Sunday, January 29, 2012
Take a seat....
On Friday, the students had a half day while many of the teachers had to prepare to move their classroom to a new school. Fortunately for some of us there is not enough room at the school and therefore we don't have to move. Technically we should have stayed to help the other teachers which we found out later, and I apologize for not helping, but the opportunity presented itself to go back to El Salvador. Kate, Jenna, and myself boarded a bus and began our adventure towards El Salvador. Along the way, we run into a truck that has been "decapitated" from its trailer. The trailer is laying in the middle of the road making it impossible for either side to pass. With an efficiency that we had never before seen in Honduras the trailer was moved upright and vehicles were again able to move through. This process only took about 45 minutes! Which is ludicrous speed for Hondurans. We continued on our way and couldn't believe our luck that when we got to the border town we had a taxi offer to take us all the way to La Palma. The only problem was crossing the border.....On the Honduran side they had pulled out a slip of paper which is crucial to pass into El Salvador. We arrived at the El Salvadoran immigration where they examined our passports over and over, took them to their bosses, and then we were pulled into a room where they offered us plastic chairs and told us to "Take a seat" My heart was racing at this point and I was unsure what was going to happen. We are finally informed that we have to go back to the Honduran Immigration and ask for that slip of paper back. The Hondurans tell us we need to bring the paper back but the El Salvadorans tell us they can't take this piece of paper, we had no idea who to believe but in the interest of time we did not return these papers. We got to La Palma and found a nice little hotel with a TV including HBO family, all in Spanish of course, but who doesn't love Scooby doo no matter what language. We spent Saturday meandering around, enjoying their coffees, licuados, and yummy food. There might have even been some more Spanish TV and a nap thrown in there. Needless to say it was a relaxing vacation with a nice change of scenery. Sunday arrived all too soon and we had to head to back to Gracias. The trip started off a little rocky....the first bus passing was so crammed full of people that they were hanging out of the doors....and then came border crossing yet again. Apparently they don't get many gringas passing through because the man immediately recognized us and began hounding us and asking why we hadn't brought our papers back. I try to respond but he continues lecturing us and finally I become heated and had probably my first argument in Spanish. We go back and forth for a while and we unwillingly hand him our slips of paper and they finally give us a new one. It felt much like a troll who will not let people pass through his bridge. We finally continuefd on and had smooth sailing all the way back to Gracias. Never a dull a moment....
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
As promised...
I am having hard time deciding where to even begin this blog on catching up for the last month and a half. To save you all and myself the hassle I will give you the highlights:
December: Marked the ending of 2nd partial which means that students get tested over the material covered in class, yours truly gets to write all of the tests so you can imagine how much fun that can be. With the end of this partial there was also the Christmas Chow and parade (yes that is how they pronounce show here) Primary teachers had to work together with Honduran teachers to create what was supposed to be Santa's Workshop but really ended up being Christmas threw up on a truck with "Santa" tied to the top. I joke but it actually ended up looking mostly decent. Along with the parade and float, primary teachers were responsible for teaching our students a song and dance. No song screams Christmas Dance like "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" because truly what child does not want a hippo for Christmas? I mean no crocodiles or rhinoceruses, we only like hippopotamuses. Two botched attempts during practice and I was garuanteed to look like the jack ass of teachers, but my awesome students did a terrific job, and I am fairly certain many people walked away humming I want a hippopotamus for Christmas....
Christmas show ended and the next day I was Portland bound to visit my amazing family and friends! I was able to surprise my brothers, sisters in law, my niece, and my Grandmas! I was also able to spend time with my terrific friends and coworkers, meet a new baby, and rub the baby bellies of some dear friends. Which let me put on record how happy I am for all my friends and family because they are truly tremendously wonderful people. I am so blessed in life!
