Hey Family and Friends,
I am really becoming a teacher on Monday with no training what-so-ever. Lets hope I am somewhat of a natural teacher... I have never thought of myself that way but here goes nothing.
I am teaching reading and phonics for first, second, and third grade.
The school is VERY unorganized and it seems that the Honduran teachers know about as much as I do. I need to go write my weekly lessons plans, I get nervous just thinking about all that I have to do.
I'm frustrated with the internet situation here and skype. Several times I have sort of connected but I have not been able to get through to anyone on skype and the internet rarely works. Its frustrating to try and then not be able to I get my hopes up and then they come crashing down... :-(
Please send me emails... That helps!
Hstravers@rockford.edu
love from a hot sticky Honduran in training,
Hannah
Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 17, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
So today was my first day of teacher training. At eight o’clock today all of the teachers for Holy Family Bilingual school met in the chapel to start. Well, almost all the teachers, many walked in late which I think may just be common in Honduras. Diana the director of OLRM introduced herself and then quickly began to lecture about how we must be disciplined in our own lives in order to discipline the children. It sounds like an on going battle that she has been fighting. I’m sure that it bothers her being from the United States where if you aren’t five minutes early you are late. Anyway, it was quite a strange way to start off a school year… I don’t know many employers in the states that would talk to their employees the way she spoke to all of us teachers. I was just really glad I was on time.
We were first introduced by the principal of the school by our names and what we were teaching. Many of the teachers were introduced as teaching something they had no idea they were teaching. It turns out that the PE teacher is not going to be working for Holy Family and so all the homeroom teachers have to teach their own PE classes. They are not looking forward to it. I met the first, second, and third grade teachers. They all seem very easy to get a long with. The third grade teacher, Erica, has children and an ex-husband in Georgia so she spoke great English and wouldn’t speak Spanish with me. The second grade teacher, Odilia, does not speak great English and she grew up in Our Little Roses home. Its cool to see how much she has accomplished keeping in mind what she has come from. She was very sweet and was impressed with my Spanish. I realized though that when the women chat with each other informally it gets very difficult for me to understand them. I have to remind myself that it will take time to get used to people’s voices and things. When people are giving directions in Spanish I have no problem, I hope I can catch on to it so that I can stay up to date on all the gossip . The first grade teacher is also very sweet and always has a smile on her face. Her name is Claudia and she says the first grade is the best because it’s the last grade that the children still listen to the teacher. I hope that she is exaggerating a bit!
The school building is pretty big but it seems as if its very different here. The children have to bring their own materials to class. The only things in the classrooms are simple, old desks, a white board, and some books on a wood shelf. We went through all our books today to make sure they were not ripped or scribbled in. I still am not clear what I will be teaching or when. I know I have a lot of duties outside of the classroom as a supervisor for the entrance and exit of the kids and to watch them during their recreo or recess. I hope I will learn tomorrow what my schedule is like and what I’m supposed to be able to teach. I guess the name of this game is flexibility!
Our internet was supposed to be fixed today but no one ever came. I don’t know when I will actually get internet, so in order to not lose all my thoughts on these first couple of days I am just writing in word and I’ll upload it later. I’m being flexible .
I made friends with the cooks at the home today. Isabel, Lucy, and Mirian, are the three cooks who come everyday to cook for the girls. They have been saving meals for us in the oven so that after our training we can eat. I feel grateful for the people who are generally on the sidelines of the culture who seem to be looking out for me. I will continue to make an effort to show these women how much I appreciate their hard work. Cooking in ninety something weather with about 100% humidity can not be a fun job!
I spent some time coloring with some of the girls before dinner. We aren’t spending as much time at the home as I would like. It seems as if the other volunteers are not as invigorated as I am being there. I think it takes everyone time to get used to a new situation and I know from experience that it is exhausting learning a new language. I suppose maybe that is why they are over there less. I would go more often but as of now it seems like I should only walk over the OLR with someone else. Now don’t get me wrong I feel completely safe in the neighborhood its just that you never quite know who might decide to visit your neighborhood. As we walk through we are clearly the exotic foreigners, from children shouting Hi and buh bye as we walk by their houses, to old grandpas who as Americanes, and then of course, all the young men playing soccer who stare as we walk by with absolutely no shame.
