Student Letters

Yesterday I finished writing my 18 letters, one for each student.  I began almost 2 months ago and could only get through a few at a time before I'd choke up at the idea of goodbye (an idea that is very close right now) but as soon as I finished, I set to the task that Rachel suggested and stuck with me.  I began looking for a verse of scripture for each student.

1 Timothy 4:22-- Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

Hebrews 10:35-36-- Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Proverbs 16:16-- How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight than silver.

1 Peter 3:10-- Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceit.

Ephesians 4:32-- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Proverbs 11:6-- A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 

2 Timothy 1:7--For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

John 16:33-- I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world. 

Proverbs 4:7-- Wisdom is the prime thing.  Acquire wisdom; and with all that you acquire, acquire understanding. 

Isaiah 41:10-- Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look around you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9-- I've commanded you to be strong and brave.  Don't ever be afraid or discouraged I am the Lord your God and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

Ephesians 4:2--Always be humble and gentle.  Patiently put up with each other and love each other.

Proverbs 18:24-- Some friends don't help but a true friend is closer than your own family.

1 Peter 4:8--Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Romans 8:28--And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

3 John 1:5-- Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you.

James 1:12--Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Proverbs 16:7-- When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

I have placed each letter, with the handwritten verse, in their envelopes along with their superlative awards, advice for keeping up English over the summer, and, for one student, a perfect attendance award. 

The superlatives are:
Most Confident
Most Likely to be a TV Writer
Most Likely to be an Event Announcer
Most Likely to be a Soccer Player
Most Likely to be a Teacher
Best One-Liner Jokes
Most Likely to Make You  Believe Anything with a Smile
Most Compassionate
Best Animal Sounds
Most Likely to be a Spy
Most Likely to be a Detective
Best Mathematician
Most Likely to be on a Toothpaste Commercial
Most Likely to write a Book
Most Likely to be a Singer
Best Scientist
Most Likely to be a Community Leader
Most Likely to be an Artist

Thursday we'll be doing a feel good activity where each student must think of one good thing about every other student in the room.  They will write them on a sheet.  I will collect them, review them, and add those to the packets too. 

Why we do it

In these end-times, my kids and I have all been getting a little sentimental.  One of my students, whom I tutor for all of my free time, it seems, has always kept up a tough front.  We have a love-hate relationship.  Recently, he gave me a "I'm going to miss you note" and it struck a cord with me.



Then, a student I rather frequently refer to as "my favorite human being on the planet" (sorry to all of you who thought you had a chance at winning that position.  It has been filled), recently wrote me a letter too.






The outside alone is adorable, but the inside says, "Thank you for your help in English.  You help us so much.  We do jokes but we are growing up for do good.  No one can live forever.  I will never forget you because you are my friend for a life.  With love, Rubdy"

I love my kids.  Isaac gave me an elephant puzzle and he wrote me a letter on the backside of the pieces.  There "my beloved teacher" is immortalized. 

This is half of why it's so hard for me to leave.  I feel like a mother to 18 children that already have mothers. 

Changes

So, I spent the first part of this week very ill.  It started on Friday with a little stomach ache, led to a weekend of staying in the house (which was needed and actually productive) and ended with just stomach pain and horrible headaches that have just today completely subsided.  On the weekend I would alternate between the bathroom, being curled up in a ball, cleaning, and laundry (the latter two usually resulted in another hour of being in ball, but hey, I got a lot done and it was mentally, though not physically, refreshing).  Monday I was at school, and the stomach was hurting, but with no other real symptoms.  Monday night it hurt to move my eyes.  It hurt so much I couldn't remember to do simple tasks like take medicine (I got up 6 times to take ibuprofen, and finally when bringing back jello to eat, I saw the pills and remembered that I really wanted to take them.)  For the rest of the week the eye headache hung around, but it was not nearly as bad nor debilitating. 

On Wednesday my tutoring was canceled,my Spanish classes have been canceled for 3 weeks, and Rachel and I rescheduled.  I took advantage of my new found free time to get my first pedicure ever.  Getting a design is standard procedure here, not extra.  It was nice.






On Thursday I went back to the same salon and chopped off me here.  Look! Before and After pictures!