January:After about 2 1/2 weeks I was Texas bound to see an amazing man that I met on a chance encounter in Miami. We had spent only a matter of hours together before we parted ways, him heading to Dallas and myself en route to Honduras. We had been skyping for 5 months everyday, morning and night. It was so amazing to see him and spend time with him, face to face. He spoiled me rotten and I can't say that I minded too much :) I am so looking forward to his visit down to Honduras to see me! Who would have ever thought.....
It was hard leaving Texas to head back to Honduras...but luckily I was meeting 2 great friends at the airport in Houston....definitely helped dry a few tears. We were so excited to see each other and share stories about our time at home. With great dismay but a blessing in disguise we were not seated next to each other. Close to arriving in Honduras the captain comes on and says that there was a plane with a flat tire on the single runway in San Pedro...meaning we can't land. He informed us that we would circle around for a little while but did not have enough fuel to make it long (so reasssuring, I know) Well the runway wasn't cleared and we had to stop in El Salvador to refuel. Needless to say it was getting quite late and we were more than hesitant about traveling on late busses especially with all of our luggage. Jenna was so lucky to be sitting next to missionaries who offered us a ride to Santa Rosa which is the closest city to Gracias. We couldn't have been more thankful! We stayed the night in Santa Rosa and finally made our way back to Gracias on Sunday morning. We truly are some lucky ladies...I love that life always has a way of working out!
My heart is full and I am eager and excited to see what the next few months of this crazy adventure bring! I am so lucky to have this opportunity and will continue to learn and grow everyday! I can never say thank you enough to all the people who love and support me on this voyage! Les quiero!
December: Marked the ending of 2nd partial which means that students get tested over the material covered in class, yours truly gets to write all of the tests so you can imagine how much fun that can be. With the end of this partial there was also the Christmas Chow and parade (yes that is how they pronounce show here) Primary teachers had to work together with Honduran teachers to create what was supposed to be Santa's Workshop but really ended up being Christmas threw up on a truck with "Santa" tied to the top. I joke but it actually ended up looking mostly decent. Along with the parade and float, primary teachers were responsible for teaching our students a song and dance. No song screams Christmas Dance like "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" because truly what child does not want a hippo for Christmas? I mean no crocodiles or rhinoceruses, we only like hippopotamuses. Two botched attempts during practice and I was garuanteed to look like the jack ass of teachers, but my awesome students did a terrific job, and I am fairly certain many people walked away humming I want a hippopotamus for Christmas....
Christmas show ended and the next day I was Portland bound to visit my amazing family and friends! I was able to surprise my brothers, sisters in law, my niece, and my Grandmas! I was also able to spend time with my terrific friends and coworkers, meet a new baby, and rub the baby bellies of some dear friends. Which let me put on record how happy I am for all my friends and family because they are truly tremendously wonderful people. I am so blessed in life!
January:After about 2 1/2 weeks I was Texas bound to see an amazing man that I met on a chance encounter in Miami. We had spent only a matter of hours together before we parted ways, him heading to Dallas and myself en route to Honduras. We had been skyping for 5 months everyday, morning and night. It was so amazing to see him and spend time with him, face to face. He spoiled me rotten and I can't say that I minded too much :) I am so looking forward to his visit down to Honduras to see me! Who would have ever thought.....
It was hard leaving Texas to head back to Honduras...but luckily I was meeting 2 great friends at the airport in Houston....definitely helped dry a few tears. We were so excited to see each other and share stories about our time at home. With great dismay but a blessing in disguise we were not seated next to each other. Close to arriving in Honduras the captain comes on and says that there was a plane with a flat tire on the single runway in San Pedro...meaning we can't land. He informed us that we would circle around for a little while but did not have enough fuel to make it long (so reasssuring, I know) Well the runway wasn't cleared and we had to stop in El Salvador to refuel. Needless to say it was getting quite late and we were more than hesitant about traveling on late busses especially with all of our luggage. Jenna was so lucky to be sitting next to missionaries who offered us a ride to Santa Rosa which is the closest city to Gracias. We couldn't have been more thankful! We stayed the night in Santa Rosa and finally made our way back to Gracias on Sunday morning. We truly are some lucky ladies...I love that life always has a way of working out!
