I forgot to add this before but I am starting a Fund to raise money for a video projector for the school. A lot of the churches have them here, some of which were donated by churches in the States. We have been discussing amongst ourselves how useful a projector would be in school, as we all have laptops and would be able to use them in so many different ways int he classroom. Mark is a computer guy and so has found lots of Podcasts and Flash type things that we can use to help the children with their English. So..if anyone wants to donate any more or do any fund raising or has money lying around they want to put to a good cause please let me know!
Secondly...whilst you're thinking....this is a far more random request. Dave and Esther are thinking of moving to England and have asked me where would be best! How fun is that to pick a map and choose anywhere with no ties!? Anyway, I have made suggestions, but was wondering if anyone knew somewhere wonderful I hadn't thought of! They'd like to be in a town (pubs and coffee shops), access to London, maybe near the coast -and they haven't got much money! Esther is a teacher and Dave is a carpenter, they are both Canadian and are wonderful friends here (I shall be sad when they leave in the summer). His parents are British and so he has a British passport. They had looked at a map and suggested Surrey or Bath - neither places very affordable! But what do people think? All suggestions welcome.
Lastly..thank you Gemma and Silvia for reading my blog - what is your email address so I can reply? I can't find it!! Can you let me have it!! Thanks
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Writing about nothing
Here I am blogging again - I'm getting quite into this! This week Amanda and I are house sitting for Dave and Esther and they have fast internet and so I'm making the most of it!
Life has been fairly uneventful since the cockroach incident. We had exam week which was manic and then this weekend we had marking and grading to do. We have to mark the exams and then grade the children to see if they passed the Parcial (term). The grades are all based around crazy marks and percentages - things like behaviour, punctuality, listening, quizzes (small tests)and participation, as well as the exams. If they fail the parcial we have to give them re-cuperation exams as well as extra classes! Joy! So this weekend the guys and I simply marked! Amanda was still in Canada (she got back yesterday) and so we turned my side of the house into an 'office' and basically all lived there working. We put Disney DVD's on for company and camped out with our mark books. I actually got mine finished and so baked cakes and banana muffins in the kitchen and then made the meals etc whilst the boys graded - gave me something to do. I felt quite domesticated! It was nice to spend some time with the boys to get to know them better - even if it was bonding through work! I'm not sure how long this domestic streak will last - Mark and Noel are encouraging it needless to say!
Life has been fairly uneventful since the cockroach incident. We had exam week which was manic and then this weekend we had marking and grading to do. We have to mark the exams and then grade the children to see if they passed the Parcial (term). The grades are all based around crazy marks and percentages - things like behaviour, punctuality, listening, quizzes (small tests)and participation, as well as the exams. If they fail the parcial we have to give them re-cuperation exams as well as extra classes! Joy! So this weekend the guys and I simply marked! Amanda was still in Canada (she got back yesterday) and so we turned my side of the house into an 'office' and basically all lived there working. We put Disney DVD's on for company and camped out with our mark books. I actually got mine finished and so baked cakes and banana muffins in the kitchen and then made the meals etc whilst the boys graded - gave me something to do. I felt quite domesticated! It was nice to spend some time with the boys to get to know them better - even if it was bonding through work! I'm not sure how long this domestic streak will last - Mark and Noel are encouraging it needless to say!
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
House of Horrors?
I spent yesterday evening appreciating my clean house. Antonia hasn’t been to clean for a couple of weeks and despite the fact we sweep, it is never as clean as when she gets to it! So, I tidied and relaxed without having to walk over wood dust from the woodworm. How lovely I thought, especially as we now have a new table to replace the one the woodworm ate through - in fact we now have a plethora of tables as we were given 2 tables to replace a table and chair!
