 |
| It took 10 men to cut the grass (only the back part of the school today) but we (I raked and hauled away the cut grass) did it in under 3 hours. Record for my time here so far! |
Fun With The Parents December 2010
Fun With The Parents December 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Dad - these photos are for you of the group "mowing the yard"
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Open House
We had SJBS's first open house today and I think overall it was a success. Open houses are not customary in Honduras so the concept was hard for some parents to understand - they wanted a formal meeting with the teacher and all parents at the same time. I think in the end they enjoyed talking one on one with the teachers. My role was to welcome the parents as they came in and to see what parents are interested in taking English classes themselves. Four of the teachers have agreed to give classes two times a week to parents who want to learn English.
I spent a lot of time talking to parents and am humbled by a lot of the stories I hear. Some of the Beca families (families who receive scholarships from the organization I work for) amaze me. They are so giving and often are the ones who have the least to give. They work very hard for the school to give back so that their kids can have a bilingual education. Many moms come in the afternoons to help clean the classrooms. One father is the school handyman (and our go to guy to fix things in our apartments as well) - he often doesn't get paid for this work at the school but does it for his daughter's education. Fourteen people will come tomorrow to cut grass. All so their kids can receive a good education. I have many invites to houses for dinner - next weekend is looking booked for meals :) Which is good because we are on our own for meals on weekends!
After the Open House, the first grade parents had a carne asada fundraiser. Carne asada is really good meat (as you know we don't get a lot of meat so it was really good!). Fifty lempiras ($2.65) for a plate of grilled steak, beans, salad and tortillas. Can you beat that? I did break down today in San Pedro Sula today though and buy a box of macaroni and cheese (for when I need a comfort food). Today's lunch was also really good (beans, mantequilla (crema), one of the best avacados I've ever had and bread). Yummy and the best part was the 3 lempira avacado!
Off to bed as I'm on grass cutting duty at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. Below are a few photos of the carne asada fundraiser, summer academy, our trip to Triunfo de la Cruz, the school and my apartment. Will try and take more photos soon.
I spent a lot of time talking to parents and am humbled by a lot of the stories I hear. Some of the Beca families (families who receive scholarships from the organization I work for) amaze me. They are so giving and often are the ones who have the least to give. They work very hard for the school to give back so that their kids can have a bilingual education. Many moms come in the afternoons to help clean the classrooms. One father is the school handyman (and our go to guy to fix things in our apartments as well) - he often doesn't get paid for this work at the school but does it for his daughter's education. Fourteen people will come tomorrow to cut grass. All so their kids can receive a good education. I have many invites to houses for dinner - next weekend is looking booked for meals :) Which is good because we are on our own for meals on weekends!
After the Open House, the first grade parents had a carne asada fundraiser. Carne asada is really good meat (as you know we don't get a lot of meat so it was really good!). Fifty lempiras ($2.65) for a plate of grilled steak, beans, salad and tortillas. Can you beat that? I did break down today in San Pedro Sula today though and buy a box of macaroni and cheese (for when I need a comfort food). Today's lunch was also really good (beans, mantequilla (crema), one of the best avacados I've ever had and bread). Yummy and the best part was the 3 lempira avacado!
Off to bed as I'm on grass cutting duty at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. Below are a few photos of the carne asada fundraiser, summer academy, our trip to Triunfo de la Cruz, the school and my apartment. Will try and take more photos soon.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Almost the end of week one
This week has been quite a learning experience. I'm learning to work with four year olds instead of 18-22 year olds. Its taken some adjusting. When pre-kinder kids do not want to be in school they cry, scream for mom and often times bolt when the teacher is not looking. I have spent hours with one pre-kinder student this week who keeps trying to get into her sister's fourth grade class. Kids come to the office with upset stomaches and I am the person who takes care of them - not really a nurse but a good substitute I guess- not really as I don't like to give kids medicine and the Hondurans in the office do. We had our first real casualty yesterday. A first grader fell off our ancient monkey bars and busted his arm. His mom came and got him and took him to get two rods put in his arm. He's back home now and should be back to school next week. We're hoping to fund raise at the school to help cover the costs.....
I've been observing classes this week. I've set in on 1st - 4th grade so far. Its interesting to see the difference in attention spans of the students. First graders need to be stimulated all the time! Our school is getting bigger. On Monday, they are starting new construction on a classroom. It will be our first second story building. We'll see how that goes while students are in class.
