These next few days consisted of the nine new teachers running around trying to find places to live, food to eat, bank accounts open, cell phones set up, and generally attempting to stay healthy. Gina, the superintendent secretary, escorted us through this maze of misunderstandings and chaos. Don Tito, the bus drivier, loaded and carried everything we owned while still smiling and greeting us cheerfully each day despite the little Spanish we were able to communicate with. To them, we will be forever grateful!
The group of us ate at Kennedy Baleadas, where the baleadas were tortilla stuffed with eggs, ham, plantains, cheese, avacados, and beans for only 31 lempira ($1.60). They were delicious but rough on the stomach. We also walked around at a vast mall, so far the only safe place we have found to walk. Stacey recommended we eat at El Patio in Boulevard Morazán, so we all rented a taxis and headed to the main street. It was an Honduras styled restaurant which had amazing food and we ate until we couldn't possibly eat anymore. Still haven't been brave enough to venture out with my camera, so no pictures as of yet.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
American School of Tegucigalpa
Can't find my toothbrusth....I know I packed it somewhere....
I ate breakfast at the hotel with Kelsey and Ara. Ara's wife was coming too, but her plane failed to take off yesterday. Then, we were all back on the bus and headed to the school for our first orientation. We were all excited to have a tour of the school. It was amazing! The campus was huge, nearly as big as Central Methodist. There is wifi (that usually works), e-beams (like mimio boards) in every classroom, and all the walkways are outdoors. You can see what it looks like at www.amschool.org. The administration sat us down to walk us through some of the business procedures and answer more of our swarming questions. Also, we met Rue, Ara's wife, who would be teaching 4th grade. They had both spend the last couple years teaching in Burma (Myanmar). We attempted to open bank accounts, but after two hours and no luck we decided to try back another day. Instead, we headed out to find apartments. Everyone was anxious to get started with that! By evening, we were tired but had a lovely dinner with the Maria (HS principal), Gina (secretary and full time babysitter for us newbies), Claudia (N-K principal), and Anahi (curriculum). The city has immensely more infrastructure that Kinshasa. It is almost American with its malls, fast food chains, and generally reliable water/electricity. Here are decent roads, trash collection, water delivery, even a mail service. For the time being, we will all live in Las Lomas, the neighborhood of the American School, which is very rich and developed. The biggest intrusion so far in the inability to walk anywhere! It is so frustrating, because we have yet to take taxis so transportation is an issue. Apparently the greatest threat in the city is armed robbery, which happens on a regular basis.
I ate breakfast at the hotel with Kelsey and Ara. Ara's wife was coming too, but her plane failed to take off yesterday. Then, we were all back on the bus and headed to the school for our first orientation. We were all excited to have a tour of the school. It was amazing! The campus was huge, nearly as big as Central Methodist. There is wifi (that usually works), e-beams (like mimio boards) in every classroom, and all the walkways are outdoors. You can see what it looks like at www.amschool.org. The administration sat us down to walk us through some of the business procedures and answer more of our swarming questions. Also, we met Rue, Ara's wife, who would be teaching 4th grade. They had both spend the last couple years teaching in Burma (Myanmar). We attempted to open bank accounts, but after two hours and no luck we decided to try back another day. Instead, we headed out to find apartments. Everyone was anxious to get started with that! By evening, we were tired but had a lovely dinner with the Maria (HS principal), Gina (secretary and full time babysitter for us newbies), Claudia (N-K principal), and Anahi (curriculum). The city has immensely more infrastructure that Kinshasa. It is almost American with its malls, fast food chains, and generally reliable water/electricity. Here are decent roads, trash collection, water delivery, even a mail service. For the time being, we will all live in Las Lomas, the neighborhood of the American School, which is very rich and developed. The biggest intrusion so far in the inability to walk anywhere! It is so frustrating, because we have yet to take taxis so transportation is an issue. Apparently the greatest threat in the city is armed robbery, which happens on a regular basis.
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| Front Of the School |
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| My Classroom! |
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Overture - In a Hotel
Mom, Dad, and I headed out the door early in the morning of July 24th. My flight was out of Kansas City at 6:10am, which meant we had to be at the airport around 4:40am and that meant leaving home just after 2am. Before long, I was saying goodbyes and standing in the security line for my first flight to Houston. I know this was tough for Mom but I'm not dead yet....I'm only getting started! We were there in plenty of time and (thank God) these flights actually left as scheduled!