This morning I had a lazy morning as I don’t teach first lesson on a Wednesday. So I had a leisurely , hot shower, enjoying the peace. Casually took a shirt out of the wardrobe that I haven’t really worn much and put it on. Hmmm, suddenly it was quite itchy inside at the front so I looked for a label or something that may have got stuck there in the wash. But nothing. Then it felt a bit scratchy nearer the collar. As I turned my head there was an enormous cockroach crawling out of the top of the shirt I was wearing, onto my shoulder!! Oh my!! I flicked it onto my bed and then with a towel picked it up and took it outside, whereupon it received a good hammering with a shoe until it was well and truly squashed! Not a sound passed my lips, I was very impressed!
So the start of my morning was spent taking all of my clothes out of the wardrobe and checking them all, Then I emptied the whole wardrobe and sprayed Raid to kill anything that might be hiding! The ‘closets’ here don’t have doors, just curtains so anything can help themselves to somewhere warm and dry to live.
I’m feeling mystified as to why we have all the extra inhabitants on our side of the house: Woodworms, cockroaches, tarantulas, geckos etc as the boys don’t appear to have any!! It’s kind of the cockroach to come to keep me company whilst Amanda is away - but it’s company I could do without!!!
This morning I had a lazy morning as I don’t teach first lesson on a Wednesday. So I had a leisurely , hot shower, enjoying the peace. Casually took a shirt out of the wardrobe that I haven’t really worn much and put it on. Hmmm, suddenly it was quite itchy inside at the front so I looked for a label or something that may have got stuck there in the wash. But nothing. Then it felt a bit scratchy nearer the collar. As I turned my head there was an enormous cockroach crawling out of the top of the shirt I was wearing, onto my shoulder!! Oh my!! I flicked it onto my bed and then with a towel picked it up and took it outside, whereupon it received a good hammering with a shoe until it was well and truly squashed! Not a sound passed my lips, I was very impressed!
So the start of my morning was spent taking all of my clothes out of the wardrobe and checking them all, Then I emptied the whole wardrobe and sprayed Raid to kill anything that might be hiding! The ‘closets’ here don’t have doors, just curtains so anything can help themselves to somewhere warm and dry to live.
I’m feeling mystified as to why we have all the extra inhabitants on our side of the house: Woodworms, cockroaches, tarantulas, geckos etc as the boys don’t appear to have any!! It’s kind of the cockroach to come to keep me company whilst Amanda is away - but it’s company I could do without!!!
Monday, 22 October 2007
Recipes needed....
Well I will try to attach some photos now before I dash off to my Spanish class! Oh joy of joys. I now have Spanish lessons 4 days a week - it's a killer! My poor head is on overdrive. Amanda and I have lessons together on a Monday with Dona Reina and then on Tues, Wed and Thurs after school we have group lessons in our school here run by Silvia. These lessons are good for socialising as there are white teachers from other schools who come and so we get to see other friends. Blows my brain up though after working all day! Kill or cure I say.
Here is a picture of my housemates: Mark, Amanda and Noel.
This is my at the top of the volcano with the gorgeous view behind.
Our house has an infestation of Woodworm at the moment. They have removed a table for us as you could see the woodworms all over it and if you left paper on it at night by the morning they would have eaten holes through it! Our chairs have the same problem, as does our dining table and so all over our floor is wood-dust that they have left behind! Fairly grim. It's amazing how you become so blase about things. As Amanda and I were walking trough town the other day 2 enormous cockroaches pootled across our path and entered the house we were passing. We thought nothing of it - although afterwards wondered if we should have trodden on them to stop them entering someone else's house!
Amanda leaves for Canada tomorrow as she is heading home for a friend's wedding. It will be nice to have some space and to have my house to myself, it won't be lonely as the boys are only next door for company! We have started a 'Make Mark Fat' campaign here now. He has been sick and has lost loads of weight and as he was tall, lanky and thin to start with it's not good news for him. I'm all for making thin people fat and so am baking away!!! Why is it that it is the thin people who lose all the weight? Not that I want t be sick mind you!
Now..I'm on a baking and cooking spree...please can people email me with good recipes for lasagne, shepherds pie, lemon drizzle cake (Kath had a good recipe once, think it was in the St G's cookbook)and any other nice cakes, dishes. We can get most foods here somehow - or can adapt accordingly! I need some good home cooked food!
