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.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Week 43: Day 300 and the Last Week of School
Day 295 May 29
I woke up to the lovely sound of children playing right outside my bedroom. I gave up on sleep and came downstairs. I talked with Sierra for a few minutes before she left and then I cooked up a big breakfast for myself. Megan called to see if I wanted to drop off clothes at the seamstress' place, which I did. We agreed to meet in 25 minutes to walk down. Cid also called to see if I'd be available to go to the bird park with him and Marc at 1.
I walked down with Megan, we showed Tonita what we want done and just like last time, I brought half my clothes. Mostly it's just because I've gotten smaller and they've gotten stretched out, but a few are just worn out and I'm not ready to throw them out. We then got a granita.
I went home and got ready to go to the bird park. I ran into Nash and Chris and they decided they didn't want to go to the bird park or hot springs because it's raining.
I got to Marc's as they were pulling out, so I hopped in and we had a lovely afternoon and lunch at the bird park in the rain. There are new flowers there I haven't seen before and a type of bird I hadn't noticed either. Apparently, in all of Marc's time here, he'd never made it up that way and tomorrow he's leaving town for good. This was basically our send off for him. I'll miss him.
Cid and I went home for a while and then he had to get back to work. I watched Coraline, which wasn't at all what I expected it to be. I liked it, though. I then cleaned up around the house and ate dinner.
Cid came a little later than usual, and we watched The Bodyguard, which is a movie apparently everyone knows and has seen. I had not. It was good. Shortly after, I went to sleep.
Day 296 May 30
I woke up and got ready to go to Rachel's to make crepes for church, but as I was finishing up she told me that she had just woken up and her company for the week was still sleeping. Maybe we had better cancel. I tried to go back to sleep, but instead played in my Where's Waldo book and ate slim jims. Eventually I got motivated enough to make coffee.
I headed to Victoria's to do some shopping with Abby and bought some food for the week and for church. I brought orange juice and made cinnamon toast.
At church, after I made my food, there was a lot of chatting and I met Kelley, Rachel's friend from San Pedro. We talked for a long time about life there and I started getting a better idea of what it would be like if I were to get a job there in the future.
We had no sermon, but the music was good and intense. We spent a long time on praying and prayer requests and took a form of communion. The idea behind it was that Christ declared bread and wine as his Blood and Body because they were the most common, basic of consumables that people would have every day. The idea was that people would take them together and always remember him.
When I got home, I did a lot of laundry and cleaning. Cid came for a while and we talked about the flooding problems and landslides around Central America. He left and I got to cooking empenadas. My empenadas were laughable by Honduran standards, but a starting point for me. They were more like tortillas with a cheesy center. I need to get better at spreading the filling out throughout the middle.
After dinner I met up with Cid at ViaVia for about half an hour. I left while he was talking with Josue and went to bed.
Day 297 May 31
When I get to sleep in, I always allow myself to sleep in more. I headed up around 7:15 and saw several students on my walk up. It was so light outside and there was so much activity.
I got the room ready and tried to get information about the tree planting day, which was today and the planting would begin shortly after the start of the school day, but no one knew anything about it. There wasn't supposed to be an assembly, but as the school day did start, I was informed there would be one. The assembly had more information about the planting, but still not enough.
When the planting started, it consisted of about 50 kids following around the vigilante, Ronnie, with their plants and him planting each one. It went into recess, and then the kids left the plants that were still not planted for him to haul and plant. I do not like it when a lack of organization means that the brunt of the work falls on our cleaning ladies or vigilantes.
At recess, which started and ended late, 6th graders were roaming around butting in line with the little kids. They had been allowed to plant their trees and then go to recess, 40 minutes early.
Once we got back to class, we wrote haikus. I was thoroughly impressed with my students. Some of them were profound, some wrote about the current events and the houses being swept away by the rains around CA. Some were as you would expect from 9 year old second language learners. “The wind makes music like flute/the air is music.” was just impressive to me.
We reviewed some more and I discovered a new motivational system for behavior that is more positive and effective. After school, I worked on their superlatives awards for the end of the year, gave my grades to Marisol, and organized my papers.
Once home, I did some more cleaning and laundry before reading on the roof, which was more a slapping at mosquitoes, than reading leisurely. There are so many more bugs since the rains have come. I showered and cooked up my dinner.
I went with Abby and Allan to Francisco's house. They were cooking there too, and I ended up paying 25 lemps for an absolutely delicious second dinner. We watched the Shawshank Redemption, and Cid came from work part way through. I hadn't seen it in a long time and it was nice to see.
After the movie I walked home and went to bed.
Day 298 June 1
In the morning, I just took a taxi to school. I didn't have a class for the first period, so I worked on my superlative awards some more. I know had the copies and started writing them out, except for two kids that I wanted to think of better awards for. In class, we finished out math packets and went to recess. Then then turned in all their books to the library and we had one class period left. We wrote letters to our future selves (two months from now, when we are in 4th grade).
Rachel and Blair came to the school for Camp Joy promotions. I ushered them to my room because going to Camp Joy is one of the things on my list of top ten things students can do to maintain or improve their English over the summer.
We then went to Sierra's room to have a sing off. The first graders sang a song they had learned during the year and we sang a song we had learned. We also taught and were taught some songs. It was fun.
After the kids left, I continued in the same vein of organizing papers and I colored the now complete superlative awards. I walked home and ran into Oscar who invited me into his house for a big. He was teaching a kid to play the drums and he showed me all of his instruments. It's a nice set up he has.
I also ran into Judy, and as I walked to the Casa de Cafe, Isaac saw me and had a rush of fear that he had tutoring. Cid was actually busy when I got there, and I chatted with some German tourists about the flooding, volcanoes, the Guatemala City sinkhole as they had just come from Guatemala. I had to leave shortly after they did to go meet Rachel. We went to Yat B'alam and I got a bagel, smoothie, and a wrap.
We had a long talk about everything that has been going on.After, I called Cid and we met up and talked for a long time also. Then I went to sleep.
Day 299 June 2
I woke up and cooked breakfast. I started walking up and tried to catch a bus, but it was full. Lucky for me, Alexis passed by shortly after the bus and I got to jump in with him. I set everything up at school and talked to Issella, who had just had another friend die.
I had no first class again, so I used that time to work. Then when I got back, we washed the desks and played with side walk chalk. I had my first instances of really intentionally mean kids. I was certainly not thrilled and tried to nip it in the bud, but it kept coming back all day. During our last class, we packed up almost everything from our desks and cubbies to take home. We cleaned the room and played telephone, then I sent them out. I kept the recup kids to talk to them about getting ready for Friday, and I had already given the study guides the week before.
I spent a good part of the afternoon organizing the awards and papers to give to the kids. I made piles for each kid and put them in the order I wanted to give out the awards. Then I went to Beth's room and we compiled the spelling worksheets and lists from the year to give to the third grade teachers of next year. I then turned in my library books and continued organizing other pepers. I wrote the year long science study guide and recup exam, since I'm sure one kid will need it and then walked home with Megan and Norma.
I went home to get Cid's phone, which he left yesterday, and saw Caroline and Chris on the way. I walked to Casa de Cafe and saw Oscar and Luis on the way. I stopped by the Correo, too, to see if I had mail and I had Dr. Horrible's Sing-along-blog with a return address in San Pedro. I was thrilled but confused. I contacted David when I got to Casa de Cafe to ask him about it and he took credit. Amazing. We chatted for a while, and that was really nice.
Cid took me up to see the new hotel, which is beautiful. It's also right next door to where I'll be living next year. I saw Luis and Hsuan on the way home. I showered and got ready to see Jenny, but as I got ready, Abby was telling horror stories of the weather. She said I would die if I went outside and that I wasn't going anywhere. “You'll see.” But, I did, and as I stepped in the current of the street, she told me I'd get swept away, but I didn't. I just got wet.
Jenny was in the shower when I got there, so Rachel chatted with me while I waited. When Jenny got out, we went to Villamil because it was closest and we talked for a good few hours. We had a fair amount in common. I am glad to be starting up this relationship before I leave the country not waiting until after.
Cid was in Picame when I got home. We watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-along-blog, and Cid liked it. As he should. Shortly after, I went to bed.
Day 300 June 3
This is my 300th day and the last day of school!
Though, the first two hours were pretty rough. I woke up well before my alarm feeling a big sick and continued in this for a while. We even ran out of water for half an hour during this time. It was not okay. I finally got around to walking up to school. The board was already ready, with a note telling them to sit where they want. Their first class was PE.
After, we made stencils and then used them. They had recess and Estudios. For the last class we drank coca-cola and I gave out the awards, each with a little speech about “this student” not giving away gender and building the suspense. The kids likes it and it reminded me of closing ceremony at camp.
I took some class photos, we had a group hug, and the tax to leave was to hug me. Only Isaac refused. Isaac, who I spent more time with than any other person on this Earth each week.
I wasn't sad at all, in fact, as soon as they left I began stripping the walls and had every sign, poster, and piece of tap off the walls within half an hour. I started organizing the rest of my papers and stayed until 3. I went home, got antibiotics, and got a smoothie. I went running with Tammi, showered, and met the crew at Twisted Tanyas. I saw my student Yoela on the way, she couldn't remember what her recup was in, so I told her and reminded her that I had given her a study guide a week ago.
Cid came up too, and the whole gang talked, celebrated, and remembered the school year past. At some point, Abby came and told me that Yoela was looking for me again, and very intently. I went by her house, but er neighbors said she had gone to my house, so I went and we sat on the side of the road and I dictated to her, and her cousin in the 7th grade, what the study guide said. Yoela is intelligent and there's no reason for her to fail. I went back to meet up with everyone again. I stuck around for a while and then the power went out, so Cid and I left to go sit on my roof and enjoy the view of the town, the sky, and the incoming storm. We left when the rain got heavy and then I went to bed.
Day 301 June 4
I walked up to school and ran into Tammi who was just getting done with a run. Nash was really sick and wouldn't be coming up to school today. I started organizing and filing, but my first recup arrived early. It was Yoela and she had studied her heart out and passed with flying colors. I kept working and then my second recup came. He had two tests to take and neither of them went well. It was sad when his family came to talk to me about it. I already had the study guide ready for him and I sent him with a book to read and a dictionary, which I taught him how to use before he left.
My third recup came and she passed well enough. I had to stop her in the middle because her mother was sitting outside, in view, watching her take the test and the girl was getting very uncomfortable about it. I told her to take a deep breath, relax, and not to worry about her mother. I think she did better after that.
I then inventoried the crap out of my room. I was so detailed it wasn't funny. I also organized everything into minute detail, including the things that were not organized for me. All I have to do on Monday is bag things so they don't get wet sitting in the room during the rainy season.
Around noon, about 5 hours after we got to school, someone came up and told Abby that water was coming out of our house. Our second flooding. There had been no water in the morning, and Abby hadn't realized that she hadn't turned her sink off. It's not good at draining. Abby and Allan went home to deal with it.
I followed my plans and hiked an hour and a half up the mountain to Yanatios. I had never been before but a lot of the teachers used to go regularly. They knew some of the people there and were going to miss them a lot. I wanted to get to know them before I left o I could bring next years crew up there. It's a steep walk, but we were a fast walking crew, so we made good time.
We got to look at her pottery, which visitors can make. She bakes them there and it's about a week long process so people take something that was made before and someone else will get to take what they made. She fixes up any imperfections. Doña Lucas made us tortillas, ground the corn, mashed it, made the rounds, and cooked them and we ate them with beans. It was delicious and filling. I got to take home a little milk pitcher and we gave them the gifts Chris brought, including a basil plant, a machete, olive oil, and a candle. We talked for a while and she was thrilled to meet me and glad to know I would be coming up with next years crew. Her motto is, I live to serve.
We hiked back down and I finished some things up at school. We walked back to town and I asked Abby about the flood. Apparently my room is the lucky anti-flood room because it was the only room not touched. I had one shirt wet and nothing else. The other rooms had about an inch of water standing in them.
I showered, got all dolled up, Sierra switched out my clothes for some of hers which were fancier. It was fun. On the way out the door, Jesse came by to pick up his computer, which we had not realized, in all the clean up, was under the stairs...standing in water. We made him promise not to turn it on for 2 days and to open it up and dry it out.
