time I really enjoy that my Spanish is poor. No one expects me to step in so I am able and allowed to sit back and wait for a conclusion to be drawn. Though, my parents now want to get a water dispenser for my room. I told them I’ll just have to make rules so that it does not disrupt class.
I finished early enough that I decided to rush to Guacamaya and see if I could still catch Luis for class. So, from 5:15-6:15 we had class. When we were done, I called Hsuan to see if he wanted to have dinner, but he was interneting and didn’t expect to be done until close to my bedtime. I cooked up vegetables from breakfast and lunch the next day and went to bed.
Day 216 March 11
The power went out at 4am, and I had some hope that it would be back on for school, but this was not the case. It stayed off until 7pm. A day practically coffee free.
I got a ride with Dona Olga, the caseta owner. I’ve noticed that recently I’ve been on the caseta ladies’ good side, which I previously remained either a person of indifference to them or on their bad side. I don’t know what has changed, but I will try to keep it up.
I spent my morning doing reading assessments while Megan ran the class. I got through 8 kids. The rest of the day was rough. The lack of coffee was catching up with me, though the kids and I talked about it so they’d know they hadn’t done anything to make me cranky. Because there was no power, there were no copies made and I couldn’t give my science quiz, which was then a period I had to fill in, with the little brain power I had.
This was a long Thursday.
I spent our afternoon cleaning up things we had not taken care of on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the field trip and birthday celebrations, like homework checking and sticker giving for completed work.
I had tutorias after school and then walked home in the unbearable dust. I got to the pool, and though I brought my bathing suit, I did not go in for the third time. This time I had fish soup and I forgot that fish soup in Central America means whole fish, which I don’t have a problem with, it’s just more work than I want to devote to my food while tutoring.
I decided I did want class, since I wasn’t going to swim, but I hadn’t had time to do my homework. I rushed home to get money to pay for class and to finish my homework. I almost got it all done in time. Luis gave me a hard time, but he understood.
After class I went up on the roof to read, but my hammock spot was yoinked by Abby and Allan was sitting next to her. I joined them for a while, until the sun got too low.
I made fresh beets for dinner, which were way more delicious than canned beets. People in the States are missing out on the wonderful world of vegetables by eating so much from cans!
I read more in Life of Pi and went to sleep.
Day 217 March 12
I was running late enough that I just took the bus to school. I filled up on coffee and we had a good day. It was full, though I was stood up by the 9th grade presenters from Chris’ class. Instead we played the science board game, which they are getting rather good at.
We took our science quiz, which was apparently too hard, so I graded it on a curve. I need to spend more time on the changes to matter. I think we made up for it with multiplication bingo.
After school, we had a meeting about Belize and Dona Olga brought out ice cream bars for everyone. It was really sweet and I know the collective sigh of joy traversed language barriers. I stayed after the meeting to update pictures, chat, and do a little work. I also finished up my homework for class, which I left at 3:30 for. A how dusty the walks are.
I had class and when I got home I found Abby, Eileen, and Beth about to go to dinner. I decided to join them, instead of showering. We saw Cid on his way to meet with some of the other teachers and pointed him in the right direction. Dinner was good and the view was nice. After, we split ways so that I could go to the Stations of the Cross, and they headed to the new bar in the river (this is how it is described, I have not seen it but they insist it is in the river.)
On my way back home, I saw Hsuan and 4 of the orphans. Marlon, a boy I have met through Hsuan, was with them and his smile was huge. He ran at me and hugged me very hard. Two of the others followed suite, the girl jumped up around my neck and kissed my cheek while the other boy just squeezed my legs. The fourth boy was more shy, but we hugged also. Hsuan explained that he had told them about 10 minutes ago that he would take them to the Copan Faria, which is a bit like a State Fair. They were stoked. I told them all to have fun and didn’t keep them for long.
My stomach was aching a bit when I got home and I went to Stations late. Unfortunately for me, it was a week where they start at the top of the hill and march down. I confirmed with one of the last stations just to be sure, and he said that yes, they were up there. I hurried up and, when I reached them, I sat on the side walk for them to finish the station and start marching past me. Two older gentlemen sat with me and asked me where I was from and if I worked at the Mayatan. They then asked if I would take old students in my class of, what grade do you teach?, third graders. I said that if they wanted, they were welcome to join third grade again.
I walked and observed and wished I understood more Spanish. I was able to understand most of the Hail Mary prayers, though. I picked up some of the verses and some of the meanings just from my past experience. It wasn’t much of a religious experience for me, either because my stomach continued to ache, or because it was so new to me I couldn’t quite get into the swing of things, but it was very culturally interesting.
About ¼ of the crowd kneeled at times we were expected to kneel. Women who did had a cloth they lay on the ground for their knees. There were so many thin, poor children. Mothers carried infants, and kneeled with them, the whole way. Protestant spectators waited along the streets. I couldn’t quiet tell if they were mocking us or just watching those crazy Catholics going by again. The tourists were starting to get on my nerves, and I did decide to keep my camera away. Some took discreet pictures, but others were putting flashes in people’s faces. I understand the quest for a good photograph, but respect of people is needed when you photograph a person. The statue of Christ carrying his cross was on top of a coffin, which was decorated with nice clothes, and there were six pallbearers who carried it the whole way. They put it down at each station. I also think that there was a microphone attached to it for when verses and prayers were read. Ultimately, the giant box with the statue is why they sometimes do the stations going down. This way it can stay at which ever church they end with for the week and the next week it goes to the other church. When we got to the park things got very difficult and interesting. Many more spectators came, friends who had something to say to someone in the march would come and start talking. It was hard to pay attention.