Right, time for Spanish class...
Here is a picture of my housemates: Mark, Amanda and Noel.
This is my at the top of the volcano with the gorgeous view behind.
Our house has an infestation of Woodworm at the moment. They have removed a table for us as you could see the woodworms all over it and if you left paper on it at night by the morning they would have eaten holes through it! Our chairs have the same problem, as does our dining table and so all over our floor is wood-dust that they have left behind! Fairly grim. It's amazing how you become so blase about things. As Amanda and I were walking trough town the other day 2 enormous cockroaches pootled across our path and entered the house we were passing. We thought nothing of it - although afterwards wondered if we should have trodden on them to stop them entering someone else's house!
Amanda leaves for Canada tomorrow as she is heading home for a friend's wedding. It will be nice to have some space and to have my house to myself, it won't be lonely as the boys are only next door for company! We have started a 'Make Mark Fat' campaign here now. He has been sick and has lost loads of weight and as he was tall, lanky and thin to start with it's not good news for him. I'm all for making thin people fat and so am baking away!!! Why is it that it is the thin people who lose all the weight? Not that I want t be sick mind you!
Now..I'm on a baking and cooking spree...please can people email me with good recipes for lasagne, shepherds pie, lemon drizzle cake (Kath had a good recipe once, think it was in the St G's cookbook)and any other nice cakes, dishes. We can get most foods here somehow - or can adapt accordingly! I need some good home cooked food!
Right, time for Spanish class...
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Frisbee on top of a volcano - naturally!
Another long weekend lay ahead of us last week, and our plan to go to Copan was not materialising, so where did we go? Yup...to another island! It's a hard life at times! Last weekend a group of us (Me, Amanda, Noel, Mark, Deb - an American girl teaching at the school, and Caroline - an American teaching at another school) all decided to go to the Isle of Tigre in the south of Honduras (Pacific Ocean this time). On Thursday night we sat by the Texaco garage for an hour waiting for a bus to take us to Tegucigalpa, where we were to stay the night before we found another bus to take us on our merry way. I had a headache as I sat there and I should have seen that this was to be the pattern for the weekend! A good sleep on the bus seemed to help though and when we got to Teguc all 6 of us piled in a small taxi (how to get to know people quickly!)and went to Marlon's apartment. Marlon is a Honduran friend we have got to know who studies Dentistry in Teguc and has a vv small flat he shares with his sister. Somehow there was room for all 6 of us to stay there - again sharing beds with people helps you to get to know each other better!!
We set off from Marlon's house to find the Bus station. It was pouring with rain as we trekked through the city. Our spirits still fairly high at this point, we stopped to ask the police the way to the bus station and after about 20 minutes of walking around we found the bus station. How I love the confusion of translations - they had directed us not to the obvious bus station where 6 people with rucksacks would be wanting to go to, but to the bus station where they mend the buses!! So another 10 minutes of walking in the rain and we found ourselves at the correct bus terminal. Interesting buses here in Honduras that remind me of the buses in Uganda - known as 'Chicken buses' here!
Well, we made it on various buses to Amapala where we all piled off the bus and into the boat that was to take us to the island. It was still pouring with rain as we sat under a plastic sheet to try and keep us dry. Sitting under the plastic we were blissfully unaware of the stunning scenery around us. We made it to the dock and with the Lonely Planet in hand, Deb started the phone calls in Spanish to try and find us somewhere to stay. It was still pouring with rain and the island looked pretty deserted, it certainly wasn't tourist season! The volcano loomed ahead of us, surrounded by a halo of cloud. We found somewhere to stay - a hotel on the beach. Next was to find a taxi to get us there, but the 'Harbour master' well equivalent of, found us a pick up truck that we all piled onto. We stood on the truck in the pouring rain, winding our way through the small island town until the truck pulled up on the beach and we all got off. We found our hotel and we were the only guests. The sea was sandy and looked inviting and so we decided to swim before dinner. I figured I was soaked through so may as well go straight in the sea in my clothes. Great idea! So, relaxing in the sea was the way forward and then back to change into my dry clothes. It was at this point that my weekend started to look less rosy. My rucksack is apparently NOT waterproof and so ALL of my clothes were soaked through! So no changing into dry clothes for me. Heh ho! It rained the entire weekend and so I was in wet clothes the entire weekend! This was thoroughly unappealing by the end. We stayed in this hotel for the night, which was incredibly cheap by English standards but v expensive by Honduran standards and so we decided to stay somewhere cheaper for the next night.