We headed up to Michael and Eileen's house and then walked up with a big group up to Nora's house for the big end of the year party.
I was highly amused when I got there because the Welchez house had no....coffee. Nora was embarrassed and sent someone to the farm to get some, which I didn't intend to happen. The food at the party was great and there was lots of great conversation to be had. With me, people just wanted to talk about my plans, my return, and my summer. I have no sadness here. It really isn't sinking it that many of my very good friends are leaving and my core community is shifting.
I headed back home around 10:30 and saw the daughter of one of my coworkers. She asked about her mom and said she was lonely. We talked for a while and I told her that her mom should be home before too long. I hope I was right.
I then met up with Cid at Tun Club. I met a few tourists who go to school in Phili he had met and befreinded. We talked for a long while and then around midnight we all dispersed. I had a pretty rough night of sleep because of the coffee, though.
I woke up to the lovely sound of children playing right outside my bedroom. I gave up on sleep and came downstairs. I talked with Sierra for a few minutes before she left and then I cooked up a big breakfast for myself. Megan called to see if I wanted to drop off clothes at the seamstress' place, which I did. We agreed to meet in 25 minutes to walk down. Cid also called to see if I'd be available to go to the bird park with him and Marc at 1.
I walked down with Megan, we showed Tonita what we want done and just like last time, I brought half my clothes. Mostly it's just because I've gotten smaller and they've gotten stretched out, but a few are just worn out and I'm not ready to throw them out. We then got a granita.
I went home and got ready to go to the bird park. I ran into Nash and Chris and they decided they didn't want to go to the bird park or hot springs because it's raining.
I got to Marc's as they were pulling out, so I hopped in and we had a lovely afternoon and lunch at the bird park in the rain. There are new flowers there I haven't seen before and a type of bird I hadn't noticed either. Apparently, in all of Marc's time here, he'd never made it up that way and tomorrow he's leaving town for good. This was basically our send off for him. I'll miss him.
Cid and I went home for a while and then he had to get back to work. I watched Coraline, which wasn't at all what I expected it to be. I liked it, though. I then cleaned up around the house and ate dinner.
Cid came a little later than usual, and we watched The Bodyguard, which is a movie apparently everyone knows and has seen. I had not. It was good. Shortly after, I went to sleep.
Day 296 May 30
I woke up and got ready to go to Rachel's to make crepes for church, but as I was finishing up she told me that she had just woken up and her company for the week was still sleeping. Maybe we had better cancel. I tried to go back to sleep, but instead played in my Where's Waldo book and ate slim jims. Eventually I got motivated enough to make coffee.
I headed to Victoria's to do some shopping with Abby and bought some food for the week and for church. I brought orange juice and made cinnamon toast.
At church, after I made my food, there was a lot of chatting and I met Kelley, Rachel's friend from San Pedro. We talked for a long time about life there and I started getting a better idea of what it would be like if I were to get a job there in the future.
We had no sermon, but the music was good and intense. We spent a long time on praying and prayer requests and took a form of communion. The idea behind it was that Christ declared bread and wine as his Blood and Body because they were the most common, basic of consumables that people would have every day. The idea was that people would take them together and always remember him.
When I got home, I did a lot of laundry and cleaning. Cid came for a while and we talked about the flooding problems and landslides around Central America. He left and I got to cooking empenadas. My empenadas were laughable by Honduran standards, but a starting point for me. They were more like tortillas with a cheesy center. I need to get better at spreading the filling out throughout the middle.
After dinner I met up with Cid at ViaVia for about half an hour. I left while he was talking with Josue and went to bed.
Day 297 May 31
When I get to sleep in, I always allow myself to sleep in more. I headed up around 7:15 and saw several students on my walk up. It was so light outside and there was so much activity.
I got the room ready and tried to get information about the tree planting day, which was today and the planting would begin shortly after the start of the school day, but no one knew anything about it. There wasn't supposed to be an assembly, but as the school day did start, I was informed there would be one. The assembly had more information about the planting, but still not enough.
When the planting started, it consisted of about 50 kids following around the vigilante, Ronnie, with their plants and him planting each one. It went into recess, and then the kids left the plants that were still not planted for him to haul and plant. I do not like it when a lack of organization means that the brunt of the work falls on our cleaning ladies or vigilantes.
At recess, which started and ended late, 6th graders were roaming around butting in line with the little kids. They had been allowed to plant their trees and then go to recess, 40 minutes early.
Once we got back to class, we wrote haikus. I was thoroughly impressed with my students. Some of them were profound, some wrote about the current events and the houses being swept away by the rains around CA. Some were as you would expect from 9 year old second language learners. “The wind makes music like flute/the air is music.” was just impressive to me.
We reviewed some more and I discovered a new motivational system for behavior that is more positive and effective. After school, I worked on their superlatives awards for the end of the year, gave my grades to Marisol, and organized my papers.
Once home, I did some more cleaning and laundry before reading on the roof, which was more a slapping at mosquitoes, than reading leisurely. There are so many more bugs since the rains have come. I showered and cooked up my dinner.
I went with Abby and Allan to Francisco's house. They were cooking there too, and I ended up paying 25 lemps for an absolutely delicious second dinner. We watched the Shawshank Redemption, and Cid came from work part way through. I hadn't seen it in a long time and it was nice to see.
After the movie I walked home and went to bed.
Day 298 June 1
In the morning, I just took a taxi to school. I didn't have a class for the first period, so I worked on my superlative awards some more. I know had the copies and started writing them out, except for two kids that I wanted to think of better awards for. In class, we finished out math packets and went to recess. Then then turned in all their books to the library and we had one class period left. We wrote letters to our future selves (two months from now, when we are in 4th grade).
Rachel and Blair came to the school for Camp Joy promotions. I ushered them to my room because going to Camp Joy is one of the things on my list of top ten things students can do to maintain or improve their English over the summer.
We then went to Sierra's room to have a sing off. The first graders sang a song they had learned during the year and we sang a song we had learned. We also taught and were taught some songs. It was fun.
After the kids left, I continued in the same vein of organizing papers and I colored the now complete superlative awards. I walked home and ran into Oscar who invited me into his house for a big. He was teaching a kid to play the drums and he showed me all of his instruments. It's a nice set up he has.
I also ran into Judy, and as I walked to the Casa de Cafe, Isaac saw me and had a rush of fear that he had tutoring. Cid was actually busy when I got there, and I chatted with some German tourists about the flooding, volcanoes, the Guatemala City sinkhole as they had just come from Guatemala. I had to leave shortly after they did to go meet Rachel. We went to Yat B'alam and I got a bagel, smoothie, and a wrap.
We had a long talk about everything that has been going on.After, I called Cid and we met up and talked for a long time also. Then I went to sleep.
Day 299 June 2
I woke up and cooked breakfast. I started walking up and tried to catch a bus, but it was full. Lucky for me, Alexis passed by shortly after the bus and I got to jump in with him. I set everything up at school and talked to Issella, who had just had another friend die.
I had no first class again, so I used that time to work. Then when I got back, we washed the desks and played with side walk chalk. I had my first instances of really intentionally mean kids. I was certainly not thrilled and tried to nip it in the bud, but it kept coming back all day. During our last class, we packed up almost everything from our desks and cubbies to take home. We cleaned the room and played telephone, then I sent them out. I kept the recup kids to talk to them about getting ready for Friday, and I had already given the study guides the week before.
I spent a good part of the afternoon organizing the awards and papers to give to the kids. I made piles for each kid and put them in the order I wanted to give out the awards. Then I went to Beth's room and we compiled the spelling worksheets and lists from the year to give to the third grade teachers of next year. I then turned in my library books and continued organizing other pepers. I wrote the year long science study guide and recup exam, since I'm sure one kid will need it and then walked home with Megan and Norma.
I went home to get Cid's phone, which he left yesterday, and saw Caroline and Chris on the way. I walked to Casa de Cafe and saw Oscar and Luis on the way. I stopped by the Correo, too, to see if I had mail and I had Dr. Horrible's Sing-along-blog with a return address in San Pedro. I was thrilled but confused. I contacted David when I got to Casa de Cafe to ask him about it and he took credit. Amazing. We chatted for a while, and that was really nice.
Cid took me up to see the new hotel, which is beautiful. It's also right next door to where I'll be living next year. I saw Luis and Hsuan on the way home. I showered and got ready to see Jenny, but as I got ready, Abby was telling horror stories of the weather. She said I would die if I went outside and that I wasn't going anywhere. “You'll see.” But, I did, and as I stepped in the current of the street, she told me I'd get swept away, but I didn't. I just got wet.
Jenny was in the shower when I got there, so Rachel chatted with me while I waited. When Jenny got out, we went to Villamil because it was closest and we talked for a good few hours. We had a fair amount in common. I am glad to be starting up this relationship before I leave the country not waiting until after.
Cid was in Picame when I got home. We watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-along-blog, and Cid liked it. As he should. Shortly after, I went to bed.
Day 300 June 3
This is my 300th day and the last day of school!
Though, the first two hours were pretty rough. I woke up well before my alarm feeling a big sick and continued in this for a while. We even ran out of water for half an hour during this time. It was not okay. I finally got around to walking up to school. The board was already ready, with a note telling them to sit where they want. Their first class was PE.
After, we made stencils and then used them. They had recess and Estudios. For the last class we drank coca-cola and I gave out the awards, each with a little speech about “this student” not giving away gender and building the suspense. The kids likes it and it reminded me of closing ceremony at camp.
I took some class photos, we had a group hug, and the tax to leave was to hug me. Only Isaac refused. Isaac, who I spent more time with than any other person on this Earth each week.
I wasn't sad at all, in fact, as soon as they left I began stripping the walls and had every sign, poster, and piece of tap off the walls within half an hour. I started organizing the rest of my papers and stayed until 3. I went home, got antibiotics, and got a smoothie. I went running with Tammi, showered, and met the crew at Twisted Tanyas. I saw my student Yoela on the way, she couldn't remember what her recup was in, so I told her and reminded her that I had given her a study guide a week ago.
Cid came up too, and the whole gang talked, celebrated, and remembered the school year past. At some point, Abby came and told me that Yoela was looking for me again, and very intently. I went by her house, but er neighbors said she had gone to my house, so I went and we sat on the side of the road and I dictated to her, and her cousin in the 7th grade, what the study guide said. Yoela is intelligent and there's no reason for her to fail. I went back to meet up with everyone again. I stuck around for a while and then the power went out, so Cid and I left to go sit on my roof and enjoy the view of the town, the sky, and the incoming storm. We left when the rain got heavy and then I went to bed.
Day 301 June 4
I walked up to school and ran into Tammi who was just getting done with a run. Nash was really sick and wouldn't be coming up to school today. I started organizing and filing, but my first recup arrived early. It was Yoela and she had studied her heart out and passed with flying colors. I kept working and then my second recup came. He had two tests to take and neither of them went well. It was sad when his family came to talk to me about it. I already had the study guide ready for him and I sent him with a book to read and a dictionary, which I taught him how to use before he left.
My third recup came and she passed well enough. I had to stop her in the middle because her mother was sitting outside, in view, watching her take the test and the girl was getting very uncomfortable about it. I told her to take a deep breath, relax, and not to worry about her mother. I think she did better after that.
I then inventoried the crap out of my room. I was so detailed it wasn't funny. I also organized everything into minute detail, including the things that were not organized for me. All I have to do on Monday is bag things so they don't get wet sitting in the room during the rainy season.
Around noon, about 5 hours after we got to school, someone came up and told Abby that water was coming out of our house. Our second flooding. There had been no water in the morning, and Abby hadn't realized that she hadn't turned her sink off. It's not good at draining. Abby and Allan went home to deal with it.
I followed my plans and hiked an hour and a half up the mountain to Yanatios. I had never been before but a lot of the teachers used to go regularly. They knew some of the people there and were going to miss them a lot. I wanted to get to know them before I left o I could bring next years crew up there. It's a steep walk, but we were a fast walking crew, so we made good time.
We got to look at her pottery, which visitors can make. She bakes them there and it's about a week long process so people take something that was made before and someone else will get to take what they made. She fixes up any imperfections. Doña Lucas made us tortillas, ground the corn, mashed it, made the rounds, and cooked them and we ate them with beans. It was delicious and filling. I got to take home a little milk pitcher and we gave them the gifts Chris brought, including a basil plant, a machete, olive oil, and a candle. We talked for a while and she was thrilled to meet me and glad to know I would be coming up with next years crew. Her motto is, I live to serve.
