By the time I had to get ready to leave, I had adjusted enough and gotten into enough of a routine that I was used to being in the States and it was really starting to feel like I HAD to get ready to leave, not that I GOT to get ready to leave. But, it was in the plan, and I'd signed my contract, and I was sure it would be better once I actually got back.
I finally started to get excited as I felt the plane dip down to land. Once I landed, I rushed off to get in line for immigration, but I was coming from the back of my plane, so I was in the back of the line, and we landed almost an hour late, so two other planes had come in before us. It was a long line. I was stuck waiting with an impatient, but nice, woman from Spain. We were behind a group of Korean-American teenagers in a group, and they were very annoying. They also split in the line and the group leader came in front of us so she could go first, which made sense to me, but then, when we were finally getting close, 5 more members of the group cut in front of us. They didn't seem to know a lick of Spanish, so the woman and I were able to complain about them. I got through, got my bag, and got out.
When I got to Copan, and as I drove in saw a student and a different student's parent, and Megan, I finally felt like I was coming home. It was good, because I was beginning to be afraid that I wouldn't feel that way and I will be living here for another year, whether I felt at home or not.
I know that a year ago I swore up and down that I'd only be in Copan for a year, and now I say again that I'll only be here for another year, but this time it's true (honest, let me earn back some credibility!) The reason I'm the only returning teacher is because of the pay. It's also the reason I can only stay one more year. It's plenty to live on, but it's not enough for the plane fare back and forth.
I am now thinking of coming home for at least a year of schooling, probably at TNCC, to take care of some undergrad courses that I need to be certified as a primary teacher. From there we'll see if I got straight into a graduate program, start a grad program online and in the summers, or come back to somewhere in Central or South America for an international school (which would really help me get away with not having to take out loans.)
But...for now, I have moved into my new, awesome house. And, it is, if you couldn't guess, awesome. I was mostly set up by noon on my first full day (yesterday) and I got started on it around 5:30 or 6 when I woke up (and had some coffee).
The house is awesome (pictures are on facebook) and the view is fantastic. Next week my landlord is paying someone to come replace the kitchen shelves, because they are full of termites, and to paint the wall, because the paint was washed away by a leak. I was sad to see that my big beautiful mango tree is not producing right now. It's too wet for it, apparently.
Now that I'm settled in, I'm going to be helping the new teachers figure out the town. Three came in last night and they seem very nice. It'll just be us until Monday night, so I'll have plenty of time to show them around and get to know them.
I plan to start taking classes again on Monday, because, just like a child coming back from summer, my Spanish is not doing very well. This year, I will not break from Spanish classes for the first month or so of work like I did last year, I'll just stick with it and hit it pretty hard. The new teachers, at least these 3, are already more experienced than I am with Spanish. It just gives me more incentive :)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Care Package Ideas
As I gear up for my second year, I have reassessed the kinds of things that would be useful to get in the mail.
I don't want anyone to feel under obligation to send me things, but I had a number of people sending me packages, and so if anyone is so inclined, these are some things to keep in mind:
1) I currently have more stickers than I know what to do with (but I will come up with ways of dolling them out) but should you find some really awesomely cool stickers, feel free to send them my way.
2) Individually sealed candies can be a great way to fill in the nooks and crannies in a package. Try to think of candies that don't melt so easily and that ants will have a harder time getting into.
3)Music is great. Pop-music aimed at kids or on one of those kidz bop CDs are good mood setters and motivators. I now have portable speakers to help liven the classroom.
4) I have taken up a good deal of cooking, so spices and flavors that will keep on a shelf and might be hard for me to find are great. You can ask me what in particular my kitchen is lacking once I've been there a few weeks. (I didn't cook so much last year, so I really don't know what i will be missing.) Also, instant oatmeal.
5) Art and Science project supplies. All summer, especially in any craft store/section my mouth would water at the idea of buying supplies, but it simply wasn't practical to pack. Look for bargains, or easy projects. Little craft-things can go a long way. If you have an art or science project in mind PLEASE share it with me. I was never meant the be an art teacher. I have just under 20 students, so don't over do it on fancy things, keep in simple, but I don't have access to/money for many crafts.
6) Books aimed at third-fourth graders. Pictures are good. Stories are good. Non-fiction is good. You can even go younger if you want. I had a great library last year in my room, but the school seems to be lacking in classroom books for upper-elementary. Any books you send will be left to help future generations of students. All books should be in English (unless they are children's books for me) and ESL specific is also excellent.
7) Books aimed at me are also great. I love reading in my spare time and last year I read all the books in the teacher's room. That means I will not have that resource this year. William Goldman, Orson Scott Card, Paulo Coelho, or anyone else you might think I'd like. I recommend people bargain hunt before sending me books, though because books are heavy and chances are I won't be bringing them back with me.
8) Decorated pencils (I have half boys and half girls.)
9) Magnets, velcro, googly eyes, those new shape bracelets the kids are raving about
10) Last but not least, Holiday or season appropriate decorations. For this one in particular, I would like to remind you that it takes roughly 3 weeks for a package to get to me. I do not have glass windows, but I can tape things to my door. Halloween is not really smiled upon.
I love getting mail, not just packages, so for about 98 cents you can send me a letter! I will write back!
I could really use art ideas and science experiment/demonstration ideas. So, if you recall a favorite project from when you were in school, even if you don't send the supplies, tell me about it! I have a few multi-class ideas like making jewelry for Mother's Day, tye-dye clothes, and making t-shirt pillows. If you want to send supplies for any of those, please talk to me first so that I can 1)make sure I don't get a double-up on it and 2) we can talk about the kind of supplies that are cheaper for me to get here and what I would need from the States.
All in all, I just like to keep in touch, so even if you don't send any form of snail mail, e-mail me and tell me about life. :)
Sarah Barr
Mayatan Bilingual School
Copan Ruinas, Copan, Honduras
Take care y'all!
I don't want anyone to feel under obligation to send me things, but I had a number of people sending me packages, and so if anyone is so inclined, these are some things to keep in mind:
1) I currently have more stickers than I know what to do with (but I will come up with ways of dolling them out) but should you find some really awesomely cool stickers, feel free to send them my way.
2) Individually sealed candies can be a great way to fill in the nooks and crannies in a package. Try to think of candies that don't melt so easily and that ants will have a harder time getting into.
3)Music is great. Pop-music aimed at kids or on one of those kidz bop CDs are good mood setters and motivators. I now have portable speakers to help liven the classroom.
4) I have taken up a good deal of cooking, so spices and flavors that will keep on a shelf and might be hard for me to find are great. You can ask me what in particular my kitchen is lacking once I've been there a few weeks. (I didn't cook so much last year, so I really don't know what i will be missing.) Also, instant oatmeal.
5) Art and Science project supplies. All summer, especially in any craft store/section my mouth would water at the idea of buying supplies, but it simply wasn't practical to pack. Look for bargains, or easy projects. Little craft-things can go a long way. If you have an art or science project in mind PLEASE share it with me. I was never meant the be an art teacher. I have just under 20 students, so don't over do it on fancy things, keep in simple, but I don't have access to/money for many crafts.