SO we all piled into another pickup truck (how I love those vehicles)and set off to find somewhere else on another beach. The volcano pretty much takes up most of the island and driving around the base it was just breathtaking as you looked up. It is not an active volcano (clearly or I wouldn't be there!) but was very striking.
We managed to get to another beach shortly before a non-existent lunch. Again, being rainy season they weren't really expecting visitors..but we found somewhere to stay. A shack by the sea is definitely not something you'd find at home. There were 4 hammocks and 3 bug-ridden, damp beds! The girls all managed to grab a hammock as soon as we saw the beds and they were to be our beds for the night. It was back to basics with no shower or running water. A toilet (hole in ground style) and a 'peeler' (no idea if that is how you spell it!) which is like a water trough. We had the added bonus of having little fish swimming in our water, but when you need to wash off you need to wash and in the dark you can't see the fish!
Anyway, we left our stuff int he shack and headed off to climb the volcano. Caroline stayed behind as she wasn't feeling well and in hindsight I should have stayed with her...! As we stood at the base of the volcano looking up at the mist covered expanse ahead of us I should have realised what I was getting into. There I was about to climb for 3 hours up a volcano (and UP being the vital word there)with 4 super fit, keen sport people! And me? I had a headache. It started off quite pleasant and then my headache kicked in and the speed increased, and the climb steepened.....and my mood became less than jolly! In fact I was thoroughly grumpy! I walked behind everyone else who had miraculously turned into Mountain goats. I had wet clothes on - including wet underwear - and I had a headache. Why did I agree to it? On a nice day and in dry clothes I would have loved it, but on this occasion the love was not to be! I can't believe how kind the others were to me though and understanding, my head was so bad I was plain stubborn and yet they remained calm and lovely. I really am very lucky to be with these people!
I finally made it to the top and was glad I did! The view was astounding. From up there you could see 3 countries - El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. My mood then lifted considerably - even to joining in the game of Frisbee we had up there - what else do you do on top of a volcano?? It took over 3 hours to get up there and only one and a half to slip and slide our way down.
When we got down to the road again we hitched another ride on a pick up and we made it back to our hut as the darkness set in. We were soaked with rain and sweat and smelt less than pleasant and the only way to wash was in the ocean and so yet again I remained in my clothes as they were so wet and in we went - along with the shampoo! I can't say I'd imagined myself in the pacific ocean washing my hair in the dark and rain. We managed to find dinner by the sea and then it was time to head for our hammocks. Mark had taken his laptop with him and so we both stayed up to watch the Lion King (again another unexpected twist to my weekend?!)
Few of us slept that night as we were just so cold, the hammock was relaxing, but somewhat restricting for a whole night. Amanda and I were both sure we heard things scuttling along the floor during the course of the night, but as we were in hammocks hanging it didn't really matter!
The next morning we were up early and we made our way back to the boat to take us home - still thoroughly wet! The bus back was full and I found myself standing for the first part, until a nice Honduran man gave up his seat for me!
I have never been so grateful to get home to a hot shower and dry clothes! It was a good weekend and nice to get away, but I'm not sure travelling with 5 other people is for me - a lot to have decisions made for - and to get into taxis! I have spent this week recovering from the travelling. It was a gorgeously beautiful place and one I'd like to return to in the sun!
