Just to let you know I won't be in contact for the weekend, as tomorrow (Thursday) I'm off to El Salvador for the weekend! It's May Day tomorrow and therefore like UK we get a day off and so we are making the most of it and getting away. I am driving 6 of us in my car - and in theory I should legally be able to cross the border with my car. It is a slight gamble as to whether we'll actually get in the country as my car's registration slip is still in Tito's name! It seems not many people change the reg slip as it's not important in Honduras - but the border is different. I do have all the paperwork in my name and so am legal. In theory it's fine so let's hope they are in a good mood!
We are driving to Tegus after school tomorrrow and then it is only about 3 hours to the border from there on Friday and so, remarkably close!
I spent today rushing around trying to buy a small fire extinguisher, which is a requirement by law to have in the car (when we went to Utila I borrowed Enoc's) and other various things. After a long time dragging around the hardware stores in town I managed to get everything.
Our budget for this trip? Without including food, we can get there, back, and 3 nights accomodation for a grand total of £10 - because there are 6 of us to split the cost and Megan's parents are helping with the cost of petrol as she has a broken foot (otherwise we'd catch a bus!).
It's cheaper for me to go to El Salvador for 3 days then it is for me to go to London for a day trip on the train from Worthing!! Which would I prefer??? I think the beach wins I'm afraid!!
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Thursday 24 April 2008
Peace March
Just as I thought we were not going to have any more marches this year - today we went on a Peace March through town! I love it when the school's here march, I really do. This was nothing like the marches we had for Indepedence Day back in September. Not so 'official'.
The main difference being - we took no children! Hilarious!! It was after school time and so we did not take our kids, and the high school just decided they didn't want to participate. So there we were - the elementary teachers - in our school t-shirts marching along in a line with our banner! We had Carlita's little children - 2 token children! It was very funny!
Now, I love this kind of thing and so was enjoying it - though finding it mildly embarrassing, and amusing, that we didn't have any of our classes with us - unlike everyone else!
Apparently they have this Peace March every year, and last year not many schools participated and it was very organised. This year, because of the security issues here at the moment I think all the schools in town turned up to march and demonstrate for peace- hundreds and hundreds of children (including high schools). All marching along shouting 'we want peace' and 'no more violence' - though obviously in Spanish!
There was such a sense of community and common goal amongst everyone - it was like a giant party atmosphere - not quite as formal as other marches! Not so peaceful for me was the fact the girls behind me were seeing who could shout the loudest and screech the highest - they did well I'd say!
They all congregated in the plaza after the march and there were competitions - and to be honest I dont know what else as we left - heh we had no kids with us and Amanda and Noel came to meet us and it's not really Amanda's type of thing!!
The thing that struck me most as I was walking was just how much these children meant what they were saying, the fact that yes we do want peace in Siguatepeque! Of course most were there because they had to be, but reading their banners and listening to them made me quite emotional for a moment. Nothing should be taken for granted in life.
The main difference being - we took no children! Hilarious!! It was after school time and so we did not take our kids, and the high school just decided they didn't want to participate. So there we were - the elementary teachers - in our school t-shirts marching along in a line with our banner! We had Carlita's little children - 2 token children! It was very funny!
Now, I love this kind of thing and so was enjoying it - though finding it mildly embarrassing, and amusing, that we didn't have any of our classes with us - unlike everyone else!
Apparently they have this Peace March every year, and last year not many schools participated and it was very organised. This year, because of the security issues here at the moment I think all the schools in town turned up to march and demonstrate for peace- hundreds and hundreds of children (including high schools). All marching along shouting 'we want peace' and 'no more violence' - though obviously in Spanish!
There was such a sense of community and common goal amongst everyone - it was like a giant party atmosphere - not quite as formal as other marches! Not so peaceful for me was the fact the girls behind me were seeing who could shout the loudest and screech the highest - they did well I'd say!
They all congregated in the plaza after the march and there were competitions - and to be honest I dont know what else as we left - heh we had no kids with us and Amanda and Noel came to meet us and it's not really Amanda's type of thing!!
The thing that struck me most as I was walking was just how much these children meant what they were saying, the fact that yes we do want peace in Siguatepeque! Of course most were there because they had to be, but reading their banners and listening to them made me quite emotional for a moment. Nothing should be taken for granted in life.
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Typical Honduran evening??
So, this time last year I was sat at home wondering what Honduras was like. Wondering what I would be doing in the evenings for entertainment. Apparently all my pre-conceptions were.....wrong!
Yes, tonight is football night - my favourite night of the week. Everyone goes out to play football and I get the house to myself. And what am I doing in these precious hours??? I am...playing on the Xbox!!!?
Enoc has lent us his Xbox and I am utterly horrendous at it and so whilst everyone is out I'm getting some practise in! Noel and Enoc thrash me by miles and so I need all the practise I can get with my racing skills!!
