Valle de Angeles & El Picacho

Waiting on papusas

Valle de Angeles

      This weekend was filled with a few lovely adventures. On Saturday, I slept in because I didn't need anything from the market this week. Later in the day I set off with Keiko in Rue and Ara's new car for Valle de Angeles, that we had heard so much about. We were following Abigail, Karishma, and Amanda on the road out of the city. Valle de Angeles is a lovely, quaint town that is safe enough to walk around and caters to tourists who pass through. I bought a hammock that I can hopefully hang on our balcony in the apartment! It was so much fun to walk around and see all the cute shops, next time I will have to bring more money. Several hours later is started pouring rain, so we decided it was time to head back down the mountain.


Abigail's House

     I spent last night with Abigail. She works in occupational therapy and Justin works for a health NGO in the city. She lives much further up the mountain towards El Picacho. One of her German neighbors was hosting birthday party for his friend. The German works for their environmental corporation in Honduras. I'm not certain exactly what he does, but it sounds important.  I tagged along for this party and had such a great time practicing my Spanish and meeting people outside the school community. I talked with a very sweet lady from Sweden who had only been in Tegucigalpa for a week, but was soon heading out to Lago de Yojoa to volunteer at an orphanage. Hopefully, I will get to see her again in the next six months during her stay. The evening was a lot of fun!


City from El Picaho

   


 This morning Abigail and I just chilled out to visit for a bit before getting ready to go to the park. El Picacho is a more informal name for the park which is maintained by the United Nations. It is a very nicely kept park where it was lovely to walk around. The statue of Christ that stands in the park looks down over the entire city. Everything was beautiful, green, and clean here. Then, it was time for a nap!


More El Picacho

Statue of Christ



At El Picaho



Open House

      This week was busy at school, but the classroom is getting more comfortable as I come to know the students and procedures. Kelsey and I are working on getting a Spanish tutor after school once a week, so hopefully that will happen soon. We are also looking at taking an intensive Spanish course over the Christmas break so we maybe we will understand what is going on next semester!


What time I have to show up in the morning...

     The week was mainly dominated by preparations for Open House on Thursday. Though I didn't have all the parents, there were probably 25 who came. I had a slide show and notes that I talked from (hopefully slowly enough) and I think it went pretty well! It was curious to note that the parents dress in very fancy clothing to attend these type of school events and here I was in "teacher clothes". I have two "room moms" who will organize all of the parties so I don't have to worry about those! Many of the parents came over to talk to me after the spiel as they are very involved in their children's education. They are adamant about checking my weekly updates to the classroom site and reviewing their children's grades that I post on Fridays.


The View From Preschool

      Now I have to share a very amusing story about one of my students this week.  This particular little boy and I have quite the communication problems as he refuses to speak to me in English! He has no internal voice so I can never tell if he is talking to himself or to me as he maintains a running commentary on life throughout the day in Spanish. During the week, we had a few issues him doing anything that I said even with hilarious hand motions on my part. On Friday, he told me at least 20 times that he had forgotten his folder (or something to that effect) for the first 10 minutes of class. My assistant regaled me with this story during dismissal on Friday, which had me in tears laughing and tops the chart for this week! So, the class had just come in from second recess and this little boy had to use the bathroom. After a few minutes my assistant went in to check on him and found him standing there with no shoes, no socks, no pants, no underpants, in fact, he was in nothing except for his little blue glasses framing this innocent looking dark brown eyes. "What in the world?" Ms. Cuty exclaims in Spanish, "Oh my dear, you cannot do this! You must get dressed!" "But I have to take off all my clothes when I go poo, " he replies serenely, not bothered in the slightest to be found in such a state. Not only did she find him almost completely naked, but also standing in the trash can. Apparently the floor was wet with water and he certainly didn't want his feet to get wet! I can just imagine his little round face and dark eyes clearly confused by her lack of understanding as to the rationality of his situation. Thankfully, she had him cleaned up and out of there before I could even finish the storybook!


Where The Wild Things Are -
Sequencing Activity

      It is a good thing we don't have school tomorrow because my voice in nearly gone. But after school on Friday the PTO fed us all an enormous and delicious meal of gringas (chicken and cheese tortillas). This week I skyped with Steffi and Beccah together somewhat successfully, but it was great to hear from them! Plus Lara and I had to exchange school stories and college news (=gossip) as I missed singing with the SAI ladies who returned to classes at CMU this week.

Week 1

First week of school down! We survived yet again! School has been going very well, though not perfectly as I still struggle to figure out procedures. Some that still confuse me include checking out library books without my ID card, making copies, and general conversation (ALL in SPANISH). For example, to make copies I fill out a form which must be approved by the principal then the nannies take it up to the Elementary building and it might return a few days later. Also, we have cleaning ladies who come in during every recess to sweep, mop, and wipe the tables.