We hiked back down and I finished some things up at school. We walked back to town and I asked Abby about the flood. Apparently my room is the lucky anti-flood room because it was the only room not touched. I had one shirt wet and nothing else. The other rooms had about an inch of water standing in them.
I showered, got all dolled up, Sierra switched out my clothes for some of hers which were fancier. It was fun. On the way out the door, Jesse came by to pick up his computer, which we had not realized, in all the clean up, was under the stairs...standing in water. We made him promise not to turn it on for 2 days and to open it up and dry it out.
We headed up to Michael and Eileen's house and then walked up with a big group up to Nora's house for the big end of the year party.
I was highly amused when I got there because the Welchez house had no....coffee. Nora was embarrassed and sent someone to the farm to get some, which I didn't intend to happen. The food at the party was great and there was lots of great conversation to be had. With me, people just wanted to talk about my plans, my return, and my summer. I have no sadness here. It really isn't sinking it that many of my very good friends are leaving and my core community is shifting.
I headed back home around 10:30 and saw the daughter of one of my coworkers. She asked about her mom and said she was lonely. We talked for a while and I told her that her mom should be home before too long. I hope I was right.
I then met up with Cid at Tun Club. I met a few tourists who go to school in Phili he had met and befreinded. We talked for a long while and then around midnight we all dispersed. I had a pretty rough night of sleep because of the coffee, though.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Week 42: J's Okay and it's my Birthday
Day 288 May 22
I woke up feeling pretty rotten still and just bummed around the house most of the morning. I watched the Simpsons on my computer, cleaned, and did laundry. I stole some internet from Picame and saw that J had responded to the e-mails I had sent updating me on all that had happened and how he was. I immediately broke down, but it was an outburst of relief. I then noticed he was actually online and we started talking. At some point, my connection dropped out, which I would normally just let be the case, but this time I ran out into Picame and bought a smoothie so that my internet connection was a little less shaky and we could continue to talk.
Some time later J went to go nap and I started talking with the man at the table next to me. His name is Oscar and he'd been traveling for a bit more than a year, but lives about a block from my house. He heard me coughing and offered to make me ginger tea (just so you know, Mom, when I first typed the word “ginger” I capitalized it. Wonder why?) and then we split ways. Not long after he did bring me some very strong, wonderfully strong ginger tea that eased my cough for a long time.
I spent the rest of my afternoon reading, doing laundry, and then I showered. I met Megan for a granita, which was the closest thing I had to coffee all day. She then went with me to buy a bottle of wine, which was the entrance fee to a dinner party I had in the evening.
Cid came by around 7 and we got ready to go to the formal-ish dinner party at Jesse's house. I had been told formal, so we were dressed up. Most of the girls were dressed up, but most of the guys were not so much. Poor Cid. The food was wonderful and the company was great. It was fun, but around 10, I decided to head home just because I didn't want to push myself even though I was feeling better.
Sierra showed up at home shortly after me because her stomach was killing her.
Day 289 May 23
I was up and out by 8:30. I met Rachel in the park to buy food for church. We went to the office to prepare it and talk. I also made myself some ginger tea. Other folks trickled in and then church got started. We ended the sermon series on the Holy Spirit and discussed for a while. Then we sang, prayed and parted ways around 2. I left to go meet Cid, but there was a miscommunication about where, so we were both waiting for a while before we re-collaborated and I went to meet him at Mark's place. We hung around for a while. Cid had to go back to the hotel for just a minute to help and then when we got back, Mark, Cid, and I went shopping for dinner.
I cooked us a large meal and then the boys did the dishes. We talked up on the roof for a while before Mark left and I decided it was time for bed, even though I couldn't sleep well.
Day 290 May 24
I walked to school with Kristin who was still subbing for Abby who is in the States for a wedding. I had a strange Monday with no Library period and no spelling words to fill in my usual time gaps. We got along well and my amended schedule moved along smoothly.
After school I finished writing my student comments and sent them and my behavior grades to Marisol. I'm trying to prepare for next year on all fronts. My comments were very specific and detailed. I wrote a lot for each student and was very direct about the problems some of my students have. I also drafted up a letter to the parents about how learning English is not passive and next year there will be a lot of new material. If the students can't keep up in English they will fall behind in the other subjects and the ask your friends what the teacher is saying, copy your work from others meathod won't cut it next year. I won't claim that I was a perfect, next copying student in primary, but I wasn't trying to learn a second language. Not that it was GOOD, but I could still learn information by passively sitting in class. These students can't. I've started my syllabus for next year in which I outline the teacher's job, the parent's job, and the student's job in each student's bilingual education and how if any one of us doesn't do our part, then the child will not get the best education they can.
I walked home with Megan and then we got a ride with Gilda. We went by Cafe Welchez for a granita, which they did not have so we got smoothies. I then rushed off to go tutor.
While tutoring, three of my girls came by. Things were halted for a while to help Isaac save face, and then we continued on while they left. When I left, I had an impulse buy at a second hand store for 2.50$. On my way home, I ran into Chris and we planned to meet up tomorrow and then Oscar who wanted to know why I disappeared on Saturday night (to sleep, duh. It's a weekend, who stays out?)
I went home to meet Tammi and Nash, but finally I was not the late one! We went on a run up toward Hacienda San Lucas, which was lovely. It actually involved some uphill, which I'd managed to avoid on my runs thus far. When I got home I talked to Allan for a while before showering. I watched Avatar over Sierra's shoulder until Cid came.
He brought lemon grass, so we made lemon grass tea for all of us sickies and then we went to the pharmacy for cough meds and Vicks. Shortly after, I went to sleep.
Day 291 May 25
The day started well with excellently behaved students during reading assessments. I only got through 7, but that also means I finished with grades for 7 students. The rest of the day also went smoothly.
After school, I stayed and organized my papers for next year's third grade teacher. I finished up my exams and study guides and put together my student portfolios...for me. I got a ride home with Megan and Gilda and went straight to tutoring.
Isaac and I had a good session and Yoela's mom came to chat with Jaqui. The three of us talked some and they pressured me for some chisme (gossip) on the end of school, other teachers, and next year. They also commented on how I am the perfect age for having babies. A little awkward. I told them that I didn't want any right now, because I already have 19. That seemed to satisfy them. I also told them the same thing I told the cleaning girls in the morning, that I want to practice my Spanish more, but I always get too nervous. That I understand a lot and think a lot in Spanish, but always stop myself from talking because I don't like to make mistakes, even though I know it's okay.
I went to Villamil to meet Chris and waited for a long time. I saw with Kila and Sierra while I waited. I then met with Chris for a while and went home. I showered and fell asleep. I woke up when Cid called at 7:30. He had just left a birthday party. He told me a bit about it, but being all nappy, I wasn't up for much and went to sleep before too long.
Day 292 May 26
On my way to school, a young cowboy lifted his hat to me while he rode by, driving his other horses. It made me feel like a dame. I then got to school and started getting ready. There was a lot of commotion outside the room and when I went to investigate my boys were trying to catch a frog with a piece of paper. I scooped up the frog and walked it to safety. They were impressed. They also told me my hand would fall off, but it has not.
The day was rocky. My kids are largely checked and way too excited about tomorrow. I have threatened to have individuals sit out if they don't behave and will hold to it. It was my primary form of control during the day.
After school I gave recup exam study guides to my kids who I know failed. Three failed Science, and one of those also failed Math, and Spelling. I talked to her for a long time after school. She is so smart and her English is so good but she doesn't listen and she almost never does her work. I informed her that not doing her work next year will result in detention every time and that she's old enough now to be able to make herself listen even when it's hard. We talked about life and death, because she's known a few people who have died and she told me that sometimes she thinks about them at school. We talked about the natural process of mourning, and how it's okay to be sad, but that she can't stop living herself. She promised to do better, in part because she doesn't want detention but also because she wants to learn. I hope so.
I had planned to walk home with Alex, but got caught up in a conversation for Linda for a long while. It was good, but I also felt bad having him wait. We went to town and went to Yatba'lam for bagels and granitas. We talked for a while, meeting up with Eileen for a while and then Cid. Around 4 we split ways. I went home and read for a while before getting ready to go run with Tammi, Nash, and Theo. For some reason, this run hit me harder than most have been, but it was fine. We did the natural trail at the ruins and then got baleadas in Las Brisas. I got home and continued reading (I'm currently in a book of short stories, The Alchamist, and the 7th in the Great Book of Amber. I need to pick one.)
I showered and chatted with Abby for a while before Cid came. We watched The Wolf Man and then it was bed time.
Day 293 May 27
Some time back, when I was eavesdropping on my students who will say a lot around me in Spanish believing I won't understand, I heard them talking about trying to surprise me when I arrived at school, so arriving before me. I was glad to see they had listened when I told them not to do that. Michael came by in the morning and offered me some of the things in his classroom, which was nice. I'll have to look into that later.
One of my girls came in and gave me a rose. I had an old water bottle, so I made a vase for it and gave it water first thing. My kids did well to have a normal first part of the day as I told them we would. We had a slow start to reading groups, so I didn't get through as many reading assessments as I would have hoped, but that's okay. We went to recess and I got us ready for field day.
I broke the kids up into 4 teams and gave them colors for names. Red Team, White Team, Blue Team, and Yellow Team. They could earn points for their team by doing what I asked quickly and quietly and lose points if they didn't. Points were earned and lost easily. The top prize was ¾ of a bag of jelly beans and a sticker per person. The second place prize was ¼ of a bag of jelly beans and a sticker per person, the third place prize was 3 stickers per person, and the fourth place prize was one sticker per person. They wanted those jelly beans, so they were pretty well behaved through it all.
We started out with the egg/spoon relay race. The first heat didn't make it very far, but those teams got a re-do and they got a better hang of it. I kept repeating that it doesn't matter if they're ahead of you or not if your egg breaks. The 6th graders came and kicked us off the futbol field for PE class, which was fine, except for how they did it. There was no respect and they stood right in the middle of my relay race. I asked them to move, but they just continued to ask me to move for Mr. Ferjardo. I was a little ticked, but we got to redo the race and my kids didn't seem too phased by it.
We did a three legged race, an egg toss, a relay race, the hokey pokey, and telephone. It was awesome. Winning teams were awarded 4 points, and on down the scale. It was good. We then went back to the room where I told them I am going to be their teacher next year, which they took well. Only Carlos expressed any unhappiness and I heard someone remind him that he might end up with a teacher more angry than me if he didn't have me and he conceded that this is good. We played jeopardy, which I ended at lunch time. I tallied up the points to announce the winners at the end of the day.
We had lunch, during which time food and cake arrived for my surprise party. What I did not foresee is that Helen and Norma gave the kids both of those class periods to set up and practice for my party. They put all the desks against the wall, hung elephant pictures and blue balloons everywhere, and dressed in costumes for shows.
I was kidnapped before the end of my planning period, blindfolded, and sat in the middle of the room. When they untied me, they turned on the fan, which had confetti on top of it, and it snowed all around me. They then did a mime show, which was actually very coordinated and impressive. It was a 2 girl act and I was thrilled with it. Issella ended it by giving me her heart.
Then there was a 2 boy clown show, which was not as practiced or thought through, but still cute. The boys just know they're funny and expected to be able to carry the show on that. After the shows, the food started getting handed out. It was delicious. The kids were getting rowdy and Helen and Norma were busy with the food, so I decided it was a good time to do prizes from our field day. That worked out well and everyone was happy because they got something no matter what, and they were getting food and candy at a party. No downside.
We sent teachers all over primary some of the food and then they had me blow out my candles. I managed to blow them all out in one go, but 3 of them were trick candles! I had to keep blowing them out. We ate cake and the kids were given goody bags. They then got out their hollowed eggs filled with colorful confetti and broke them all over the room. They sat me down and gave me some gifts, like chocolates, another silly mug, a nice and not silly mug, and a ring. Erika and Sophia knit my bracelets. Norma helped the whole class put together a book of them and me. A huge picture of me is on the cover and then there's a picture and words from each student. In the back is the interview from a few weeks back that the kids did with me in Spanish.