I feel annoyed that we don’t have internet, that our washer doesn’t work, and that the hot water heater on my shower head makes the water scalding so I shower in cold water anyway. All of these things could potentially be a big problem but the truth is that I am realizing how simple life can be. I don’t need a Jacuzzi or a double headed shower. I don’t need to connect to the internet every single moment of down time I have. And, well I do need to wash my clothes, there are plenty of sinks in this apartment that will suffice. In a world so simple you are forced to know and understand yourself. This is an experience I am sure will bring me hard times and good times. I hope that the end result though is a greater appreciation for those things that we have in the United States and a better awareness of myself.
So today was my first day of teacher training. At eight o’clock today all of the teachers for Holy Family Bilingual school met in the chapel to start. Well, almost all the teachers, many walked in late which I think may just be common in Honduras. Diana the director of OLRM introduced herself and then quickly began to lecture about how we must be disciplined in our own lives in order to discipline the children. It sounds like an on going battle that she has been fighting. I’m sure that it bothers her being from the United States where if you aren’t five minutes early you are late. Anyway, it was quite a strange way to start off a school year… I don’t know many employers in the states that would talk to their employees the way she spoke to all of us teachers. I was just really glad I was on time.
We were first introduced by the principal of the school by our names and what we were teaching. Many of the teachers were introduced as teaching something they had no idea they were teaching. It turns out that the PE teacher is not going to be working for Holy Family and so all the homeroom teachers have to teach their own PE classes. They are not looking forward to it. I met the first, second, and third grade teachers. They all seem very easy to get a long with. The third grade teacher, Erica, has children and an ex-husband in Georgia so she spoke great English and wouldn’t speak Spanish with me. The second grade teacher, Odilia, does not speak great English and she grew up in Our Little Roses home. Its cool to see how much she has accomplished keeping in mind what she has come from. She was very sweet and was impressed with my Spanish. I realized though that when the women chat with each other informally it gets very difficult for me to understand them. I have to remind myself that it will take time to get used to people’s voices and things. When people are giving directions in Spanish I have no problem, I hope I can catch on to it so that I can stay up to date on all the gossip . The first grade teacher is also very sweet and always has a smile on her face. Her name is Claudia and she says the first grade is the best because it’s the last grade that the children still listen to the teacher. I hope that she is exaggerating a bit!
The school building is pretty big but it seems as if its very different here. The children have to bring their own materials to class. The only things in the classrooms are simple, old desks, a white board, and some books on a wood shelf. We went through all our books today to make sure they were not ripped or scribbled in. I still am not clear what I will be teaching or when. I know I have a lot of duties outside of the classroom as a supervisor for the entrance and exit of the kids and to watch them during their recreo or recess. I hope I will learn tomorrow what my schedule is like and what I’m supposed to be able to teach. I guess the name of this game is flexibility!
Our internet was supposed to be fixed today but no one ever came. I don’t know when I will actually get internet, so in order to not lose all my thoughts on these first couple of days I am just writing in word and I’ll upload it later. I’m being flexible .
I made friends with the cooks at the home today. Isabel, Lucy, and Mirian, are the three cooks who come everyday to cook for the girls. They have been saving meals for us in the oven so that after our training we can eat. I feel grateful for the people who are generally on the sidelines of the culture who seem to be looking out for me. I will continue to make an effort to show these women how much I appreciate their hard work. Cooking in ninety something weather with about 100% humidity can not be a fun job!
I spent some time coloring with some of the girls before dinner. We aren’t spending as much time at the home as I would like. It seems as if the other volunteers are not as invigorated as I am being there. I think it takes everyone time to get used to a new situation and I know from experience that it is exhausting learning a new language. I suppose maybe that is why they are over there less. I would go more often but as of now it seems like I should only walk over the OLR with someone else. Now don’t get me wrong I feel completely safe in the neighborhood its just that you never quite know who might decide to visit your neighborhood. As we walk through we are clearly the exotic foreigners, from children shouting Hi and buh bye as we walk by their houses, to old grandpas who as Americanes, and then of course, all the young men playing soccer who stare as we walk by with absolutely no shame.
I feel annoyed that we don’t have internet, that our washer doesn’t work, and that the hot water heater on my shower head makes the water scalding so I shower in cold water anyway. All of these things could potentially be a big problem but the truth is that I am realizing how simple life can be. I don’t need a Jacuzzi or a double headed shower. I don’t need to connect to the internet every single moment of down time I have. And, well I do need to wash my clothes, there are plenty of sinks in this apartment that will suffice. In a world so simple you are forced to know and understand yourself. This is an experience I am sure will bring me hard times and good times. I hope that the end result though is a greater appreciation for those things that we have in the United States and a better awareness of myself.