6) Books aimed at third-fourth graders. Pictures are good. Stories are good. Non-fiction is good. You can even go younger if you want. I had a great library last year in my room, but the school seems to be lacking in classroom books for upper-elementary. Any books you send will be left to help future generations of students. All books should be in English (unless they are children's books for me) and ESL specific is also excellent.
7) Books aimed at me are also great. I love reading in my spare time and last year I read all the books in the teacher's room. That means I will not have that resource this year. William Goldman, Orson Scott Card, Paulo Coelho, or anyone else you might think I'd like. I recommend people bargain hunt before sending me books, though because books are heavy and chances are I won't be bringing them back with me.
8) Decorated pencils (I have half boys and half girls.)
9) Magnets, velcro, googly eyes, those new shape bracelets the kids are raving about
10) Last but not least, Holiday or season appropriate decorations. For this one in particular, I would like to remind you that it takes roughly 3 weeks for a package to get to me. I do not have glass windows, but I can tape things to my door. Halloween is not really smiled upon.
I love getting mail, not just packages, so for about 98 cents you can send me a letter! I will write back!
I could really use art ideas and science experiment/demonstration ideas. So, if you recall a favorite project from when you were in school, even if you don't send the supplies, tell me about it! I have a few multi-class ideas like making jewelry for Mother's Day, tye-dye clothes, and making t-shirt pillows. If you want to send supplies for any of those, please talk to me first so that I can 1)make sure I don't get a double-up on it and 2) we can talk about the kind of supplies that are cheaper for me to get here and what I would need from the States.
All in all, I just like to keep in touch, so even if you don't send any form of snail mail, e-mail me and tell me about life. :)
Sarah Barr
Mayatan Bilingual School
Copan Ruinas, Copan, Honduras
Take care y'all!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Poverty Ramblings
After spending a year in Honduras, I'm even more aware of the excess that I was already sensitive before I went. The excess in the choice of product and brand in the grocery store, the size of the store. The excess of size to everything from cars, houses, and portions. Fun things like the hobby of reenacting is a sign of the extreme excess. People can pour their extra money into their hobbies. People can have hobbies.
I'm not trying to say I'm different. Luxury is nice and I drive everywhere. I want to use the AC on a hot humid day. I enjoy hot showers and cold drinks. I like having my own room with a big bed and extra pillows. What I'm saying is it is hard for us to know what real poverty is when the microwave breaking is the problem of the week.
In the United States, poverty is defined as something very different than what I've seen. I'm not saying that there aren't people who struggle, but it's a different world. Here, a family can qualify for food stamps when they have money for two cars, television sets, and a number of gaming systems. 1st) they can afford a lot of unnecessary stuff and 2nd) there's such a thing as food stamps for the poor.
Earlier this summer, I went to a large two story house with a basement. They had 9 cats, which appeared to be everywhere. The basement had a “man cave” decked out in Redskins paraphernalia and comfortable chairs around a massive TV. There was an ultimate gym, which hadn't been used since the day it was set up, an x box that was purchased and never hooked up, a Wii that had been used once, a few other game systems I didn't recognize. In another room there was a full sized kiln for which the house lacks the proper wiring to support, a pottery wheel that no one in the house knows how to use, and a work area that has never been touched for wood work and art projects. This couple has lived in the house about 4 years. They are in debt.
I have to keep putting things in perspective, because there's nothing wrong with indulging sometimes. Or enjoying your success by living a comfortable life. It's good that extreme poverty is rare in the States. Things like volunteerism is more common in the States anyway. People are trying to help other people.
There are rich in my community in Copan, too. They indulge, spoil their kids, and lead comfortable lives not so unlike those I'm now struggling with in the States. They are also less likely to go out of their way to help the poor in their community. It's not that it never happens, but it is less likely. I haven't been able to pinpoint this cultural difference. It seems possible to me that they then open themselves up to exploitation. Maybe it's just a mark of pride that they got to their status and they don't feel a need to make the road to wealth any easier for others. I'm really not sure.
What I do know is that little helps will only help little situations and big helps can actually hurt people in the long run. The only way for real change is for a dynamic shift with intention to completely revamp the internal governing structures. Until the basics are available, or more available, then nothing else can get better. Water, food, health care, housing, and education must be improved and available. Without water, food, and housing, children need to be at home or working to help do their part for the family, and without education it is much harder to learn how to improve their circumstances. The education system is already in need of a great deal of help, but it is better than nothing.
I'm not trying to say I'm different. Luxury is nice and I drive everywhere. I want to use the AC on a hot humid day. I enjoy hot showers and cold drinks. I like having my own room with a big bed and extra pillows. What I'm saying is it is hard for us to know what real poverty is when the microwave breaking is the problem of the week.
In the United States, poverty is defined as something very different than what I've seen. I'm not saying that there aren't people who struggle, but it's a different world. Here, a family can qualify for food stamps when they have money for two cars, television sets, and a number of gaming systems. 1st) they can afford a lot of unnecessary stuff and 2nd) there's such a thing as food stamps for the poor.
Earlier this summer, I went to a large two story house with a basement. They had 9 cats, which appeared to be everywhere. The basement had a “man cave” decked out in Redskins paraphernalia and comfortable chairs around a massive TV. There was an ultimate gym, which hadn't been used since the day it was set up, an x box that was purchased and never hooked up, a Wii that had been used once, a few other game systems I didn't recognize. In another room there was a full sized kiln for which the house lacks the proper wiring to support, a pottery wheel that no one in the house knows how to use, and a work area that has never been touched for wood work and art projects. This couple has lived in the house about 4 years. They are in debt.
I have to keep putting things in perspective, because there's nothing wrong with indulging sometimes. Or enjoying your success by living a comfortable life. It's good that extreme poverty is rare in the States. Things like volunteerism is more common in the States anyway. People are trying to help other people.
There are rich in my community in Copan, too. They indulge, spoil their kids, and lead comfortable lives not so unlike those I'm now struggling with in the States. They are also less likely to go out of their way to help the poor in their community. It's not that it never happens, but it is less likely. I haven't been able to pinpoint this cultural difference. It seems possible to me that they then open themselves up to exploitation. Maybe it's just a mark of pride that they got to their status and they don't feel a need to make the road to wealth any easier for others. I'm really not sure.
What I do know is that little helps will only help little situations and big helps can actually hurt people in the long run. The only way for real change is for a dynamic shift with intention to completely revamp the internal governing structures. Until the basics are available, or more available, then nothing else can get better. Water, food, health care, housing, and education must be improved and available. Without water, food, and housing, children need to be at home or working to help do their part for the family, and without education it is much harder to learn how to improve their circumstances. The education system is already in need of a great deal of help, but it is better than nothing.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
What's to Come in the Coming Years
Though I was more convinced than my mother that I was only going to stay for one year, I'm preparing to go back down to Honduras. Right now, my options are endless.
If I get two years of teaching experience, I open the door to international schools. Internationals schools prefer, and some only accept, applicants with a degree in education and are licensed, but there are some that will work with you. Some will pay to get the degree, but that means more than the already implied 2 year commitment because they won't pay for it just for me to leave. Even if I don't have the school pay for a degree, I'll be paid real money with a still shockingly low overhead. Many international schools in Latin America pay between 18-25 thousand dollars a year, airfare, housing, and some provide a car if the living situation requires it. That leaves a lot of free money to put toward online classes.