Speaking of changes, look at Dulci!  5-day-old Dulci to the right and 6 month old Dulci to the left.

If it wasn't obvious from the fact that I decided to stay with my same students for a second year, they have a special place in my heart.  From Francis, the first student I lost (to a life in the United States with his brother, father, and new step mother December 2009), to Juan and Maria Jose who did not return to my class this school year, to Destiny and Sofia who were knew to my class this school year, and the other 16 (17 if you count the one I only get for science this year, but who was in my class full-time last year), I love my kids.

I have students who work hard and do well.  Students who work hard and do not do well.  Students who do not work hard and do well.  I even have students who do not work hard and do not do well.  I have students who can't stop talking, students that intentionally push my buttons, and students who would do anything to please me. 

Even the ones who do everything they can to get under my skin, I know that they are just a product of their environment.  It's amazing to me, actually, how clearly most children come out of their circumstances as they are.  Supportive parents= well rounded child, non-supportive parents= child in desperate need of attention.  Of course, it's not always so cut and dry, but it is the standard way.

I have one student in particular, who has the ability to pull on my heart strings.  She is very intelligent, but talks all through class and doesn't study or do her homework.  She's sweet as can be and would rather just chat.  Her humor and honesty have worked their way into me.

This past week, she's been talking to me a lot about how she doesn't want me to go, but how she understands.  I told her that I would try to come back to visit in the next couple of years, and she asked me if I could come back in a few years to teach them again.  She gets to me.

I have another student who's been leaving me notes on my desk asking me not to leave.  The parents of my students and my Spanish teacher like to remind me that I don't have to go.

This coming weekend is Emily and Tiffany's birthday, two weeks later is my birthday, then is the weekend after school ends, and then I leave.  It will be a beautiful time, but I often find myself looking at it and wishing I could stretch it out.  I like my life here.

I'm writing each one of my students a personal letter about what a pleasure it has been to teach them and their strengths.  What I hope for them.  I can only do so many at a time because they make me sad too.

I suppose it's like coming to the end of a beautiful relationship.  A very difficult break up.  We both understand each other, but after all of our time together it won't work.  It's still heart breaking.

Family Visit

My parents and grandparents (mom's folks) just came for a 10 day visit. This visit had the most people I've hosted and the longest amount of time. Several months back I booked hotels, one in Copan, and one in Antigua, Guatemala. Copan is known for it's Semana Santa, but Antigua is famous. I had seen pictures and heard stories, so I was pretty excited to get to go.

Copan is really hot at this time of year, so I put my folks up in TerraMaya. It has AC and is right next door to my house. Antigua is further north and in much higher mountains. The town is also full of people during Semana Santa, so I thought it might be nice to get out of town. With a lot of luck, a bit of word of mouth, and a smidge of research, I found the Earthlodge. It is a 20-30 minute truck ride out of town with a beautiful few of Antigua. It was cool and quiet, which was a very relaxing way to start the day and a fantastic way to end the day after being in the crowds in town.  Plus, we got to stay in tree houses.

The family arrived Thursday afternoon. I got a call as I was giving my last recuperation exam of the week (science) saying they had arrived in Honduras and were on their way to Copan. When I finished work, I went into town, took care of some business at the bank, and paid for my internet. As I walked back toward home, I came across two of my students. They decided to walk with me to the house. When we got to the house, two more students were sitting on my porch. Fernando, Elvira, Destiny, and Yoela "helped" me clean. I was getting short on time, so in the end I gave them the elephant book and put them on the porch (At some point or another Sofia, another student, came as well). As we got close to the time of arrival, I asked the kids to sit downstairs and keep an eye out. When my family did arrive, I had the kids line up, so as not to bombard my tired-from-traveling family. They greeted them, helped us carry the bags into the hotel, and left. My folks thought it was adorable.

The next day was Dia del Folklore at the school. We had spent the last several weeks making champas for each grade. The students had put together signs with information for their indigenous group, as well as preparing presentations and one girl and boy from each class has been selected for the indio bonito competition. For me, it was the perfect day to have them at school. I did not need to have lesson plans or keep control of a classroom while their was company. My parents and grandparents still got to see the school and watch me interact with my students. Plus, it's a very informative day on the different parts of Honduras. It was only a half day at school, so after we walked up to the bird park and walked around.