In the end I decided to meet up with folks to listen to Los Petros y Los Hijos de Tio Sam at Tun Club. Beth, Eileen, and Abby were playing gin rummy, which I joined. While we were playing Luis, Theo, and Cid arrived and sat closer to the band. When the girls left to go to iaVia for better/cheaper drinks, I moved up with the boys. We talked in a mix of Spanish and English. Vanessa, one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, was sitting with them. She wanted to dance with Theo but he wouldn’t unless we all went up. We were just going to do a kind of circle dance, but Luis refused to join us. I tried to convince him to come on the floor, that I too am a horrible dancer, but he wouldn’t. We were then two women and two men, so we coupled off. Cid said he couldn’t dance either, but that was a lie. He taught me to dance the dances he knew and we were on and off the dance floor for the rest of the night. Luis left shortly.
We stayed at the bar until about 1 and then Cid walked me home. We talked for a while in the street and then migrated to the roof until 2 when I decided I really needed to sleep.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Week 30: Seizure in the Church and Field Trip Madness
Day 203 February 27
I woke up around 9 (after having a dream about waking up at 10; it was strange to discover it was only 9) and started cleaning up after the party. Abby had done most of the cleaning the night before, but I finished hunting out dishes, sweeping up, putting furniture back, and wiping up the counters. I got all the garbage gathered by the door and started on my laundry. Tammi came by for a while, since she had left her bag here, and we chatted. I showed off my care packages to her also. I made coffee and wiped up the window panes that lead to the pila room and washed and bleached the lace curtain that hangs in the front window. It was filthy. I chatted with Abby for a while when she came down and continued with my work when she left. I let myself move slowly. I’m finding these slow, cleaning Saturday mornings to be perfect.
I cleaned my computer and camera as well because the dust has been doing a number on my electronics. I was able to get internet from my room for a while (on and off, though). At 5, Luis came over to call his sisters because I have a ridiculous number of seconds but no “saldo.” (There are days when you can buy triple or double saldo, but it actually only gives you triple seconds. You use saldo when you text, call the states, or call a digicell phone. You use seconds when you call anyone, so you can call a tigo phone and only use seconds, which is what Luis did.) He then bought me saldo. Yay working things out!
I cooked a dinner of pasta with mushroom sauce and ate with Abby and Allan. After, I read in bed until I fell asleep to the lulling thumping music from the park (the old market has been transformed into a party arena. I have not been to check it out.) Luis was supposed to come around 8, but at 8:30 I went to sleep. I got a text around 10:30 saying he wasn’t coming.
Day 204 February 28
I woke up around 6, but stayed in bed until a little after 7. I got up and cleaned up some before showering and heading out to the market and other shopping. At our church group we had made a bet on the superbowl, and while I had wanted the Saints to win, I bet on the Colts, so I was a part of the breakfast making team. We decided we wanted to set the bar for future bets, and we wanted to set it high. We were doing crepes with various fillings. I had to get some veggies, as I was in charge of scrambled eggs and mixed veggies. I picked up some veggies I’d never bought before, including yellow peppers, snap peas, and radishes. I got home and scrambled up the eggs, with a bit of milk, butter, salt, and pepper. I melted some butter in a pan and mixed in milk to cook the veggies in a frying pan. The color was nice. There was white, purple, orange, yellow, and green. It just looked pretty enough to eat, and they were a hit.
I went to church at 10, after packing up my food (never sure when church is going to end, but I wanted to reduce the likelihood of me being late as much as possible, as I was on the losing side of the bet.) Church was not nearly as packed as last week, but it was still pretty full. It was a normal lengthed service, a bit less than two hours. However, in the beginning, a woman from an aldea had a seizure. I was near by, and helped clear the area while it finished. There’s not much you can do for seizures except make sure they don’t injure themselves during and get them to a hospital after. The latter wasn’t an option. She lay down, unconscious, for a while after. Eventually, she sat up, and by the end she walked out on her own. It was scary.
There was a wall-eyed gringa who was taller than me sitting next to me. She kept asking me questions about the priest and the homily that I simply didn’t know the answer to. From her questions, I gather her Spanish was better than mine and she was trying to hammer out the details, but I understood less than her.
I went home and met up with Abby and Allan. I grabbed my food before we headed up to Rachel’s house for worship. Lauren, Blair’s girlfriend is in town for the week, and Matt is off house hunting and job searching for his to-be wife. We listened to a sermon, which is one of the best we’ve had so far, I thought, and sang for a while after. The sermon and talks we were having kept getting interrupted by a boy and his sister, who was pushy and cut her own hair. It seemed to me like they were mocking us. On one of their visits, they asked for cookies. Rachael said that she did not have any cookies, but she had oranges. She said she would only give them if she heard one little word, “por favor.” After minimal explanation and coaxing, the boy said it and he got the orange. The girl refused. It was explained several times, that if she just said please, Rachael would give her the orange. She just wanted to hear that, and nothing more. The girl left. We could hear her brother trying to convince her to just say the word. She came back later, but still wouldn’t say it and finally came back and said she wanted an orange, please. Rachael gave her the orange immediately. It was strange, and I can’t quite figure out the reasoning behind it.
We left together to go into town for the grand opening of the Victoria’s Supermarket. It should change the face of Copan. We got there, but it had only been open in the morning and was closed already, because it was Sunday. They woudn’t let us come in to look, but we could see the rows of shelves and…shopping carts. This place blew my mind.
I got my things together and headed to Villamil to take care of some business and chat with folks. I caught up with some old friends I hadn’t talked to in a long time and left in time to make dinner before Luis came over, late. We talked for a while, but he left around 9 and I went straight to bed.
