The last few weeks have been full. This week is the end of the first quarter, so the end of grades and a lot of paperwork. I've been on top of my grades, but I did just get back a big, multi-faceted project from my kids. The individual comments take the longest, but we also have to grade the students on morality, punctuality, attitude, organization, and sociability. I think the school is being more organized about how grades are turned in this year, and that should help smooth things out for everyone, especially darling Marisol who is in charge of putting it all together and translating all the comments. We also have our year long plans to finish up for Friday.
Last weekend was Kyle (and my Daddy's!) birthday. I was the pinata lady and followed through with his request for a bird. Most of us were still tired after the short 3 week from the depths of horror. It wasn't really so bad, but we had observed during the month of October that each 4 day week was worse than the one before. The students were all off their rhythm, we also were off our game, and the 3 day week, started with a spelling bee for Library Week (which was a lot of fun and I was really proud of my students), was the hardest. It didn't help any that we arrived back in Copan late at night the night before we went back to school after 12 hours of traveling to Belize.
I know I won't get much sympathy for that one, and I don't expect to. Belize was incredible. It would be wonderful if we could spend more than one day there for the 24 hours of round trip traveling, alternating between boat and bus. I love Belize, and I adore Placencia. I got to go snorkeling for the first time and it blew me away. I got see a barracuda, a tarpin, two nurse sharks (I spotted one before anyone else. It was sleeping in the reef and our guide pulled him out and he swam away), a variety of sea cucumbers, urchins, anemones, different types of seastars, coral, and a host of tropical fish. It was an overcast day, so the water wasn't that shocking blue I saw the year before, but it did keep us from getting burnt.
The trip was great, I have no complaints. Plus we got to meet some locals (including Robinson Crusoe. He showed me three forms of ID, he's actually a Jr.). But I maintain it's brutal to travel 12 hours, get back late, and wake up for school the next day.
This week has been worlds better. I actually caught up on cleaning, laundry, and some of my schoolwork over the weekend, which losing a weekend meant I hadn't really done much for about 2 weeks. Plus, and most importantly, I caught up on sleep. I've been making it to bed at a beyond-reasonable hour (for me, you might judge my 8, 8:30 bedtime.) I've had more energy in class and my kids have been very responsive. I've been working after school on my plans, and I've gotten a lot done. However, most of the work I've been doing is not actually what should or will go into my year long plans. It's very useful for me, and therefore good to have done, but not so good for what I need to get done for Friday.
This weekend is Halloween, which is another reason I need to be sleeping now. All of the Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras will be here in Copan for this “satantic cult festival”. It's times like this I'm particularly glad that I live in Copan, because Mayors around the country are being encouraged to shut down any celebration of Halloween. Copan is touristy, and they make a lot of money this weekend. Plus, there is a more liberal side to this town that understands that just because people dress up, doesn't mean they are worshiping Satan.
I look forward to seeing many of the friends I met last year and figuring out what exactly I'm going to be. Kat and I have been out costume hunting once already and will go again this afternoon. I'm also looking for things I can re-wear and reuse. I might try to borrow something, but if it's something I need to buy, then it has to be worth the money.
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