Reminders

October 31, 2012

First of all Happy Halloween!  I wish I was in the states so that I could overdose on candy and see all the fun costumes, since Halloween is viewed very negatively here.  This week has been a pretty calm one so far, but has provided me with numerous opportunities for reminders about the beauty and uniqueness of where I am.  I finished calculating my grades over the weekend and put them in the books today.  I was pleasantly surprised at the success of my students.  It is not that I expect less from them, but it always seemed like so many of them were failing tests and quizzes that it would be hard for them to pass.  I must say somehow they pulled it off.  I would also like to take the chance to tell you about two of my favorite students (ssshhhh don’t tell).  They are siblings and this is their first year at the school.  One is in the 10^th grade and the other is in 8^th grade.  During the first week of school I saw their blank stares and thought uh oh, this is going to be a long hard year for them; it was very apparent that their English just wasn’t at the level of their fellow students.  They slowly began to improve and their grades were awesome!  I talked with both of them a bit and was told that the 10^th grader works hours every night studying and reviewing material and forces his sister to do the same by reminding her of the great opportunity they have.  They also have an hour each night where they talk only in English about anything they want just to practice some more.  I am so impressed with their dedication and determination that I can’t help but appreciate their presence in my classes.  They are a great reminder of why I am here and the good things I am doing. 

On funnier note, on my walk home from school today with two of my fellow teachers we happened to see one of our 9^th grade students driving.  Now that is not abnormal since we have seen 5^th graders driving pick-up trucks and several 7^th graders have motorcycles (more like dirt bikes).  What was so weird was that he was driving a giant back hoe down one of the main streets of La Union, and I am talking giant.  He just looked at us, smiled and waved as if this was to be expected.  We were flabbergasted and just laughed, saying TIH (this is honduras).  This served as a reminder to not take life so seriously, sometimes you just have to enjoy the odd things in life.  It also reminded me that La Union is different, especially from anywhere in the states, but that those differences make it all the more challenging, humerous, and enjoyable.   There somethings you can do here that you just can’t do in the states.

A few days ago I walked home from school by myself because I was ready to leave while others were still working.  I enjoy my time alone while I walk and had the chance to think about my time here so far.  Yes, there are A LOT of things and people that I miss back home, and yes I think about them all the time, but I am enjoying myself here.  At first I thought the only fun times were when we got to travel, but the more time I have spent here in La Union, the more fun it gets.  Although sometimes sensory deprivation sets in, I find myself extremely content in my life here and overjoyed with the new friendships and blessings that have been placed in my life, I couldn’t ask for better people to spend this adventure with.  I also got to think about how beautiful and undeveloped La Union is just nestled in the mountains.  Space such as this would easily be bought and begun to be developed in the states taking away from much of the raw beauty.  The best way to describe it is simple.  Life here is simple, the people tend to think in simplistic ways, the living situations are simple and the scenery is simply beautiful.  My walk home reminded of the simple things and beauty I wouldn’t be experiencing if I were in the states.  It also served to remind me of the things and people I will miss when my time here ends. 

I think it is important to try and spend time every so often reminding ourselves of what we have in our life, who we have in our life and those things that just can’t be described or forgotten.