Day 205 March 1
I could not get myself out of bed at a reasonable time. The morning air was cold, and my under-blanket air was warm. It was too nice to leave. Except at 5:45 when I rolled over and saw the clock, 15 minutes after I like to leave, I then managed to hop up and take a quick shower.
When I got to school I set out all my new animals and put my stickers in the home-for-stickers, I loaded up the new crayons and colored pencils, and set the googley eyes with the art supplies. I was ready.
Carolina informed me that she had played pool with several of the vigilantes from our bank (the men who stand around central park with semi automatic weapons and dark sun glasses.) They asked her about the young woman who is pretty and so nice because she always says hello when she passes. That would be me. I have the only armed men in town on my side. Win.
My first student interaction was with one of my students who used to be a great student, but has recently fallen into the pit of socialization during my class time. Because of a girl. I completely understand, but he’s been obnoxious, a distraction to his classmates, and his grades are falling. He came up to me and said, “Miss, I’m sorry about my class work and I will be more good in school.” I told him that I thought that sounded wonderful and I thanked him. Man, you don’t even have to show me your signed slip saying you showed your parents your progress report…I already know.
I spent the morning showing my kids my new supplies and getting them as excited as I was…followed by an explanation of the new rules to preserve the new supplies and why these rules were important. I think it was a nice combo.
They were as excited as I was, and about the pen pal letters too. I was really impressed with several of my girls who took a pencil and started editing their letters for English grammar mistakes. Mostly, they were just excited to see what their new friend in the United States had to say. Marlon was as amused as I was that his friend wanted to know if it was hot or cold here and if we had lions and tigers. Fernando was excited to get my cousins letter, the girls were jealous. I had to explain that Princess Ann was the name of the school and elementary=primary. There were several other phrases I had never thought of before, but the kids ate it all up (aka, for example.) They also liked hearing about the beach, so I might suggest a lot of writing about the mountains. I think that this time we’ll do buddy writing. Pair them up and have them help and edit each other, with me getting the final call.
The day was high energy and, for the most part, really good. I read one of my new books and had a relaxed toutorias with just casual English practice. I think I’m finally drawing Juan out of his shell, but time will tell.
I downloaded some anti-malware and help-your-computerness to try to…help my computer. I’ll need to finish it all out tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes. Her overall slowness is ridiculous. I then walked back with Megan and went straight to tutorias with Isaac. I think I finally found a way to get him talking more. I can get small answers and reading out of him, but otherwise, getting him to talk in English is like pulling teeth. He will demonstrate he understands, but he never wants to talk and he will answer as minimally as possible, trying to get away with hand motions when he can. Today we essentially played “Where’s Waldo” with the book we read. We took turns. First I would describe an action, color, or thing, and he’d have to find it on the page, then he would, with words, describe an action, color, or thing. I will bring more busy pictures to future meetings. He used words I had no idea he knew what they were, and he responded to words I didn’t expect him to know. Some he needed me to define, but I did all of my definitions in English.
I had another first, today, though. At tutoring, as his mom runs a restaurant, and I’m there when other guests are not, I saw a chicken get killed for the cooking. It did not run, but it was held down. I could see where it would have. It was, apparently, Isaac’s first time seeing it too. I think my composure helped him stay composed. He was not expecting it to continue moving after, and I explained that they do that sometimes. I compared it to pulling legs off of a spider. The leg is dead, but can still twitch, for a time. He seemed to understand this, to a certain degree, but still didn’t want to watch, which I said was okay too. His mom came out and asked if I was okay. She had been a bit nervous about it happening in front of me, but it was apparently unavoidable. I told her I was not worried, because I wasn’t. It certainly was interesting.
I got home and chatted with Abby for a while and tried to steal enough internet to download the files I wanted. A bit after 7 I headed to Blair’s for his birthday. I thought I was going to be late, but apparently the set time was 7:30, so my 7:10 entrance made me early. I stopped off in a tienda with Blair and his girlfriend Lauren. We went back and talked about books. I was given full access to his collection in the house and the collection in the office, which I’m really excited about. I barrowed The Stranger by Albert Camus before I left. Some good literary conversations were had and I realized how much I had missed them.
At the gathering lots of pizza, chips, salsa, and cake was had. For my second dinner, I didn’t do too badly. Judy, Luis, and Jorge came. It was the first time I’ve ever really talked to Jorge and he was pretty funny. It was a good time.
I walked back with Luis and when we said our goodbyes, I went home and went to bed, later than I usually like.
Day 206 March 2
I was running late, again, shocking? No, not anymore. Though, I got out of bed 20 minutes earlier than the day before, I ended up leaving 10 minutes later, and then arriving at school 5 minutes later. Many of my students beat me, which is a first. I was greeted with, “Miss, you are sleeping.” Which, judging from the speaker’s grasp on the past tense, I gather she meant, “You slept in.” Which is fair. I did get to catch a spectacular sunrise on the way to school, though.
We had a fun time in reading groups working on our letters. We brainstormed answers to questions we were asked and questions we wanted to ask as well as information we wanted to tell them about our lives. The kids are really into it, I love it.
Overall, we had a good day. Learning about the physical properties of matter proved to be difficult. They’ve never been introduced to any of this conceptually, so in English it’s just blowing their minds. They can’t quiet grasp what I’m teaching. I think we’ll just spend a long time doing experiments and other hands on things for this unit.
My after school tutoring went smoothly and then I left a little early to walk home with Sierra. We ended up walking back with Josue, also. I wish I had more time to spend with her. Alex caught up with us, too.