Wednesday was an adventure as we had no internet, no electricity, and no running water. Of course, there is always drinking water in jugs outside. Recess duty is difficult because I can't understand a single word the students are saying as they rapidly regale me with who hit who.

I have been walking to and from school every day without trouble. I don't wear any jewelry and walk really quickly, but have had no trouble apart from the men who whistle or holler but that seems to be the norm here.

Keiko and I went back to the market today to buy more food. We also sat down and ate pupusa which are like pancakes with cheese inside. They were delicious. We also finally achieve the much anticipated hanging of curtains today! With the help of Rainier and his drill, the neighbors across the street can no longer view us at their leisure. I was also mildly successful at my first attempt to fry plantains.

Today we also trained a maid that will come once a week to clean. The apartment was in desperate need of a mopping or two! She was really good, but doesn't speak any English. Thankfully Stacey could explain everything to her.

Thankfully I have Skype to keep my up-to-date with my friends and family! Still not many pictures as I'm afraid to take my camera out much.

Saturday Adventures

On Saturday, Kelsey, Melissa, Bridget, and I took a taxi to the market near the stadium. It was such a blast! It is only open on Fridays and Saturdays when the farmers come down from the mountain sides to sell their produce and meat. There was so much fresh food and the people were very polite. I never felt in danger or threatened. It is nothing like the market in Kinshasa, as you are not in danger of being run over by cars, people grabbing for your attention, or being hopelessly lost forever. I bought green beans, bananas, and some tomatoes. 

 

In the afternoon, Keiko, Stacey, and I rode out to Santa Lucia to another teacher's birthday. These teachers live in a giant and very beautiful home with a green lawn in tiers on the side of a hill. It was so nice to be outside the city! There were many people to talk to and exchange stories with. 

You can see the city between the mountains. 

Their lawn

Tomorrow begins a full week of school.

First Days of School

Survived my first two days of school as a real teacher! I am so excited, maybe I can really do this! The students great though, of course, I have a couple ornery ones. The majority understand English, but speak very limited vocabulary. Then there are some that don't understand much of what I am saying at all. Ms. Cuty helps me solve any problems, but Kindergarten instruction is strictly English. They have one Spanish lesson per day, that I don't have to teach. I already have girls offering to give me Spanish lessons.

I was quite amused one day when a father came in to say that he was extremely please that he daughter would have me as a teacher since I was a native speak. He said she came home the first day saying, "I didn't understand anything my teacher said!" I was sure how to take this...but I think I will just laugh.


My schedule is quite interesting because Kindergarten has specials either first or second period during the day, then circle/calendar/reading time. Third period is always Spanish, the we have snack/recess. The rest of the morning, the class is divided into four groups called stations. I instruct one, Ms. Cuty another, and the other two are independent. Following stations is lunch/recess. We come in to read a book and do either science or social studies. The last period of the day is free choice centers that are based on the weekly theme. The student eat lunch in the classroom. The most stressful part of the day is dismissal because all the students sit outside while parent drive up to receive them. Traffic is a little crazy. Teachers hand the student off to parents, guardians, drivers, maids, nannies, or family. I am in despair that I will ever learn all the faces!!!

Surviving the City

This week has been busy with all school training, working in the classroom, planning lessons, buying food, and just general survival. I was proud of myself that I bought a SIM card and Tigo minutes all by myself despite my very poor Spanish. Merely staying afloat is the mission now. School things are going well, it is just working the kinks out of the apartment that is keeping Keiko, Stacey, and I busy.

Tomorrow is the first day of school!! I am a little nervous, but Ms. Cuty and I are ready to take on this class!

View of the City

View from our Balcony!

Ready for School

    Last night was our first night in the apartment!!! So far, the washing machine has been spouting water all over the laundry room and is too dirty to actually use. I had to buy sheets as the one I brought were too small. Still no phones or internet. However, while we were mopping up the washing machine mess, our neighbor came over to introduce himself. Rainier works for the American embassy. He fixed the water hoses and lent us his wet vacuum....what a first impression we must have made!

    Today was the first day that all teachers were required to be at work, so many new faces! However, it was wonderful to meet and work today with my assistant Ms. Cuty! Here are some before and after pictures of my classroom.

Front of My Room

Front of Preschool Building where Kindergarten is Located

Circle

Circle (After) 

Ms. Cuty Work Table

Student Tables

Front of my room after windows were painted

My Work Table

 

Administration Office Window