This weekend will no be restful. I'm off to San Pedro Sula tomorrow to get money and pay some BECA bills. Then back here for our Open House at the school. On Sunday its back to cutting the grass at 7 a.m. for about 7 or so hours. Its been raining a lot during the evenings and the grass is growing quickly. We're macheting it up on Sunday as the current mower is dead again. Then meetings with a couple of scholarship families to go over contracts and responsibilities. Then a call to my boss in the US.
On the food side of things, I learned how to make a great sauce for a vegetable stir fry that has pineapple in it and can't wait to try it again. We had hummus tonight so it kind of felt like a normal summer dinner for me. Someone also made brownies and they were to die for! Lunches are provided for by the school and include fresh juices (you drink them out of a bag). I had habiscus juice today and it was wonderful. Yesterday it was cantelope juice. Day before passion fruit juice. Anyone jealous yet?
Bought my parents plane tickets for our December trip to Belize. I'm excited as we'll see Mayan ruins in Belize and Guatemala as well as take a glass bottom boat. Looks like my cousin Joel will join us for some of the time and spend New Year's Eve with me. Other friends are talking about coming in February....so will be good to see people.
I've been observing classes this week. I've set in on 1st - 4th grade so far. Its interesting to see the difference in attention spans of the students. First graders need to be stimulated all the time! Our school is getting bigger. On Monday, they are starting new construction on a classroom. It will be our first second story building. We'll see how that goes while students are in class.
This weekend will no be restful. I'm off to San Pedro Sula tomorrow to get money and pay some BECA bills. Then back here for our Open House at the school. On Sunday its back to cutting the grass at 7 a.m. for about 7 or so hours. Its been raining a lot during the evenings and the grass is growing quickly. We're macheting it up on Sunday as the current mower is dead again. Then meetings with a couple of scholarship families to go over contracts and responsibilities. Then a call to my boss in the US.
On the food side of things, I learned how to make a great sauce for a vegetable stir fry that has pineapple in it and can't wait to try it again. We had hummus tonight so it kind of felt like a normal summer dinner for me. Someone also made brownies and they were to die for! Lunches are provided for by the school and include fresh juices (you drink them out of a bag). I had habiscus juice today and it was wonderful. Yesterday it was cantelope juice. Day before passion fruit juice. Anyone jealous yet?
Bought my parents plane tickets for our December trip to Belize. I'm excited as we'll see Mayan ruins in Belize and Guatemala as well as take a glass bottom boat. Looks like my cousin Joel will join us for some of the time and spend New Year's Eve with me. Other friends are talking about coming in February....so will be good to see people.
Monday, August 23, 2010
1st Day of School
Alarm went off at 5:45 a.m. Shower. Extra big breakfast to tide me over until noon (didn't work). Left for school at 6:15 a.m. School started with the traditional Monday morning acto civico. They brought the Honduran flag in, we sang the national anthem, prayed, the school director gave a few words and introduced the Honduran teachers, I introduced the US teachers, and words of wisdom for the students were shared (as well as the rules of no running in the hallways etc.). Then the students were off. I met with some parents who were transfering kids to our school, helped clear up some scheduling problems for US and Honduran teachers, and met with scholarship parents to discuss our entire process and what responsibilitis scholarship students' families have to the school. Then came recess duty. I got two cookies and a mint from students. School was let out at 11:15 in the morning. So I helped the kinder and prepa classes (kinder is pre-kindergarton in the US and prepa is kindergarton) for a few minutes (several of the kinder students were crying for their moms at that point) and then had staff meetings until lunch. The school glorieta (snack shop) makes the US teachers lunches every day. We get meat at these lunches but it usually comes with a strong dose of salt.
After school I went shopping with three other teachers for fruits and vegetables as we are responsible for group dinner tomorrow night. Its hard to know quantities for 14 people. I then went to the school board of directors meeting (supposed to start at 6:30 p.m....the few who came tonight showed up a little after 7 p.m.) The meeting lasted until 9 p.m.
We have a team meeting tomorrow to lay out the week and talk about things that affect all of us US teachers. More later...as its 10 p.m. and I must get some sleep to have energy for day two.