I went home for a bit before tutoring, but then trotted over to Isaac’s house. It went well. He’s really starting to talk more, so I try to allow for a certain amount of conversation at the end. We did have to struggle through the spelling homework, though. Beth and I have starting doing it on the computer and this week’s unscramble came with an extra unscramble, where you had 17 letters and had to use them to figure out a 4 word sentence. I couldn’t do it and couldn’t get in touch with Beth to find out. I didn’t want to give up and teach him that lesson, but unscrambling one word can be hard when you’re an English speaking, unscrambling one when you have no idea what it might be when it’s your second language is very difficult and to use a compilation of characters to figure out 4 words in another language….and I couldn’t figure it out. We had a chat about the importance of trying.
I left to go meet up with Rachael for coffee and saw the priest on the way. He seemed to recognize me, which surprised me. I got to Rachael’s office early and she wasn’t there, so I went home to read The Stranger for about 10 minutes. I went back and waited. She had been working in Villamil because of the construction next to the Urban Promise office.
We got smoothies at Vamos a Ver and talked about family, life, and the future until we got cold. We then moved to Café Welchez, which I have never actually been in before. We talked about God, the Universe, and everything until they closed. We were shocked to see it was 10 minutes to 10 and neither of us stay up past 9. We parted ways excited about the conversation and the idea of future coffee dates and went to sleep.
Day 207 March 3
I got to school around 6:20, which was a little better than the rest of the week. I hadn’t realized how much the absence of two students had helped my classes behavior until they came back. I went ahead with the plan and played Division Bingo in prep for our test on Friday. We spent the science unit demonstrating how different types of matter occupy space, including blowing up balloons, making water balloons, popping balloons, and going outside to throw water balloons. It was grand. I’m just going to drive home this vocabulary with all hands on activities.
Our last class was pretty rough. I don’t know if it was them, or me, or both, but usually I can sober them up when they get too energetic by lowering our class points. In the last 35-40 minutes of the day, they lost 10 class points. An unheard of thing. Usually it’s only 2-3.
I had an “after school special” on different types of music, but somehow the girls got sidetracked to their fathers and how long it had been since they’d quit drinking. One girl’s father had just made it through his first 3 months, but the other’s father has been sober for 3 years. I really had no idea what to say and they were both fine, but they explained what life was like before, and it seemed to have been very different. “Now they are cristiano, Miss.”
I walked home with Megan and then rushed to the bank to get my pay. I finally decided to get it in smaller bills because when I got it in big bills I would buy things just because I was in a locale I knew could break it, or buy extra things because I felt guilty for making them break it. I should be able to save some money now. I then bought saldo for my phone and, literally, budgeted out my money. I put in post-it notes with the amount and the purpose for the money including my Guacamaya bill for last month, a set amount for the coming month, my bills, 500 lemps for each week of the month, and my savings. I hope to actually retain all of my savings this month, because I’ll need it when James is here.
I started reading when Abby came home and asked if I wanted to go running. Sierra and I had plans for a coffee date, but she had just postponed it by 2 hours, so I could! Abby and I went for a 30 minute run, and I think I talked the whole time, which was good for my lungs. I stretched really well in the shower.
I went to San Rafael to meet Sierra. It has a really nice ambiance and one of the works speaks impeccable English. It almost feels more strange to speak to him in Spanish than in English. He has a pug-something mix which was adorable and I loved him. When Sierra saw me with the dog, she commented that I need a dog in my life (she’s seen me with dogs before, but usually dogs I won’t touch.) Sierra and I talked for a few hours and then went our separate ways. It was nice to catch up.
I made a dinner of veggies cooked in milk. Chris called to ask if he could shower but called back 20 minutes later to cancel. I just read in bed and went to sleep around 8:30.
Day 208 March 4
I was running late again, so I snagged a taxi. It was one of the guys from church. He pick up one of the caseta workers, since he was going up anyway. I thought it was nice.
At school I had a long chat with Ann. Apparently my voice has been getting louder again, so I’ll try to work on that. We shall see.
My kids were still not where they usually are, which was frustrating, but they were not as bad as yesterday afternoon. We got through and worked more on letters. I think it’s a great exercise for them. After recess we reviewed for our math test, practiced past tense verbs, and had fun with density. I filled a glass with honey, water, and oil. We then put in a variety of things that floated on some liquids and not others. At the very end we made a hypothesis about the hand sanitizing gel I have in the room: It was more dense than oil, but less than water. It actually floated on the oil. We were wrong! On man.
We went to lunch early, and left early to go to the buses for a field trip to the public library. It was a lot of fun, and for the most part they were very good. The librarian gave them a tour and then they had some free time. They were read The Frog Prince, in Spanish, and then we all made paper frogs. We then loaded back up on the buses and went to school for the last 30 minutes of school, which were a little difficult to manage—not surprising, but we made do.
After school, one of my mothers came to talk about her daughter, who’s progress report had a variety of behavioral problems she hasn’t had before. This girl is gorgeous, and there was recently a social/maturity shift where that matters. All the boys want to be near her, all the girls want to talk to her. Her English is poor, but she’s suddenly getting attention and it’s harder to pay attention, and she lacks the motivation—she gets attention anyway. I didn’t go into all of it with her mom, but I did say that things have been better since I moved her away from a large group of boys. I pleased to see that her mother was aware of the shift. She said that she and Nahomy had talked about “how to deal with all this new attention, right, Love?” So, her mom and I are on the same page and Nahomy has promised to stop talking, but we’ll see.
I walked home with Carline and Sierra. Sierra came home for a bit and I whipped up some of my new veggie dish to share before she headed on her way. I didn’t have tutoring like usual, because Isaac’s dad is back in country for the week and they took a trip to Tela. His mom is always very apologetic (this is the second time) when he misses school for these trips, but I understand and she takes all the right steps to make sure he doesn’t fall behind. The kid doesn’t get to see his dad very often.