The kids then rushed off late to catch the buses and I cleaned for a bit more than an hour. I walked home with Chris and we saw that the river had risen several feet in the last hour. There was a flash floor from pouring rain further up the mountain. It was the most intense I've ever seen the river and Ronnie said that sometimes it gets much higher than this. Chris and I explored a bit, in the rain. It was warm, so it was fun.
I went to the correo and had my birthday package from mom and dad! I then went by tutoring, but the door was closed up, so I turned back around. I ran into Chris again and we went to get empanadas and open our mail. I then went back to his place to exchange music and pictures. He gave me the pottery casserole dish made up in Yanitios. I went home and showered.
Cid came and we went, on my request, to eat dinner at Katia's mom's comedor. Cid had never been and now he knows it's my favorite place to eat. I was impressed to see that they had fixed up the back and it now has a real little patio and tent covering.
We then went to Tammi's to hang out with Tammi and Nash until about 9 when I decided it was time to get to bed. I got hom and found Luis sitting in my living room talking with Sierra. I had thought he'd forgotten my birthday, but he was here to wish me a good one. We talked for a while until he left and then I went straight to bed.
Day 294 May 28
The river was still high and the roads were muddy. I was glad to catch a ride shortly before the big hill just before the school. I got to school and got online and responded to the facebook world. I think this is the first birthday I've had my birthday posted on the site and the response is just overwhelming, but fun.
The kids were still a little wild from yesterday, which I expected. Art class was full of mayhem, but we got through it. Later Megan came to help finish reading assessments, but she only got through a few. I pulled kids during my planning period and finished them up. We finished our Science review packet and I've checked through them all so they can use them over the summer to study, if they will.
We ended our day with a lot of cleaning and picking certain things to take home and not bring back. Each day next week I'll send them home with a little more so they're backpacks aren't so full on the last day. I stayed after to clean, grade, and organize for next school year.
I walked home with Kathy and we ended up catching a ride with Pat from the bird park. We then chatted on the corner and split ways. I got a sandwich and drink in Picame, updated my pictures, and chatted with J. I went in and tried to nap, but couldn't. I felt a little refreshed just from trying, but made coffee. I showered and got dressed up for the party.
I met Tammi in the park and we went to pick up some earrings for me. We then got dinner and hung out for a while. She left shortly before Cid came. Cid and I talked and played in my new Where's Waldo book that Michael gave me for my kids. I've always been a child.
A bit after 9, we went over to the party. I was introduced to the pinata that's supposed to look like me. She even had a pocket in her skirt, which I loved. The party, which was an end of the year/ mariachi band/ full moon/ Nash's friend was coming into town/ Sarah's birthday party was a hit. There was a big turn out. After a while, the mariachi band came and I danced with Cid and Pedro, which was fun. Kelvin came into town for the party, Nash's friend was a lot of fun, most of the Urban Promise crew was there, Megan came, Hsuan came, and Pedro, Oscar, and Chando were there. Plus, all of the teachers that were in town and the usual party crews. More kept coming as the night went on.
Cid and I walked Megan home and I grabbed a baleada off the street on the way back. Then it was epic pinata time. I got to go first, and I started out with a Machete. I then switched over to a giant stick of bamboo. Chris got to go next, as it was his party too. He wielded the Machete. Shortly after he started, someone thought it would be a good idea to dip the pinata in the fire. This was done and it continued to be hit. All I can say is, I'm glad it's the rainy season and we live in cement houses.
After a while we all migrated to Papa Changos. I danced with Oscar once and the rest of the night with Cid. I'm such a slow learner at dancing, but it's fun. It was also a kind of mardi gras party there, so we got masks. Eventually, I went home and went to bed.
I woke up feeling pretty rotten still and just bummed around the house most of the morning. I watched the Simpsons on my computer, cleaned, and did laundry. I stole some internet from Picame and saw that J had responded to the e-mails I had sent updating me on all that had happened and how he was. I immediately broke down, but it was an outburst of relief. I then noticed he was actually online and we started talking. At some point, my connection dropped out, which I would normally just let be the case, but this time I ran out into Picame and bought a smoothie so that my internet connection was a little less shaky and we could continue to talk.
Some time later J went to go nap and I started talking with the man at the table next to me. His name is Oscar and he'd been traveling for a bit more than a year, but lives about a block from my house. He heard me coughing and offered to make me ginger tea (just so you know, Mom, when I first typed the word “ginger” I capitalized it. Wonder why?) and then we split ways. Not long after he did bring me some very strong, wonderfully strong ginger tea that eased my cough for a long time.
I spent the rest of my afternoon reading, doing laundry, and then I showered. I met Megan for a granita, which was the closest thing I had to coffee all day. She then went with me to buy a bottle of wine, which was the entrance fee to a dinner party I had in the evening.
Cid came by around 7 and we got ready to go to the formal-ish dinner party at Jesse's house. I had been told formal, so we were dressed up. Most of the girls were dressed up, but most of the guys were not so much. Poor Cid. The food was wonderful and the company was great. It was fun, but around 10, I decided to head home just because I didn't want to push myself even though I was feeling better.
Sierra showed up at home shortly after me because her stomach was killing her.
Day 289 May 23
I was up and out by 8:30. I met Rachel in the park to buy food for church. We went to the office to prepare it and talk. I also made myself some ginger tea. Other folks trickled in and then church got started. We ended the sermon series on the Holy Spirit and discussed for a while. Then we sang, prayed and parted ways around 2. I left to go meet Cid, but there was a miscommunication about where, so we were both waiting for a while before we re-collaborated and I went to meet him at Mark's place. We hung around for a while. Cid had to go back to the hotel for just a minute to help and then when we got back, Mark, Cid, and I went shopping for dinner.
I cooked us a large meal and then the boys did the dishes. We talked up on the roof for a while before Mark left and I decided it was time for bed, even though I couldn't sleep well.
Day 290 May 24
I walked to school with Kristin who was still subbing for Abby who is in the States for a wedding. I had a strange Monday with no Library period and no spelling words to fill in my usual time gaps. We got along well and my amended schedule moved along smoothly.
After school I finished writing my student comments and sent them and my behavior grades to Marisol. I'm trying to prepare for next year on all fronts. My comments were very specific and detailed. I wrote a lot for each student and was very direct about the problems some of my students have. I also drafted up a letter to the parents about how learning English is not passive and next year there will be a lot of new material. If the students can't keep up in English they will fall behind in the other subjects and the ask your friends what the teacher is saying, copy your work from others meathod won't cut it next year. I won't claim that I was a perfect, next copying student in primary, but I wasn't trying to learn a second language. Not that it was GOOD, but I could still learn information by passively sitting in class. These students can't. I've started my syllabus for next year in which I outline the teacher's job, the parent's job, and the student's job in each student's bilingual education and how if any one of us doesn't do our part, then the child will not get the best education they can.
I walked home with Megan and then we got a ride with Gilda. We went by Cafe Welchez for a granita, which they did not have so we got smoothies. I then rushed off to go tutor.
While tutoring, three of my girls came by. Things were halted for a while to help Isaac save face, and then we continued on while they left. When I left, I had an impulse buy at a second hand store for 2.50$. On my way home, I ran into Chris and we planned to meet up tomorrow and then Oscar who wanted to know why I disappeared on Saturday night (to sleep, duh. It's a weekend, who stays out?)
I went home to meet Tammi and Nash, but finally I was not the late one! We went on a run up toward Hacienda San Lucas, which was lovely. It actually involved some uphill, which I'd managed to avoid on my runs thus far. When I got home I talked to Allan for a while before showering. I watched Avatar over Sierra's shoulder until Cid came.
He brought lemon grass, so we made lemon grass tea for all of us sickies and then we went to the pharmacy for cough meds and Vicks. Shortly after, I went to sleep.
Day 291 May 25
The day started well with excellently behaved students during reading assessments. I only got through 7, but that also means I finished with grades for 7 students. The rest of the day also went smoothly.
After school, I stayed and organized my papers for next year's third grade teacher. I finished up my exams and study guides and put together my student portfolios...for me. I got a ride home with Megan and Gilda and went straight to tutoring.
Isaac and I had a good session and Yoela's mom came to chat with Jaqui. The three of us talked some and they pressured me for some chisme (gossip) on the end of school, other teachers, and next year. They also commented on how I am the perfect age for having babies. A little awkward. I told them that I didn't want any right now, because I already have 19. That seemed to satisfy them. I also told them the same thing I told the cleaning girls in the morning, that I want to practice my Spanish more, but I always get too nervous. That I understand a lot and think a lot in Spanish, but always stop myself from talking because I don't like to make mistakes, even though I know it's okay.
I went to Villamil to meet Chris and waited for a long time. I saw with Kila and Sierra while I waited. I then met with Chris for a while and went home. I showered and fell asleep. I woke up when Cid called at 7:30. He had just left a birthday party. He told me a bit about it, but being all nappy, I wasn't up for much and went to sleep before too long.
Day 292 May 26
On my way to school, a young cowboy lifted his hat to me while he rode by, driving his other horses. It made me feel like a dame. I then got to school and started getting ready. There was a lot of commotion outside the room and when I went to investigate my boys were trying to catch a frog with a piece of paper. I scooped up the frog and walked it to safety. They were impressed. They also told me my hand would fall off, but it has not.
The day was rocky. My kids are largely checked and way too excited about tomorrow. I have threatened to have individuals sit out if they don't behave and will hold to it. It was my primary form of control during the day.
After school I gave recup exam study guides to my kids who I know failed. Three failed Science, and one of those also failed Math, and Spelling. I talked to her for a long time after school. She is so smart and her English is so good but she doesn't listen and she almost never does her work. I informed her that not doing her work next year will result in detention every time and that she's old enough now to be able to make herself listen even when it's hard. We talked about life and death, because she's known a few people who have died and she told me that sometimes she thinks about them at school. We talked about the natural process of mourning, and how it's okay to be sad, but that she can't stop living herself. She promised to do better, in part because she doesn't want detention but also because she wants to learn. I hope so.
I had planned to walk home with Alex, but got caught up in a conversation for Linda for a long while. It was good, but I also felt bad having him wait. We went to town and went to Yatba'lam for bagels and granitas. We talked for a while, meeting up with Eileen for a while and then Cid. Around 4 we split ways. I went home and read for a while before getting ready to go run with Tammi, Nash, and Theo. For some reason, this run hit me harder than most have been, but it was fine. We did the natural trail at the ruins and then got baleadas in Las Brisas. I got home and continued reading (I'm currently in a book of short stories, The Alchamist, and the 7th in the Great Book of Amber. I need to pick one.)
I showered and chatted with Abby for a while before Cid came. We watched The Wolf Man and then it was bed time.
Day 293 May 27
Some time back, when I was eavesdropping on my students who will say a lot around me in Spanish believing I won't understand, I heard them talking about trying to surprise me when I arrived at school, so arriving before me. I was glad to see they had listened when I told them not to do that. Michael came by in the morning and offered me some of the things in his classroom, which was nice. I'll have to look into that later.
One of my girls came in and gave me a rose. I had an old water bottle, so I made a vase for it and gave it water first thing. My kids did well to have a normal first part of the day as I told them we would. We had a slow start to reading groups, so I didn't get through as many reading assessments as I would have hoped, but that's okay. We went to recess and I got us ready for field day.
I broke the kids up into 4 teams and gave them colors for names. Red Team, White Team, Blue Team, and Yellow Team. They could earn points for their team by doing what I asked quickly and quietly and lose points if they didn't. Points were earned and lost easily. The top prize was ¾ of a bag of jelly beans and a sticker per person. The second place prize was ¼ of a bag of jelly beans and a sticker per person, the third place prize was 3 stickers per person, and the fourth place prize was one sticker per person. They wanted those jelly beans, so they were pretty well behaved through it all.
We started out with the egg/spoon relay race. The first heat didn't make it very far, but those teams got a re-do and they got a better hang of it. I kept repeating that it doesn't matter if they're ahead of you or not if your egg breaks. The 6th graders came and kicked us off the futbol field for PE class, which was fine, except for how they did it. There was no respect and they stood right in the middle of my relay race. I asked them to move, but they just continued to ask me to move for Mr. Ferjardo. I was a little ticked, but we got to redo the race and my kids didn't seem too phased by it.