After school I went shopping with three other teachers for fruits and vegetables as we are responsible for group dinner tomorrow night. Its hard to know quantities for 14 people. I then went to the school board of directors meeting (supposed to start at 6:30 p.m....the few who came tonight showed up a little after 7 p.m.) The meeting lasted until 9 p.m.
We have a team meeting tomorrow to lay out the week and talk about things that affect all of us US teachers. More later...as its 10 p.m. and I must get some sleep to have energy for day two.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Month 2
So not only do I not take many pictures, I'm also not good about writing about what has been going on in my life. School starts on Monday...hard to believe but also what I've been waiting for. These last two weeks have been crazy as we've all been preparing for school to start.
Teguc
I took a weekend away to go to Teguc to celebrate my friends (Mando and Jazmin's) birthdays. It was so great and refreshing to see old friends (and not just because they are a year older but because I've known them for 12 years). I visited many people, ate great food and danced to one Lady Gaga remixed song. First time I had been off on my own since returning to Honduras and it was nice.
Triunfo de la Cruz
Last week we went on a group bonding trip to Triunfo de la Cruz, a Garifuna village outside of Tela. Gorgeous beaches, fresh fish, plantains, coconut bread and topogigos (charamuscas) de pinol. Heaven. Loved falling asleep listening to the ocean. Walking along the beach. Snorkeling, You get the idea. The only draw back to the four day weekend was the very quick hike we did at Punta Sal National Park (I've never been eaten by so many mosquitos in such a short period of time).
This last week
Things have been crazy at the school as the teachers have been preparing their classrooms. My responsibility this week was to coordinate the students recuperation exams and the second round of entrance exams to the school. That part was easy. The hard part was calling the parents and telling them that their kids did not pass the exam to enter the school...and then answer 5 phone calls from that family's friends as to why the student hasn't been accepted into the school. We had our first full staff meeting (with the Honduran teachers) and we decided on Thursday that we'd have a half day of school on Monday - not to mention that the first staff meeting was cancelled earlier in the week due to most Honduran teachers not reporting to work on the first day back. Nice. We also received first aid training this week. Things slowed down a bit as our internet was down for two days. I got re-addicted to Friday Night Lights. I'm on the second season now.
BECA fund raising
BECA is in the midst of its annual fundraising. If anyone feels so inclined to donate to the good work our organization is going you can find much more information on how to do that at: http://www.becaschools.org/ Your donation (no matter the size) will help make a huge difference in the lives of many Honduran kids. As you can see there is no specific place to donate for me as I'm not teacher at the school. I do manage the Beca Bachillerato program (BBP) and this helps provide scholarships for students to continue their bilingual education in San Pedro Sula (SJBS only goes through ninth grade to this allows students to continue their studies past 9th grade and help prepare them for the university). A couple of weeks ago I had the privelege of going with Christopher and Katerin (our two new BBP recipients for the 2010-2011 year) and their mothers to their new high school in San Pedro Sula and help enroll them in their new school. It was great to see the students eyes light up and stare in wonderment at what will soon be their new school (I also saw some fears as well). These students will not have it easy as several new course subjects are introduced in high school but also the fact that school is now a 45 minute bus ride away and classes begin around 6:30 a.m. Can't imagine as I'm dreading next week when school starts at 7:15 a.m. Wish me well with that.
Food and exercise (or lack of)
The school director, Miss Amarylis, and I are officially starting a walking club. Hopefully that will help me not gain weight from all the delicious food I'm eating. We do group meals five nights a week. We have not had any repeat meals to date and have had many yummy items (curries, stir fries, roasted veggies, stuffed peppers (for those who know me - no worries I only ate the stuffing (and not from the pepper but stuffing kept on the side), pancakes, pasta, casserols, etc.). We also have an awesome hook up for shrimp (the mom of the girl in the photo with me). Not bad when we spend 238 lempiras for 14 people or the equivalent of $17 (just over a buck a person) per dinner. We do not eat much meat but have started a meat fund.....donations accepted....just kidding but please do enjoy the meat you get in your meals.
Phone etiquette
I have a cell phone for work. Within the first week I'd already given someone the name of do not answer in my phone....he called (and still does some times) a lot - 10-20 times a night from 3-6 a.m. Now that I have the creeps digits I know when to ignore calls. My Spanish has improved from talking on the phone so much...but do know that is it is common to call someone 5 times in a row within a few minutes if they don't answer their phone. Hondurans do not typically listen to voicemail so I don't leave them messages; needless to say with this process there are some people that I just never get in touch with.