This is not allowing me to add photos today and so I will add those tomorrow (or asap!)
We set off from Marlon's house to find the Bus station. It was pouring with rain as we trekked through the city. Our spirits still fairly high at this point, we stopped to ask the police the way to the bus station and after about 20 minutes of walking around we found the bus station. How I love the confusion of translations - they had directed us not to the obvious bus station where 6 people with rucksacks would be wanting to go to, but to the bus station where they mend the buses!! So another 10 minutes of walking in the rain and we found ourselves at the correct bus terminal. Interesting buses here in Honduras that remind me of the buses in Uganda - known as 'Chicken buses' here!
Well, we made it on various buses to Amapala where we all piled off the bus and into the boat that was to take us to the island. It was still pouring with rain as we sat under a plastic sheet to try and keep us dry. Sitting under the plastic we were blissfully unaware of the stunning scenery around us. We made it to the dock and with the Lonely Planet in hand, Deb started the phone calls in Spanish to try and find us somewhere to stay. It was still pouring with rain and the island looked pretty deserted, it certainly wasn't tourist season! The volcano loomed ahead of us, surrounded by a halo of cloud. We found somewhere to stay - a hotel on the beach. Next was to find a taxi to get us there, but the 'Harbour master' well equivalent of, found us a pick up truck that we all piled onto. We stood on the truck in the pouring rain, winding our way through the small island town until the truck pulled up on the beach and we all got off. We found our hotel and we were the only guests. The sea was sandy and looked inviting and so we decided to swim before dinner. I figured I was soaked through so may as well go straight in the sea in my clothes. Great idea! So, relaxing in the sea was the way forward and then back to change into my dry clothes. It was at this point that my weekend started to look less rosy. My rucksack is apparently NOT waterproof and so ALL of my clothes were soaked through! So no changing into dry clothes for me. Heh ho! It rained the entire weekend and so I was in wet clothes the entire weekend! This was thoroughly unappealing by the end. We stayed in this hotel for the night, which was incredibly cheap by English standards but v expensive by Honduran standards and so we decided to stay somewhere cheaper for the next night.
SO we all piled into another pickup truck (how I love those vehicles)and set off to find somewhere else on another beach. The volcano pretty much takes up most of the island and driving around the base it was just breathtaking as you looked up. It is not an active volcano (clearly or I wouldn't be there!) but was very striking.
We managed to get to another beach shortly before a non-existent lunch. Again, being rainy season they weren't really expecting visitors..but we found somewhere to stay. A shack by the sea is definitely not something you'd find at home. There were 4 hammocks and 3 bug-ridden, damp beds! The girls all managed to grab a hammock as soon as we saw the beds and they were to be our beds for the night. It was back to basics with no shower or running water. A toilet (hole in ground style) and a 'peeler' (no idea if that is how you spell it!) which is like a water trough. We had the added bonus of having little fish swimming in our water, but when you need to wash off you need to wash and in the dark you can't see the fish!
Anyway, we left our stuff int he shack and headed off to climb the volcano. Caroline stayed behind as she wasn't feeling well and in hindsight I should have stayed with her...! As we stood at the base of the volcano looking up at the mist covered expanse ahead of us I should have realised what I was getting into. There I was about to climb for 3 hours up a volcano (and UP being the vital word there)with 4 super fit, keen sport people! And me? I had a headache. It started off quite pleasant and then my headache kicked in and the speed increased, and the climb steepened.....and my mood became less than jolly! In fact I was thoroughly grumpy! I walked behind everyone else who had miraculously turned into Mountain goats. I had wet clothes on - including wet underwear - and I had a headache. Why did I agree to it? On a nice day and in dry clothes I would have loved it, but on this occasion the love was not to be! I can't believe how kind the others were to me though and understanding, my head was so bad I was plain stubborn and yet they remained calm and lovely. I really am very lucky to be with these people!