The next day we spent 7 hours on a bus going to Antigua. The original plan was to take a Hedman bus, but the only bus from Copan leaves too late for us to still be able to get a ride up to the hostel. So, we took a shuttle, which left at 6. We got to town, got to our pickup spot and waited for the truck to take us up. On the bus, I met a very friendly tour guide named Martin. I may be hopping on with one of his groups to Tikal later in the year, if I can find the time to go.

We got to Earthlodge, settled in, and just camped out for the afternoon. The mountains were beautiful, the walk up was steep, and dinner was only a few hours away. The cool air was much better for my family, but as the sun got lower, I got cold. We moved in and invaded the large couch with a pleasant young man sitting on it. Jorge (the pleasant young man) and, later, his friend Juanjo (who was also pleasant, I just talked to him less) and my family talked the evening away. Turns out that they were locals just enjoying an evening off outside town (I found that a good sign for my choice in hostels, that the locals would use it for a place to hang out).

The hostel dinner set up is family style, and Jorge, among other guests, sat at a table with us. We enjoyed good food, good drink, and good conversation. I did a lot less of the talking than I normally would have because my folks were enjoying sharing stories of my youth. Mostly centered around my eating habits back when I was a runner. Shortly after dinner, my folks headed to their rooms because we were starting the next day fairly early. Not long after they went in, I followed. (I think this is the only evening that I stayed out longer than they did. Most nights, I was the first one to bed.)

In the morning we ate breakfast, I exchanged e-mails with Jorge, and we went into town for mass. We went to the big cathedral on the central park. The palms people had were like ornate bouquets. They were beautiful. After mass, we walked around a while, enjoying the sighs. We were always careful to watch our bags, especially in a crowds. A tour guide honed in on us, and for a while I tried to put him off, but my folks liked the idea, so we hired him. He took us to a place for lunch and met up with us again after we finished. I was not thrilled at first, but by the end of the tour he had won me other too. We got to see many of the carpets, many of the buildings. We saw many of the churches and ruins with good explanations. We went to a jade museum too. At the end of the tour, he amended it, at our request, so we could see the Palm Sunday procession. It was beautiful.

After a day of running around, being in the crowds, and making sure we stayed together, we enjoyed our quiet evening at the lodge. I went online (for the first time in 2 days!) and caught up on my e-mail. Jorge happened to be on and invited the whole family over to his house, his outside of central Antigua, for a late lunch the next day. I ran it past the family and we made a plan to meet in the park.

We took a nice slow morning. Mom, Dad, and I went on a little hike, and we didn't go into town until noon-ish. We ran into Tiffany and her Dad shortly after we got into town. I ran across the street to talk to her, leaned in for a hug, and my phone fell out of my bag. At first I thought a seam had split, but upon further inspection realized that my bag had been slashed. Luckily, nothing was missing. Within a few minutes, we also realized that mom's backpack had been slashed, and that nothing was missing. The amazing thing is that we had not been in any crowds and we both keep our bags in front of us. Before the day was over, I had found where my skirt, right next to where my bag had been, had been damaged, but not broken all the way through, by the knife. Dad kept insisting that it would have been for the best had he nicked me, because then we would have known when it happened. Thanks Dad.

We met up with Jorge, who was much taller than I remembered (though we had been sitting the whole time we talked in the Earthlodge). He drove us out of town, and to his house. We got a tour of the house. It was beautiful. We enjoyed a lovely view of the volcano and then ate lunch. Dad and I drank coffee and it was absolutely delicious.

The next day was our last day in Antigua. We went by the only church we had missed on our tour. This worked out nicely since we had missed seeing it due to the procession, and seeing it later meant we got to see the floats from the procession at rest in the church. We got a pick-me-up coffee at El Portal, which I know I went to a few times the last time I was in Antigua and used the rest of the day as a shopping day. We met up with Jorge one last time, went to lunch in a lovely restaurant, complete with a bookstore. It was fantastic.

