Lagos y Ladrones

After 4 hours of marching practice, 2 weeks ago, and a parade marching through the streets of Gracias, the gringas were free to begin our 4 day weekend with much enthusiasm. Honduras' Independence gave us the freedom to explore a little bit of the country. Due to the fact that our traveling is by bus and usually quite lengthy trips, we decided to leave bright and early Thursday morning, 4:30 am bright and early. You know us crazy gringas! After somewhere between 6 and 7 hours of traveling and encountering one very old, very sweet, and very cooky elderly lady we made it our hostel and found out that we had quite a nice cabin with the bonus of a jacuzzi tub! After settling in we ventured out to the canal and had a peaceful rest sitting by the canal. That night we had the most amazing hamburgers and beer, our hostel was also a brewery :)   Friday we went to Pulhapanzak Falls where we paid a much need tour guide to walk into the base of the waterfall, and climb into a small cave behind the falls. There are few words to describe the experience other than intense. The water was spraying into our faces so much that we could barely open your eyes much less breathe. Our tour guide told us to hold hands and breathe through our mouths. Kate and I had to remove our shoes for fear that we would have yet another adventure of losing a flip flop but this time without hope of recuperating it. After some serious panicking we all made it through the waterfall and back and were exhilarated that we had survived such a treacherous plight. We had another relaxing night of delicious food and yummy beer. Sunday is was time to head back to Gracias and what an adventure that was. Our first bus was smooth sailing and went without a hitch but the next bus, oh boy I am not even sure how to explain it. First we had to wait for about an hour as they filled up the 15 passenger van. There were finally enough people to begin our voyage when much to our dismay another 8 people jumped on to the bus. There were now 23 people in the van and some were standing crouched over other passengers (ie Kate and myself). The van begin the twisty turny trek back and I took myself to my happy place. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only 45 minutes a small child in the back of the van began throwing up.....we all begin shouting for A) bolsa- bag (for the child to throw up in) and B) to open the windows to air out the smell. We finally made it back home and I found that the door to my room was locked and I had absolutely no key.....
Side note: Thursday night our house was broken into, which we found out Friday morning. Thank goodness for our amazing neighbor and finally some prompt action by our land lord who finally fixed all of our windows and doors.
Unfortunately, the landlord had decided to lock 2 doors inside the house, mine and Colleen's. Well Colleen was able to break in through an inside window. I on the other hand, first attempted to break the door handle, truly an epic failure. Finally, we had to break in through the window and I was able to get into my room. Needless to say it was quite a day. Eventually I realized homeboy thief had stole my camera, my blackberry, and 300 lemps ($15). Good thing he was not really the most brilliant thief because it turns out he is our neighbor boy, whose mom we bought tortillas from all the time. Well, his mom actually attempted to sell my camera to our neighbor lady who had been watching our house and little Esperanza. As luck would have it I did get my camera and my cell phone back but my money has not returned.....still need to have a chat with little neighbor boy. Ah, I tell you life should be so dull here but it has proven to be anything but...let the good times roll.

The small things...