I finally made it to the top and was glad I did! The view was astounding. From up there you could see 3 countries - El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. My mood then lifted considerably - even to joining in the game of Frisbee we had up there - what else do you do on top of a volcano?? It took over 3 hours to get up there and only one and a half to slip and slide our way down.
When we got down to the road again we hitched another ride on a pick up and we made it back to our hut as the darkness set in. We were soaked with rain and sweat and smelt less than pleasant and the only way to wash was in the ocean and so yet again I remained in my clothes as they were so wet and in we went - along with the shampoo! I can't say I'd imagined myself in the pacific ocean washing my hair in the dark and rain. We managed to find dinner by the sea and then it was time to head for our hammocks. Mark had taken his laptop with him and so we both stayed up to watch the Lion King (again another unexpected twist to my weekend?!)
Few of us slept that night as we were just so cold, the hammock was relaxing, but somewhat restricting for a whole night. Amanda and I were both sure we heard things scuttling along the floor during the course of the night, but as we were in hammocks hanging it didn't really matter!
The next morning we were up early and we made our way back to the boat to take us home - still thoroughly wet! The bus back was full and I found myself standing for the first part, until a nice Honduran man gave up his seat for me!
I have never been so grateful to get home to a hot shower and dry clothes! It was a good weekend and nice to get away, but I'm not sure travelling with 5 other people is for me - a lot to have decisions made for - and to get into taxis! I have spent this week recovering from the travelling. It was a gorgeously beautiful place and one I'd like to return to in the sun!
This is not allowing me to add photos today and so I will add those tomorrow (or asap!)
Sunday, 7 October 2007
Hanging around on the high ropes
Well, another week has passed. I had bad headaches for most of last week so was in a fairly grumpy mood for some of it! But, things are now good and the fun continues! I really do love it here!
Despite the headaches I've had a lovely week and yesterday was just what the doctor ordered. Mark, Amanda, Noel, Deb and myself all went up to the Camp to help out Ken and Dave and the Scripture Union team who were all building and working there. It was a gorgeously hot, sunny day and we were soon put to work. I started off hapily shoveling dirt, but Ken said he needed a 'perfectionist' to do some measuring, it seemed right up my street and so I offered. I then found out I was to be measuring at the top of the High Ropes Course! Interesting!
So I found myself in a harness, 30feet up in the air measuring for new steps. I was to do all the measuring and Mark (who is like a monkey on the High Ropes, he loves it and it is what he used to do back in Canada)was sawing the holes. It was fine on the first platform as I used the ladder to climb up there. But the only way to the other platforms was across the ropes. All credit to Mark - he was very patient with me getting across!! I wasn't about to go across until I was ready! Needless to say he got me across and then virtually ran his way back across them to get all the tools etc. I wasn't about to go across holding a saw! It was just so hot up there and the view so astounding I think I wouldn't have minded anything. We made it to 3 platforms before the sun starting setting. I had just psyched myself up to just get a grip and go around the whole course without being a wimp when Ken turned up with the ladder! I will do it one day though!!
So it was just perfect to be out of school and actually doing something. Amanda and I are going to offer to go and work up there on Saturday afternoons when we are around.
Next weekend we are all going to Copan for a long weekend, finally I will get to see the ruins!
Not sure what other news there is. Jon is out of hospital and seems to have recovered well from Dengue. Noels feet are normal size again. That's about as interesting as it gets these days!
I've been trying to call people on Skype recently but sometimes there is such a big delay you hang up before I speak!! If you get any weird calls it is probably me just wanting to talk to people who understand my accent and what I am saying. Sometimes I even need translators for the Canadians! But they are learning!
I have Spanish lessons on Mondays now alongside Amanda, but from next week we are having extra lessons from Silvia too and and so will have Spanish lessons 4 days a week! Kill or cure I say! Lessons in school increase next week too. I have to do re-enforcement classes for the kids who are behind. It's only for an hour after school once a week - but means I am teaching from 7.30am until 3.30pm. A long day!
Please keep in touch!