I took some down time to read and watch Abby’s new movie “Blindside” which was pretty good. When I came back down I joined Abby and Allan for dinner (as I have had an insatiable appetite all week. When I don’t have real food I eat candy or whatever else is around. I ate my meal while they were cooking and then ate some of their left over beans on bread.) I went to bed around 8:30 after reading some more.
Day 209 March 5
I think the definition of “late” is going to have to shift, or I’ll have to go to school “on time” again before I can consider my current timing “late.” I got to school and was in the best mood I’ve been in all week, at school. I commended my kids again for their behavior and informed them (since I had gotten an e-mail to this affect) that their was no PE, but they informed me that, yes, there was. Ferjardo was supposed to be absent, but he was here. Okay then. So then I started talking about prep to go to the ruins in the afternoon, and they informed me that we weren’t going. Miss Helen said that they had been bad at the library so we weren’t going to the ruins. This stunned me on a few levels and I said I’d have to look in to it during recess. What a confused morning!
They were the best they’d been all week (because of my good mood? Because of coincidence?) We had a good time making googly-eyed toilet paper roll faces. We then shared them with the class. Just before recess I had them do silent reading or journal writing so I could get pictures of them each being studious. We’re doing a photo project that will go toward 1)a photo to take home in a student-made frame, 2) a photo to our pen pals in VA Beach, 3) the website, because a lot of my kids are up there for “give a scholarship to this student” but their pictures are terrible, and 4) a class collage. They were silent for it, which was great.
At recess I found out that we weren’t going to the ruins because Miss Helen forgot to hand out permission slips. I was shocked at what she had told my kids and when we got back, I explained that they had been good and that it was simply a mistake. I wasn’t sure if Miss Helen wanted us to go on Monday or not, but even if we didn’t go with her next week, I would take them to the ruins some time in the future (not next week, though.) It’s always been in the plan and I don’t see a need for the kids to feel crushed because of her mistake.
The rest of the day went well and I filled in plans to cover up the lack of ruins as I went. After school I chatted with a few students who came and went from my room. Morale was back up and they ended up popping my balloon (which was from science class, but I was mostly done with it.) Caroline called and asked if I wanted to go to the river, but I really wanted to stick around and get more done. Shortly before I was planning to leave, Chris called and asked if I wanted to go on a hike, so at 4:25 I packed up and hurried home. I changed and headed to his place.
Chris, Caroline, Alex, and I headed toward the highway, crossed it, and headed up the hill. It was a beautifully crisp view of town, on the other side of town, which I’ve never hiked. We enjoyed the start of a sunset and ran down the hill like kids (going to the playground.) We split ways to shower and I ran into Tammi who followed me home for some chatting. When she left I hopped in the shower to go to 2 for 1 three course meals at Twisted Tanya’s.
It was a little chaotic in the begging because they were actually full of people. We didn’t have a table and part of the group wanted to go. We ended up staying and had delicious food. We stayed for a long while chatting and catching up. The end was a bit chaotic as well with the bill, and I’m not sure what all happened, but it got sorted out somehow. With at dinner was an anthropologist working a few hours from here who’d never had time to make it out to the ruins. We had some interesting conversations, but I could never quite figure her out.
The others left for Josue’s house to watch a movie but I just came back to read two more chapters of The Stranger and go to sleep.
I woke up around 9 (after having a dream about waking up at 10; it was strange to discover it was only 9) and started cleaning up after the party. Abby had done most of the cleaning the night before, but I finished hunting out dishes, sweeping up, putting furniture back, and wiping up the counters. I got all the garbage gathered by the door and started on my laundry. Tammi came by for a while, since she had left her bag here, and we chatted. I showed off my care packages to her also. I made coffee and wiped up the window panes that lead to the pila room and washed and bleached the lace curtain that hangs in the front window. It was filthy. I chatted with Abby for a while when she came down and continued with my work when she left. I let myself move slowly. I’m finding these slow, cleaning Saturday mornings to be perfect.
I cleaned my computer and camera as well because the dust has been doing a number on my electronics. I was able to get internet from my room for a while (on and off, though). At 5, Luis came over to call his sisters because I have a ridiculous number of seconds but no “saldo.” (There are days when you can buy triple or double saldo, but it actually only gives you triple seconds. You use saldo when you text, call the states, or call a digicell phone. You use seconds when you call anyone, so you can call a tigo phone and only use seconds, which is what Luis did.) He then bought me saldo. Yay working things out!
I cooked a dinner of pasta with mushroom sauce and ate with Abby and Allan. After, I read in bed until I fell asleep to the lulling thumping music from the park (the old market has been transformed into a party arena. I have not been to check it out.) Luis was supposed to come around 8, but at 8:30 I went to sleep. I got a text around 10:30 saying he wasn’t coming.
Day 204 February 28
I woke up around 6, but stayed in bed until a little after 7. I got up and cleaned up some before showering and heading out to the market and other shopping. At our church group we had made a bet on the superbowl, and while I had wanted the Saints to win, I bet on the Colts, so I was a part of the breakfast making team. We decided we wanted to set the bar for future bets, and we wanted to set it high. We were doing crepes with various fillings. I had to get some veggies, as I was in charge of scrambled eggs and mixed veggies. I picked up some veggies I’d never bought before, including yellow peppers, snap peas, and radishes. I got home and scrambled up the eggs, with a bit of milk, butter, salt, and pepper. I melted some butter in a pan and mixed in milk to cook the veggies in a frying pan. The color was nice. There was white, purple, orange, yellow, and green. It just looked pretty enough to eat, and they were a hit.
