Sam is gone. Sharon and Carrie left yesterday. Nicole leaves tomorrow. Saying goodbye just sucks. When I arrived here I never thought it would be possible to become so close to so many people in just 6 months - but I've seen it happening everywhere - my relationships with the kids, the staff, my co-workers, and yes, my fellow volunteers. We live together, we travel together, we watch movies together, we go to the sections together, we complain together, and a lot of us do EVERYTHING together. And saying goodbye just keeps getting harder and harder.
This sucks.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
No class – who’s surprised?
So school technically started Thursday, January 13th. And we STILL do not have a schedule for the primeria (elementary) classes. Which means that all the English teachers are currently only teaching 2 of their 4 classes. Who’s surprised? Not only that, but another one of our classes was cancelled for the entire week due to scheduling conflict between classes and workshops. Which leaves us all with 1. Shocking, but it doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying all the free time :).
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Auto Safari!
Waaaaayyyy back when in October, Corinna, Christina, Janna, and I did this really awesome art project with our girls in an effort to do something really cool with them way down the line. Well that time finally came! Corinna’s parents brought back the money the girls raised in Germany through selling greeting cards for Christmas…and it was enough for a trip for the whole section to Auto Safari!
Sunday morning we piled into the NPH bus and headed the 1 ½ hours it takes to get to Esquintla, a town that is a lot further south of Parramos and about a billion times hotter. Before we even actually entered the Safari the girls were amazed by so many things including: the ridiculous heat wave that struck us as we drove south, the parrots sitting outside of the ticket window, and…the electric hand dryers in the bathrooms. Literally every girl came up to the strange silver contraption and literally stood there for a few seconds before I would tell them to push the button and rub their hands together under the hot air…QUITE entertaining to watch to say the least…
Esmerelda and Lourdes on the bus
Once we were filled up on snacks and cold water outside, we headed back onto the bus for our safari adventure…that’s right – a REAL safari adventure complete with lions and tigers and bears – OH MY!
ZEBRAS!
Deer (ok, not that exciting, but pretty :))
Jirafa!
Lioness!
After driving through the safari, we then ran over to the pools to cool off from our very heated bus ride. The pool was AMAZING – so beautiful, so clean, and NO RULES about what to wear or how to act or ANYTHING – perfect for our kids :-p. After the pools we settled in to the restaurant for a delicious lunch of hamburgers, French fries, Fanta, and ICE CREAM (while watching Discovery Channel on TV)! What a day!
So freaking delicious!
Next it was time to take a ride on the “monkey boat” aka the boat that drove us around the islands filled with tons of spider monkeys. After the boat ride, we walked around the rest of the zoo, complete with raccoons (?? Right??), prairie dogs, more monkeys, jaguars, pumas, peacocks, ostriches, and tons of other animals.
After our long and exhausting excursion it was finally time to call it a day…and get in a good 2 hour nap on the bus ride home :).
Sunday morning we piled into the NPH bus and headed the 1 ½ hours it takes to get to Esquintla, a town that is a lot further south of Parramos and about a billion times hotter. Before we even actually entered the Safari the girls were amazed by so many things including: the ridiculous heat wave that struck us as we drove south, the parrots sitting outside of the ticket window, and…the electric hand dryers in the bathrooms. Literally every girl came up to the strange silver contraption and literally stood there for a few seconds before I would tell them to push the button and rub their hands together under the hot air…QUITE entertaining to watch to say the least…
Once we were filled up on snacks and cold water outside, we headed back onto the bus for our safari adventure…that’s right – a REAL safari adventure complete with lions and tigers and bears – OH MY!
After driving through the safari, we then ran over to the pools to cool off from our very heated bus ride. The pool was AMAZING – so beautiful, so clean, and NO RULES about what to wear or how to act or ANYTHING – perfect for our kids :-p. After the pools we settled in to the restaurant for a delicious lunch of hamburgers, French fries, Fanta, and ICE CREAM (while watching Discovery Channel on TV)! What a day!
Next it was time to take a ride on the “monkey boat” aka the boat that drove us around the islands filled with tons of spider monkeys. After the boat ride, we walked around the rest of the zoo, complete with raccoons (?? Right??), prairie dogs, more monkeys, jaguars, pumas, peacocks, ostriches, and tons of other animals.