When it was time to go, we gave ourselves ample time to haul our bags up the steep hill, slowly. We got up to the top and waited. As it got close to when our driver was supposed to arrive, Dad and I walked out to the fork in the road that I figured would throw him off. The hostel is only well known in certain circles and the aldea nearest is very small. It was getting to the point where I was going to have to buy phone credit to call the man I bought our tickets from when a mini bus came up the mountain. I walked up to the driver, who looked concerned, said, "Copan?" and a wide grin spread across his face as he confirmed that he was our ride.

We got back to Copan, which had a lovely thunderstorm that night. It was loud, wet, and earth-shaking. But the best part was, it cooled things down for us. My folks went to the ruins the next day, without me. I took the day to do laundry and other house-hold chores. We enjoyed lunch together and took the afternoon slow around town.

We tended to stick to mornings because of the heat. The next day we got to walk the nature trail by the ruins. We bought a few knickknacks and came back to town. On the third day, we walked up to La Pintata. I got to show them the corn-husk doll part of the women's co-op and the fabric part. On the way back to town, we got lunch and smoothies. We brought a smoothie to Dad, who had not been feeling well.

On the last full day, went down to go to mass. However, the procession, shockingly, came in a little late. We waited at Cafe Welchez with Vadal and Sarah Harrington. When it was time to go in, we did. All of the benches had been removed to make way for all the people. Most of mass was lovely. The announcements alone too 15 minutes. That priest is the chattiest priest I've ever known. Mom and Dad finished up their tourist shopping. The hammock man let us borrow his tape measure to see if the hammock chair would fit in any of the suitcases. Sadly, it did not. As it was the end of Lent, and Dad could now eat meat and drink beer, we ate dinner at the German bar. We had great German food and beer and Tomas gave us the tour of his brewery. I think it was the perfect way to end their trip.

This morning they all took off at 9. I have not heard from them, so I assume all went well.

Roatan, Roatan! (sung to the tune of Mayatan)

After living here for the better part of two years, I finally went to a Honduran beach. I had been to beaches in Guatemala, though most of my beach experiences were in Belize, but for the first time, I went to a Honduran beach.

As a self proclaimed 'codo' it was hard to imagine relaxing enough to let go of the money it would take to go to a place like Roatan, but I did it. I had saved up some money and I had some money that I hadn't touched since Christmas (still in USD) that I just dedicated to the trip.

It was beautiful. White sands, clear waters, coral reefs within wading distance of the shore. I got my fill of new types of lizards, wood peckers, and fish (I know that's an odd combo, but hey, it's me).

We took off at 6am from Copan and rode buses around until we got to Ceiba at 4pm, just in time for the 4:30 ferry. I do believe that the Galaxy was the biggest boat that I've ever been on. I sat up on the deck and buckled down for the rather choppy hour and a half ride to the island.

As we went, the sun was setting. It was beautiful and cliché in every way. I mean, in every way. I watched a giant cruise ship (a thing I have never seen before. I think they are monsters and I am both in awe and disgusted by them. Those things could house a small country.) sail off into the setting sun. Very cliché, very beautiful.

We took a taxi to our hotel, and English-land began. Much like in Antigua, Roatan is so touristy no one even bothers speaking Spanish to you. It was strange.

 The hotel was great. We were three to the room, Danielle, Vadal, and me. (Though, we started traveling with Emily, lost her in San Pedro when she went to the airport to get her sister and sister's husband. Then we traveled to Ceiba with Dave; he left to go hang out with his uncle. Then we met back up with Emily and company on the Galaxy. They went to their hotel in West bay, we left for ours in West End. Kat and her friend where staying in our hotel as well; this was planned. Ragan and her mom were there too; this was a pleasant surprise.)

Anyway, the room has a single bed, double bed, kitchen, and porch. There was a nice place for reading on the water, and a very pleasant ambiance.

We had two days on the island, which was awesome. It was really funny to me, though, because I have gotten accustomed to my 2 days of travel, 1 day vacationing trips to Belize. We squeezed everything into the first day and almost didn't know what to do with ourselves on the second day.

