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.
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