My heart is full and I am eager and excited to see what the next few months of this crazy adventure bring! I am so lucky to have this opportunity and will continue to learn and grow everyday! I can never say thank you enough to all the people who love and support me on this voyage! Les quiero!
Kate! The cups are red!!!!
I apologize to my faithful followers as it has been quite some time since I have posted a blog. I will fill you all in of the past few weeks in a future blog, but for now this must be mentioned before my awesome memory fails me.....
This morning while walking to school with my good friend Kate I had quite the episode with a member of the livestock family. As we were walking, yes uphill please don't forget, on a main road in Gracias, I happen to spot a cow trotting down the hill with I am assuming his owner lagging a few feet behind me. Now, I have nothing against cows and have become quite accustomed to seeing them in the neighbor hood and streets of our quaint little town but I must have sensed something in this particular moo friend. Kate decided to cross the street (towards the cow) as we normally do every morning while walking to school. I had a moment of brief hesitation but followed along mas or menos obligingly (sp) (is it even a word? I am not sure but sounds so fitting) We continue walking, yes stilll uphill, when the cow begins to venture in our direction....I definitely started to panic at this moment when yes that darn cow continued coming towards us. My faithful friend Kate runs and hides behind a tree, she definitely did not have my back on this one. The cow comes closer and closer. In a moment of sheer panic I realize that our "coffee" cups are red and that this might anger the cow. I turn to Kate, who is already safely hiding behind a tree, when I shout to her, "KATE!! Our coffee cups are red!" Still he inches closer. I lose all control of sanity and dignity and begin shouting "ayudame! ayudame! ayudame!" Which of course means, Help me! Help me! Help me! Said cow's owner comes leisurely trotting along as I stand frozen in panic. I dare not move in case this cow decides to disembowel me and my red cup. Kate stands behind the tree with great tears of laughter forming....The cow just a few feet from my frozen trance then continues to trot along apparently deciding my red cup wasn't so intimidating after all. Kate and I both burst into laughter. Tears were streaming down my face and I am rather uncertain if they were tears from laughing or if I was actually crying from my close encounter. Either way the world may never know....One thing can definitely be said, there is rarely a dull day in Gracias.
This morning while walking to school with my good friend Kate I had quite the episode with a member of the livestock family. As we were walking, yes uphill please don't forget, on a main road in Gracias, I happen to spot a cow trotting down the hill with I am assuming his owner lagging a few feet behind me. Now, I have nothing against cows and have become quite accustomed to seeing them in the neighbor hood and streets of our quaint little town but I must have sensed something in this particular moo friend. Kate decided to cross the street (towards the cow) as we normally do every morning while walking to school. I had a moment of brief hesitation but followed along mas or menos obligingly (sp) (is it even a word? I am not sure but sounds so fitting) We continue walking, yes stilll uphill, when the cow begins to venture in our direction....I definitely started to panic at this moment when yes that darn cow continued coming towards us. My faithful friend Kate runs and hides behind a tree, she definitely did not have my back on this one. The cow comes closer and closer. In a moment of sheer panic I realize that our "coffee" cups are red and that this might anger the cow. I turn to Kate, who is already safely hiding behind a tree, when I shout to her, "KATE!! Our coffee cups are red!" Still he inches closer. I lose all control of sanity and dignity and begin shouting "ayudame! ayudame! ayudame!" Which of course means, Help me! Help me! Help me! Said cow's owner comes leisurely trotting along as I stand frozen in panic. I dare not move in case this cow decides to disembowel me and my red cup. Kate stands behind the tree with great tears of laughter forming....The cow just a few feet from my frozen trance then continues to trot along apparently deciding my red cup wasn't so intimidating after all. Kate and I both burst into laughter. Tears were streaming down my face and I am rather uncertain if they were tears from laughing or if I was actually crying from my close encounter. Either way the world may never know....One thing can definitely be said, there is rarely a dull day in Gracias.
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