Who'd have thought I'd be sat in Honduras racing a Ferrari?!
Yes, tonight is football night - my favourite night of the week. Everyone goes out to play football and I get the house to myself. And what am I doing in these precious hours??? I am...playing on the Xbox!!!?
Enoc has lent us his Xbox and I am utterly horrendous at it and so whilst everyone is out I'm getting some practise in! Noel and Enoc thrash me by miles and so I need all the practise I can get with my racing skills!!
Who'd have thought I'd be sat in Honduras racing a Ferrari?!
Monday 21 April 2008
Blending in - or not!
I have become so used to constantly being stared at for being white and looking ' different' that I am now oblivious to it. I forget that I stand out because I have white skin, blonde(ish) hair, taller than most women. Well, I thought I was oblivious until today's market trip.
Every Sunday we go to the fruit /veg market after church to buy our fresh produce for the week. You'd think that people would recognise us (as most of the sellers do) and would not need to stare at us as we walk by. Today was different to our normal market trips - there was a very high proportion of drunk men there (maybe to do with the football match last night). Not just drunk men, but drunk, old, dirty, toothless men. Nice.
One man felt the need to ask Noel if we would like for him (said drunk man) to be our boyfriend. As polite as it was for him to ask it was not pleasant. Noel became our body guard and told the man that he was in fact our boyfriend and so this man couldn't be (a blatant lie, but we were grateful for it) He was persistant though and proceeded to follow us around and leer at us, trying to talk to us. Then as we walked away another drunk man came towards us so we ran back to Noel for safety!
I then had an old toothless lady staring blatantly at me as I tried to buy my strawberries, so I said hello and she just stood patting me like a dog telling us we were beautiful! I felt like a side-show!
I think what topped it off, was that as we had left Noel to buy his bananas and went to try to peacefully finish our shopping, a man stood behind me hitting my bottom with the brushwood/sticks he was trying to get me to buy!! I was not impressed I can say! And no it did not tempt me to buy his bloomin sticks!
It's not normally that bad in the market, and we are always very aware of keeping hold of our bags and general safety in such a crowded place, and normally Jorge and Enoc come along for the company. Typical that the one week they don't come we get all the hassle!!
It keeps us on our toes I guess and means that life here is never boring!
Every Sunday we go to the fruit /veg market after church to buy our fresh produce for the week. You'd think that people would recognise us (as most of the sellers do) and would not need to stare at us as we walk by. Today was different to our normal market trips - there was a very high proportion of drunk men there (maybe to do with the football match last night). Not just drunk men, but drunk, old, dirty, toothless men. Nice.
One man felt the need to ask Noel if we would like for him (said drunk man) to be our boyfriend. As polite as it was for him to ask it was not pleasant. Noel became our body guard and told the man that he was in fact our boyfriend and so this man couldn't be (a blatant lie, but we were grateful for it) He was persistant though and proceeded to follow us around and leer at us, trying to talk to us. Then as we walked away another drunk man came towards us so we ran back to Noel for safety!
I then had an old toothless lady staring blatantly at me as I tried to buy my strawberries, so I said hello and she just stood patting me like a dog telling us we were beautiful! I felt like a side-show!
I think what topped it off, was that as we had left Noel to buy his bananas and went to try to peacefully finish our shopping, a man stood behind me hitting my bottom with the brushwood/sticks he was trying to get me to buy!! I was not impressed I can say! And no it did not tempt me to buy his bloomin sticks!
It's not normally that bad in the market, and we are always very aware of keeping hold of our bags and general safety in such a crowded place, and normally Jorge and Enoc come along for the company. Typical that the one week they don't come we get all the hassle!!
It keeps us on our toes I guess and means that life here is never boring!
Saturday 19 April 2008
Send in the clowns
Friday night bought with it more random excitement in Siguatepeque....the circus came to town!!!
Under the guise of going for Noel's birthday we went to the circus. I was so excited it was untrue....I was like a 5 year old child on Friday, almost counting down the hours until it started! Children in my class had told me what to expect as they had already been and my excitement level was unnatural! There were to be lions jumping through rings of fire...and an ostrich (we never did see the ostrich). Jorge told us to expect big cats and a chicken as it is a Honduran circus.
As it happened, it was a circus from Mexico and was fantastic - so much fun. It was like going back in time - run by a couple of families who did everything, the magician collected the tickets, the tightrope walker was on the gate, the giant circus tent was lit up outside, a small ring in the middle and wooden benches (or more expensive plastic chairs) around the edge. There were dancing ladies, a magician, a juggler, tight rope cyclist, a ribbon hanging down with a girl wrapping herself up and doing acrobatics, small children jumping on a trampoline (including a very small boy doing a Micheal Jackson impression on the trampoline, no idea why, but was very funny and somewhat wrong to watch!), clowns telling jokes in Spanish...and the lions!