Well that's enough for now. Its late and I need to sleep (gotta get ready for work to start at 7 next week). My next post will be about the first few weeks of school and I should have some good stories about the teachers and the students.
Teguc
I took a weekend away to go to Teguc to celebrate my friends (Mando and Jazmin's) birthdays. It was so great and refreshing to see old friends (and not just because they are a year older but because I've known them for 12 years). I visited many people, ate great food and danced to one Lady Gaga remixed song. First time I had been off on my own since returning to Honduras and it was nice.
Triunfo de la Cruz
Last week we went on a group bonding trip to Triunfo de la Cruz, a Garifuna village outside of Tela. Gorgeous beaches, fresh fish, plantains, coconut bread and topogigos (charamuscas) de pinol. Heaven. Loved falling asleep listening to the ocean. Walking along the beach. Snorkeling, You get the idea. The only draw back to the four day weekend was the very quick hike we did at Punta Sal National Park (I've never been eaten by so many mosquitos in such a short period of time).
This last week
Things have been crazy at the school as the teachers have been preparing their classrooms. My responsibility this week was to coordinate the students recuperation exams and the second round of entrance exams to the school. That part was easy. The hard part was calling the parents and telling them that their kids did not pass the exam to enter the school...and then answer 5 phone calls from that family's friends as to why the student hasn't been accepted into the school. We had our first full staff meeting (with the Honduran teachers) and we decided on Thursday that we'd have a half day of school on Monday - not to mention that the first staff meeting was cancelled earlier in the week due to most Honduran teachers not reporting to work on the first day back. Nice. We also received first aid training this week. Things slowed down a bit as our internet was down for two days. I got re-addicted to Friday Night Lights. I'm on the second season now.
BECA fund raising
BECA is in the midst of its annual fundraising. If anyone feels so inclined to donate to the good work our organization is going you can find much more information on how to do that at: http://www.becaschools.org/ Your donation (no matter the size) will help make a huge difference in the lives of many Honduran kids. As you can see there is no specific place to donate for me as I'm not teacher at the school. I do manage the Beca Bachillerato program (BBP) and this helps provide scholarships for students to continue their bilingual education in San Pedro Sula (SJBS only goes through ninth grade to this allows students to continue their studies past 9th grade and help prepare them for the university). A couple of weeks ago I had the privelege of going with Christopher and Katerin (our two new BBP recipients for the 2010-2011 year) and their mothers to their new high school in San Pedro Sula and help enroll them in their new school. It was great to see the students eyes light up and stare in wonderment at what will soon be their new school (I also saw some fears as well). These students will not have it easy as several new course subjects are introduced in high school but also the fact that school is now a 45 minute bus ride away and classes begin around 6:30 a.m. Can't imagine as I'm dreading next week when school starts at 7:15 a.m. Wish me well with that.
Food and exercise (or lack of)
The school director, Miss Amarylis, and I are officially starting a walking club. Hopefully that will help me not gain weight from all the delicious food I'm eating. We do group meals five nights a week. We have not had any repeat meals to date and have had many yummy items (curries, stir fries, roasted veggies, stuffed peppers (for those who know me - no worries I only ate the stuffing (and not from the pepper but stuffing kept on the side), pancakes, pasta, casserols, etc.). We also have an awesome hook up for shrimp (the mom of the girl in the photo with me). Not bad when we spend 238 lempiras for 14 people or the equivalent of $17 (just over a buck a person) per dinner. We do not eat much meat but have started a meat fund.....donations accepted....just kidding but please do enjoy the meat you get in your meals.
Phone etiquette
I have a cell phone for work. Within the first week I'd already given someone the name of do not answer in my phone....he called (and still does some times) a lot - 10-20 times a night from 3-6 a.m. Now that I have the creeps digits I know when to ignore calls. My Spanish has improved from talking on the phone so much...but do know that is it is common to call someone 5 times in a row within a few minutes if they don't answer their phone. Hondurans do not typically listen to voicemail so I don't leave them messages; needless to say with this process there are some people that I just never get in touch with.
Well that's enough for now. Its late and I need to sleep (gotta get ready for work to start at 7 next week). My next post will be about the first few weeks of school and I should have some good stories about the teachers and the students.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)