I went to church at 10, after packing up my food (never sure when church is going to end, but I wanted to reduce the likelihood of me being late as much as possible, as I was on the losing side of the bet.) Church was not nearly as packed as last week, but it was still pretty full. It was a normal lengthed service, a bit less than two hours. However, in the beginning, a woman from an aldea had a seizure. I was near by, and helped clear the area while it finished. There’s not much you can do for seizures except make sure they don’t injure themselves during and get them to a hospital after. The latter wasn’t an option. She lay down, unconscious, for a while after. Eventually, she sat up, and by the end she walked out on her own. It was scary.
There was a wall-eyed gringa who was taller than me sitting next to me. She kept asking me questions about the priest and the homily that I simply didn’t know the answer to. From her questions, I gather her Spanish was better than mine and she was trying to hammer out the details, but I understood less than her.
I went home and met up with Abby and Allan. I grabbed my food before we headed up to Rachel’s house for worship. Lauren, Blair’s girlfriend is in town for the week, and Matt is off house hunting and job searching for his to-be wife. We listened to a sermon, which is one of the best we’ve had so far, I thought, and sang for a while after. The sermon and talks we were having kept getting interrupted by a boy and his sister, who was pushy and cut her own hair. It seemed to me like they were mocking us. On one of their visits, they asked for cookies. Rachael said that she did not have any cookies, but she had oranges. She said she would only give them if she heard one little word, “por favor.” After minimal explanation and coaxing, the boy said it and he got the orange. The girl refused. It was explained several times, that if she just said please, Rachael would give her the orange. She just wanted to hear that, and nothing more. The girl left. We could hear her brother trying to convince her to just say the word. She came back later, but still wouldn’t say it and finally came back and said she wanted an orange, please. Rachael gave her the orange immediately. It was strange, and I can’t quite figure out the reasoning behind it.
We left together to go into town for the grand opening of the Victoria’s Supermarket. It should change the face of Copan. We got there, but it had only been open in the morning and was closed already, because it was Sunday. They woudn’t let us come in to look, but we could see the rows of shelves and…shopping carts. This place blew my mind.
I got my things together and headed to Villamil to take care of some business and chat with folks. I caught up with some old friends I hadn’t talked to in a long time and left in time to make dinner before Luis came over, late. We talked for a while, but he left around 9 and I went straight to bed.
Day 205 March 1
I could not get myself out of bed at a reasonable time. The morning air was cold, and my under-blanket air was warm. It was too nice to leave. Except at 5:45 when I rolled over and saw the clock, 15 minutes after I like to leave, I then managed to hop up and take a quick shower.
When I got to school I set out all my new animals and put my stickers in the home-for-stickers, I loaded up the new crayons and colored pencils, and set the googley eyes with the art supplies. I was ready.
Carolina informed me that she had played pool with several of the vigilantes from our bank (the men who stand around central park with semi automatic weapons and dark sun glasses.) They asked her about the young woman who is pretty and so nice because she always says hello when she passes. That would be me. I have the only armed men in town on my side. Win.
My first student interaction was with one of my students who used to be a great student, but has recently fallen into the pit of socialization during my class time. Because of a girl. I completely understand, but he’s been obnoxious, a distraction to his classmates, and his grades are falling. He came up to me and said, “Miss, I’m sorry about my class work and I will be more good in school.” I told him that I thought that sounded wonderful and I thanked him. Man, you don’t even have to show me your signed slip saying you showed your parents your progress report…I already know.
I spent the morning showing my kids my new supplies and getting them as excited as I was…followed by an explanation of the new rules to preserve the new supplies and why these rules were important. I think it was a nice combo.
They were as excited as I was, and about the pen pal letters too. I was really impressed with several of my girls who took a pencil and started editing their letters for English grammar mistakes. Mostly, they were just excited to see what their new friend in the United States had to say. Marlon was as amused as I was that his friend wanted to know if it was hot or cold here and if we had lions and tigers. Fernando was excited to get my cousins letter, the girls were jealous. I had to explain that Princess Ann was the name of the school and elementary=primary. There were several other phrases I had never thought of before, but the kids ate it all up (aka, for example.) They also liked hearing about the beach, so I might suggest a lot of writing about the mountains. I think that this time we’ll do buddy writing. Pair them up and have them help and edit each other, with me getting the final call.
The day was high energy and, for the most part, really good. I read one of my new books and had a relaxed toutorias with just casual English practice. I think I’m finally drawing Juan out of his shell, but time will tell.
I downloaded some anti-malware and help-your-computerness to try to…help my computer. I’ll need to finish it all out tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes. Her overall slowness is ridiculous. I then walked back with Megan and went straight to tutorias with Isaac. I think I finally found a way to get him talking more. I can get small answers and reading out of him, but otherwise, getting him to talk in English is like pulling teeth. He will demonstrate he understands, but he never wants to talk and he will answer as minimally as possible, trying to get away with hand motions when he can. Today we essentially played “Where’s Waldo” with the book we read. We took turns. First I would describe an action, color, or thing, and he’d have to find it on the page, then he would, with words, describe an action, color, or thing. I will bring more busy pictures to future meetings. He used words I had no idea he knew what they were, and he responded to words I didn’t expect him to know. Some he needed me to define, but I did all of my definitions in English.
I had another first, today, though. At tutoring, as his mom runs a restaurant, and I’m there when other guests are not, I saw a chicken get killed for the cooking. It did not run, but it was held down. I could see where it would have. It was, apparently, Isaac’s first time seeing it too. I think my composure helped him stay composed. He was not expecting it to continue moving after, and I explained that they do that sometimes. I compared it to pulling legs off of a spider. The leg is dead, but can still twitch, for a time. He seemed to understand this, to a certain degree, but still didn’t want to watch, which I said was okay too. His mom came out and asked if I was okay. She had been a bit nervous about it happening in front of me, but it was apparently unavoidable. I told her I was not worried, because I wasn’t. It certainly was interesting.