Oh so funny. The lion was very thin, but sort or healthy and ran round inside a large cage instead of the ring, jumping over tables etc - very much as they would have done in the 60's. Then, they lit a ring of fire for the lion to jump through! The first time the lion jumped successfully and the second time it just looked at the ring and had to be convinced through with pieces of meat. It got through and then sat on the table the other side...leaving it's tail sat in the burning ring! No one seemed to notice and we were all shouting - in English!! Very funny, but not so much for the lion!
I just sat and laughed the entire evening, I had SO much fun!
Another random highlight was when a 2 month old baby lion was bought out in the interval for the children to stroke and have their photos taken with....what happens? Yup, the gringos and their friends get up for a photo and to hold the lion! Eduardo from my Grade 1 class was there and so I took him with me to meet the lion.
Left to right: Brett, Enoc, Amanda, Esther, Dave, MarlonMark, Samuel, Me and the lion, Eduardo and Noel
What else would you do on a Friday night?
Monday 14 April 2008
Breaking through the barriers
After a stressful week of ill-health and science fairs, I have had the most unexpectedly wonderful weekend! Truly.
I had been dreading this weekend for several weeks, yet it could not have been better.
Saturday afternoon was Rocio's 7th birthday party at Wendy's (think McDonalds). Rocio is in my 1st Grade class and quite adorable. I get on very well with her parents and so on being invited to her birthday was happy to go to her party. I was somewhat apprehensive, not knowing who would be there, would form of a party this would be. However, almost everyone I knew was there - it was hilarious and a good chance to catch up with friends I had not seen for a while. Also a good chance to practise my Spanish in a non-threatening environment.
So a success!
I then had to leave the party to get to Youth Group. Now after the trauma of last week's meeting I was somewhat apprehensive yet again. However, it turned out to be great. We were again split into groups, and again I got the gist of what was going on. We were tired though with all the concentrating that listening to Spanish brings and so we did not stay for the groups. No-one seemed to mind and so we scuttled off after the main talk/discussion. So....a success.
Now Sunday was to be the day I had been dreading the most. We were going with the Youth Group to help build and re-roof a house in a village our church supports. I was looking forward to getting to meet with people and loved the thought of building...and yet was terrified of a whole day in Spanish, not really knowing what would be going on and standing out! I knew it would be the best thing for me in terms of actually getting to know people. Amanda and I were both worried about the day and so before we set off we prayed together that we would get through it and enjoy it.
What an answer to prayer it was indeed!! I had the best day I could have imagined. Great fun! We met at the church and somehow ended up with 12 of us squashed into my car. 4 in the boot with the amplifier we were taking, 6 in the backseat and then Amanda and I in the front (with lots of space!) Impressive. Everyone was excited about the day ahead.
Well, we were split into 2 groups to work on 2 different projects. It was in a very poor community and we worked on an adobe house, we were to take off the very old aluminium sheet roof and replace it and then rebuild one of the rooms. The walls were made of cardboard/wood/plastic bags/tarpaulins. So we went with our group and Freddie said we were needed on the roof to help take the nails out. We weren't sure if he was serious but we climbed the ladder and got onto the roof anyway! As we were up there they started taking the sheets off. Interesting! There was no real support to this roof and so at this point I decided it was wise to get down whilst I could! Anyway, we worked hard and helped with the sawing, hammering, measuring etc. They said all the girls had to go to the kitchen to make lunch. Needless to say we both refused and said we were going to carry on working - and we did! There is no such thing as health and safety in any form. If something needs to be done, it gets done regardless of how unsafe the ladder is or what you have to stand on to reach it!
Lunch itself was interesting - Seafood Soup. Which is exactly what it was! We took sandwiches as we had been sick all week and didn't want to push our luck with seafood in our stomachs. This however seemed to cause great offense and so we went to get a bowl to share. In the bowl were whole crabs, whole fish with just the heads cut off and the tails sticking out (scales on etc). You name it. Mixed in was yuka, rice etc. Not really my thing, but Amanda seemed to get into it.
After lunch we got on with work again. This time the girls were asked to go and hand out invites to the village telling them about the drama in the evening. We were told to stay and work on the house and so Kike, Freddie, Amanda and I kept on hammering etc.
After the house was finished with a new roof, new walls, a door etc the bed was put back in the room. There was no floor, simply dirt and dust. A really humble house. One day's work changed someone's life. Then the drama was presented. It was powerful - may have been more so if the dog had not been sniffing everyone throughout it!
I cannot put into words everything I saw yesterday and everything I experienced, it just does not do it justice. I can however summarise what I got from it:
I had been dreading this weekend for several weeks, yet it could not have been better.