However, the only online degrees I've found are post-licensure, which won't really work for me. There is a question of quality with a completely online degree, and for education courses it can get to be fairly hands on. Of course, to get licensed, there has to be some kind of student teaching or equivalent, which means being in range of an observer.
It would appear that Virginia has 60 credits of undergrad prerequisites for licensure anyway and I am missing roughly half. I have ordered my unofficial transcript so I can actually figure out what can count or what. These I can start taking online at community colleges to help save money. Some I don't look forward to, but some are classes I had always wanted to take but it wouldn't further my degree goals, so I never got around to it.
Right now I've talked to one graduate program that is flexible and willing to work with me. I could lay both the graduate and undergraduate groundwork while abroad, online, and in the summers, on campus, and then come live in the area for a year to finish up with the student teaching and another hands on class. Because I would already be relatively experienced at that point, they have said that I could even get a teaching job locally and they would work my job into my last year of course work and work it as my student teaching.
The only downside to this program is that it's at my Alma-mater. Not that I have any objections to Longwood, but I am unsure about having both degrees from the same school. The upside is that I would be in a different department.
With the exorbitant number of classes I have to take in a community college, I wonder if I'm better off coming home after next year to take those classes and then work at an international school, starting online classes for the grad program then. This leads to one main complication and fixes one other complication.
The added problem is that I would really need to get a job and loans. In the mean time, I'm sure I'd be itching for my abroad experience to continue and feel a little...trapped. Would substituting be enough of a job? Could I work in a library? I don't know and it really depends on what school I would go to. Not to mention housing. Those are things I haven't even begun to work out because I don't know if that's the route I want to take. On the other hand, coming home for a year and clearing out those classes would a)clear out those classes and b)making getting to the conference much more reasonable.
The conference, which you really have to go to get one of the jobs I want, was in Atlanta last year and flying up from Honduras mid-school year is just difficult. If I did it next year, it would mainly be an issue of money and timing.
I'm also currently inclined to stay in Honduras. There are several reasons for this. Two are personal: I already know a lot of people there which lends to connections and I'm already comfortable there. It will keep me closer to the community I've built and the friendships I've made and I generally know what to expect and how the people work. Mayatan has big connections to the schools in Tegusigalpa and I've heard tell of how to work the tables for the San Pedro schools. While I don't care for either city, I have heard that teachers who go to the San Pedro school tend to stay, which means they like it. There are safe places and I have a lot of friends there. I also think I'm more likely to get a job in San Pedro than anywhere else. One of the professors at Longwood does a lot of work in Honduras, as well and he has a lot of connections in administration. We'll see how that works because if I could get a job through him instead of going to the conference, that could clear up that complication.
On the other side of things, I know that other countries will have other, new experiences. Most other countries pay more, too. I don't want to stay in Honduras just because it is comfortable and I know I have a tendency to do that. There are a lot of reasons to leave, but the connections in Honduras are undeniable. As it stands, it might just depends on where things are with Cid. But even if things are good, it doesn't mean I have to stay and if things are bad it doesn't mean I have to go. It'll just be another thing to weigh.
I plan to talk to a few other programs, including ODU and William and Mary. It looks to me like ODU is more geared toward distance learning, though I'm not sure that means they can be as flexible as I'm looking for and that W&M is more stiff with the program. The thing about what I'm looking for is that I need a program that is already flexible AND someone who is willing to work with me. Longwood is already willing to do that, so no matter what, I can fall back there, or change the plan. William and Mary said in the past that if I wanted to start the program late (when I thought I'd only be at Mayatan for one year and then wanted to come back for grad school immediately) and was accepted, they would let me do that, but something about starting grad school behind didn't sit well with me.
As I said to Dr. Locascio, the Longwood professor I spoke with at length, the decisions I have on my hands are complicated, but it is a good problem to have. I don't think there is a right way to do this, it's just a matter of which goals I want to push ahead first and what things I am comfortable doing at the same time, but it will all get done.
If I get two years of teaching experience, I open the door to international schools. Internationals schools prefer, and some only accept, applicants with a degree in education and are licensed, but there are some that will work with you. Some will pay to get the degree, but that means more than the already implied 2 year commitment because they won't pay for it just for me to leave. Even if I don't have the school pay for a degree, I'll be paid real money with a still shockingly low overhead. Many international schools in Latin America pay between 18-25 thousand dollars a year, airfare, housing, and some provide a car if the living situation requires it. That leaves a lot of free money to put toward online classes.
However, the only online degrees I've found are post-licensure, which won't really work for me. There is a question of quality with a completely online degree, and for education courses it can get to be fairly hands on. Of course, to get licensed, there has to be some kind of student teaching or equivalent, which means being in range of an observer.
It would appear that Virginia has 60 credits of undergrad prerequisites for licensure anyway and I am missing roughly half. I have ordered my unofficial transcript so I can actually figure out what can count or what. These I can start taking online at community colleges to help save money. Some I don't look forward to, but some are classes I had always wanted to take but it wouldn't further my degree goals, so I never got around to it.
Right now I've talked to one graduate program that is flexible and willing to work with me. I could lay both the graduate and undergraduate groundwork while abroad, online, and in the summers, on campus, and then come live in the area for a year to finish up with the student teaching and another hands on class. Because I would already be relatively experienced at that point, they have said that I could even get a teaching job locally and they would work my job into my last year of course work and work it as my student teaching.
The only downside to this program is that it's at my Alma-mater. Not that I have any objections to Longwood, but I am unsure about having both degrees from the same school. The upside is that I would be in a different department.
With the exorbitant number of classes I have to take in a community college, I wonder if I'm better off coming home after next year to take those classes and then work at an international school, starting online classes for the grad program then. This leads to one main complication and fixes one other complication.
The added problem is that I would really need to get a job and loans. In the mean time, I'm sure I'd be itching for my abroad experience to continue and feel a little...trapped. Would substituting be enough of a job? Could I work in a library? I don't know and it really depends on what school I would go to. Not to mention housing. Those are things I haven't even begun to work out because I don't know if that's the route I want to take. On the other hand, coming home for a year and clearing out those classes would a)clear out those classes and b)making getting to the conference much more reasonable.
The conference, which you really have to go to get one of the jobs I want, was in Atlanta last year and flying up from Honduras mid-school year is just difficult. If I did it next year, it would mainly be an issue of money and timing.
I'm also currently inclined to stay in Honduras. There are several reasons for this. Two are personal: I already know a lot of people there which lends to connections and I'm already comfortable there. It will keep me closer to the community I've built and the friendships I've made and I generally know what to expect and how the people work. Mayatan has big connections to the schools in Tegusigalpa and I've heard tell of how to work the tables for the San Pedro schools. While I don't care for either city, I have heard that teachers who go to the San Pedro school tend to stay, which means they like it. There are safe places and I have a lot of friends there. I also think I'm more likely to get a job in San Pedro than anywhere else. One of the professors at Longwood does a lot of work in Honduras, as well and he has a lot of connections in administration. We'll see how that works because if I could get a job through him instead of going to the conference, that could clear up that complication.