We did a three legged race, an egg toss, a relay race, the hokey pokey, and telephone. It was awesome. Winning teams were awarded 4 points, and on down the scale. It was good. We then went back to the room where I told them I am going to be their teacher next year, which they took well. Only Carlos expressed any unhappiness and I heard someone remind him that he might end up with a teacher more angry than me if he didn't have me and he conceded that this is good. We played jeopardy, which I ended at lunch time. I tallied up the points to announce the winners at the end of the day.
We had lunch, during which time food and cake arrived for my surprise party. What I did not foresee is that Helen and Norma gave the kids both of those class periods to set up and practice for my party. They put all the desks against the wall, hung elephant pictures and blue balloons everywhere, and dressed in costumes for shows.
I was kidnapped before the end of my planning period, blindfolded, and sat in the middle of the room. When they untied me, they turned on the fan, which had confetti on top of it, and it snowed all around me. They then did a mime show, which was actually very coordinated and impressive. It was a 2 girl act and I was thrilled with it. Issella ended it by giving me her heart.
Then there was a 2 boy clown show, which was not as practiced or thought through, but still cute. The boys just know they're funny and expected to be able to carry the show on that. After the shows, the food started getting handed out. It was delicious. The kids were getting rowdy and Helen and Norma were busy with the food, so I decided it was a good time to do prizes from our field day. That worked out well and everyone was happy because they got something no matter what, and they were getting food and candy at a party. No downside.
We sent teachers all over primary some of the food and then they had me blow out my candles. I managed to blow them all out in one go, but 3 of them were trick candles! I had to keep blowing them out. We ate cake and the kids were given goody bags. They then got out their hollowed eggs filled with colorful confetti and broke them all over the room. They sat me down and gave me some gifts, like chocolates, another silly mug, a nice and not silly mug, and a ring. Erika and Sophia knit my bracelets. Norma helped the whole class put together a book of them and me. A huge picture of me is on the cover and then there's a picture and words from each student. In the back is the interview from a few weeks back that the kids did with me in Spanish.
The kids then rushed off late to catch the buses and I cleaned for a bit more than an hour. I walked home with Chris and we saw that the river had risen several feet in the last hour. There was a flash floor from pouring rain further up the mountain. It was the most intense I've ever seen the river and Ronnie said that sometimes it gets much higher than this. Chris and I explored a bit, in the rain. It was warm, so it was fun.
I went to the correo and had my birthday package from mom and dad! I then went by tutoring, but the door was closed up, so I turned back around. I ran into Chris again and we went to get empanadas and open our mail. I then went back to his place to exchange music and pictures. He gave me the pottery casserole dish made up in Yanitios. I went home and showered.
Cid came and we went, on my request, to eat dinner at Katia's mom's comedor. Cid had never been and now he knows it's my favorite place to eat. I was impressed to see that they had fixed up the back and it now has a real little patio and tent covering.
We then went to Tammi's to hang out with Tammi and Nash until about 9 when I decided it was time to get to bed. I got hom and found Luis sitting in my living room talking with Sierra. I had thought he'd forgotten my birthday, but he was here to wish me a good one. We talked for a while until he left and then I went straight to bed.
Day 294 May 28
The river was still high and the roads were muddy. I was glad to catch a ride shortly before the big hill just before the school. I got to school and got online and responded to the facebook world. I think this is the first birthday I've had my birthday posted on the site and the response is just overwhelming, but fun.
The kids were still a little wild from yesterday, which I expected. Art class was full of mayhem, but we got through it. Later Megan came to help finish reading assessments, but she only got through a few. I pulled kids during my planning period and finished them up. We finished our Science review packet and I've checked through them all so they can use them over the summer to study, if they will.
We ended our day with a lot of cleaning and picking certain things to take home and not bring back. Each day next week I'll send them home with a little more so they're backpacks aren't so full on the last day. I stayed after to clean, grade, and organize for next school year.
I walked home with Kathy and we ended up catching a ride with Pat from the bird park. We then chatted on the corner and split ways. I got a sandwich and drink in Picame, updated my pictures, and chatted with J. I went in and tried to nap, but couldn't. I felt a little refreshed just from trying, but made coffee. I showered and got dressed up for the party.
I met Tammi in the park and we went to pick up some earrings for me. We then got dinner and hung out for a while. She left shortly before Cid came. Cid and I talked and played in my new Where's Waldo book that Michael gave me for my kids. I've always been a child.
A bit after 9, we went over to the party. I was introduced to the pinata that's supposed to look like me. She even had a pocket in her skirt, which I loved. The party, which was an end of the year/ mariachi band/ full moon/ Nash's friend was coming into town/ Sarah's birthday party was a hit. There was a big turn out. After a while, the mariachi band came and I danced with Cid and Pedro, which was fun. Kelvin came into town for the party, Nash's friend was a lot of fun, most of the Urban Promise crew was there, Megan came, Hsuan came, and Pedro, Oscar, and Chando were there. Plus, all of the teachers that were in town and the usual party crews. More kept coming as the night went on.
Cid and I walked Megan home and I grabbed a baleada off the street on the way back. Then it was epic pinata time. I got to go first, and I started out with a Machete. I then switched over to a giant stick of bamboo. Chris got to go next, as it was his party too. He wielded the Machete. Shortly after he started, someone thought it would be a good idea to dip the pinata in the fire. This was done and it continued to be hit. All I can say is, I'm glad it's the rainy season and we live in cement houses.
After a while we all migrated to Papa Changos. I danced with Oscar once and the rest of the night with Cid. I'm such a slow learner at dancing, but it's fun. It was also a kind of mardi gras party there, so we got masks. Eventually, I went home and went to bed.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Week 41: Being Sick and Scared for J
Day 281 May 15
I was awake much earlier than I wanted to be and despite my best efforts to fight the morning—I was up. I started out with a very leisurely morning. I did some laundry, cooked breakfast, and called Rachel before I showered to let her know that Chris had told me we were taking off around 11. However, shortly after this, Chris called to ask if I could make a bus in the next 15 minutes. No, No I couldn't. Thus began the mayhem.
We found that the next bus would leave at 10. I could tell Chris was already frazzled, and my house is right next to the bus station, so I decided I would just stay home, be ready, and do as I was told to keep myself from getting anxious or frustrated. I abandoned several morning plans to leave an hour earlier, but I succeeded in buying toilet paper for the house before leaving, which was the most important. It allworked out well except that Chris and Katie left some things at my house, needed to use the bathroom, and as the three of us finally departed, Rachel had to convince the bus driver to stop pulling out. We had to run it down and hop on. The locals were staring.
We hopped off the bus just before La Entrada and right there was a truck we could catch a ride in to the park of the ruins of El Puente. When we got there we paid, signed in, and I noticed that the last visitors they'd had were a week ago.
We weaved around the museum at a nice slow pace. There was pottery, ax heads, obsidian tools, skulls, a skeleton, maps, and other very interesting things. I liked the details that were displayed here that you can't get at our ruins.
The park had a really nice climbing tree. Rachel went up much higher than I did and stayed in it for longer while we went up the big pyramid. We did everything slowly, which was nice. We'd climb up something, and sit and talk for a while. We went through the tunnels, which showed the structure the one we could see was built over.
We went to the picnic area and had a lunch of breads, cheeses, and mango. There was winding river next to us and Chris took a dip. It was very pleasant and I was slightly amused at how accustomed to large men with large guns I've become. After lunch, we walked the short nature trail, with signs trying to encourage people to enjoy nature, appreciate it, and treat it well.
We got a truck back to La Entrada, which was one of the fastest hitchhiking experiences I've had. As we pulled up the Casasola bus was pulling out and Rachel and I jumped on. We had a nice ride back, though we both became very thirsty as we drove along because we'd finished our water at lunch.
When we got back to Copan we made a B-line toward Picame for smoothies. A young man who appeared to be, and sounded hispanic, asked us in perfect English if we lived here and could direct him to a hotel. We were both surprised. No one ever assumes we live here.
We met Megan for a smoothie, which was perfect and hit the spot. I went inside to finish all the things I'd wanted to do that morning, but fell asleep. When I woke up, there was no power, it was terribly hot in my room, and I was out of it.
I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (the second book I've read by him and am tremendously impressed. I'm not even sure when I finished reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox I was so unimpressed.) I took a shower and met Cid at ViaVia for a little while before he had to go back to work at the hotel.
Day 282 May 16
I had a lazy morning, but nice. I spent some time working on my computer and then finished The Alchemist, which I've decided I need to read again, this time writing down all the profound quotes. Which might be the whole book. I think this is a book I need to read at least once every year. Who knew about Coelho and never told me? This man is a talented writer and good story teller and he has many different styles. I will read it in Spanish one day. I think it's a book I need to read about once a year, or so.
I went out grocery shopping and picked up corn flour and flour to start getting me out of my baking shell. We'll see how it goes. I got home and cleaned up and did laundry.
I headed over to Rachel's house to learn to make scones and talk. I wrote down everything we did and we talked for a long time. I told her how much the story of the Alchemist applies to the things we talk about. We prayed and went to church with our scones.
At church, the group discussed how strong this group is and what else we can do. We discussed plans for the future and more formal things, like tithing and what we use it for, what we can do in the community, etc. It was good. In the end, as we were praying, the power cut out and we just kept going.
When I got home, there was garbage everywhere and a dog I couldn't see because of the power outage. I chased off the dog and stepped over the garbage to get in the house. The whole downstairs smelled like rot. I told Sierra what had happened and went to bed. Eventually the power came back on, but, as it's been for days, you can hear and feel it fluctuating when it's on.
Day 283 May 17
At breakfast I had the equivalent of an Honduran corn dog. It was tasty. The day was relatively uneventful, except that I kept Carlos after for a homework detention. He always does his work, but never well, and so he never learns a thing. I stayed after school to finish up some loose ends and started getting a sore throat while I was there.
As soon as I started walking home, though the sun was shining, it started to pour. The closer to town I got, the darker it was. A car picked me up and got a ride to the central park. I talked with a tourist for a while on a corner, gave her some info she hadn't yet realized and then continued on to tutoring. Jaqui gave me birthday cake to celebrate her older son's birthday, who lives in the States.
I hurried home after to get ready for a run, and this time we were joined by Theo and Beth who set a much quicker pace than we usually go on slow days, but I managed to keep up. When I got home, I chatted with Sierra for a while and cleaned the pila. When I went to refill it, because it's so slow to refill, I showered while it was filling. When I finished, I had a strong urging to go out in the hall and check it. As I peeked in the pila room, still dripping myself and only in the towel, the pila began to overflow. I turned it off and there was no harm done. I won't take that risk again, though.
I went over to the Casa de Cafe, where my sore throat began to manifest much more strongly as a cold. I had seen Mark earlier, and he came to visit with Cid too. We joked about how visiting Cid was like visiting the ill at a hospital. “Yeah, have you been to see him recently? I was thinking of going tonight.” “Yeah, I've been with him every night.” But he's not sick, he's just trapped at the hotel.
The cold came full on during the night and I hardly slept at all. It was miserable.
Day 284 May 18
I felt terrible, so I wanted to catch a taxi, but as I started up the hill, there was a visual reminder of the road being closed down, so I turned to go up the stairs by Megan's house. On the stairs, I saw Abby leaving a house she's dog sitting for. She was confused to see me there. When I got up the hill, Megan was waiting outside her house for Gilda to pick her up, so we waited together. I met Antonia, the head of archeology at the ruins while we waited. He seemed very nice.
As the day progressed, I felt worse and worse. I developed a fever which I almost never do—less than once every two years, I'd say. I told the kids how I was feeling and they did pretty well for me during the day. They also tried to send me to the school nurse, which was cute. I slept in Megan's office during my break, and let my kids go early if they promised to be quiet in the hall. I then slept on my desk until the staff meeting. Some of my kids hung around my door giggling and watching me. I cared about nothing.
The meeting was probably the most productive we've had all year. I still couldn't care about anything, as I felt like death warmed over, but we got all our closing procedure paperwork and instructions. I started planing out my next few weeks.
I walked home and watched the OC with Sierra, for hopes of a back massage, which I got. I then went to the Casa de Cafe where Cid took care of me. I developed, and maintained for several hours, another fever. Cid made me tea and took care of dinner. I was asleep before 8.