Saturday afternoon was Rocio's 7th birthday party at Wendy's (think McDonalds). Rocio is in my 1st Grade class and quite adorable. I get on very well with her parents and so on being invited to her birthday was happy to go to her party. I was somewhat apprehensive, not knowing who would be there, would form of a party this would be. However, almost everyone I knew was there - it was hilarious and a good chance to catch up with friends I had not seen for a while. Also a good chance to practise my Spanish in a non-threatening environment.
So a success!
I then had to leave the party to get to Youth Group. Now after the trauma of last week's meeting I was somewhat apprehensive yet again. However, it turned out to be great. We were again split into groups, and again I got the gist of what was going on. We were tired though with all the concentrating that listening to Spanish brings and so we did not stay for the groups. No-one seemed to mind and so we scuttled off after the main talk/discussion. So....a success.
Now Sunday was to be the day I had been dreading the most. We were going with the Youth Group to help build and re-roof a house in a village our church supports. I was looking forward to getting to meet with people and loved the thought of building...and yet was terrified of a whole day in Spanish, not really knowing what would be going on and standing out! I knew it would be the best thing for me in terms of actually getting to know people. Amanda and I were both worried about the day and so before we set off we prayed together that we would get through it and enjoy it.
What an answer to prayer it was indeed!! I had the best day I could have imagined. Great fun! We met at the church and somehow ended up with 12 of us squashed into my car. 4 in the boot with the amplifier we were taking, 6 in the backseat and then Amanda and I in the front (with lots of space!) Impressive. Everyone was excited about the day ahead.
Well, we were split into 2 groups to work on 2 different projects. It was in a very poor community and we worked on an adobe house, we were to take off the very old aluminium sheet roof and replace it and then rebuild one of the rooms. The walls were made of cardboard/wood/plastic bags/tarpaulins. So we went with our group and Freddie said we were needed on the roof to help take the nails out. We weren't sure if he was serious but we climbed the ladder and got onto the roof anyway! As we were up there they started taking the sheets off. Interesting! There was no real support to this roof and so at this point I decided it was wise to get down whilst I could! Anyway, we worked hard and helped with the sawing, hammering, measuring etc. They said all the girls had to go to the kitchen to make lunch. Needless to say we both refused and said we were going to carry on working - and we did! There is no such thing as health and safety in any form. If something needs to be done, it gets done regardless of how unsafe the ladder is or what you have to stand on to reach it!
Lunch itself was interesting - Seafood Soup. Which is exactly what it was! We took sandwiches as we had been sick all week and didn't want to push our luck with seafood in our stomachs. This however seemed to cause great offense and so we went to get a bowl to share. In the bowl were whole crabs, whole fish with just the heads cut off and the tails sticking out (scales on etc). You name it. Mixed in was yuka, rice etc. Not really my thing, but Amanda seemed to get into it.
After lunch we got on with work again. This time the girls were asked to go and hand out invites to the village telling them about the drama in the evening. We were told to stay and work on the house and so Kike, Freddie, Amanda and I kept on hammering etc.
After the house was finished with a new roof, new walls, a door etc the bed was put back in the room. There was no floor, simply dirt and dust. A really humble house. One day's work changed someone's life. Then the drama was presented. It was powerful - may have been more so if the dog had not been sniffing everyone throughout it!
I cannot put into words everything I saw yesterday and everything I experienced, it just does not do it justice. I can however summarise what I got from it:
- Breaking through language barriers with a common goal/task
- Getting to finally know people from the church
- Showing people we are willing to work and join in like everyone else
- Being able to mess around with people - not just the serious side
- Showing we do want to join in, but just need patience with our language skills
- I feel we broke through so many barriers that we have, mainly due to language. Now going to Youth Group and church will be that bit easier.
- We have done the hard part of putting ourselves out there, we don't mind being laughed at etc!
- Seeing how much God answered our prayers in so many different ways that we didn't expect.
It really is hard to explain, but I feel that yesterday was a turning point for our relationships with friends, people in our community at church. We were able to show we want to join in and are prepared to show our weaknesses and lay ourselves on the line. God worked in such a positive and awesome way (can you tell I live with Canadians?) I think from now on it can only get easier. For now anyway!
There is so much more I can say, but I have not done this justice and so I will stop here!
Saturday 12 April 2008
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
I am currently reading the most harrowing book I have ever read.
'A long way gone - memoirs of a boy soldier', by Ishmael Beah.
It is the hardest book I have ever read and yet the most compelling and hardest to put down. It is the autobiography of a man who was a boy soldier in Sierra Leone, later to be saved and rehabilitated by UNICEF. He tells it all first hand.
Deb lent me the book, with strong warnings. As she said it would, I find myself crying as I read, knowing it is a true story. It is a book where you become so absorbed into the storyline that reality goes out of the window! When I put the book down I wander around with my head full of the bloodshed, feeling quite dazed. As I write this I have been reading all morning, I had to go to the shops to buy laundry powder and was completely not with it - my head full of Sierra Leone and then people talking to me in Spanish, in a country not my own! I can't explain the confusion. Rachel (who I lived in Uganda with) is back visiting Kabale, and so I read her emails bringing back my own memories of Uganda and my head gets more muddled!