In the flight from Houston to Tegucigalpa, the plane was packed with missionary groups. I sat by a couple that had been volunteering at an orphanage for six years. When we arrived at the airport, I started looking for other people who also might be heading to the American school. I ended up behind a girl named Keiko from Japan who would be teaching third grade at The American School of Tegucigalpa (AST) in line during customs. Amanda, a third and fifth grade teacher, was also on our flight. The school administrators met us at the airport as we waited for the second plane to land which would be carrying Kelsey (kinder), Melissa (6th - English), Karishma (7th - English), and Ara (Philosophy). We all looked out the glass walls of the airport at the city that would be our home for the next two years. Finally, all our luggage was loaded on the bus and we were headed to our hotel!
It was a very nice hotel called Plaza Florencia. The school administrators gave us a few instructions, mainly about not walking around or getting lost, and left us with the remainder of the day to rest. Stacey, another new teacher, had already been living in Tegucigalpa (Tegus) for a year and stopped by to fill Kelsey and I in on some key information and answer our numerous questions. I had previously been e-mailing Stacey about living together in an apartment she had already picked out. She was in love with this three bedroom apartment within walking distance of the school, but we really needed a third to bring down the payments. As I had met Keiko at the airport, I recruited her to also see the apartment with us. It was an amazing apartment, tastefully decorated and very spacious. It has hot water, fairly reliable electricity, and a 24 hr guard. Then I slept.
In the flight from Houston to Tegucigalpa, the plane was packed with missionary groups. I sat by a couple that had been volunteering at an orphanage for six years. When we arrived at the airport, I started looking for other people who also might be heading to the American school. I ended up behind a girl named Keiko from Japan who would be teaching third grade at The American School of Tegucigalpa (AST) in line during customs. Amanda, a third and fifth grade teacher, was also on our flight. The school administrators met us at the airport as we waited for the second plane to land which would be carrying Kelsey (kinder), Melissa (6th - English), Karishma (7th - English), and Ara (Philosophy). We all looked out the glass walls of the airport at the city that would be our home for the next two years. Finally, all our luggage was loaded on the bus and we were headed to our hotel!
It was a very nice hotel called Plaza Florencia. The school administrators gave us a few instructions, mainly about not walking around or getting lost, and left us with the remainder of the day to rest. Stacey, another new teacher, had already been living in Tegucigalpa (Tegus) for a year and stopped by to fill Kelsey and I in on some key information and answer our numerous questions. I had previously been e-mailing Stacey about living together in an apartment she had already picked out. She was in love with this three bedroom apartment within walking distance of the school, but we really needed a third to bring down the payments. As I had met Keiko at the airport, I recruited her to also see the apartment with us. It was an amazing apartment, tastefully decorated and very spacious. It has hot water, fairly reliable electricity, and a 24 hr guard. Then I slept.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Inspiration
"So, have you thought about what are you doing after college?"
"I've found a job teaching kindergarten."
"Kindergarten? Well, good luck with that...Where are you going to teach?"
"Honduras."
"Honduras....oh. That sounds....interesting...."
If only I could have a dollar for each of these conversations, I could pay for a tank of gas. Well, on a good day.
I am so grateful to have found a job right out of college that will allow me to work with children and travel outside the United States. For the next two years, I will be working as a Kindergarten teacher at the American School of Tegucigalpa in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know it will be an adventure worth having!
THAT, however, is NOT the beginning of the story:
For as long as I can remember, I have loved traveling. The youngest memory I can conjure is flying to Seattle, WA for my uncle's wedding (1995). I was three years old, but I remember crawling across the lap of a stranger, just so I could peer out the window of the airplane at the green expanse below. My great-aunt June was a tour guide during my lifetime and would graciously regale my brothers and I with stories of African Safaris, Guatemalan people, Asian adventures, and New Zealand landscape. As young children, Mom and Dad took my brothers and I on several driving trips throughout the US to look at sights, generally consisting of landscape and cattle ranches.
I remember when I was seven, I just wasn't sure I wanted to go to New York City (1999). It would be such a big place and would it really be any fun? Mom said, "Let's go!" And it was. Then, when I was eight, Mom and I traveled all across Europe by bus which meant a lot of sights and a lot of card games (2000). However, this was the trip that sparked a flame! I just knew that one day I would return to see all those great cities again. In a moment of spontaneity that was worth every minute, Mom dragged myself, now thirteen, and two younger brothers to Australia (2005). I was in love! Maybe one day I will live in Brisbane, the city of my dreams! When I was seventeen, we went to Hawaii (2009). It was beautiful, but just not the same as stepping away from everyday American culture.