After our long and exhausting excursion it was finally time to call it a day…and get in a good 2 hour nap on the bus ride home :).
Oh what it’s like to be a high schooler
Saturday night I continued my adventures with a trip to the girls’ bachillerato (high school) in Chimaltenango. At first I was incredibly apprehensive about going – the night was meant as a despedida for Sharon and really I was just inviting myself along to go hang out with a bunch of teens and 20-somethings…but after a little goading from Nicole, and encouragement from Meghan and Erika who also came along, we had a ridiculous night of jokes and games and laughs.
So! Around 5 pm Katie’s boyfriend came to pick her up at NPH and gave us a ride into Chimal – SWEET. We made a kind of roundabout detour to eat some hotdogs in the park, and then got to bachillerato around 6. Then Carrie, Sharon, Nicole, Meghan, Erika, and I proceeded to spend the next few hours in a ridiculous state of giggling. The girls had prepared an entire despedida presentation for the three leaving volunteers including dances, songs, presentations of cards/posters, and a game or two…or three or four. Yes, I had been terrified to go and hang out with a bunch of girls my own age, but it turned into a fantastic night with some wonderful new friends :).
Carrie with a bunch of the girls
Lidia and me!
Carrie receiving her card from Darling
Sharon dancing to "Waka Waka" with a bunch of the girls
Belting out the lyrics to one awesome song or another
Playing telephone...because it's awesome
Nicole, Carrie, Meghan, and Erika with Francis and Lidia
So! Around 5 pm Katie’s boyfriend came to pick her up at NPH and gave us a ride into Chimal – SWEET. We made a kind of roundabout detour to eat some hotdogs in the park, and then got to bachillerato around 6. Then Carrie, Sharon, Nicole, Meghan, Erika, and I proceeded to spend the next few hours in a ridiculous state of giggling. The girls had prepared an entire despedida presentation for the three leaving volunteers including dances, songs, presentations of cards/posters, and a game or two…or three or four. Yes, I had been terrified to go and hang out with a bunch of girls my own age, but it turned into a fantastic night with some wonderful new friends :).
A La Cruz
I’ve been living in Guatemala for half a year, and yet it took me THIS LONG to finally make my way up to Cerro de la Cruz en Antigua – the Cross of Antigua. The cross is located at a beautiful spot overlooking Antigua and is a huge tourist trap for anyone visiting Antigua…unfortunately this also means it’s relatively unsafe and known for ladrones (thieves). BUT alas – in the afternoon it’s fairly safe as there are armed guards all over to protect the happy tourists :).
So! Saturday morning Meghan, Katie, Tia Rosa, and I ventured up the mountain with 6 kids from NPH for a wonderful picnic lunch of mangoes (complete with white worms – yum…) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We took the bus into Antigua, bought the mangoes, and then began the 45 minute walk up to the cross from the market. Overall it was a really fun day and a great way to know some of the kids a little bit better. Enjoy the photos – many compliments of Brandon and his sweet, newly acquired photography skills :).
Juana, Katie, and Maria
Gomez, Tia Rosa, Brandon, and Victor
Me and Meghan at the cross
Brandon and Gomez enjoying lunch :)
All the kids with Katie and Meghan
So! Saturday morning Meghan, Katie, Tia Rosa, and I ventured up the mountain with 6 kids from NPH for a wonderful picnic lunch of mangoes (complete with white worms – yum…) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We took the bus into Antigua, bought the mangoes, and then began the 45 minute walk up to the cross from the market. Overall it was a really fun day and a great way to know some of the kids a little bit better. Enjoy the photos – many compliments of Brandon and his sweet, newly acquired photography skills :).
Despedida – Take 2
So Friday night was the despedida for the 10 volunteers who have already begun to make their way back to their home countries…and it’s been a depressing few days. The despedida went off without a hitch…only this time it hurt a lot more than the first time around. Watching some of my closest friends from NPH venture into the real world is not only depressing, but it reminds everyone who’s staying how quickly this time flies by, and how much you really need to take advantage of it, because it’s over before you know it. Those 10 wonderful people have inspired me to do more than I thought possible and to continue giving of myself throughout these next 6 months because sooner than I think my time here will be over.
So this entry is dedicated to some of my favoritest people and newfound friends – I’m going to miss you all tremendously, but I know you’re going to do great things :).