Day 285 May 19
I was up by 5 and feeling better after so much sleep, but still not great. The kids and I had a decent day, but they tried to take advantage of the fact that I was feeling better. I spent my free time making worksheets and planning my last weeks of school.
After school, some of my girls stayed to help me translate an end of the year note home to the parents. I then walked home, got a smoothie while continuing with the worksheets, and then left for tutoring. When I got back I journaled, got baleadas, and went to the Casa de Cafe where I ate the baleadas with Cid.
Day 286 May 20
My day started when I got to school and learned that J had been in a car accident. I sat at my computer and cried before my students came in. I walked to the office and told Megan. I knew very little, except that he had a depressed fracture in his skull and was in an ICU. I was scared.
The rest of the day was overshadowed and I spent my free moments trying to learn more about the accident. I walked to Scout breifly and I got some information from Lia, which was much appreciated. As Scout reminded me, He's a strong ox. He'll be okay.
I walked home with Kristin, until her street and was then joined by a man named Gustavo who tried to get me to go to his house with lour of mangos. He also asked about my amigas. I did not bite. I walked straight to the Casa de Cafe.
I wasn't able to stay long, but it was good to talk to Cid. I told him what I had learned about J and then we chit chatted with Mark before I had to leave to tutor. I went to tutoring and then met up with Tammi and Nash for a run. After the run, we grabbed some cash and went to Las Brisas for baleadas.
I spent some quiet time alone and broke down on Sierra when she surprised me in the hall. I had to explain that nothing had happened, I was just scared. It reminded me of when I stepped out of the staff room at camp and saw Kate and Louise there after I got of the phone with mom when Dad was in ICU. I was sure everything would be fine, but I was just scared.
I chatted with Sierra for a while until mom called and then I talked to her. Sierra left. Mom and I talked for a long time and Cid was never able to come over because Howard had just gotten back into town.
There was a big storm before bed, which knocked out the power and made it hard to fall asleep.
Day 287 May 21
I walked to school with Kristin and the first thing I did when I got to my room was check the internet. I learned that J was out of ICU, which was great news, but I didn't feel much relief. I was starving for a detail, to know about any long term damage, or, really, just to talk to him.
My kids and I had a solid day. I stayed after to finish up all of my grading, but two of my boys were playing around and missed the bus so the vigilante told them to go to their classroom so I could deal with it, or go to the office. They came to me asking if they could walk home with me. I let them play in the room for a while but when I saw they were getting to anxious, I packed up the rest of my papers and went to leave. I checked the internet one last time and learned that J was already home. It was a huge relief, but I still wanted to talk to him and learn the details of his situation.
I started to walk home with Nilvio, Isaac, Kristin, and Megan, when a very late bus came and we asked if the driver would take home the boys too. The bus picked us up on our way down the hill, so we rode it too.
I went home and got some clothes I could get dirty to go help clean and paint at the Urban Promise office. I scrubbed a door down so that it could be painted later and then took some time on the internet, which I have been obsessed with recently. I was not in the mood for cooking, so I got a baleada at Picame and researched planets for last days random facts.
I went in the house did the laundry, the dishes, and took a shower. I sat up in my room and finished the grading I had wanted to finish at school. I completed my grade book on my computer and worked on my student comments and behavior grades. It was a very productive afternoon.
Eventually, Cid came over. We had planned to watch a movie, but ended up talking instead. As I was still sick, I got very tired early and went to bed.
I was awake much earlier than I wanted to be and despite my best efforts to fight the morning—I was up. I started out with a very leisurely morning. I did some laundry, cooked breakfast, and called Rachel before I showered to let her know that Chris had told me we were taking off around 11. However, shortly after this, Chris called to ask if I could make a bus in the next 15 minutes. No, No I couldn't. Thus began the mayhem.
We found that the next bus would leave at 10. I could tell Chris was already frazzled, and my house is right next to the bus station, so I decided I would just stay home, be ready, and do as I was told to keep myself from getting anxious or frustrated. I abandoned several morning plans to leave an hour earlier, but I succeeded in buying toilet paper for the house before leaving, which was the most important. It allworked out well except that Chris and Katie left some things at my house, needed to use the bathroom, and as the three of us finally departed, Rachel had to convince the bus driver to stop pulling out. We had to run it down and hop on. The locals were staring.
We hopped off the bus just before La Entrada and right there was a truck we could catch a ride in to the park of the ruins of El Puente. When we got there we paid, signed in, and I noticed that the last visitors they'd had were a week ago.
We weaved around the museum at a nice slow pace. There was pottery, ax heads, obsidian tools, skulls, a skeleton, maps, and other very interesting things. I liked the details that were displayed here that you can't get at our ruins.
The park had a really nice climbing tree. Rachel went up much higher than I did and stayed in it for longer while we went up the big pyramid. We did everything slowly, which was nice. We'd climb up something, and sit and talk for a while. We went through the tunnels, which showed the structure the one we could see was built over.
We went to the picnic area and had a lunch of breads, cheeses, and mango. There was winding river next to us and Chris took a dip. It was very pleasant and I was slightly amused at how accustomed to large men with large guns I've become. After lunch, we walked the short nature trail, with signs trying to encourage people to enjoy nature, appreciate it, and treat it well.
We got a truck back to La Entrada, which was one of the fastest hitchhiking experiences I've had. As we pulled up the Casasola bus was pulling out and Rachel and I jumped on. We had a nice ride back, though we both became very thirsty as we drove along because we'd finished our water at lunch.
When we got back to Copan we made a B-line toward Picame for smoothies. A young man who appeared to be, and sounded hispanic, asked us in perfect English if we lived here and could direct him to a hotel. We were both surprised. No one ever assumes we live here.
We met Megan for a smoothie, which was perfect and hit the spot. I went inside to finish all the things I'd wanted to do that morning, but fell asleep. When I woke up, there was no power, it was terribly hot in my room, and I was out of it.
I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (the second book I've read by him and am tremendously impressed. I'm not even sure when I finished reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox I was so unimpressed.) I took a shower and met Cid at ViaVia for a little while before he had to go back to work at the hotel.
Day 282 May 16
I had a lazy morning, but nice. I spent some time working on my computer and then finished The Alchemist, which I've decided I need to read again, this time writing down all the profound quotes. Which might be the whole book. I think this is a book I need to read at least once every year. Who knew about Coelho and never told me? This man is a talented writer and good story teller and he has many different styles. I will read it in Spanish one day. I think it's a book I need to read about once a year, or so.
I went out grocery shopping and picked up corn flour and flour to start getting me out of my baking shell. We'll see how it goes. I got home and cleaned up and did laundry.
I headed over to Rachel's house to learn to make scones and talk. I wrote down everything we did and we talked for a long time. I told her how much the story of the Alchemist applies to the things we talk about. We prayed and went to church with our scones.
At church, the group discussed how strong this group is and what else we can do. We discussed plans for the future and more formal things, like tithing and what we use it for, what we can do in the community, etc. It was good. In the end, as we were praying, the power cut out and we just kept going.
When I got home, there was garbage everywhere and a dog I couldn't see because of the power outage. I chased off the dog and stepped over the garbage to get in the house. The whole downstairs smelled like rot. I told Sierra what had happened and went to bed. Eventually the power came back on, but, as it's been for days, you can hear and feel it fluctuating when it's on.
Day 283 May 17
At breakfast I had the equivalent of an Honduran corn dog. It was tasty. The day was relatively uneventful, except that I kept Carlos after for a homework detention. He always does his work, but never well, and so he never learns a thing. I stayed after school to finish up some loose ends and started getting a sore throat while I was there.
As soon as I started walking home, though the sun was shining, it started to pour. The closer to town I got, the darker it was. A car picked me up and got a ride to the central park. I talked with a tourist for a while on a corner, gave her some info she hadn't yet realized and then continued on to tutoring. Jaqui gave me birthday cake to celebrate her older son's birthday, who lives in the States.
I hurried home after to get ready for a run, and this time we were joined by Theo and Beth who set a much quicker pace than we usually go on slow days, but I managed to keep up. When I got home, I chatted with Sierra for a while and cleaned the pila. When I went to refill it, because it's so slow to refill, I showered while it was filling. When I finished, I had a strong urging to go out in the hall and check it. As I peeked in the pila room, still dripping myself and only in the towel, the pila began to overflow. I turned it off and there was no harm done. I won't take that risk again, though.
I went over to the Casa de Cafe, where my sore throat began to manifest much more strongly as a cold. I had seen Mark earlier, and he came to visit with Cid too. We joked about how visiting Cid was like visiting the ill at a hospital. “Yeah, have you been to see him recently? I was thinking of going tonight.” “Yeah, I've been with him every night.” But he's not sick, he's just trapped at the hotel.
The cold came full on during the night and I hardly slept at all. It was miserable.
Day 284 May 18
I felt terrible, so I wanted to catch a taxi, but as I started up the hill, there was a visual reminder of the road being closed down, so I turned to go up the stairs by Megan's house. On the stairs, I saw Abby leaving a house she's dog sitting for. She was confused to see me there. When I got up the hill, Megan was waiting outside her house for Gilda to pick her up, so we waited together. I met Antonia, the head of archeology at the ruins while we waited. He seemed very nice.
As the day progressed, I felt worse and worse. I developed a fever which I almost never do—less than once every two years, I'd say. I told the kids how I was feeling and they did pretty well for me during the day. They also tried to send me to the school nurse, which was cute. I slept in Megan's office during my break, and let my kids go early if they promised to be quiet in the hall. I then slept on my desk until the staff meeting. Some of my kids hung around my door giggling and watching me. I cared about nothing.
The meeting was probably the most productive we've had all year. I still couldn't care about anything, as I felt like death warmed over, but we got all our closing procedure paperwork and instructions. I started planing out my next few weeks.
I walked home and watched the OC with Sierra, for hopes of a back massage, which I got. I then went to the Casa de Cafe where Cid took care of me. I developed, and maintained for several hours, another fever. Cid made me tea and took care of dinner. I was asleep before 8.
Day 285 May 19
I was up by 5 and feeling better after so much sleep, but still not great. The kids and I had a decent day, but they tried to take advantage of the fact that I was feeling better. I spent my free time making worksheets and planning my last weeks of school.
After school, some of my girls stayed to help me translate an end of the year note home to the parents. I then walked home, got a smoothie while continuing with the worksheets, and then left for tutoring. When I got back I journaled, got baleadas, and went to the Casa de Cafe where I ate the baleadas with Cid.
Day 286 May 20
My day started when I got to school and learned that J had been in a car accident. I sat at my computer and cried before my students came in. I walked to the office and told Megan. I knew very little, except that he had a depressed fracture in his skull and was in an ICU. I was scared.
The rest of the day was overshadowed and I spent my free moments trying to learn more about the accident. I walked to Scout breifly and I got some information from Lia, which was much appreciated. As Scout reminded me, He's a strong ox. He'll be okay.
I walked home with Kristin, until her street and was then joined by a man named Gustavo who tried to get me to go to his house with lour of mangos. He also asked about my amigas. I did not bite. I walked straight to the Casa de Cafe.
I wasn't able to stay long, but it was good to talk to Cid. I told him what I had learned about J and then we chit chatted with Mark before I had to leave to tutor. I went to tutoring and then met up with Tammi and Nash for a run. After the run, we grabbed some cash and went to Las Brisas for baleadas.
I spent some quiet time alone and broke down on Sierra when she surprised me in the hall. I had to explain that nothing had happened, I was just scared. It reminded me of when I stepped out of the staff room at camp and saw Kate and Louise there after I got of the phone with mom when Dad was in ICU. I was sure everything would be fine, but I was just scared.
I chatted with Sierra for a while until mom called and then I talked to her. Sierra left. Mom and I talked for a long time and Cid was never able to come over because Howard had just gotten back into town.
There was a big storm before bed, which knocked out the power and made it hard to fall asleep.
Day 287 May 21
I walked to school with Kristin and the first thing I did when I got to my room was check the internet. I learned that J was out of ICU, which was great news, but I didn't feel much relief. I was starving for a detail, to know about any long term damage, or, really, just to talk to him.