I am going to try and attach a panoramic 'movie' that Mark made on top of the High Ropes course to show the view. Lots of photos put together. You just click on it and drag it around. (Dad you left clickon the picture and then use the mouse to drag it across andyou will see the view! You need Quicktime to view it. (Most comps have it)
Despite the headaches I've had a lovely week and yesterday was just what the doctor ordered. Mark, Amanda, Noel, Deb and myself all went up to the Camp to help out Ken and Dave and the Scripture Union team who were all building and working there. It was a gorgeously hot, sunny day and we were soon put to work. I started off hapily shoveling dirt, but Ken said he needed a 'perfectionist' to do some measuring, it seemed right up my street and so I offered. I then found out I was to be measuring at the top of the High Ropes Course! Interesting!
So I found myself in a harness, 30feet up in the air measuring for new steps. I was to do all the measuring and Mark (who is like a monkey on the High Ropes, he loves it and it is what he used to do back in Canada)was sawing the holes. It was fine on the first platform as I used the ladder to climb up there. But the only way to the other platforms was across the ropes. All credit to Mark - he was very patient with me getting across!! I wasn't about to go across until I was ready! Needless to say he got me across and then virtually ran his way back across them to get all the tools etc. I wasn't about to go across holding a saw! It was just so hot up there and the view so astounding I think I wouldn't have minded anything. We made it to 3 platforms before the sun starting setting. I had just psyched myself up to just get a grip and go around the whole course without being a wimp when Ken turned up with the ladder! I will do it one day though!!
So it was just perfect to be out of school and actually doing something. Amanda and I are going to offer to go and work up there on Saturday afternoons when we are around.
Next weekend we are all going to Copan for a long weekend, finally I will get to see the ruins!
Not sure what other news there is. Jon is out of hospital and seems to have recovered well from Dengue. Noels feet are normal size again. That's about as interesting as it gets these days!
I've been trying to call people on Skype recently but sometimes there is such a big delay you hang up before I speak!! If you get any weird calls it is probably me just wanting to talk to people who understand my accent and what I am saying. Sometimes I even need translators for the Canadians! But they are learning!
I have Spanish lessons on Mondays now alongside Amanda, but from next week we are having extra lessons from Silvia too and and so will have Spanish lessons 4 days a week! Kill or cure I say! Lessons in school increase next week too. I have to do re-enforcement classes for the kids who are behind. It's only for an hour after school once a week - but means I am teaching from 7.30am until 3.30pm. A long day!
Please keep in touch!
I am going to try and attach a panoramic 'movie' that Mark made on top of the High Ropes course to show the view. Lots of photos put together. You just click on it and drag it around. (Dad you left clickon the picture and then use the mouse to drag it across andyou will see the view! You need Quicktime to view it. (Most comps have it)
Monday, 1 October 2007
So much to say...so little time..
OK so I am going to try and update you all with the ever increasing amount of things that happen here.
I have no idea what is going on with these photos - they wont let me put them where I want them and so you will have to guess which one is which as you read!! Sorry about that!
Straight after the Independence Day March we went off to Utila for the weekend - an idyllic Caribbean Island! The 'we' being Dave and Esther (Canadian couple who are my age and just lovely), Noel, Amanda and myself. Mark (who also lives with Amanda, Noe and me) decided to go to El Salvador with Deb and some other Americans from around town who went surfing and volcano climbing!
Anyway, we drove down to La Ceiba and then after staying there the night we caught the early ferry to Utila. It is simply gorgeous there. The others did lots of Snorkeling over the coral and I did lots of relaxing reading my book on the beach. Needless to say we all came back very brown and relaxed. I have also turned remarkably blonde in all this sun! Helped along by the fact we all decided to put the 'lemon juice in the hair' theory to the test! Yep - it works, my hair is a totally different colour to when I left! Nothing like making yourself stand out even more from the Hondurans!!! It was just what we needed to get away from the first few crazy weeks and the stress of the marching practises!!