Week 2 of teaching completed and I am feeling more inspired to become the best teacher I can be.I have been researching methods for teaching ELL and creating a toolbox for myself that I will be able to use back in the US as well. I am also bound and determined to incorporate more modern ways of learning other than worksheet after worksheet. I will figure out a way to get it all done...or I at least  I hope so! I should also mention the Latin American holiday of dia del nino (day of the child). It's a rather interesting holiday in that the children get loaded up on sugar (I am talking 2 cakes, 7 pinatas, 3 liters of coke, 5 bags of chips, and unlimited supply of candy). Mind you this activity took place in the middle of the day and the students were to resume normal classes in the afternoon. It was one of those experiences in life where you simply throw up your hands in defeat of the madness and decide if you can't beat them, join them, of course you know I joined them. Luckily enough for me I didn't actually have to teach their afternoon classes because they are taught in Spanish and I was able to crash off my own sugar high working on lesson plans in the breeze way. Thank goodness this day only happens once a year.
 Saturday was by far one of the best days in Honduras yet. We joined an amazing missionary family in their efforts to provide food to the less fortunate children of the Lempira area, one of the poorest in Honduras. This family sold their belongings and packed up the rest to move to Gracias to change the lives of poor and neglected children here. Their story is absolutely remarkable seeing as they have 4 children, the youngest just turned 1 and the eldest is a 1st grader. Their courage and willingness to change lives is truly inspirational and I hope that I will still be around to see their dreams of a children's center for neglected or abused children come true. While helping, some of us were in the kitchen helping prepare the meal while they rest of us (myself included) were playing games with the children. Let me tell you duck, duck, goose is much more difficult to explain in Spanish! I don't know who loved our interactions more, us or the children. We had a great time trying to teach them English and you could tell on their faces that they were equally, if not more happy than we were. It was a truly moving experience and I cannot wait to go back and help again. Words cannot express how inspiring Betty, the lady in charge of all the cooking which took place at her house, and the Goodwin Family are.
After a day of helping needy children we came home and found that our helping skills were still needed by our roommate Colleen, who had been sick for days and found out she has an infection, which of course needs to be treated  with antibiotics. Well, the only catch is here in Honduras they give antibiotics in shot form, so they literally sent her home with a pack of needles and medicine to inject. Brings a whole new definition to teamwork. We had nurse practitioner Sarah and Doctor Kate who prepared the shot, while I played the roll of nurse and had to hold a chunk of her butt to make the shot go easier. Kate was totally professional and I am even more thankful she is my friend, just in case the need ever arises.  The rest of the evening was filled with laughs due to a froggy friend living in our bathroom which caused a tinkle accident by one of the roommates. There was also the soup brownies which happens when you try to "bake" brownies in a microwave that doesn't actually work all that well. In such a tranquil town there is rarely a dull moment at the casa amarilla, I guess that's what happens you put 8 gringas in one house.

Sobreviviendo

I have officially completed a full week of teaching here in Gracias. I would be lying if I said that it went smoothly, because it was a week full of glitches and unexpected cultural norms. I was more prepared for the differences of day to day life than the differences teaching a class of all ELL but the more I get to know my students, I enjoy them more and more. Though my students are getting better I haven't quite gotten used to the frequent chorus of "Meez! Meez! Meez!" when a student needs my attention. Nor the fact that they don't take turns when they talk so raising their hand without shouting has been one of our biggest challenges. The most frustrating part of working here is the fact that we are bound by worksheets in workbooks for every subject, which are boring for me and the kids, but don't you all worry I attempt to put my creativity to work here.
My favorite part of the first day may have been the end of the day when the kids tell me they are going to the bus. My eyes quickly scan the road for big yellow buses but I then see my kiddos run to 3 minivans where they pile in about 20 per van. Maybe not the safest but it works for the Hondurans.
Not only has teaching been quite an adjustment but I can't fail to mention the fact that we lost water for over a day and then also lost electricity for a day as well, with a forecast of many power outages to happen in the future. It's imperative to also mention the ridiculous rodent and insect infestation that occurs at the casa amarilla on a daily basis. There was an epic battle between mouse and man in which the poor mouse was defeated by the almighty bucket of death (not something I am proud of, but little mousie friend had to go) We have encountered many cockroaches, which I am actually quite proud of my growing ability to smash them though I may make comments like "I need a bigger shoe!" Today marked a brand new edition to the bug conundrum here where we had a swarm of flying ants rapidly building a nest by our front door. We didn't know what to do so we asked our kind neighbors for assistance. They promptly doused the nest with raid and we could only run and scream in horror as flying ants came dropping out of the sky like raindrops.
After a grueling week of teaching and mortal kombat insect version I have had one of the nicest weekends since being here. Friday night was spent by candlelight potluck with drinks, live guitar, and great conversation. Saturday was for relaxing and hanging out. Sunday, I played soccer for the first time ever, and I literally mean the first time ever. There was a group of us gringos and some Spanish teachers as well. I had a lot of fun and was actually proud that I made small contributions to the team (very small contributions but contributions nonetheless) . We then topped off the evening by going to our neighbors house who cooks tortillas over a flame in her backyard, and she attempted to teach us how to make tortillas. She made it look so easy while we struggled and she just laughed at us.  I am definitely content living here in Honduras and appreciate the small things in life much more!