August 16, 2009
August 16, 2009
8:40 am
I am sitting in the hallway of our home looking out a window facing an absolutely breath taking mountain range. Its hot and humid, many dogs are barking, and a someone is driving around in a truck shouting political slogans with a mega phone. I can’t understand what he is saying but I wonder if it has to do with the political situation Honduras is in. I thought I heard Obama but it is very possible that this was my imagination. My apartment is small but cozy. I’m certainly not living in any rural undeveloped area, but it definitely is not the United States either. I’m learning all the ins and outs of how to make normal life work here. Like, turning on the water heater before I get in the shower, using a garbage for toilet paper instead of flushing it in a system that cant handle it, and making sure my curtains are closed during the day to keep out whatever heat I can from the sun. Life seems so much simpler already and I am enjoying that.
When I arrived at the airport Emily and I had no trouble getting in through customs. We were waiting for our luggage when someone came and put their arms around us. It was Jim the volunteer coordinator from OLR. It was so great to see a friendly face before we had even started worrying about how we were going to find our ride. He had gotten special permission to meet us in the baggage claim area rather than in the receiving area. When we got outside with all our bags the school principal Evelyn, and another volunteer named Brenda, met us to take us to OLR’s bus. We loaded up our things and off we went. I was so busy getting to know everyone in the bus that I don’t remember much about the drive. There are no tall buildings in San Pedro Sula, every once in a while you see a house like ours with two floors but otherwise everything is low. The houses feel somewhat like they do in the southern united states. They are designed for warm temperatures year round. Our hallway is basically open, there is some metal on the windows but no glass or screens. The sounds of the neighborhood are very near J. Many people have little patio/garage space outside of their homes. We have a little one that I am looking forward to sitting and relaxing while speaking to the neighbors who pass by.
Emily and Brenda seem like people I will easily get a long with. We all seem to have very different personalities but we are connecting well. Last night we all watched You’ve Got Mail and had my favorite Argentine beer, Quilmes. I have only had it a couple times at expensive Argentine restaraunts so it was great to buy it from the store. We had chips, salsa, and m & ms. I think we all needed the comfort of something similar to home and a chance to just relax. The community area of the apartment building is nice but very small. I think I will hang out in my room and the hallway more often then down in the common area. It seems sort of stuffy and dark.
So after we got in the bus they took us to the home for the girls. It is a beautiful square brick buidling with a courtyard in the middle. They have a few work rooms where they do painting and woodworking, a kitchen with four long tables, a livingroom, and then all of their bedrooms. The girls sleep in bunks and the rooms seem to be separated by age some how. When we got to the home we had lunch (lunch is the biggest meal of the day here, and dinner is a little smaller, more like supper) with the girls. We had a lunch of rice, some ground beef with a great zing flavor to it, and some red beans. I mixed all three of these together and it was so tasty. They also served plantains. It looks as if I’ll have some sort of plantain for every meal here… lol. I like them now, but it seems like quickly I could get sick of them. I’m going to try to not get sick of them lol. They cook them sometimes like patatoes with just butter and salt but they also make “maduros” and then they are covered in a brown sugar creamy heavenliness J.
I quickly started to talk to the girls. It is a little hard to break into their regular routine, but I feel like it will go quickly with me because I can speak Spanish with them. Sometimes the girls try to lie about little things to tease me. Now that I have caught on to that I can tease them right back. Some of the girls were having me guess how old they were so I guessed things like three, twenty-five, and ninety-nine. It made them all laugh and hopefully helped them connect with me, these girls were all between six and eight. I have enjoyed so much using Spanish to communicate with the girls. Last night I had a long conversation with a girl named Waldy about school. She is 13 and doesn’t want to go to school on Monday. She is in a public school and their summer vacation is very different from Holy Family school or any of the private schools. So she is in school now and was complaining about going back on Monday. I told her that its only Saturday night, she should enjoy Sunday before she starts worrying about going back to school. Saturday night I sat out in the courtyard, orignally by myself, and quickly the whole table was filled with girls. I sang songs that I learned from one of my Spanish classes and really hoped maybe they knew the same songs. They quickly joined in with me and I was so happy. When we had to leave several of the girls came over to give me a hug and I instantly felt like I belonged.
On a more serious note, three of the five volunteers that were at training in Miami, are not here and will not be coming. Emily and I are the only volunteers that actually made it here. Kyndall took a job a couple months before so we knew she wasn’t coming but when we got here we learned that the retired couple had decided not to come because they say they fel t it was too dangerous. I have not experienced anything dangerous but it sounds like other things didn’t work out for them and the political situation was a good excuse to not make it. Its too bad but there are other volunteers who signed up later who will be joining us at some point. So there are only three of us in the house right now, but I guess more are coming later.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Today is the day!