On the other side of things, I know that other countries will have other, new experiences. Most other countries pay more, too. I don't want to stay in Honduras just because it is comfortable and I know I have a tendency to do that. There are a lot of reasons to leave, but the connections in Honduras are undeniable. As it stands, it might just depends on where things are with Cid. But even if things are good, it doesn't mean I have to stay and if things are bad it doesn't mean I have to go. It'll just be another thing to weigh.
I plan to talk to a few other programs, including ODU and William and Mary. It looks to me like ODU is more geared toward distance learning, though I'm not sure that means they can be as flexible as I'm looking for and that W&M is more stiff with the program. The thing about what I'm looking for is that I need a program that is already flexible AND someone who is willing to work with me. Longwood is already willing to do that, so no matter what, I can fall back there, or change the plan. William and Mary said in the past that if I wanted to start the program late (when I thought I'd only be at Mayatan for one year and then wanted to come back for grad school immediately) and was accepted, they would let me do that, but something about starting grad school behind didn't sit well with me.
As I said to Dr. Locascio, the Longwood professor I spoke with at length, the decisions I have on my hands are complicated, but it is a good problem to have. I don't think there is a right way to do this, it's just a matter of which goals I want to push ahead first and what things I am comfortable doing at the same time, but it will all get done.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Growing Forward
My time in Honduras, as was known from the get go, has led to growth in every area of my life. Personally, I have had the opportunity to meet new people, get to know myself in different ways, and the explore possibilities. I have been challenged, faced financial responsibility, and learned to ways to get along with roommates. Spiritually, I have seen how another culture worships, and gotten closer to finding the ways that I am most comfortable communing with God. Professionally, I am learning to teach and getting experience that can lead to better schools and better career options in the future.
Learning Spanish has always been on my to-do list. One, just because I hate to have failed at it. That grates at me. It also makes me a better world citizen and a better American citizen as more and more of our population is becoming Hispanic. It's a useful skill for me, as so much of the world does speak Spanish, and it's useful for other people. It also opens up some professional doors for later on, should I decide to work in the States, I could easily get ESL certified and already have that kind of experience under my belt.
I can also break out of my “Bachelorette Meal of the Month” routine and actually cook, which I've started here at home. As a way to not leech off my parents (not that they make me feel like a leech, I just don't want to mooch) I have been cooking just about every night. Some of the recipes are ones I have done before, but most are new to both me and my folks. Some of the recipes are manageable in Honduras, some will have to be amended, and some are simply not going to be done.
I've collected my family's recipes, recipes from people I met in Copan, local recipes, and recipes from online. I've been cooking things I'd never tried before, from the incredibly simple (rice) to much more complicated things. I'm even pickling things! The best part, to me, is that I'm enjoying these experiments and find myself disappointed when I'm not able to cook for the night. I hope to plan out my meals for the week and shop accordingly in advance next year.
After it got out that I was staying another year, I found a real connection with people I had thought I was already connected to. Many of the parents and other members of the Mayatan community seem to stay at least a little guarded to us until they know that we're invested in them, in more than just an experience. I also talked with some of the girls at the school and a couple of my students' moms and expressed my shyness with speaking Spanish is not a lack of desire to speak with them nor, really, an inability. Some of them started to try to help pull me out of that shell and I hope to continue the trend when I return.
In the coming year, I will be living on my own. This will force me to break out of my tendency to hermit away in my house after school. As the teacher who knows the town and community, I can be the leader in helping them around, giving me an opportunity to start out with great connections to all the other teachers.
Personal growth is not really something you can plan. You can put yourself in a position to change, but you never really know how the end result will look. I never planned to stay another year, and I never planned to change the whole direction of my future, but now I can't imagine living in the United States in the future. I also can't imagine NOT living in the United States in the future. It's a strange place to be in. But this is where I am after year one. I'd venture to say I'm a healthier, happier person than when I went down and now I have the opportunity to continue my growth, and add the new element of living alone for the first time in my life.
Learning Spanish has always been on my to-do list. One, just because I hate to have failed at it. That grates at me. It also makes me a better world citizen and a better American citizen as more and more of our population is becoming Hispanic. It's a useful skill for me, as so much of the world does speak Spanish, and it's useful for other people. It also opens up some professional doors for later on, should I decide to work in the States, I could easily get ESL certified and already have that kind of experience under my belt.
I can also break out of my “Bachelorette Meal of the Month” routine and actually cook, which I've started here at home. As a way to not leech off my parents (not that they make me feel like a leech, I just don't want to mooch) I have been cooking just about every night. Some of the recipes are ones I have done before, but most are new to both me and my folks. Some of the recipes are manageable in Honduras, some will have to be amended, and some are simply not going to be done.
I've collected my family's recipes, recipes from people I met in Copan, local recipes, and recipes from online. I've been cooking things I'd never tried before, from the incredibly simple (rice) to much more complicated things. I'm even pickling things! The best part, to me, is that I'm enjoying these experiments and find myself disappointed when I'm not able to cook for the night. I hope to plan out my meals for the week and shop accordingly in advance next year.
After it got out that I was staying another year, I found a real connection with people I had thought I was already connected to. Many of the parents and other members of the Mayatan community seem to stay at least a little guarded to us until they know that we're invested in them, in more than just an experience. I also talked with some of the girls at the school and a couple of my students' moms and expressed my shyness with speaking Spanish is not a lack of desire to speak with them nor, really, an inability. Some of them started to try to help pull me out of that shell and I hope to continue the trend when I return.
In the coming year, I will be living on my own. This will force me to break out of my tendency to hermit away in my house after school. As the teacher who knows the town and community, I can be the leader in helping them around, giving me an opportunity to start out with great connections to all the other teachers.
Personal growth is not really something you can plan. You can put yourself in a position to change, but you never really know how the end result will look. I never planned to stay another year, and I never planned to change the whole direction of my future, but now I can't imagine living in the United States in the future. I also can't imagine NOT living in the United States in the future. It's a strange place to be in. But this is where I am after year one. I'd venture to say I'm a healthier, happier person than when I went down and now I have the opportunity to continue my growth, and add the new element of living alone for the first time in my life.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer: Week 1
Nothing quite leads to celebrity-dom as being gone from everyone you've ever known for a year and for them to all know you'll be leaving for another year. Time is very limited.
I missed people, but not really the place. I think that it's always been true. Wherever I go, I make a home and I miss the people from wherever home was before, but not the place. It's comforting to know that wherever I go after Copan, I'll be home.
I've been trying to stay engaged. I have books in Spanish that I translate every day, I've been reading the papers, making a scrapbook of the past year, working out at Curves, and reading up on what I can do to prepare for teaching 4th grade. I rejoined the library to get the Spanish books from the kids section. I read them out loud, sometimes to my folks, and translate them.
I've enjoyed watching Honduras play in the World Cup, even now that we know they won't be moving out of their set. I'm proud of them for going and it's been fun to talk to people back in Copan about it. Especially in Spanish, that's just been refreshing.