I got home and chatted with Abby for a while and tried to steal enough internet to download the files I wanted. A bit after 7 I headed to Blair’s for his birthday. I thought I was going to be late, but apparently the set time was 7:30, so my 7:10 entrance made me early. I stopped off in a tienda with Blair and his girlfriend Lauren. We went back and talked about books. I was given full access to his collection in the house and the collection in the office, which I’m really excited about. I barrowed The Stranger by Albert Camus before I left. Some good literary conversations were had and I realized how much I had missed them.
At the gathering lots of pizza, chips, salsa, and cake was had. For my second dinner, I didn’t do too badly. Judy, Luis, and Jorge came. It was the first time I’ve ever really talked to Jorge and he was pretty funny. It was a good time.
I walked back with Luis and when we said our goodbyes, I went home and went to bed, later than I usually like.
Day 206 March 2
I was running late, again, shocking? No, not anymore. Though, I got out of bed 20 minutes earlier than the day before, I ended up leaving 10 minutes later, and then arriving at school 5 minutes later. Many of my students beat me, which is a first. I was greeted with, “Miss, you are sleeping.” Which, judging from the speaker’s grasp on the past tense, I gather she meant, “You slept in.” Which is fair. I did get to catch a spectacular sunrise on the way to school, though.
We had a fun time in reading groups working on our letters. We brainstormed answers to questions we were asked and questions we wanted to ask as well as information we wanted to tell them about our lives. The kids are really into it, I love it.
Overall, we had a good day. Learning about the physical properties of matter proved to be difficult. They’ve never been introduced to any of this conceptually, so in English it’s just blowing their minds. They can’t quiet grasp what I’m teaching. I think we’ll just spend a long time doing experiments and other hands on things for this unit.
My after school tutoring went smoothly and then I left a little early to walk home with Sierra. We ended up walking back with Josue, also. I wish I had more time to spend with her. Alex caught up with us, too.
I went home for a bit before tutoring, but then trotted over to Isaac’s house. It went well. He’s really starting to talk more, so I try to allow for a certain amount of conversation at the end. We did have to struggle through the spelling homework, though. Beth and I have starting doing it on the computer and this week’s unscramble came with an extra unscramble, where you had 17 letters and had to use them to figure out a 4 word sentence. I couldn’t do it and couldn’t get in touch with Beth to find out. I didn’t want to give up and teach him that lesson, but unscrambling one word can be hard when you’re an English speaking, unscrambling one when you have no idea what it might be when it’s your second language is very difficult and to use a compilation of characters to figure out 4 words in another language….and I couldn’t figure it out. We had a chat about the importance of trying.
I left to go meet up with Rachael for coffee and saw the priest on the way. He seemed to recognize me, which surprised me. I got to Rachael’s office early and she wasn’t there, so I went home to read The Stranger for about 10 minutes. I went back and waited. She had been working in Villamil because of the construction next to the Urban Promise office.
We got smoothies at Vamos a Ver and talked about family, life, and the future until we got cold. We then moved to Café Welchez, which I have never actually been in before. We talked about God, the Universe, and everything until they closed. We were shocked to see it was 10 minutes to 10 and neither of us stay up past 9. We parted ways excited about the conversation and the idea of future coffee dates and went to sleep.
Day 207 March 3
I got to school around 6:20, which was a little better than the rest of the week. I hadn’t realized how much the absence of two students had helped my classes behavior until they came back. I went ahead with the plan and played Division Bingo in prep for our test on Friday. We spent the science unit demonstrating how different types of matter occupy space, including blowing up balloons, making water balloons, popping balloons, and going outside to throw water balloons. It was grand. I’m just going to drive home this vocabulary with all hands on activities.
Our last class was pretty rough. I don’t know if it was them, or me, or both, but usually I can sober them up when they get too energetic by lowering our class points. In the last 35-40 minutes of the day, they lost 10 class points. An unheard of thing. Usually it’s only 2-3.
I had an “after school special” on different types of music, but somehow the girls got sidetracked to their fathers and how long it had been since they’d quit drinking. One girl’s father had just made it through his first 3 months, but the other’s father has been sober for 3 years. I really had no idea what to say and they were both fine, but they explained what life was like before, and it seemed to have been very different. “Now they are cristiano, Miss.”
I walked home with Megan and then rushed to the bank to get my pay. I finally decided to get it in smaller bills because when I got it in big bills I would buy things just because I was in a locale I knew could break it, or buy extra things because I felt guilty for making them break it. I should be able to save some money now. I then bought saldo for my phone and, literally, budgeted out my money. I put in post-it notes with the amount and the purpose for the money including my Guacamaya bill for last month, a set amount for the coming month, my bills, 500 lemps for each week of the month, and my savings. I hope to actually retain all of my savings this month, because I’ll need it when James is here.
I started reading when Abby came home and asked if I wanted to go running. Sierra and I had plans for a coffee date, but she had just postponed it by 2 hours, so I could! Abby and I went for a 30 minute run, and I think I talked the whole time, which was good for my lungs. I stretched really well in the shower.
I went to San Rafael to meet Sierra. It has a really nice ambiance and one of the works speaks impeccable English. It almost feels more strange to speak to him in Spanish than in English. He has a pug-something mix which was adorable and I loved him. When Sierra saw me with the dog, she commented that I need a dog in my life (she’s seen me with dogs before, but usually dogs I won’t touch.) Sierra and I talked for a few hours and then went our separate ways. It was nice to catch up.
