I hope there are still some of you after my long absence. I could chalk it up to being busy, but I really just need to get better about taking time for other things in my life besides my "to do" list. That said, what has been happening in Honduras? Well actually, I have not been in Honduras the whole time since the last blog because I went home to California for Christmas break. We'll get to that soon though.
So before the Christmas break school was in full swing but still there were many fun little life events sprinkled throughout December to keep us happy and sane.
For our directora's birthday, Maki, we got up at 4:30 to seranade her.
Then later in the night we had a big barbeque at a country clubhouse ...
we danced and some of us felt the urge to play our leg guitar.
Also before Christmas we went to the orphanage and did activities with the kids.
coloring
Christmas cards
Some of the kids are students at Santa Clara.
It was a good experience for everyone.
The last day before Christmas break, Santa Clara Instituto, the junior high, celebrated Christmas in a different sort of way. Instead of having a party for our students, they threw a celebration for a group of less fortunate children who live nearby. We bussed them in... (Marcela, with the red sweater around her waist, greets the kids)
had them take pictures with Santa i.e. Jose Antonio, our largest eigth grader weighing in at 200 lbs and 5'10" ... a large drink of water
and gave them presents (here is Maki with one of the little ones and two of our students: Karen and Alejandra).
Even we North American teachers got in on the fun. Going clockwise from me is Maki (directora), Angela (English), and Andrew (art, activities - like a crafts class, and world history).
However when December 18th rolled around we were more than ready to head home, and like last year my arrival to California was sweet.
There is no way to encapsulate how good two weeks of vacation with loved ones can be. Here is a little gift exchange between Kathy, Micheal (left) and I. Angela made it up to Santa Rosa too. It was interesting to be with her outside of Honduras. You see how people act differently in different environments.
I hadn't seen my brothers in a year so spending time with them was great,
as was doing activities with my extended family - three clans.
So after two wonderful weeks at home it was time to jump back on a plane and head south again. Meeting up with some of the other volunteers in the airport we shared stories of our vacations and even some of the feelings of not wanting to go back to crazy classrooms, students who resist your efforts to teach them, dust, dogs, cold showers and being called at while walking down the road because you are a gringo.
But I would be lying if I summed up my experience of Honduras as just that because there are lots of good things too. One weekend shortly after arriving back, Mario and I went up to his parents house in the little aldea (village) of Quiscamote. I really like when I get to tag along with Mario for cultural expriences like these.
He showed me the flower garden that he had built for his mom.
We snapped some shots of fair's queen too.
There have been more birthdays too. Johana, in the back, is our consejera (disciplinarian) and it was her cumpleanos. Isaias, her boyfriend, and her nephew helped celebrate.
I discovered a growth on my back.
Peggy, the primary school's directora, had such a good time she was falling out of her chair.
Other notable events here in Juticalpa have been "man's night," which was born out opposition to the female volunteers' "girl's night."
sandias (watermelons) are in season
themed days at school; here are some of our 8th grade vaqueros (cowboys): Alex, Carlos Adolfo, Jose Manuel and Concho
and our very unshy vaquera Nasry
Andrew had our 8th graders give cultural presentations for world history. They were studying the Celts. I think Hector (left) got a kick out of wearing a kilt. 
On a lighter note, we volunteers have been invited out to students' country property
where we have done some river swimming, 
had them take pictures with Santa i.e. Jose Antonio, our largest eigth grader weighing in at 200 lbs and 5'10" ... a large drink of water
and gave them presents (here is Maki with one of the little ones and two of our students: Karen and Alejandra).
Even we North American teachers got in on the fun. Going clockwise from me is Maki (directora), Angela (English), and Andrew (art, activities - like a crafts class, and world history).
However when December 18th rolled around we were more than ready to head home, and like last year my arrival to California was sweet.
There is no way to encapsulate how good two weeks of vacation with loved ones can be. Here is a little gift exchange between Kathy, Micheal (left) and I. Angela made it up to Santa Rosa too. It was interesting to be with her outside of Honduras. You see how people act differently in different environments.
I hadn't seen my brothers in a year so spending time with them was great,
as was doing activities with my extended family - three clans.So after two wonderful weeks at home it was time to jump back on a plane and head south again. Meeting up with some of the other volunteers in the airport we shared stories of our vacations and even some of the feelings of not wanting to go back to crazy classrooms, students who resist your efforts to teach them, dust, dogs, cold showers and being called at while walking down the road because you are a gringo.
But I would be lying if I summed up my experience of Honduras as just that because there are lots of good things too. One weekend shortly after arriving back, Mario and I went up to his parents house in the little aldea (village) of Quiscamote. I really like when I get to tag along with Mario for cultural expriences like these.
He showed me the flower garden that he had built for his mom.Then, at night, we went into San Francisco de la Paz, the city which Quiscamote is outside of, to check out the fair which was in town.
We snapped some shots of fair's queen too.There have been more birthdays too. Johana, in the back, is our consejera (disciplinarian) and it was her cumpleanos. Isaias, her boyfriend, and her nephew helped celebrate.
I discovered a growth on my back.
Peggy, the primary school's directora, had such a good time she was falling out of her chair.
Other notable events here in Juticalpa have been "man's night," which was born out opposition to the female volunteers' "girl's night."
sandias (watermelons) are in season
themed days at school; here are some of our 8th grade vaqueros (cowboys): Alex, Carlos Adolfo, Jose Manuel and Concho
and our very unshy vaquera Nasry
Andrew had our 8th graders give cultural presentations for world history. They were studying the Celts. I think Hector (left) got a kick out of wearing a kilt.On a sadder note, we have asked some kids to leave the Instituto due to disciplinary and/or academic reasons, although it is important for these kids to know that school is not a free ride and they are expected to hold up their responsibilities as students. Above, though, is not a picture of one of these students. This is a picture of Michael, a blind student who has been at Santa Clara since he was little. He was asked to leave as well because we could not provide the type of accomodations he needs for a good education. The sad part is that there really doesn't seem to be a better solution for him anywhere else in Juticalpa. We'll miss him and keep him in our prayers.
On a lighter note, we volunteers have been invited out to students' country property
where we have done some river swimming, horseback riding,
and exploring the crops they grow.
Believe it or not we have had still more birthdays to celerate.
and then have a glowstick costume rave later that night. As you might imagine we made sure the door was shut so that Hondurans passing by, who already think we gringos are interesting enough, wouldn't get the wrong impression.
howdy
Well, that seems to be enough now. I will try to update more frequently. Take care and great seeing you over the break if we had the chance.
Viva OAF (Olancho Aid Foundation)!
and exploring the crops they grow.
Believe it or not we have had still more birthdays to celerate.
This one was Andrew's. Andrew is an interesting cat who spent part of his childhood growing up in England, graduated with an art degree from a small liberal school on the USA's east coast "where everyone was weird" as he will tell you, is a self-proclaimed nerd, likes to drink good alcohol and then sing english drinking shanties, is an amazing cook and wants to be a cop. Jeff (right) got creative with the cake by replicating Andrew's gameboy.
Andrew wanted to celebrate his birthday with 5:00 high tea complete with homemade scones
and then have a glowstick costume rave later that night. As you might imagine we made sure the door was shut so that Hondurans passing by, who already think we gringos are interesting enough, wouldn't get the wrong impression.
howdy
Well, that seems to be enough now. I will try to update more frequently. Take care and great seeing you over the break if we had the chance.
Viva OAF (Olancho Aid Foundation)!
Nice! Thanks for the update! We love Dan!
ReplyDelete-Kathy and Michael