Sue's parents are here (good old Uncle Ken and Jill) and so last weekend (not yesterday) we went to Copan for the weekend as a big family. It was wonderful, I finally got to go around the Parrot Park!! It was good to go back and not have the stress of the language school!
Last week was fairly eventful in it's way. Noel ended up in hospital for 2 nights! He had been bitten by some random insects on his calf which had made both of his feet swell up to enormous size! I have never seen feet so big - and it was both of them! Very amusing! Anyway, we decided it was best he went to have them checked and as it was football night I went with him and the others went to play football! Unfortunately none of the doctors or nurses spoke English and so it took a while with my Spanish! We got there ( with the help of a phone call to Josh - Sue's son!) who translated the doctor for us!! His feet are fine now after being on a drip and large amounts of Steroids! Apparently his reactions to bites are worse due to his asthma. None of the rest of us have asthma so hopefully it wont happen to us! Whilst he was away we got to know Mark better as he spent more time in our house for company. All good fun.
This last Friday provided us with yet more parades! I love it. This time it was Defiles de Antorches. A torchlight parade to celebrate the end of Independence Month! It was raining which was a real shame but it continued anyway. It went past the end of our road we we all piled out in our raincoats and watched the schools with the marching bands playing and dancing along. With the candles and torches it was spectacular, the echoing of the drums between the buildings was 'awesome' as my Canadians would say!
Saturday was yet more bands. I've been in my element! It was the Battle of the Bands competition in the local stadium. The bands had their best uniforms on and was just spectacular. The dancing and playing etc is indescribable - but I have hundreds of photos to prove it! Dave wanted to play with my camera and so he wandered off with it - and I have all the pics!! It was a very hot day sat facing the sun and so needless to say my face is still red and waiting to go a nice darker shade of brown! There are some good things about living here!! SO it has just been lots of fun!
One thing not so good is that one of our friends - an American guy named John- has got Dengue. IT is a bit like Malaria, caught from Mosquito bites, but has worse effects and pain. He is also in the hospital now but should be home soon as there is no cure, you just have to wait it out. He is there as his white blood cell count is too low?! We are all praying he Will be well again soon - and that we don't get it too. They think he got it in El Salvador as it is a big problem there. It is not so big here yet and I hope it stays that way!
Uncle Ken and Jill leave on Wednesday it has been good having them around. We have Wednesday off for 'Soldiers Day'. You have to laugh!!!!! Next week we have Friday off for something else but after that there are no more holidays!! Sadly!
My class are slowly understanding me a bit. A long and painful process but they are very cute. I've roped Mark into coming and making Sock Puppets with them this week - I am always looking for help! I teach 35 hours a week and the others only about 20 or so and so I maximise on this where I can.
We had our 2nd Spanish lesson today, it was great fun. I understood it all which was good!
Now, post isn't making it through to me. I'm not sure why as parcels dad sent 2 months ago are still not here. I live in hope mind you. We are desperate for DVD's here. It is our only form of relaxation in the house when it rains and we have watched all of my ones. IF anyone can send any out I'd be v grateful. Beth do you still have my Bridget Jones 1??!!! Chick flicks and girlie films are v welcomed, as are comedies...in fact anything. I've even resorted to watching a James Bond film, mind you we only have one of those! So please anyone..send DVD's!!! and Cadburys!
I don't know how long it takes to get things to Canada (I think 2-3 weeks normal airmail) but Amanda is going home for a wedding on 23rd October and can bring things back for me. IF things are posted in the next few days I guess they would get there for her to bring to me here - may be quicker?! If you address it to her then her parents wont get confused. I'm not sure of her real surname as it is Dutch but I call Amanda Van Hoffle Hoffle!
SO....
Amanda Van Hoffle Hoffle
90 Centre Street East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4C 1A4
CANADA
I would love to hear from people, but I also have not given up hope on the things that have already been sent. I look forward to a nice surprise one day!!
Sorry I have not given much detail but so much has happened it is hard to write about it all in one go!!
Please keep in touch. It's hard for me to always reply straight away but I love hearing from you all.
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