I made a dinner of veggies cooked in milk. Chris called to ask if he could shower but called back 20 minutes later to cancel. I just read in bed and went to sleep around 8:30.
Day 208 March 4
I was running late again, so I snagged a taxi. It was one of the guys from church. He pick up one of the caseta workers, since he was going up anyway. I thought it was nice.
At school I had a long chat with Ann. Apparently my voice has been getting louder again, so I’ll try to work on that. We shall see.
My kids were still not where they usually are, which was frustrating, but they were not as bad as yesterday afternoon. We got through and worked more on letters. I think it’s a great exercise for them. After recess we reviewed for our math test, practiced past tense verbs, and had fun with density. I filled a glass with honey, water, and oil. We then put in a variety of things that floated on some liquids and not others. At the very end we made a hypothesis about the hand sanitizing gel I have in the room: It was more dense than oil, but less than water. It actually floated on the oil. We were wrong! On man.
We went to lunch early, and left early to go to the buses for a field trip to the public library. It was a lot of fun, and for the most part they were very good. The librarian gave them a tour and then they had some free time. They were read The Frog Prince, in Spanish, and then we all made paper frogs. We then loaded back up on the buses and went to school for the last 30 minutes of school, which were a little difficult to manage—not surprising, but we made do.
After school, one of my mothers came to talk about her daughter, who’s progress report had a variety of behavioral problems she hasn’t had before. This girl is gorgeous, and there was recently a social/maturity shift where that matters. All the boys want to be near her, all the girls want to talk to her. Her English is poor, but she’s suddenly getting attention and it’s harder to pay attention, and she lacks the motivation—she gets attention anyway. I didn’t go into all of it with her mom, but I did say that things have been better since I moved her away from a large group of boys. I pleased to see that her mother was aware of the shift. She said that she and Nahomy had talked about “how to deal with all this new attention, right, Love?” So, her mom and I are on the same page and Nahomy has promised to stop talking, but we’ll see.
I walked home with Carline and Sierra. Sierra came home for a bit and I whipped up some of my new veggie dish to share before she headed on her way. I didn’t have tutoring like usual, because Isaac’s dad is back in country for the week and they took a trip to Tela. His mom is always very apologetic (this is the second time) when he misses school for these trips, but I understand and she takes all the right steps to make sure he doesn’t fall behind. The kid doesn’t get to see his dad very often.
I took some down time to read and watch Abby’s new movie “Blindside” which was pretty good. When I came back down I joined Abby and Allan for dinner (as I have had an insatiable appetite all week. When I don’t have real food I eat candy or whatever else is around. I ate my meal while they were cooking and then ate some of their left over beans on bread.) I went to bed around 8:30 after reading some more.
Day 209 March 5
I think the definition of “late” is going to have to shift, or I’ll have to go to school “on time” again before I can consider my current timing “late.” I got to school and was in the best mood I’ve been in all week, at school. I commended my kids again for their behavior and informed them (since I had gotten an e-mail to this affect) that their was no PE, but they informed me that, yes, there was. Ferjardo was supposed to be absent, but he was here. Okay then. So then I started talking about prep to go to the ruins in the afternoon, and they informed me that we weren’t going. Miss Helen said that they had been bad at the library so we weren’t going to the ruins. This stunned me on a few levels and I said I’d have to look in to it during recess. What a confused morning!
They were the best they’d been all week (because of my good mood? Because of coincidence?) We had a good time making googly-eyed toilet paper roll faces. We then shared them with the class. Just before recess I had them do silent reading or journal writing so I could get pictures of them each being studious. We’re doing a photo project that will go toward 1)a photo to take home in a student-made frame, 2) a photo to our pen pals in VA Beach, 3) the website, because a lot of my kids are up there for “give a scholarship to this student” but their pictures are terrible, and 4) a class collage. They were silent for it, which was great.
At recess I found out that we weren’t going to the ruins because Miss Helen forgot to hand out permission slips. I was shocked at what she had told my kids and when we got back, I explained that they had been good and that it was simply a mistake. I wasn’t sure if Miss Helen wanted us to go on Monday or not, but even if we didn’t go with her next week, I would take them to the ruins some time in the future (not next week, though.) It’s always been in the plan and I don’t see a need for the kids to feel crushed because of her mistake.
The rest of the day went well and I filled in plans to cover up the lack of ruins as I went. After school I chatted with a few students who came and went from my room. Morale was back up and they ended up popping my balloon (which was from science class, but I was mostly done with it.) Caroline called and asked if I wanted to go to the river, but I really wanted to stick around and get more done. Shortly before I was planning to leave, Chris called and asked if I wanted to go on a hike, so at 4:25 I packed up and hurried home. I changed and headed to his place.
Chris, Caroline, Alex, and I headed toward the highway, crossed it, and headed up the hill. It was a beautifully crisp view of town, on the other side of town, which I’ve never hiked. We enjoyed the start of a sunset and ran down the hill like kids (going to the playground.) We split ways to shower and I ran into Tammi who followed me home for some chatting. When she left I hopped in the shower to go to 2 for 1 three course meals at Twisted Tanya’s.
It was a little chaotic in the begging because they were actually full of people. We didn’t have a table and part of the group wanted to go. We ended up staying and had delicious food. We stayed for a long while chatting and catching up. The end was a bit chaotic as well with the bill, and I’m not sure what all happened, but it got sorted out somehow. With at dinner was an anthropologist working a few hours from here who’d never had time to make it out to the ruins. We had some interesting conversations, but I could never quite figure her out.
The others left for Josue’s house to watch a movie but I just came back to read two more chapters of The Stranger and go to sleep.
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