I'm largely adjusted now. It's not that this world is different from when I left it in August, it's that it feels so normal, while feeling very abnormal. Some comforts I missed, but largely I'm...I don't know the word, disenchanted? I think that's best. I was so tired when I first got here, just processing everything that was once normal. That's gotten easier.
I went up to camp and to Farmville, each of which is a world in and of themselves. It was strange but nice to be back. Camp was the best, but I saw so many people that I've loved for a long time. Farmville also gave me the chance to catch up with Debby and her family. I wish I could work at camp AND go back to Honduras AND spend time with my other friends and my family, but alas.
I missed people, but not really the place. I think that it's always been true. Wherever I go, I make a home and I miss the people from wherever home was before, but not the place. It's comforting to know that wherever I go after Copan, I'll be home.
I've been trying to stay engaged. I have books in Spanish that I translate every day, I've been reading the papers, making a scrapbook of the past year, working out at Curves, and reading up on what I can do to prepare for teaching 4th grade. I rejoined the library to get the Spanish books from the kids section. I read them out loud, sometimes to my folks, and translate them.
I've enjoyed watching Honduras play in the World Cup, even now that we know they won't be moving out of their set. I'm proud of them for going and it's been fun to talk to people back in Copan about it. Especially in Spanish, that's just been refreshing.
I'm largely adjusted now. It's not that this world is different from when I left it in August, it's that it feels so normal, while feeling very abnormal. Some comforts I missed, but largely I'm...I don't know the word, disenchanted? I think that's best. I was so tired when I first got here, just processing everything that was once normal. That's gotten easier.
I went up to camp and to Farmville, each of which is a world in and of themselves. It was strange but nice to be back. Camp was the best, but I saw so many people that I've loved for a long time. Farmville also gave me the chance to catch up with Debby and her family. I wish I could work at camp AND go back to Honduras AND spend time with my other friends and my family, but alas.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Week 44: The Last Week in Copan and Arrival in the US of A
Day 302 June 5
I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. It'd been a pretty restless night and all I really wanted was silence, so I put in my earplugs and read for a while. Around 9:45, I called Megan to see if she still wanted to get our clothes from the seamstress and we agreed to meet in the park shortly, which we did. We went down and got our clothes. She then went to a kinder graduation party and I went to give Cid back his phone, which he'd forgotten at my house, again.
I stayed for a late breakfast, spent some time on the internet, and then had lunch. Shortly after, I went home and tore my room apart. I spent hours dusting, sweeping, cleaning everything out, and organizing. I set up a suite case in the hallway to leave at Megan's and a suite case to bring home. I cleared everything out from under my bed, the other side of my bed, my table-side drawer, beside the bed, and under the “dresser.”
I then ate in Picame and while I was there Jessica returned from her two week trip to Panama. Jesse, the older man, was watching the store and we had a brief chat in which in informed me that I, as a Mayatan teacher, can never find community in Copan and he can't understand why I would want to stay. I didn't respond much, just listened and didn't feel much of a need to justify why I want to stay.
Cid came by and we talked for a long time.
Day 303 June 6
I stayed in med for a long time and read. I also mosquito hunted, using my legs as bait. I killed a couple and then got tired of waiting for them to come to me and covered my legs back up. Caroline called me and said that Jesse had called her and Sierra was locked out of the house and was at Villamil if I would go get her because she doesn't have her phone. I snuck on the internet from Picame and stole internet for long enough to let her know I was home and would be home for a while.
Since I was actually out of bed, I started cleaning up some of the dust that had settled since yesterday and organized some more. I made coffee and started on laundry. Sierra got home and we went out souvenir shopping. While we were out, Cid called wanted to know if I wanted to go to the pool. I went home and did some more laundry before Cid came by.
We walked on toward the ruins, past the ruins, past Los Sepuluras, and all the way to the pool. We were unable to get a ride, but we got there and relaxed for a while. As the only people at the pool, we took advantage and had a good time. The water was cold and refreshing. When we were ready to go back, we got a taxi back. I was a little burnt from the walk there.
Shortly after I got back it was time to go to church. It was our last Sunday all together, so those of us taking off were put in the middle and they prayed over us at the end of our time together.
I went back and met Cid at Picame and we talked for a while. I had more laundry to finish up and I got to that too.
Day 304 June 7
I started out the day with more, you guessed it, laundry. I want to have it all done and dry before I leave Thursday morning and it's the making sure it's dry that's making this a laundry crunch time. After I was done, I walked up to school, but got a ride up with one of Allan's kids in a taxi. He said the ride was free. Awesome.
Juan came in shortly after I did and he informed me that he had studied. He was obviously excited, and also excited when he realized there was a back to his test. That's why it was so heartbreaking to grade it. He obviously had studied. He obviously knew and understood more, but it was not enough. Not at all. He asked me to go talk to his father, which I did. I wish I knew how to help him better.
I spent the rest of the day bagging the classroom supplies and organizing papers for my class next year. I got a ride back with Cathy and hit the laundry again. I then went to the bank and then to Guacamaya to pay my long time outstanding bill. When I got back to Picame, Alex and Chris were there and I ate a burger with them.
Tammi wanted to pick up some professional clothes that weren't all worn out for her job this summer so I met her and Vanessa in the park. While we were out, I picked up some Honduran flip flops to represent the country while in the US and some capris with a lot of pockets.
Tammi and I went running around the nature trail at the ruins and then I showered to get ready to go to Nash's place to have pizza with Megan, Theo, Nash, Tammi, Julia and her husband. I didn't stay long and did eat much. Cid was late getting off work so I met him over at Picame and we ate together. We then hung out talking until bedtime.
Day 305 June 8
I walked up to school with Sierra, but part way up we got a ride with Kayla. I finished bagging my books and supplies and filled out the questionairs. Megan met with me for my exit interview. I went to a meeting on school finances.
The meeting was enlightening and interesting. We tried to give suggestions about what priorities they could have with money, but the big priority right now is putting a cover over the basketball court. We suggested adding more funds to the scholarship fund or paying more to second year teachers so encourage them to stay. They seemed to take to the paying more the second year idea, so we'll see what happens.
After the meeting, I finished moving my supplies into Allan's room and got various administrators to sign off on my to-do list. I turned in my classroom key and went home.
After I packed, I got a taxi over to the Casa de Cafe to store some things for the next two months. While I was over there, I got online and mom called on Skype. We chatted for a while and mom got to meet Cid through Skype. After we got off the phone, I called Megan and found out that I got her house for next year. I was pumped!
I went home and met Abby for our cleaning party. We cleaned for several hours, taking out trash, sweeping up, figuring out what belonged to who and cleaning out the fridge. We took out some of the bottles we had been saving all year—just in case—and left the rest for Sierra, as well as the stove top and her bathroom. The rest of the house we did ourselves.
I then got a couple of things together to take to Megan's on my way to a pot luck at Michael and Eileen's. She wasn't feeling well, and I stayed to chat a while. Cid came up and I got to show him the whole house before we went to the pot luck.