My kids and I had a solid day. I stayed after to finish up all of my grading, but two of my boys were playing around and missed the bus so the vigilante told them to go to their classroom so I could deal with it, or go to the office. They came to me asking if they could walk home with me. I let them play in the room for a while but when I saw they were getting to anxious, I packed up the rest of my papers and went to leave. I checked the internet one last time and learned that J was already home. It was a huge relief, but I still wanted to talk to him and learn the details of his situation.
I started to walk home with Nilvio, Isaac, Kristin, and Megan, when a very late bus came and we asked if the driver would take home the boys too. The bus picked us up on our way down the hill, so we rode it too.
I went home and got some clothes I could get dirty to go help clean and paint at the Urban Promise office. I scrubbed a door down so that it could be painted later and then took some time on the internet, which I have been obsessed with recently. I was not in the mood for cooking, so I got a baleada at Picame and researched planets for last days random facts.
I went in the house did the laundry, the dishes, and took a shower. I sat up in my room and finished the grading I had wanted to finish at school. I completed my grade book on my computer and worked on my student comments and behavior grades. It was a very productive afternoon.
Eventually, Cid came over. We had planned to watch a movie, but ended up talking instead. As I was still sick, I got very tired early and went to bed.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Week 40: Henry and Mommy's Birthday
Day 274 May 8
I woke up earlier than was desired and lounged around bed until about 10. I went down and discovered Henry making breakfast for Sierra and me. It was delicious. We hung out and chatted all morning until they left to go to the bird park.
I spent the rest of the late morning/early afternoon cleaning the house and doing my laundry. Around 2:30, I hopped in the shower and got ready to go to Casa Villamil to met Megan to go over applications for next year. We reviewed, discussed, and took notes until about 4 when Viki and all of her students came to hear our stories. We hung out and explained our lives, one at a time, until around 6. The application meeting then wrapped up with semi-final decisions.
Between everything I spent some time online and updated my blog, chatted with Alex Kramer, and caught up on a variety of other things. A bit before 7 I headed on home.
I created a pasta dish with, well, pasta, ground beef, tomatoes, onion, garlic, milk, gouda cheese, cauliflower and carrots marinated in jalapeno juice for spice, and olives which made the dish wonderful. I ate and washed the dishes shortly before Cid came over. I was pretty tired, so we sat around talking. We had plans to watch a movie, but I didn't make it that long. I ended up falling asleep before 9.
Day 275 May 9
Happy Mother's Day, Mothers!
I woke up feeling very refreshed and ate the leftovers of my pasta dish. I did the rest of my laundry. I sat around talking to Sierra for a while, both of us wanting to shower but first there was no power or water and then there was no water.
We went out grocery shopping, which was very productive. I saw Viki while I was out and said my goodbyes. We saw a variety of other people as I went from store to store and market.
I got back home and found Henry had woken up. He went out to buy food to cook and when he came back he had found a friend of his from La Ceiba, very randomly. They cooked and then we ate lunch, all the while practicing Spanish. His friend, Ben, is a United Statesian who was taking Spanish classes in Ceiba.
Around 1, Sierra and Carolina came back from French class and I departed to call my mom. I called as they were sitting down to dinner, so I waited around until she was available to call back. We had a nice chat and I got to see my brothers and dad also.
I went home and cooked up a new dish I've been working on. It smelled good, but I was making it for the week to come. I ate a pb and j sandwhich. The guys had come back and wanted to try my cooking, saying I had kept it a secret that I could cook. I then made banana pudding, of sorts, and went to church.
Megan wanted to make sure the guys would not still be in the house when we went to school the next day, so I called Sierra and asked if she had talked to Henry yet. She had not, she said she would. We started church up late, and as I always do when we have it in the evening, I was zonked by about 7:30. I left around 8 and discovered the guys, Sierra, and Cid up on the roof.
Cid joined me downstairs and we chatted about roommates, my past roommate situations, how little drama this one has, and the current situations being dealt with.
Day 276 May 10
Sierra left later than usual and I wasn't sure if I was being avoided or not, but I gave her her space. As I walked out of the house, however, I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw Kelvin walking down toward me. He was in town for Mother's day and had to get back to work that day so he was taking off on the 6am bus. We chatted until 6 near the bus and then said our goodbyes. He said he'd come back into town for my birthday weekend.
I got a ride when I was most of the way there from Gilda. She gave me a banana. I was later than usual also, so I didn't have as much prep time as I like to have on Mondays.
I started out the day telling them how proud I was of them from Friday and how we now have 4 weeks left of school. Four weeks to prep for being fourth graders. They told be they didn't want me to prep them to be fourth graders, they want me to teach them. Even Carlos and Isaac. I didn't say anything about it, but told them I would do a better job and that I wanted them all to do their part.
We got our new spelling words, did a mini lesson on “a” vs “an”, finished our pizza fractions, did a timed science activity on renewable resources. Norma had asked me on Friday if I would come to her class today, so I did. The kids all had questions to ask me based around my childhood, when I was in primary, becoming a teacher, being at Mayatan, being in Honduras, and my favorite things. The interview was in Spanish, which my kids didn't expect me to be able to do. Norma pointed out that I came not knowing Spanish, but now can understand questions and answer them with few (many, I think) errors. They certainly enjoyed it. The end of the day was mayhem, but a moderate mayhem.
I spent my free periods writing out recipes on index cards and color coordinating them based on the type of dish it is. Many of these dishes, some from mom, some from the internet, and some from my brain, are even manageable here! I'm excited about it.
After school, we had a house meeting, which I thought went well until the end when I discovered it had not. I just have to hope it blows over. I walked home with Megan. When I got home things were a little awkward and the angry biting ants at the door didn't help when I went to let Jesse in. Jesse and Sierra left and I went off to tutoring.
We did his homework and then finished a book we started reading a while ago. When I left, I saw Chris and we chatted for a while, making a dinner date for tomorrow. I got home and tried to talk to Sierra, but she wasn't up for it. I went upstairs and finished the recipes I had saved to my computer and my progress reports. By the time I was done, I had 27 recipe index cards, and had watched my neighbors, two young boys, try to kill each other. It made me think of David and James. I kept an eye out and decided not to intervene unless they started threatening real damage to each other. They were very angry children, though. They worked it out and then mom came out to scold them.
I cleaned up downstairs and picked up my room. Jesse came back over and I got another recipe from him. I went out to chat with Cid, Denny, Esteban, and Jessica as I'd been hearing Cid's voice from the house. Denny wants to have a cook off.
I came back in and continued on, cutting up mango for tomorrow and doing other general prep. I went to sleep shortly before 9.
Day 277 May 11
It was a hot night, and I was not able to sleep through it. This resulted in a sleepy morning and a sleepy day. Yesterday my eye was red and puffy and it was today also. It hasn't been hurting or itching, but my kids ask about it a lot.
We had reading groups for the first time in more than a week. They went well and we actually went to the computer lab, which I usually avoid like the plague. I'm always scared being the only teacher in a room with 25 computers and 20 children. The potential for disaster is too great. But today we went and went well.
We started added fractions, learning about mixed numbers, and what are fossil fuels. I also managed total control during our out of control period at the end of the day. They were pleased with themselves, too. Let's see if I can make a pattern out of it.
After school, some of the kids hung around my room for a while, but at 2:30 I rushed down the hill to get to the bank before it got a line. It was a construction day on the road, which inspired me to walk all the faster. I succeeded in getting to the bank when it had short lines and came home for a bit. I made Sierra, who had gone home sick, some tea. I discovered a spilled container of honey in the house, and cleaned it up before going to tutoring. I am scared of getting more ants.
After tutoring, I went home and was shortly called by Cid. He came over for a while and informed me that he'd be stuck at the hotel for the next 10 days because Howard and Angela were going to Guatemala and Mexico. After he left to go back, I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Sierra and went to sleep.
Day 278 May 12
My kids have literally been planning my surprised birthday party for 2 weeks. I thought they would lose steam, but now I do not believe it is the case. My birthday falls on a Thursday, which means I have no specials to break up my day. I will have 3 periods in a row, 20 minutes of recess, and 3 more periods, then the last period at the end of the day. This is the plan: play the first 3 periods normally with reading groups and a question of the day. I will inform them of my plan during this time so they do not riot. During the second long period, I will essentially give them a one manned field day. We can do trust activities, play games like telephone, have relays. I refuse to give up too much at the end of the school day, so they will all be educationally based. Telephone is practicing English skills, relays can have a question element added. I will also tell them that I'm coming back and going to 4th grade. They've started asking, and this way I won't be losing class time. That's the plan...
I've been having a harder and harder time getting out of bed, but did and walked up the hill. Sierra is still a bit sick, so she decided to take the bus. When I got to school, I got set up, set up the board, and borrowed some push pins from Anne, as I had come ill prepared. Despite this, I managed to have a good day. Wednesdays tend to be like that. I stayed late and then walked home.
At home, I watched the movie Revolutionary Road. It was well done, but one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. I had a slow movie and then went over to Cid's. We were going to watch The Men who Stare at Goats, but he was stuck working later than expected. He was in a skype call with Howard, who's still on vacation, for some time after I got there. I actually, awkwardly, fell asleep on the couch and woke up when a guest came in, who looked at me very strangely for not just going to my room. Of course, I don't have a room there.
I did wake up and we chatted for at least a little while before I went off to sleep.
279 May 13
Happy Birthday Mommy! You are wonderful!
I was able to chat with my mommy in the morning. My kids wished her a happy birthday also. The kids and I had a good day, except for one hour. One horrible hour. I came down hard on them hard and brought order back, but it was not a delight. We ended the day with a play by the 5th graders on bullies. It was well done and my kids were listening!
I stayed a little late to finish up some work and then walked home with Megan and Beth. I was only home for a minute before I rushed off to tutoring. Isaac had been sent home with a bill, and when Jaqui saw it, she panicked. She tried to talk to me about it, but even if I had understood everything she was saying...i still don't know anything about money at Mayatan. I just agreed to take in her receipts saying she had paid each month and told her who to talk to. When I told her to talk to Alexis, she ran out the door with her recite book, came back in and said she would cook for me first. After she cooked , she went back out to sort things out. When she came back, she had sorted it all out and she was not being charged for past months, but what she still had to pay for the end of the year, which was fine. I stayed later at tutoring to help her sort it out, and to comfort Isaac since he was getting concerned.
During school, I had had a brief conversation with Nash and Tammi about maybe going for a run. While I was at tutoring, I took out my phone, in case they called, but they never did. As I was leaving Isaac's, I saw Cid and he needed to run by my house to pick up his phone charger. Isaac saw us together and gave me a curious look, but luckily he's not much of a gossip. He just likes to make sure I know he knows.
When I got to the house, Nash and Tammi were there, waiting to run. It was 30 minutes after the agreed on time, but Nash had only been there for 10 minutes and Tammi for 2. I had given up on the idea of a run, but Nash wouldn't let it go, so I dressed quickly and we went. We ran to the ruins and ran through the nature trail. I saw my first wild snake since getting here, which is a little late in the game. I don't know what kind it was, but I almost tripped Tammi when I stopped to look. Oops.
We got back from the run and I stretched, did a few more exercises, and showered. I was then late to dinner with Alex, Megan, Chris, and Rachael. Rachael came a little after I did. We had a wonderful dinner full of good company and conversation.
After, I went home and went to bed around 8:30.
Day 280 May 14
I was running late in the morning, but walked quickly to make up for it. The class spent the day on the brink of chaos, and I was constantly afraid we'd slip into it, but I managed to keep things together just enough that we didn't. We did have a major let down when Katia was expecting her mom to come with cake at the end of the day to celebrate her birthday and no one came. It was sad for the class, but mostly for Katia. I hope she was greeted at home with something or at least a reason. She handled it well, though. I get the feeling she has a strained relationship at home and so she wasn't surprised.
I stayed late and did a lot of work. I made a lot of worksheets and did planning. I'm gerring up with prep for the end of the year. We'll see how it goes. I cleaned up the room and listened to music, while Victor and Marlon brought in several very large beetles.
When I did leave, I played a little basketball with Abby and Allan before heading home. I left earlier than I normally do on Fridays because there was no power. I went into town and bought saldo before calling and meeting up with Rachael.
