Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

January 26, 2012

Last Thursday the temperature dropped to about 50 degrees and began raining…and it hasn’t stopped!  It has been kind of miserable and makes me feel very unproductive.  Because of all the rain and cold weather, I spent most of last weekend inside my sleeping bag.  Brooke and I watched a couple movies and with a few of the other teachers played some Settlers of Catan.  We were all looking forward to getting out of town this weekend for Beth’s birthday.  We had planned on spending the weekend in Gracias and ziplining on what is supposed to be Central America’s tallest!  Unfortunately, with the cold and rainy weather we decided not to go because we weren’t sure the bus would make it.  Instead we are celebrating Beth’s birthday here in La Union. 

Besides the crummy weather things have been going well.  I am back into the swing of things and the students have been great.  The directors from Tegucigalpa were here visiting and checking on us this week.  We all passed!  They actually didn’t even sit in on any classes but they met with the sponsored students from 8-11^th grade.  They made them sign a contract that asks them to uphold the Christian values even outside of school.  They are also required to do 4 hours of community service every Saturday (except when we are on a school vacation).  The students were not very excited because that started this weekend at 8am. 

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately because it is that time of year where we have to decide about staying for another year.  There are a lot of people and things I miss from home, but I know that what I’m doing here is a good thing and my students are so great.  There is a lot to think about and a big decision head. 

Christmas Break and Becoming a Honduran Resident

January 11, 2012

I never had the chance to write about the week before Christmas break because things were so busy.  Many people heard the stories while I was at home but in case you didn’t I have to tell you how awesome the student’s at our school are.  Our last day of school was Wednesday the 19^th so on Monday evening I got a knock at my door, it was one of the 11^th grade students and he said him and his classmates were all hoping to have a prayer circle that evening with the teachers because one of the fellow classmates was really sick.  I was shocked and of course agreed to go.  When we walked to the student’s house it was dark and out of nowhere all of the 11^th graders popped out and started singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  It was so nice and they made us chili and tacos and we ate and hung out with them for the evening.  They even taught us to dance some typical dances of the area.  It was a big surprise and such a blast to see the students in their own element outside of the classroom. 

The Christmas Carolers even came to Brooke's house

On Tuesday evening the 8^th graders did a similar thing so we spent the evening hanging out with them and enjoying more good Honduran food.  They even had a bonfire going and we once again listened to some good music.  After this we met up with a lot of the secondary students and went Christmas caroling.  Lenny organized this even with the 11^th graders but many of the other students thought it would be fun so they joined in too.  We stopped at all of the Honduran teachers houses and they loved it! 

Wednesday was the day of the Christmas play.  The students had been practicing for weeks so I was excited to see what the final show would look like.  They did awesome!  The little ones were very cute in their matching outfits and all danced so well.  The older students did a great job acting and one of my 10^th grade students even sang a solo, which gave me goosebumps.  I was so impressed with their talents and effort to put on such a great show. 

One of the closing scenes where a 10th grader sang a solo.

6th and 7th grade Dance

5th Graders Dance

Skiing with Rachel

Christmas break was great.  I got to see a lot of people and spend time with my family.  I also enjoyed the warm and powerful showers, the great food variety, skiing, and the company of some of my favorite people.  It was weird though because by the end I was ready to come back to La Union.  I wasn’t necessarily ready for school, but I wanted to see my students and I wanted to see my fellow teachers which are now a big part of me and whom I consider family. 

Out for a Christmas Day walk in the snow

Upon arriving in Honduras we unfortunately didn’t get to come right back to La Union instead we traveled to Tegucigalpa in order to become official Honduran residents.  It was a long weekend with lots of traveling and few disappointments.  I made it with only 1 minor problem back to San Pedro Sula and took a transfer back to my hotel.  When I checked in for my flight they told me I couldn’t get on the plane because I didn’t have a visa to stay longer than the 90-day tourist visa (my return flight is booked for the end of the school year).  I called Delta and booked a refundable one-way ticket home for some day in January and they let me through.  Once I arrived my mom was able to just call and cancel the ticket and get the money back.  I arrive in the afternoon and then later that evening I went back to the airport to meet Brooke who was flying in from her travels in Ecuador.  I was very excited to see her but she seemed to be missing something…her luggage.  Unfortunately her bag didn’t make it and she would spend the next week or so chasing it down. 

The next morning Brooke and I met up with the Gracias teachers (who didn’t even know we were there) and were picked up by the Gracias bus.  We stopped at the airport and picked up Kara and Lenny along with one of the Gracias teachers and a new teacher for Choluteca.  We then left San Pedro Sula to make the 4 hour bus ride to the Tegucigalpa.  Unfortunately on the way got a flat tire and had to spend some time fixing that.  We arrived late evening into Tegucigalpa, where the rest of the La Union teachers were waiting for us.  We had a reunion, telling stories of our travels and exchanging Christmas gifts and then we all went to bed.  We got up early and spent all of the next day at the immigration office where we all became official Honduran residents.  The original plan was for us to then ride back to Gracias with their teachers and then we would be picked up on Tuesday by a truck.  The Gracias teachers didn’t want to have to get in late and teach the next day so they convinced their administration to let us stay another night in Tegucigalpa and all travel back the next day.  This way we got to spend the evening at the mall and go to Wal-Mart again.  This was nice but it also meant that we bussed the 7 hours back to Gracias with them and then had to ride another 3 hours in a small pickup to get back to La Union.  This meant that now we would get in late and have to teach the next day.  It also meant that we would have to leave most of our luggage in Gracias because it didn’t fit in the truck.  Instead, it was brought on one of the buses the next day. 

We have been back to school for 3 days now and although I felt very unprepared for the week it is going well.  My luggage made it and I was able to give my students their Christmas gifts this morning.  They loved them and have already been eating the Cherry Republic Cherry Sours that were in there.  I was so happy to see them and am excited for the rest of the year and all the fun things to come.  For Christmas I got a book of easy science experiments (hopefully this way I will have the materials for them) and I am excited to try some with my students so they can see some science in action.