It rained on us on the way there, so Eileen lent me her red skirt since I was soaked. Cid and I made tea, which was really good and folks seemed to enjoy. The pot luck was great. There was good food and good company. When Cid and I left we talked for a while about ideas for next year.
Day 306 June 9
I woke up plenty early and got to the dished. I finished packing everything that I wouldn't need for the next day, cleaned and read. Judy came by to see if she could bake a cake because as soon as she put it in at home, the power went out. I told her she was welcome.
I snagged a taxi to Megan's and brought up the rest of my things. My taxi driver was very nice ans asked me how to say “a block and a half” in English, so I told him. He knew Megan's house when we got to it and offered to haul my things up the stairs. I paid him more than double, but he had hauled my things over his head up the stairs. His name is Carlos. When Megan got there, I asked her what “her taxi driver” was named, and she said Carlos. Ah-ha.
Once I dropped by things off, Megan and I got another taxi up to the school. I walked around inviting people to ViaVia for the night and saying goodbye to the Honduran staff I won't be seeing for the next 2 months. I tried to get to as many groups as I could before I left. Before I went, Megan and I picked an A-Z book for Juan to take as his final recup in August. I then walked home.
At home, I grabbed the last of my things that won't go back with me and took it to Cid's. He was busy painting chairs and tables out in the yard, so I didn't stay long. I swung by Yat B'alam for lunch, coffee and internet since the power is out and they have a generator. Francisco was there and I sat with him until he left and then sat with Hsuan. He'll be leaving Copan in about a week.
When I got home, Beth, Jesse, Caroline, and Sierra were eating in Picame. Caroline came to read since she had given me her staff shirts and still needed her green one for the graduation ceremony. We talked for a while and when she left I tried to talk to Sierra, but she had something else to take care of. I waited for a while, but then went out to take care of things.
I went to buy saldo, ran into my student Fernando, and went to the Casa de Cafe. We left so Cid could return a shirt and then left to go meet Luis for coffee. Luis and I talked for about 2 hours. I then went home and ate a giant burrito at Picame. I then headed to ViaVia to meet folks. As the first one there, I just sat at the bar and chatted with a tourist from Australia. He wasn't very chatted agter Cid came and 20 minutes later, Theo came. He thought he was being fashionably late.
As people trickled in, conversations grew. We talked and Alex's mom took pictures. I said my goodbyes, which were surreal. After living with this people for a year I was saying goodbye to most of them for life. I had some very good talks, though.
I went home and talked with Cid. We said our goodbyes.
Day 307 June 10
As there was no power on my last day in town, I got to go with a bucket shower. I got my things together and then walked to Billy and Mary's. I was there early, so I sat and chatted. We chatted and joked the whole way. I got a goodbye text from Judy.
We took a pit stop at the gas station between Copan and San Pedro. As I walked in one side of the convenience store, Denny and old man Jesse walked in the other side. It was just a crazy happenstance, but they were on their way to San Pedro as well. It was a little Gringo reunion in the middle of Honduras.
When we got to San Pedro we picked up Jimmy, from the bed and breakfast where James and I almost stayed, so that Jimmy could drive the car back to his place and keep it until Audrey and Steve return on Monday to go watch Mary and Billy's house for a couple months.
At the airport things went much smoother than last time. The woman behind the counter had to double check with someone about my dates, but I was on the safe side of my 90 day visa. I paid my exit fee and got a burger. The 5 of us went up and waited. I met a couple from a medical team that was working with the missionaries and they happened to be sitting next to me on the plane.
You know I don't have much experience flying because I'm always in awe of the clouds from above. I wanted to see the oil to help make it real for me, and I had a false spotting early on, but when we hit the USA coast, there were waves of black that were clinging to the coast. I've never seen a coast like that and there was no doubt that I did indeed spot the oil.
When we landed in Atlanta, I had an hour and a half, so I zoomed to get through customs and security. I took the stairs, not the escalator, which had a line, and I walking briskly along the moving sidewalks. Even though I was coming from the back of the plane, I beat most of the other folks on the flight. By the time I rechecked my bag and got through security, I had 20 minutes left. I got to where I could find my gate, since it wasn't on my ticket. It informed me that my flight had departed. I was a bit panicked, so I rushed to the gate and discovered that it wasn't even boarding yet. I rushed to wait.
Once we started boarding, a woman came up to the man collecting the boarding passes and handed him someone else's pass and told him that the man didn't speak any English and she was just there to help him feel comfortable. She turned to him and said, in Spanish, This man can help you. On the way down the hall, I decided to let him know that I know some Spanish. Feeling awkward about it I spoke quickly, Where are you from? Either because of my accent, him not expecting anyone to speak to him, the noise, or the tu form, he didn't understand me and responded, Washington, which is where we were going. I dropped it, but it opened to door for him. He ended up being in the row right in front of me, so I was able to show him where the plane bathrooms are. When he got back, he started telling his seatmates that he needed to sit on the outside of the row, not at the window because he'd have to go more often. They didn't understand Spanish, so I stepped in and told them and they had no problem scooting over for him.
I spent the rest of the flight talking to the inquisitive man next to me. He has had his fair share of travels and was curious about my experiences. I was happy to answer his questions and get his take on things. He's a Virginia man with a son who graduated from Tech, another from Longwood, and a daughter at CNU. He used to have a winery outside of Smith Mountain Lake. He once went to Nigeria to help with a faith based program there. By the end of the conversation he wanted to exchange information and I had told him about Urban Promise, as it seems up his alley, in case he ever wanted to help support them.
When we landed I just waited. I was in the back of the plane anyway and I knew several people on the flight had tight connections, plus I wanted to ask the older Hispanic man if he needed anything else. He said he needed water and the bathroom again, which I knew he could handle on his own. I asked him if he had someone meeting him and he said that they were waiting. I felt relieved and walked off at a brisk pace, knowing mom would be watching for me.
As I walked, he appeared back beside me and said You speak Spanish and I don't speak any English...He also informed me about why he had to pee so much. Turns out he was born in Santa Rita but has lived the last 40 years in Ocotepeque. He told me some sad story I didn't understand the bulk of. I'm glad I didn't because I don't think I could have helped him with it and he got the therapy of telling me after a day of not being able to talk to anyone and I'm not saddened by it. I learned that he had bags to claim, so I knew where to take him. Once I saw how big the airport was, I was glad he had caught back up to me. We had to go down the stairs, get on the train, get off the train in the right place, go up the stairs, turn, turn, and find the Delta baggage claim. It was easy for me because I read English, but he would have been in trouble.
Shortly after we got to baggage, mom arrived. Luckily, she had not been waiting wondering why I hadn't come. Much like the info on my flight in Atlanta, the information in Dullas never updated to tell her we'd arrived, or taken off, or anything. I introduced her to my new friend and he threw his arms around her, kissed her on the cheek and said, Praise Jesus, Glory to Jesus, Thank you for this girl! None of which did mom understand, but she got that he was happy.
His family came and he introduced me to them telling them all about how I had helped with on the plane, the bathrooms, after the flight, and so on. While he was talking to them, the man I had sat next to on the plane came and told his wife I was the young woman he'd been talking about and told mom I was fascinating to talk to. I was a hit on this flight!