We chatted for a while, much more casually than most of our conversations are, but it was broken up by the need to buy tres leches cake and get it to one of the local boys who was having his 9th birthday. There's no one who would celebrate his birthday. We took him up on my roof to give it to him and he was a very good sharer. Abby was in the house by this time and she heard us up there, so we told her it was Jimmy's birthday and she brought up some shoes, shirts, shorts, and briefs her family had donated to the area, but she hadn't yet figured out how to distribute. She thought this was as good a time as any to start. After Jimmy left, beaming in his new shoes, we set up some new ground rules for future church meetings.
I went to Cid's and we watched Inglorious Bastards, which wasn't as good as the hype I had heard. I was very sleepy, and we talked for a while after the movie before I finally decided I needed to get to bed.
I woke up earlier than was desired and lounged around bed until about 10. I went down and discovered Henry making breakfast for Sierra and me. It was delicious. We hung out and chatted all morning until they left to go to the bird park.
I spent the rest of the late morning/early afternoon cleaning the house and doing my laundry. Around 2:30, I hopped in the shower and got ready to go to Casa Villamil to met Megan to go over applications for next year. We reviewed, discussed, and took notes until about 4 when Viki and all of her students came to hear our stories. We hung out and explained our lives, one at a time, until around 6. The application meeting then wrapped up with semi-final decisions.
Between everything I spent some time online and updated my blog, chatted with Alex Kramer, and caught up on a variety of other things. A bit before 7 I headed on home.
I created a pasta dish with, well, pasta, ground beef, tomatoes, onion, garlic, milk, gouda cheese, cauliflower and carrots marinated in jalapeno juice for spice, and olives which made the dish wonderful. I ate and washed the dishes shortly before Cid came over. I was pretty tired, so we sat around talking. We had plans to watch a movie, but I didn't make it that long. I ended up falling asleep before 9.
Day 275 May 9
Happy Mother's Day, Mothers!
I woke up feeling very refreshed and ate the leftovers of my pasta dish. I did the rest of my laundry. I sat around talking to Sierra for a while, both of us wanting to shower but first there was no power or water and then there was no water.
We went out grocery shopping, which was very productive. I saw Viki while I was out and said my goodbyes. We saw a variety of other people as I went from store to store and market.
I got back home and found Henry had woken up. He went out to buy food to cook and when he came back he had found a friend of his from La Ceiba, very randomly. They cooked and then we ate lunch, all the while practicing Spanish. His friend, Ben, is a United Statesian who was taking Spanish classes in Ceiba.
Around 1, Sierra and Carolina came back from French class and I departed to call my mom. I called as they were sitting down to dinner, so I waited around until she was available to call back. We had a nice chat and I got to see my brothers and dad also.
I went home and cooked up a new dish I've been working on. It smelled good, but I was making it for the week to come. I ate a pb and j sandwhich. The guys had come back and wanted to try my cooking, saying I had kept it a secret that I could cook. I then made banana pudding, of sorts, and went to church.
Megan wanted to make sure the guys would not still be in the house when we went to school the next day, so I called Sierra and asked if she had talked to Henry yet. She had not, she said she would. We started church up late, and as I always do when we have it in the evening, I was zonked by about 7:30. I left around 8 and discovered the guys, Sierra, and Cid up on the roof.
Cid joined me downstairs and we chatted about roommates, my past roommate situations, how little drama this one has, and the current situations being dealt with.
Day 276 May 10
Sierra left later than usual and I wasn't sure if I was being avoided or not, but I gave her her space. As I walked out of the house, however, I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw Kelvin walking down toward me. He was in town for Mother's day and had to get back to work that day so he was taking off on the 6am bus. We chatted until 6 near the bus and then said our goodbyes. He said he'd come back into town for my birthday weekend.
I got a ride when I was most of the way there from Gilda. She gave me a banana. I was later than usual also, so I didn't have as much prep time as I like to have on Mondays.
I started out the day telling them how proud I was of them from Friday and how we now have 4 weeks left of school. Four weeks to prep for being fourth graders. They told be they didn't want me to prep them to be fourth graders, they want me to teach them. Even Carlos and Isaac. I didn't say anything about it, but told them I would do a better job and that I wanted them all to do their part.
We got our new spelling words, did a mini lesson on “a” vs “an”, finished our pizza fractions, did a timed science activity on renewable resources. Norma had asked me on Friday if I would come to her class today, so I did. The kids all had questions to ask me based around my childhood, when I was in primary, becoming a teacher, being at Mayatan, being in Honduras, and my favorite things. The interview was in Spanish, which my kids didn't expect me to be able to do. Norma pointed out that I came not knowing Spanish, but now can understand questions and answer them with few (many, I think) errors. They certainly enjoyed it. The end of the day was mayhem, but a moderate mayhem.
I spent my free periods writing out recipes on index cards and color coordinating them based on the type of dish it is. Many of these dishes, some from mom, some from the internet, and some from my brain, are even manageable here! I'm excited about it.
After school, we had a house meeting, which I thought went well until the end when I discovered it had not. I just have to hope it blows over. I walked home with Megan. When I got home things were a little awkward and the angry biting ants at the door didn't help when I went to let Jesse in. Jesse and Sierra left and I went off to tutoring.
We did his homework and then finished a book we started reading a while ago. When I left, I saw Chris and we chatted for a while, making a dinner date for tomorrow. I got home and tried to talk to Sierra, but she wasn't up for it. I went upstairs and finished the recipes I had saved to my computer and my progress reports. By the time I was done, I had 27 recipe index cards, and had watched my neighbors, two young boys, try to kill each other. It made me think of David and James. I kept an eye out and decided not to intervene unless they started threatening real damage to each other. They were very angry children, though. They worked it out and then mom came out to scold them.
I cleaned up downstairs and picked up my room. Jesse came back over and I got another recipe from him. I went out to chat with Cid, Denny, Esteban, and Jessica as I'd been hearing Cid's voice from the house. Denny wants to have a cook off.
I came back in and continued on, cutting up mango for tomorrow and doing other general prep. I went to sleep shortly before 9.
Day 277 May 11
It was a hot night, and I was not able to sleep through it. This resulted in a sleepy morning and a sleepy day. Yesterday my eye was red and puffy and it was today also. It hasn't been hurting or itching, but my kids ask about it a lot.
We had reading groups for the first time in more than a week. They went well and we actually went to the computer lab, which I usually avoid like the plague. I'm always scared being the only teacher in a room with 25 computers and 20 children. The potential for disaster is too great. But today we went and went well.
We started added fractions, learning about mixed numbers, and what are fossil fuels. I also managed total control during our out of control period at the end of the day. They were pleased with themselves, too. Let's see if I can make a pattern out of it.
After school, some of the kids hung around my room for a while, but at 2:30 I rushed down the hill to get to the bank before it got a line. It was a construction day on the road, which inspired me to walk all the faster. I succeeded in getting to the bank when it had short lines and came home for a bit. I made Sierra, who had gone home sick, some tea. I discovered a spilled container of honey in the house, and cleaned it up before going to tutoring. I am scared of getting more ants.
After tutoring, I went home and was shortly called by Cid. He came over for a while and informed me that he'd be stuck at the hotel for the next 10 days because Howard and Angela were going to Guatemala and Mexico. After he left to go back, I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Sierra and went to sleep.
Day 278 May 12
My kids have literally been planning my surprised birthday party for 2 weeks. I thought they would lose steam, but now I do not believe it is the case. My birthday falls on a Thursday, which means I have no specials to break up my day. I will have 3 periods in a row, 20 minutes of recess, and 3 more periods, then the last period at the end of the day. This is the plan: play the first 3 periods normally with reading groups and a question of the day. I will inform them of my plan during this time so they do not riot. During the second long period, I will essentially give them a one manned field day. We can do trust activities, play games like telephone, have relays. I refuse to give up too much at the end of the school day, so they will all be educationally based. Telephone is practicing English skills, relays can have a question element added. I will also tell them that I'm coming back and going to 4th grade. They've started asking, and this way I won't be losing class time. That's the plan...
I've been having a harder and harder time getting out of bed, but did and walked up the hill. Sierra is still a bit sick, so she decided to take the bus. When I got to school, I got set up, set up the board, and borrowed some push pins from Anne, as I had come ill prepared. Despite this, I managed to have a good day. Wednesdays tend to be like that. I stayed late and then walked home.
At home, I watched the movie Revolutionary Road. It was well done, but one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. I had a slow movie and then went over to Cid's. We were going to watch The Men who Stare at Goats, but he was stuck working later than expected. He was in a skype call with Howard, who's still on vacation, for some time after I got there. I actually, awkwardly, fell asleep on the couch and woke up when a guest came in, who looked at me very strangely for not just going to my room. Of course, I don't have a room there.
I did wake up and we chatted for at least a little while before I went off to sleep.
279 May 13
Happy Birthday Mommy! You are wonderful!
I was able to chat with my mommy in the morning. My kids wished her a happy birthday also. The kids and I had a good day, except for one hour. One horrible hour. I came down hard on them hard and brought order back, but it was not a delight. We ended the day with a play by the 5th graders on bullies. It was well done and my kids were listening!
I stayed a little late to finish up some work and then walked home with Megan and Beth. I was only home for a minute before I rushed off to tutoring. Isaac had been sent home with a bill, and when Jaqui saw it, she panicked. She tried to talk to me about it, but even if I had understood everything she was saying...i still don't know anything about money at Mayatan. I just agreed to take in her receipts saying she had paid each month and told her who to talk to. When I told her to talk to Alexis, she ran out the door with her recite book, came back in and said she would cook for me first. After she cooked , she went back out to sort things out. When she came back, she had sorted it all out and she was not being charged for past months, but what she still had to pay for the end of the year, which was fine. I stayed later at tutoring to help her sort it out, and to comfort Isaac since he was getting concerned.
During school, I had had a brief conversation with Nash and Tammi about maybe going for a run. While I was at tutoring, I took out my phone, in case they called, but they never did. As I was leaving Isaac's, I saw Cid and he needed to run by my house to pick up his phone charger. Isaac saw us together and gave me a curious look, but luckily he's not much of a gossip. He just likes to make sure I know he knows.
When I got to the house, Nash and Tammi were there, waiting to run. It was 30 minutes after the agreed on time, but Nash had only been there for 10 minutes and Tammi for 2. I had given up on the idea of a run, but Nash wouldn't let it go, so I dressed quickly and we went. We ran to the ruins and ran through the nature trail. I saw my first wild snake since getting here, which is a little late in the game. I don't know what kind it was, but I almost tripped Tammi when I stopped to look. Oops.
We got back from the run and I stretched, did a few more exercises, and showered. I was then late to dinner with Alex, Megan, Chris, and Rachael. Rachael came a little after I did. We had a wonderful dinner full of good company and conversation.
After, I went home and went to bed around 8:30.
Day 280 May 14
I was running late in the morning, but walked quickly to make up for it. The class spent the day on the brink of chaos, and I was constantly afraid we'd slip into it, but I managed to keep things together just enough that we didn't. We did have a major let down when Katia was expecting her mom to come with cake at the end of the day to celebrate her birthday and no one came. It was sad for the class, but mostly for Katia. I hope she was greeted at home with something or at least a reason. She handled it well, though. I get the feeling she has a strained relationship at home and so she wasn't surprised.
I stayed late and did a lot of work. I made a lot of worksheets and did planning. I'm gerring up with prep for the end of the year. We'll see how it goes. I cleaned up the room and listened to music, while Victor and Marlon brought in several very large beetles.
When I did leave, I played a little basketball with Abby and Allan before heading home. I left earlier than I normally do on Fridays because there was no power. I went into town and bought saldo before calling and meeting up with Rachael.
We chatted for a while, much more casually than most of our conversations are, but it was broken up by the need to buy tres leches cake and get it to one of the local boys who was having his 9th birthday. There's no one who would celebrate his birthday. We took him up on my roof to give it to him and he was a very good sharer. Abby was in the house by this time and she heard us up there, so we told her it was Jimmy's birthday and she brought up some shoes, shirts, shorts, and briefs her family had donated to the area, but she hadn't yet figured out how to distribute. She thought this was as good a time as any to start. After Jimmy left, beaming in his new shoes, we set up some new ground rules for future church meetings.
I went to Cid's and we watched Inglorious Bastards, which wasn't as good as the hype I had heard. I was very sleepy, and we talked for a while after the movie before I finally decided I needed to get to bed.
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