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.