Once I got my bag, I said goodbye and left him in the hands of his family. Mom and I went off to find a shuttle and the whole time I was talking a mile a minute as I tend to do when I'm coming back from something. We got the shuttle to the hotel, got a small dinner, and went upstairs. All the while I can't stop talking until finally we fell asleep.
Day 308 June 11
This morning, I woke up in the United States. It was strange. The cleaning lady came and knocked on the door at 8:30 and then I was up. Mom and I got dressed enough to go eat breakfast and then came back up and got ready really slowly, mostly because I couldn't stop talking. We finally headed out around 11:20. It was a nice trip and we arrived in Blacksburg around 4. I got situated and Nana, Mom, and I went shopping for birthday things. We went to Old Navy and made a pretty quick trip of it. We got back and ate dinner.
I went to a grocery store with Mom, which was more overwhelming than I expected. I was glad to get back to the house where we all just chatted and caught up.
I was thrilled to get an e-mail from Diane, my future teaching partner. She sounds awesome. I responded and went to bed.
I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. It'd been a pretty restless night and all I really wanted was silence, so I put in my earplugs and read for a while. Around 9:45, I called Megan to see if she still wanted to get our clothes from the seamstress and we agreed to meet in the park shortly, which we did. We went down and got our clothes. She then went to a kinder graduation party and I went to give Cid back his phone, which he'd forgotten at my house, again.
I stayed for a late breakfast, spent some time on the internet, and then had lunch. Shortly after, I went home and tore my room apart. I spent hours dusting, sweeping, cleaning everything out, and organizing. I set up a suite case in the hallway to leave at Megan's and a suite case to bring home. I cleared everything out from under my bed, the other side of my bed, my table-side drawer, beside the bed, and under the “dresser.”
I then ate in Picame and while I was there Jessica returned from her two week trip to Panama. Jesse, the older man, was watching the store and we had a brief chat in which in informed me that I, as a Mayatan teacher, can never find community in Copan and he can't understand why I would want to stay. I didn't respond much, just listened and didn't feel much of a need to justify why I want to stay.
Cid came by and we talked for a long time.
Day 303 June 6
I stayed in med for a long time and read. I also mosquito hunted, using my legs as bait. I killed a couple and then got tired of waiting for them to come to me and covered my legs back up. Caroline called me and said that Jesse had called her and Sierra was locked out of the house and was at Villamil if I would go get her because she doesn't have her phone. I snuck on the internet from Picame and stole internet for long enough to let her know I was home and would be home for a while.
Since I was actually out of bed, I started cleaning up some of the dust that had settled since yesterday and organized some more. I made coffee and started on laundry. Sierra got home and we went out souvenir shopping. While we were out, Cid called wanted to know if I wanted to go to the pool. I went home and did some more laundry before Cid came by.
We walked on toward the ruins, past the ruins, past Los Sepuluras, and all the way to the pool. We were unable to get a ride, but we got there and relaxed for a while. As the only people at the pool, we took advantage and had a good time. The water was cold and refreshing. When we were ready to go back, we got a taxi back. I was a little burnt from the walk there.
Shortly after I got back it was time to go to church. It was our last Sunday all together, so those of us taking off were put in the middle and they prayed over us at the end of our time together.
I went back and met Cid at Picame and we talked for a while. I had more laundry to finish up and I got to that too.
Day 304 June 7
I started out the day with more, you guessed it, laundry. I want to have it all done and dry before I leave Thursday morning and it's the making sure it's dry that's making this a laundry crunch time. After I was done, I walked up to school, but got a ride up with one of Allan's kids in a taxi. He said the ride was free. Awesome.
Juan came in shortly after I did and he informed me that he had studied. He was obviously excited, and also excited when he realized there was a back to his test. That's why it was so heartbreaking to grade it. He obviously had studied. He obviously knew and understood more, but it was not enough. Not at all. He asked me to go talk to his father, which I did. I wish I knew how to help him better.
I spent the rest of the day bagging the classroom supplies and organizing papers for my class next year. I got a ride back with Cathy and hit the laundry again. I then went to the bank and then to Guacamaya to pay my long time outstanding bill. When I got back to Picame, Alex and Chris were there and I ate a burger with them.
Tammi wanted to pick up some professional clothes that weren't all worn out for her job this summer so I met her and Vanessa in the park. While we were out, I picked up some Honduran flip flops to represent the country while in the US and some capris with a lot of pockets.
Tammi and I went running around the nature trail at the ruins and then I showered to get ready to go to Nash's place to have pizza with Megan, Theo, Nash, Tammi, Julia and her husband. I didn't stay long and did eat much. Cid was late getting off work so I met him over at Picame and we ate together. We then hung out talking until bedtime.
Day 305 June 8
I walked up to school with Sierra, but part way up we got a ride with Kayla. I finished bagging my books and supplies and filled out the questionairs. Megan met with me for my exit interview. I went to a meeting on school finances.
The meeting was enlightening and interesting. We tried to give suggestions about what priorities they could have with money, but the big priority right now is putting a cover over the basketball court. We suggested adding more funds to the scholarship fund or paying more to second year teachers so encourage them to stay. They seemed to take to the paying more the second year idea, so we'll see what happens.
After the meeting, I finished moving my supplies into Allan's room and got various administrators to sign off on my to-do list. I turned in my classroom key and went home.
After I packed, I got a taxi over to the Casa de Cafe to store some things for the next two months. While I was over there, I got online and mom called on Skype. We chatted for a while and mom got to meet Cid through Skype. After we got off the phone, I called Megan and found out that I got her house for next year. I was pumped!
I went home and met Abby for our cleaning party. We cleaned for several hours, taking out trash, sweeping up, figuring out what belonged to who and cleaning out the fridge. We took out some of the bottles we had been saving all year—just in case—and left the rest for Sierra, as well as the stove top and her bathroom. The rest of the house we did ourselves.
I then got a couple of things together to take to Megan's on my way to a pot luck at Michael and Eileen's. She wasn't feeling well, and I stayed to chat a while. Cid came up and I got to show him the whole house before we went to the pot luck.
It rained on us on the way there, so Eileen lent me her red skirt since I was soaked. Cid and I made tea, which was really good and folks seemed to enjoy. The pot luck was great. There was good food and good company. When Cid and I left we talked for a while about ideas for next year.
Day 306 June 9
I woke up plenty early and got to the dished. I finished packing everything that I wouldn't need for the next day, cleaned and read. Judy came by to see if she could bake a cake because as soon as she put it in at home, the power went out. I told her she was welcome.
I snagged a taxi to Megan's and brought up the rest of my things. My taxi driver was very nice ans asked me how to say “a block and a half” in English, so I told him. He knew Megan's house when we got to it and offered to haul my things up the stairs. I paid him more than double, but he had hauled my things over his head up the stairs. His name is Carlos. When Megan got there, I asked her what “her taxi driver” was named, and she said Carlos. Ah-ha.
Once I dropped by things off, Megan and I got another taxi up to the school. I walked around inviting people to ViaVia for the night and saying goodbye to the Honduran staff I won't be seeing for the next 2 months. I tried to get to as many groups as I could before I left. Before I went, Megan and I picked an A-Z book for Juan to take as his final recup in August. I then walked home.