The first day was bright, sunny, and skin burning. It was a relief, then, when the second day was overcast and rainy. I was badly burnt on the first day, but I believe that's because of the brief morning rain that came right after I applied my sunscreen. That and a failure to reapply. I peeled. It kept me up at night. I am recovered now.

I ate lots of sea food, enjoyed a beach massage (best invention ever), bought myself some new earrings and a necklace, and over all enjoyed the experience.

Of course, we snorkeled. This is where most of my cool pictures would have come from, had I had an underwater camera. However, I did not. Somethings just need to be remembered. It was a very different experience from my Belize snorkeling. For one, no boat was needed. We just walked out into the water with our rented equipment and looked around. It was mostly warm, until we came to the drop off. It wasn't as epic a drop off as in Finding Nemo, but it was pretty cool. And cold.

Among the various types of coral and fish, a couple really stood out. We saw a young barracuda. He did not look like he wanted to play. Or swim. Or be near us. We also saw a large school of really cool fish just making their way through the reef. I followed them for a while. The most beautiful fish to me were a dark blue, with glowing lightning blue spots or strips, depending on the fish. That brilliantly bright blue was amazing to me. I also saw a bigger fish with crab legs in his mouth. Happy fish. Jealous Sarah.

We had the option of a 3$ water taxi ride or a 45 minute walk to and from the hotel to the good beaches. We usually walked. I really enjoyed it. It gave a chance to see more and stretch our legs. It did, however, involve a death climb and decent up and over a canal on a metal bridge. I say death climb, because the stairs were rusted and falling away. You had to put on your shoes, step on the edges of the stairs and hold on in case you fell through. And hey, I updated my Tetanus shot recently!

One evening we had the pleasure of catching the tail end of a fire show used as a fundraiser for a local school. I wish we could have seen more of it, these people were really talented. I've seen fire shows before, but never anything like this.

On our second morning, we took advantage of our kitchen and made breakfast. The cinnamon roll was purchased, and the beans were from a bag, but it was awesome. Plus, we saved a buck and considering how expensive food was, that was a good thing.

Once it was time to go, I was ready. Roatan was nice, but there were a lot of tourists and it was hard to get to know the local people. I find that I really enjoy small towns, which I knew, even for my vacations, which I suspected.

Anyway, this is a cashew fruit and nut.

Saturday was too

Saturday I gave myself some quiet time in the house.  I did some laundry, listened to music, and ate good food.

Around 1 I left to venture into the park.  There I encountered several of the other teachers and some of our students playing with chalk in center.  Other kids had come to join, some to draw, others to have chalk wars.  It was entertaining.  As the afternoon wore on, more and more of my students came into the park.  There seemed to be artists everywhere.  Several passed by to work on the mural of bottle caps that my students helped collect.  One was in the corner doing caricatures.  One of the students got one done and we waited for him before going a few blocks down, with the students, to see the mural in action.

When we got there, we helped sort through the bottle caps.  A pile of those that we could use and a pile of those that we could not.  The artist drew lines in the cement he was laying on the side of the wall and showed the kids how to mount the bottle caps into it.  They took turns helping out.  I was keeping an eye out for a girl who had gone to ask her mom before coming, and I knew she was going to end up heading the wrong direction (she knew we were near the fair grounds, but they were 2 blocks below us).  When she arrived, I went down to get her, since a few drunks were stumbling by.  Two of the boys followed me, and then ignored me when I instructed them to go back.  I got uncomfortable having disobedient children around drunks, so we went back to the park.

I went home for a short time, and then texted Katie from Urban Promise.  I knew that she was going with some of her youth to the fair and wanted to join them.  However, what I had not understood and then signed up for, was a trip to Nueva Esperanza (up the mountain a bit) to collect 20ish 7 year olds, and helping with one of the groups of 7 year old girls.  We went from 6-8 and I had a blast with my three new, young friends.  One of my girls was a bit prissy and didn't want to follow the rules.  In fact, for most of the time, she despised me.  Toward the end she had a change of heart and we were inseparable. 

The girls clamored back onto the bus when it was time to go and I waved them goodbye to join some of the teachers who had come down to the fair as well.