I am looking forward to finishing the book so that I dont have to go through this anymore! At one point this week Amanda took the book off me as it was confusing me so much and making me sad.
I recommend you all to read this book, it is beautifully written, harrowing yet compelling and helps you keep your priorities in order!
But..it comes with a strong word of warning - it's not easy to read!
'A long way gone - memoirs of a boy soldier', by Ishmael Beah.
It is the hardest book I have ever read and yet the most compelling and hardest to put down. It is the autobiography of a man who was a boy soldier in Sierra Leone, later to be saved and rehabilitated by UNICEF. He tells it all first hand.
Deb lent me the book, with strong warnings. As she said it would, I find myself crying as I read, knowing it is a true story. It is a book where you become so absorbed into the storyline that reality goes out of the window! When I put the book down I wander around with my head full of the bloodshed, feeling quite dazed. As I write this I have been reading all morning, I had to go to the shops to buy laundry powder and was completely not with it - my head full of Sierra Leone and then people talking to me in Spanish, in a country not my own! I can't explain the confusion. Rachel (who I lived in Uganda with) is back visiting Kabale, and so I read her emails bringing back my own memories of Uganda and my head gets more muddled!
I am looking forward to finishing the book so that I dont have to go through this anymore! At one point this week Amanda took the book off me as it was confusing me so much and making me sad.
I recommend you all to read this book, it is beautifully written, harrowing yet compelling and helps you keep your priorities in order!
But..it comes with a strong word of warning - it's not easy to read!
Wednesday 9 April 2008
Our newest resident - is no more!
The newest resident in our house (apart from the abundance of cockroaches that now seem to like it here)...... is a mouse....or mice.
He is a cheeky blighter...runs straight in through our front door in the middle of the day, runs across the floors, between our houses. The cheek!
So we bought and set traps this evening...and after an hour it had the poor mouse in it! We are yet to find out if it was a lonely mouse or if he had a family......
Needless to say I winced when I heard the trap fall, and could not bring myself to remove it and reset the trap!! Hurray for friends!
(p.s. apparently the law about car stickers didn't go through....but who knows?!)
He is a cheeky blighter...runs straight in through our front door in the middle of the day, runs across the floors, between our houses. The cheek!
So we bought and set traps this evening...and after an hour it had the poor mouse in it! We are yet to find out if it was a lonely mouse or if he had a family......
Needless to say I winced when I heard the trap fall, and could not bring myself to remove it and reset the trap!! Hurray for friends!
(p.s. apparently the law about car stickers didn't go through....but who knows?!)
From the sublime...to the ridiculous
This week they are bringing in a new law to Honduras (as we speak it is going through congress?) It is that for one day a week you are not allowed to drive your car! You have to get a sticker to put on your windscreen stating which day it is you are not going to drive it. If you are caught driving on that day you are given an on the spot fine!
It doesn't effect me now, but when I am living up at the camp at Ken and Sue's house I will have to drive their Landrover on 'my day'.
The reason for this? Well, it depends who you talk to...some say it is to do with the economy, some say to do with gas (petrol), some the environment. No-one knows for sure!
So, I was seemingly the last to find out about this, and tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day you can get hold of a sticker.
However....Sigua has run out of them! So tomorrow I have to go on a sticker hunt to Comayagua after school! Crazy.
I think my day will be Tuesday!!
It doesn't effect me now, but when I am living up at the camp at Ken and Sue's house I will have to drive their Landrover on 'my day'.
The reason for this? Well, it depends who you talk to...some say it is to do with the economy, some say to do with gas (petrol), some the environment. No-one knows for sure!
So, I was seemingly the last to find out about this, and tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day you can get hold of a sticker.
However....Sigua has run out of them! So tomorrow I have to go on a sticker hunt to Comayagua after school! Crazy.
I think my day will be Tuesday!!
Saturday 5 April 2008
Pushing my limits
This week at has definitely been one that I'd like to forget - not one of the best I've had shall we say.
In school, we have a Science Fair next week, which includes Grades 1 and 2 making experiments and presenting them in English. All well and good in theory - except the children don't speak enough English to actually achieve this. Secondly, for the last 2 weeks we have had B.Ed students from Canada taking our classes, and this week was exam week (to add to my stress and workload!) Therefore, I have not had my class to be able to work on Science experiments.