At home, I grabbed the last of my things that won't go back with me and took it to Cid's. He was busy painting chairs and tables out in the yard, so I didn't stay long. I swung by Yat B'alam for lunch, coffee and internet since the power is out and they have a generator. Francisco was there and I sat with him until he left and then sat with Hsuan. He'll be leaving Copan in about a week.
When I got home, Beth, Jesse, Caroline, and Sierra were eating in Picame. Caroline came to read since she had given me her staff shirts and still needed her green one for the graduation ceremony. We talked for a while and when she left I tried to talk to Sierra, but she had something else to take care of. I waited for a while, but then went out to take care of things.
I went to buy saldo, ran into my student Fernando, and went to the Casa de Cafe. We left so Cid could return a shirt and then left to go meet Luis for coffee. Luis and I talked for about 2 hours. I then went home and ate a giant burrito at Picame. I then headed to ViaVia to meet folks. As the first one there, I just sat at the bar and chatted with a tourist from Australia. He wasn't very chatted agter Cid came and 20 minutes later, Theo came. He thought he was being fashionably late.
As people trickled in, conversations grew. We talked and Alex's mom took pictures. I said my goodbyes, which were surreal. After living with this people for a year I was saying goodbye to most of them for life. I had some very good talks, though.
I went home and talked with Cid. We said our goodbyes.
Day 307 June 10
As there was no power on my last day in town, I got to go with a bucket shower. I got my things together and then walked to Billy and Mary's. I was there early, so I sat and chatted. We chatted and joked the whole way. I got a goodbye text from Judy.
We took a pit stop at the gas station between Copan and San Pedro. As I walked in one side of the convenience store, Denny and old man Jesse walked in the other side. It was just a crazy happenstance, but they were on their way to San Pedro as well. It was a little Gringo reunion in the middle of Honduras.
When we got to San Pedro we picked up Jimmy, from the bed and breakfast where James and I almost stayed, so that Jimmy could drive the car back to his place and keep it until Audrey and Steve return on Monday to go watch Mary and Billy's house for a couple months.
At the airport things went much smoother than last time. The woman behind the counter had to double check with someone about my dates, but I was on the safe side of my 90 day visa. I paid my exit fee and got a burger. The 5 of us went up and waited. I met a couple from a medical team that was working with the missionaries and they happened to be sitting next to me on the plane.
You know I don't have much experience flying because I'm always in awe of the clouds from above. I wanted to see the oil to help make it real for me, and I had a false spotting early on, but when we hit the USA coast, there were waves of black that were clinging to the coast. I've never seen a coast like that and there was no doubt that I did indeed spot the oil.
When we landed in Atlanta, I had an hour and a half, so I zoomed to get through customs and security. I took the stairs, not the escalator, which had a line, and I walking briskly along the moving sidewalks. Even though I was coming from the back of the plane, I beat most of the other folks on the flight. By the time I rechecked my bag and got through security, I had 20 minutes left. I got to where I could find my gate, since it wasn't on my ticket. It informed me that my flight had departed. I was a bit panicked, so I rushed to the gate and discovered that it wasn't even boarding yet. I rushed to wait.
Once we started boarding, a woman came up to the man collecting the boarding passes and handed him someone else's pass and told him that the man didn't speak any English and she was just there to help him feel comfortable. She turned to him and said, in Spanish, This man can help you. On the way down the hall, I decided to let him know that I know some Spanish. Feeling awkward about it I spoke quickly, Where are you from? Either because of my accent, him not expecting anyone to speak to him, the noise, or the tu form, he didn't understand me and responded, Washington, which is where we were going. I dropped it, but it opened to door for him. He ended up being in the row right in front of me, so I was able to show him where the plane bathrooms are. When he got back, he started telling his seatmates that he needed to sit on the outside of the row, not at the window because he'd have to go more often. They didn't understand Spanish, so I stepped in and told them and they had no problem scooting over for him.
I spent the rest of the flight talking to the inquisitive man next to me. He has had his fair share of travels and was curious about my experiences. I was happy to answer his questions and get his take on things. He's a Virginia man with a son who graduated from Tech, another from Longwood, and a daughter at CNU. He used to have a winery outside of Smith Mountain Lake. He once went to Nigeria to help with a faith based program there. By the end of the conversation he wanted to exchange information and I had told him about Urban Promise, as it seems up his alley, in case he ever wanted to help support them.
When we landed I just waited. I was in the back of the plane anyway and I knew several people on the flight had tight connections, plus I wanted to ask the older Hispanic man if he needed anything else. He said he needed water and the bathroom again, which I knew he could handle on his own. I asked him if he had someone meeting him and he said that they were waiting. I felt relieved and walked off at a brisk pace, knowing mom would be watching for me.
As I walked, he appeared back beside me and said You speak Spanish and I don't speak any English...He also informed me about why he had to pee so much. Turns out he was born in Santa Rita but has lived the last 40 years in Ocotepeque. He told me some sad story I didn't understand the bulk of. I'm glad I didn't because I don't think I could have helped him with it and he got the therapy of telling me after a day of not being able to talk to anyone and I'm not saddened by it. I learned that he had bags to claim, so I knew where to take him. Once I saw how big the airport was, I was glad he had caught back up to me. We had to go down the stairs, get on the train, get off the train in the right place, go up the stairs, turn, turn, and find the Delta baggage claim. It was easy for me because I read English, but he would have been in trouble.
Shortly after we got to baggage, mom arrived. Luckily, she had not been waiting wondering why I hadn't come. Much like the info on my flight in Atlanta, the information in Dullas never updated to tell her we'd arrived, or taken off, or anything. I introduced her to my new friend and he threw his arms around her, kissed her on the cheek and said, Praise Jesus, Glory to Jesus, Thank you for this girl! None of which did mom understand, but she got that he was happy.
His family came and he introduced me to them telling them all about how I had helped with on the plane, the bathrooms, after the flight, and so on. While he was talking to them, the man I had sat next to on the plane came and told his wife I was the young woman he'd been talking about and told mom I was fascinating to talk to. I was a hit on this flight!
Once I got my bag, I said goodbye and left him in the hands of his family. Mom and I went off to find a shuttle and the whole time I was talking a mile a minute as I tend to do when I'm coming back from something. We got the shuttle to the hotel, got a small dinner, and went upstairs. All the while I can't stop talking until finally we fell asleep.
Day 308 June 11
This morning, I woke up in the United States. It was strange. The cleaning lady came and knocked on the door at 8:30 and then I was up. Mom and I got dressed enough to go eat breakfast and then came back up and got ready really slowly, mostly because I couldn't stop talking. We finally headed out around 11:20. It was a nice trip and we arrived in Blacksburg around 4. I got situated and Nana, Mom, and I went shopping for birthday things. We went to Old Navy and made a pretty quick trip of it. We got back and ate dinner.
I went to a grocery store with Mom, which was more overwhelming than I expected. I was glad to get back to the house where we all just chatted and caught up.
I was thrilled to get an e-mail from Diane, my future teaching partner. She sounds awesome. I responded and went to bed.
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