Tony telling everyone to be quiet
All of departing volunteers :(
Los Angeles doing their thing for Janna
Nicole and Carrie with Fredy, Marta, Estela, and Dania
Fatima breaking it down with the Macarena
...and then Carrie joined in!
Nicole dancing with her section, Santa Teresita
Mona Lisa, Dani, and Janna
Nicole, Jonas, Mona Lisa, and Dani with their wall hangings
Carrie with Alexander and Fatima
Sharon and Jonathan
Corinna with Kevin and Selena
Corinna, Jonas, Abner, and Mona Lisa
So this entry is dedicated to some of my favoritest people and newfound friends – I’m going to miss you all tremendously, but I know you’re going to do great things :).
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sometimes you just need a break…
Yes, it’s true. I just started work again on Monday, and classes didn’t even start until Tuesday, and even then, I’m still only teaching half of my classes. But still, sometimes you just need to get away and take a really awesome break…and even better if it can in some way involve babies and pictures and hugs :).
Nicole convinced me yesterday to be a slacker and return to the English department a few minutes later than usual…so instead we went down to the baby’s house…and found them hanging out outside in the beautiful sunshine. So of course we proceeded to run around and chase them and jump off things and to just have a wonderful…break :).
ps - Enjoy the video - I hope it works!
Tia Dalilah after jumping off the fountain with Yay-yay
Getting ready to jump with Yay-yay and Freddie!
Nicole convinced me yesterday to be a slacker and return to the English department a few minutes later than usual…so instead we went down to the baby’s house…and found them hanging out outside in the beautiful sunshine. So of course we proceeded to run around and chase them and jump off things and to just have a wonderful…break :).
ps - Enjoy the video - I hope it works!
Class Pictures
This week, in order to help myself out, I took pictures of all my students with their nametags. My students are pretty cool, but sometimes they let everyone know EXACTLY how cool they actually are...with just a pose, or a quick line...you see what I mean?
Rocio striking a pose ;-)
Alex...aka the self proclaimed "King of Fun"
Newbies!
I got a wonderful surprise upon my first visit to the section – 2 new girls! Ana and Cata had both been living in the baby’s house and just recently moved up to the “big girls' house” and are VERY excited about it – and we’re excited to have them! But now that we have TWO Ana’s in the section – we need a way to distinguish them…so I present “Ana la Banana” and “Ana la Manzana”! (the banana and the apple :).)
"Ana la banana" and "Ana la manzana"
A surprise despedida
Tuesday night I went to my section to hang out with my girls and discovered…a surprise going away party for Janna! I was a little thrown off considering I had planned on only going for about a half hour, just to hang out and say hi, and was then tossed into the section complete with notebook decorating and yummy snacks, ALL the girls in the section (including those who have already moved up to the next section), and a bonfire! What fun :). But what made me laugh the hardest I have in a while (while at the same time disgusting me beyond belief) was watching the girls have an impromptu eating contest.
As a “dessert” they had been given tostadas – what look like flat tortilla-like concoctions that are then coated with tomato salsa-ish stuff and sprinkled with cheese…although these had a different spin. Although topped with those ingredients, they also had lettuce, raw onions, and beets. So what did the girls use for their eating contest? Why, the leftover toppings of course!
They started out pretty tame – one of the año de servicio’s facing off against Raquel with lettuce. Then things got weird. Luvia and Natalie went out for the beets, after which Ana and Deborah raced to finish off the rest of the raw onions (along with a few stray beets). Talk about bad breath! I couldn’t stomach it! Regardless of how gross it was, its entertainment value was pretty high :-p.
Luvia chowing down on beets
Ana eating...raw onions and beets. MMMM
As a “dessert” they had been given tostadas – what look like flat tortilla-like concoctions that are then coated with tomato salsa-ish stuff and sprinkled with cheese…although these had a different spin. Although topped with those ingredients, they also had lettuce, raw onions, and beets. So what did the girls use for their eating contest? Why, the leftover toppings of course!
They started out pretty tame – one of the año de servicio’s facing off against Raquel with lettuce. Then things got weird. Luvia and Natalie went out for the beets, after which Ana and Deborah raced to finish off the rest of the raw onions (along with a few stray beets). Talk about bad breath! I couldn’t stomach it! Regardless of how gross it was, its entertainment value was pretty high :-p.
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