Thus..I spoke to Silvia and Profe Edith, who decided that it was important that the children participate, but their parents could do the experiments for them! So, I had the task of grouping the parents so that each group had an adult who could actually speak English (this was by no means easy), also had to make sure the groups had at least one child who was confident in speaking English. Anyway, it got done last week and since then I have had a steady stream of parents every day talking to me in Spanish about Science! They call the house at night, come into the house at lunchtimes and after school and catch me before, during and after classes! As great as it is for my Spanish it is becoming very tiring! I think the thing that topped it off was a parent coming to the house on a Saturday morning knocking on all the windows shouting '"Miss Katharine.."
My school week ended with a meeting for the Grade 1 parents, noone told me what the meeting was about, simply that I had to be there. To my great surprise they asked me to stand up and explain about the homework in Grade 1 and anything else I could think of on the spot. They are a nice group of parents and so when the inevitable topic of Science Fair came up I asked Silvia to tell them that I had unplugged the phone here and so they would not be able to call me! They took it well!! They then asked how I was going to thank and praise the children for their projects and so I declared there and then that Friday afternoon we would have a party and I would bake cakes for all the children! Oh my!
My class have also been having major behavioural issues, some of which I'm really worried about - showing classic signs of abuse at home etc. I've been trying to talk to people about what I'm seeing and what is happening. I just hope and pray we can sort it all out.
All this has been happening amid my being ill - have been ill for the last 2 weeks, partly a virus going around and partly because of a tooth infection - self diagnosed! I have been in class teaching with a temperature and dealing with parents feeling ill. I think I have thrown up most days too! Thankfully, I am on the mend now so worry ye not, family! I went to get my toothache checked at a local dentist here. He is a parent from the school. It was like going to a dentist at home - except, despite the fact he speaks perfect English he chatted away to me in Spanish. So, I came away in more pain, but am going back on Tuesday. I am very grateful that my friend Marina from home is a dentist as I wrote to her and asked what antibiotics I can take for my self diagnosed infection. She told me and so I went, bought some and am already feeling better for it.
I honestly feel like I have been pushed to the edge this week. So much work to do, so much stress to deal with - and all the while not being well.
But today, my limits were pushed even further, but in a good way I think. It was good for me.
Knowing that I live in this community now, and will be for the foreseeable future I decided I need to get more involved with the church I go to. I've been thinking this for weeks, but I've been taking things little by little. Not wanting to rush into anything, but getting myself known first in small ways.
Anyway, I was invited along to the church 'kids club' Oansa today. 2-4pm. Last week I met a Grade 2 girl after church who is the daughter of an ex-teacher here. She quickly decided she was my new best friend and wanted me to got o Oansa. Now having told Enoc and Jorge I'd go along one day I decided this was the day. So off I went, Jorge couldn't make it, Enoc was late and so I turned up and looked extraordinarily white and awkward. I greeted everyone I knew and then just didn't know what to do with myself! Noone knew me and I barely knew anyone at that point.
They started off by saying the National Prayer and the Oansa prayer - neither of which I knew! Then went into their groups. I followed 2 children I knew (what else was I going to do?!) and the first part for them was singing and listening to a Bible story. Yep....I didn't know the songs although caught most of the story. I felt sooooo out of place and in the way I just wanted to grab my car keys and run for the door! I was not appreciating it in any way at that point let me tell you! I was wondering why I was there, I wasn't needed and just was so obviously non-Honduran and so obviously not good at Spanish.
Next, they went out to play games. This was better, I went and sat on a bench at the side and introduced myself to 2 people and then along came an English speaking person and it improved considerably! They put me into a group that I could help with and immediately things improved, I went with the leader Yessenia and helped her listen to the children reciting their Bible Verses and was able to actually talk to the children - my point in being there. I enjoyed listening to the kids and talking to them. A good first step in getting to know people!
Then 2 hours later Amanda and I and Amanda's visiting friend Gayle, went back to church for the Youth Group. Youth group seems to have a different meaning to what we are used to. It seems to be anyone of any age as long as you are single. So, I am of age for a youth group! Who'd have thought?! Again, Jorge couldn't make it and Enoc was late (our translators!) The singing at the beginning, though disorganised this week, was good. Then we got split into 3 discussion groups...it meant we were split up and couldn't share our Spanish knowledge. Somehow the others ended up with English speakers in their group - and I got the group of guys who didn't speak English! Perfect! I just kept my mouth shut! Although I understood a lot, I was so increasingly frustrated that I couldn't talk and chat with everyone.
Then we went into our 'age' groups. I chickened out of going with the 'working people', but instead joined Enoc and Amanda in the university group - well I can still remember going to uni! The first question was directed at me and I was feeling entirely Spanished out, tired, frustrated at my lack of knowledge and by this point just wanting to go home! I managed to say something fairly useless - with Enoc's translation - and hoped that if I avoided eye contact that I could pretend I wasn't there and just listen quietly! My limits were being pushed shall we say!