By this point, I had worked hard to finish high school in three years. If Mom and Dad weren't going to let me out of the country yet, then I was headed off to college! Central Methodist University came out of nowhere, but ended up being where I would spend the next four years of my life. The only thing I could image doing on a daily basis was working with children, so naturally, education became my area of study. It was a wonderful experience where I learned so much, made some great friends, and grew up (a little bit). Always in the back of my mind was "Where will I go next? I've got to finish this degree so I can go somewhere!" Thankfully, I learned to relax a little and enjoy the time at college too.
I was yearning for some adventure which my college roommate was willing to share. So, our Junior year, Lara and I spent Christmas and New Year's in England (2011/12). College meant I had to miss out on a few trips as Mom and the boys traveled to Scotland and then to Israel (2011), though I was determined to get even! I cannot possibly let them have seen more oceans, more countries, or more museums than I have!!!
This brings me back to 2013, college graduation, and the start of my next travels. Honduras is home to a completely different culture than I have ever experienced before, but I look forward to my departure anxiously as a new teacher in a new land. When people learn where I am going, I receive a mix of reactions from "that sounds like something I would do" to "you are crazy!". Thankfully I have a host of people that have supported me from the moment I was born, which gives my confidence to face all the challenges of the future. So thank you to all the people who have inspired me with their stories and helped me through every difficulty!! And thank you to my Saviour for the strength to face each and every day!
"I've found a job teaching kindergarten."
"Kindergarten? Well, good luck with that...Where are you going to teach?"
"Honduras."
"Honduras....oh. That sounds....interesting...."
If only I could have a dollar for each of these conversations, I could pay for a tank of gas. Well, on a good day.
I am so grateful to have found a job right out of college that will allow me to work with children and travel outside the United States. For the next two years, I will be working as a Kindergarten teacher at the American School of Tegucigalpa in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know it will be an adventure worth having!
THAT, however, is NOT the beginning of the story:
For as long as I can remember, I have loved traveling. The youngest memory I can conjure is flying to Seattle, WA for my uncle's wedding (1995). I was three years old, but I remember crawling across the lap of a stranger, just so I could peer out the window of the airplane at the green expanse below. My great-aunt June was a tour guide during my lifetime and would graciously regale my brothers and I with stories of African Safaris, Guatemalan people, Asian adventures, and New Zealand landscape. As young children, Mom and Dad took my brothers and I on several driving trips throughout the US to look at sights, generally consisting of landscape and cattle ranches.
I remember when I was seven, I just wasn't sure I wanted to go to New York City (1999). It would be such a big place and would it really be any fun? Mom said, "Let's go!" And it was. Then, when I was eight, Mom and I traveled all across Europe by bus which meant a lot of sights and a lot of card games (2000). However, this was the trip that sparked a flame! I just knew that one day I would return to see all those great cities again. In a moment of spontaneity that was worth every minute, Mom dragged myself, now thirteen, and two younger brothers to Australia (2005). I was in love! Maybe one day I will live in Brisbane, the city of my dreams! When I was seventeen, we went to Hawaii (2009). It was beautiful, but just not the same as stepping away from everyday American culture.
By this point, I had worked hard to finish high school in three years. If Mom and Dad weren't going to let me out of the country yet, then I was headed off to college! Central Methodist University came out of nowhere, but ended up being where I would spend the next four years of my life. The only thing I could image doing on a daily basis was working with children, so naturally, education became my area of study. It was a wonderful experience where I learned so much, made some great friends, and grew up (a little bit). Always in the back of my mind was "Where will I go next? I've got to finish this degree so I can go somewhere!" Thankfully, I learned to relax a little and enjoy the time at college too.
I was yearning for some adventure which my college roommate was willing to share. So, our Junior year, Lara and I spent Christmas and New Year's in England (2011/12). College meant I had to miss out on a few trips as Mom and the boys traveled to Scotland and then to Israel (2011), though I was determined to get even! I cannot possibly let them have seen more oceans, more countries, or more museums than I have!!!
This brings me back to 2013, college graduation, and the start of my next travels. Honduras is home to a completely different culture than I have ever experienced before, but I look forward to my departure anxiously as a new teacher in a new land. When people learn where I am going, I receive a mix of reactions from "that sounds like something I would do" to "you are crazy!". Thankfully I have a host of people that have supported me from the moment I was born, which gives my confidence to face all the challenges of the future. So thank you to all the people who have inspired me with their stories and helped me through every difficulty!! And thank you to my Saviour for the strength to face each and every day!
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