Then, oh perfect, we were to practice for a mime/drama for the following week when we are going to a village to help build someones house, then having a service with them in their community. I'm excited about next week, but my stomach dropped when I heard the word drama! I don't do drama - never have! I said I'd just take photos or something - no one liked this idea! A mime can't be tooo bad I tried to convince myself, until Freddie gave me some part that to me at that point sounded horrendous! Everyone seemed to think I should do it and all I wanted to do at that very moment was cry! In fact, it was all I could do not to! My stressful week, day of feeling like I stand out, and lack of Spanish all caught up with me in a matter of 2 minutes! I went out to make a phone call simply so I could get myself together! Enoc came up trumps and got me out of it - eventually! There is one thing taking part and joining in - and another pushing yourself above and beyond your limits!
The drama itself is fantastic, very powerful indeed. Watching it is far better!
Going to the Youth Group, and going to Oansa was the best thing I could have done, despite the stress! It did push all my limits and it did make me feel out of place to a certain degree, and I can't say I loved all of it. However...it shows people we are making an effort to join in. It is maybe laying the ground work for us being a part of the community here. It is also good for me - I have to remind myself that! I'm glad I went and from here on it can only get easier!
A good point this week is that God has definitely been looking out for us. At the moment we are in the application process for residency, which means that every 3 months, Karlita, our administrator at school takes our Passports to Teguc with all the paperwork that she sorts for us. This week she went off and poor thing was mugged, but thankfully she is ok. What is amazing is that they did not take off with her bag, which had our 4 foreign passports in it!! They took her folder which had all our paper work in it. I'm sure that will cause some problems, but nothing like as much as if they had known what she actually had with her! Thank you God!
In school, we have a Science Fair next week, which includes Grades 1 and 2 making experiments and presenting them in English. All well and good in theory - except the children don't speak enough English to actually achieve this. Secondly, for the last 2 weeks we have had B.Ed students from Canada taking our classes, and this week was exam week (to add to my stress and workload!) Therefore, I have not had my class to be able to work on Science experiments.
Thus..I spoke to Silvia and Profe Edith, who decided that it was important that the children participate, but their parents could do the experiments for them! So, I had the task of grouping the parents so that each group had an adult who could actually speak English (this was by no means easy), also had to make sure the groups had at least one child who was confident in speaking English. Anyway, it got done last week and since then I have had a steady stream of parents every day talking to me in Spanish about Science! They call the house at night, come into the house at lunchtimes and after school and catch me before, during and after classes! As great as it is for my Spanish it is becoming very tiring! I think the thing that topped it off was a parent coming to the house on a Saturday morning knocking on all the windows shouting '"Miss Katharine.."
My school week ended with a meeting for the Grade 1 parents, noone told me what the meeting was about, simply that I had to be there. To my great surprise they asked me to stand up and explain about the homework in Grade 1 and anything else I could think of on the spot. They are a nice group of parents and so when the inevitable topic of Science Fair came up I asked Silvia to tell them that I had unplugged the phone here and so they would not be able to call me! They took it well!! They then asked how I was going to thank and praise the children for their projects and so I declared there and then that Friday afternoon we would have a party and I would bake cakes for all the children! Oh my!
My class have also been having major behavioural issues, some of which I'm really worried about - showing classic signs of abuse at home etc. I've been trying to talk to people about what I'm seeing and what is happening. I just hope and pray we can sort it all out.
All this has been happening amid my being ill - have been ill for the last 2 weeks, partly a virus going around and partly because of a tooth infection - self diagnosed! I have been in class teaching with a temperature and dealing with parents feeling ill. I think I have thrown up most days too! Thankfully, I am on the mend now so worry ye not, family! I went to get my toothache checked at a local dentist here. He is a parent from the school. It was like going to a dentist at home - except, despite the fact he speaks perfect English he chatted away to me in Spanish. So, I came away in more pain, but am going back on Tuesday. I am very grateful that my friend Marina from home is a dentist as I wrote to her and asked what antibiotics I can take for my self diagnosed infection. She told me and so I went, bought some and am already feeling better for it.
I honestly feel like I have been pushed to the edge this week. So much work to do, so much stress to deal with - and all the while not being well.
But today, my limits were pushed even further, but in a good way I think. It was good for me.
Knowing that I live in this community now, and will be for the foreseeable future I decided I need to get more involved with the church I go to. I've been thinking this for weeks, but I've been taking things little by little. Not wanting to rush into anything, but getting myself known first in small ways.
Anyway, I was invited along to the church 'kids club' Oansa today. 2-4pm. Last week I met a Grade 2 girl after church who is the daughter of an ex-teacher here. She quickly decided she was my new best friend and wanted me to got o Oansa. Now having told Enoc and Jorge I'd go along one day I decided this was the day. So off I went, Jorge couldn't make it, Enoc was late and so I turned up and looked extraordinarily white and awkward. I greeted everyone I knew and then just didn't know what to do with myself! Noone knew me and I barely knew anyone at that point.
They started off by saying the National Prayer and the Oansa prayer - neither of which I knew! Then went into their groups. I followed 2 children I knew (what else was I going to do?!) and the first part for them was singing and listening to a Bible story. Yep....I didn't know the songs although caught most of the story. I felt sooooo out of place and in the way I just wanted to grab my car keys and run for the door! I was not appreciating it in any way at that point let me tell you! I was wondering why I was there, I wasn't needed and just was so obviously non-Honduran and so obviously not good at Spanish.
Next, they went out to play games. This was better, I went and sat on a bench at the side and introduced myself to 2 people and then along came an English speaking person and it improved considerably! They put me into a group that I could help with and immediately things improved, I went with the leader Yessenia and helped her listen to the children reciting their Bible Verses and was able to actually talk to the children - my point in being there. I enjoyed listening to the kids and talking to them. A good first step in getting to know people!
Then 2 hours later Amanda and I and Amanda's visiting friend Gayle, went back to church for the Youth Group. Youth group seems to have a different meaning to what we are used to. It seems to be anyone of any age as long as you are single. So, I am of age for a youth group! Who'd have thought?! Again, Jorge couldn't make it and Enoc was late (our translators!) The singing at the beginning, though disorganised this week, was good. Then we got split into 3 discussion groups...it meant we were split up and couldn't share our Spanish knowledge. Somehow the others ended up with English speakers in their group - and I got the group of guys who didn't speak English! Perfect! I just kept my mouth shut! Although I understood a lot, I was so increasingly frustrated that I couldn't talk and chat with everyone.
Then we went into our 'age' groups. I chickened out of going with the 'working people', but instead joined Enoc and Amanda in the university group - well I can still remember going to uni! The first question was directed at me and I was feeling entirely Spanished out, tired, frustrated at my lack of knowledge and by this point just wanting to go home! I managed to say something fairly useless - with Enoc's translation - and hoped that if I avoided eye contact that I could pretend I wasn't there and just listen quietly! My limits were being pushed shall we say!
Then, oh perfect, we were to practice for a mime/drama for the following week when we are going to a village to help build someones house, then having a service with them in their community. I'm excited about next week, but my stomach dropped when I heard the word drama! I don't do drama - never have! I said I'd just take photos or something - no one liked this idea! A mime can't be tooo bad I tried to convince myself, until Freddie gave me some part that to me at that point sounded horrendous! Everyone seemed to think I should do it and all I wanted to do at that very moment was cry! In fact, it was all I could do not to! My stressful week, day of feeling like I stand out, and lack of Spanish all caught up with me in a matter of 2 minutes! I went out to make a phone call simply so I could get myself together! Enoc came up trumps and got me out of it - eventually! There is one thing taking part and joining in - and another pushing yourself above and beyond your limits!
The drama itself is fantastic, very powerful indeed. Watching it is far better!
Going to the Youth Group, and going to Oansa was the best thing I could have done, despite the stress! It did push all my limits and it did make me feel out of place to a certain degree, and I can't say I loved all of it. However...it shows people we are making an effort to join in. It is maybe laying the ground work for us being a part of the community here. It is also good for me - I have to remind myself that! I'm glad I went and from here on it can only get easier!
A good point this week is that God has definitely been looking out for us. At the moment we are in the application process for residency, which means that every 3 months, Karlita, our administrator at school takes our Passports to Teguc with all the paperwork that she sorts for us. This week she went off and poor thing was mugged, but thankfully she is ok. What is amazing is that they did not take off with her bag, which had our 4 foreign passports in it!! They took her folder which had all our paper work in it. I'm sure that will cause some problems, but nothing like as much as if they had known what she actually had with her! Thank you God!
Tuesday 1 April 2008
and then....
So....the gas canister we ordered didn't turn up yesterday as expected, but it's ok as we could use our microwave instead ... It is at this point the microwave also stopped working and broke!!? Perfect! What is going on? We do however have water now so it's not all bad!
I really don't know how all this has happened, except to say (in our defence) that we are exceptionally busy due to this being exam week, I've been unwell (nothing serious, just a virus that has been going around) and last week we had the B.Ed students in our classes.... No more excuses!!
It all just crept up on us somehow! But on the brightside...it meant we went out for pizza!!
But really......what next???
(and no muppet jokes Jean P - or Pete! Even worse to think it's April Fools Day today!)
I really don't know how all this has happened, except to say (in our defence) that we are exceptionally busy due to this being exam week, I've been unwell (nothing serious, just a virus that has been going around) and last week we had the B.Ed students in our classes.... No more excuses!!
It all just crept up on us somehow! But on the brightside...it meant we went out for pizza!!
But really......what next???
(and no muppet jokes Jean P - or Pete! Even worse to think it's April Fools Day today!)
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