So tonight at 11:00 pm I will get in the car with my dad and we will drive to Chicago. We are planning lots of extra time in there because we would rather be early than stressed. We will probably hang out somewhere in between for a bit. My flight leaves Ohare airport at 5:40 am. I fly first to Houston, TX, have a one hour layover and then fly from Houston at 9:05 to arrive in San Pedro Sula @ 10:52 am. Im meeting a friend that I met at the training in Maimi and we are going to be flying together. This time around feels a lot easier than when I went to Argentina so Im thankful for that. At the airport someone from Our Little Roses will be there to pick us up. After this point in my day I have no idea what will be next. Im sure it will include settling in, hopefully a nap, and maybe a tour of the place.
When I start to imagine what it will be like to arrive I get so excited. People have asked how I am doing and I actually feel really good. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and have not been feeling any fear at all. Of course I am a little anxious but not scared! I have felt so loved and supported by my friends and family this summer. I have had numerous meaningful times and I know that with the support I have experienced before leaving I can do anything!
Its down to the wire now where I start to worry if I have forgotten to pack something important. I will try to curb those feelings reminding myself that if it is essential I can buy it there. Other than that I'm not too worried about anything else. I hope this is just a blessing and doesn't mean that I'm distracted from thinking about things I should be.
Thank you so much for going on this journey with me! Today starts a life changing year in my life... How exciting is that?
peace,
Hannah
When I start to imagine what it will be like to arrive I get so excited. People have asked how I am doing and I actually feel really good. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and have not been feeling any fear at all. Of course I am a little anxious but not scared! I have felt so loved and supported by my friends and family this summer. I have had numerous meaningful times and I know that with the support I have experienced before leaving I can do anything!
Its down to the wire now where I start to worry if I have forgotten to pack something important. I will try to curb those feelings reminding myself that if it is essential I can buy it there. Other than that I'm not too worried about anything else. I hope this is just a blessing and doesn't mean that I'm distracted from thinking about things I should be.
Thank you so much for going on this journey with me! Today starts a life changing year in my life... How exciting is that?
peace,
Hannah
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Curfews in Honduras lifted!
I just wanted to update you all the the curfew in Honduras has been lifted. This means good things for traveling there... seems that things are getting back to normal. In terms of a political solution nothing has been reached.
Just a quick update.
I have spent the past couple weeks with my nephews and have had an absolute blast. I'm getting good practice for teaching the young kids in Honduras :-)
I'm so grateful for my generous sisters who have let me live with them, eat their food, and play with thier boys all summer.
Still feeling a little nervous about how quickly august 15 is approaching.
peace,
Hannah
Just a quick update.
I have spent the past couple weeks with my nephews and have had an absolute blast. I'm getting good practice for teaching the young kids in Honduras :-)
I'm so grateful for my generous sisters who have let me live with them, eat their food, and play with thier boys all summer.
Still feeling a little nervous about how quickly august 15 is approaching.
peace,
Hannah
Friday, July 10, 2009
Patience
I still have no clear answer as to whether I will have to postpone my trip to Honduras or not. I seem to be hearing a mix of things... It seems to me as if the current situation in Honduras is mostly political and that it means no real threat to me as a visitor to the country. That being said I am just going to be patient and smart about my safety.
Oscar Arias is trying to help the situation move out of a stalemate, but after talks with Zelaya and Micheletti separately neither party would agree to having a face to face talk. Lets keep praying that the best for Honduras and its people will prevail. My biggest prayer is that other political figures do not use this weak moment of Honduran history as a stepping stone to more power. It is unclear to me why Latin American leaders, the OAS, and the UN feel so strongly that the coup was wrong. I mean, I understand that coups are generally not a good thing (I did major in international relations) but I hope it doesn't turn into a bigger political issue than it needs to be. Can we really even define it as a coup?
Anyway, those are some of my thoughts.
Hope everyone is well. Please pray for me in this time of transition and waiting.
Peace,
Hannah
Oscar Arias is trying to help the situation move out of a stalemate, but after talks with Zelaya and Micheletti separately neither party would agree to having a face to face talk. Lets keep praying that the best for Honduras and its people will prevail. My biggest prayer is that other political figures do not use this weak moment of Honduran history as a stepping stone to more power. It is unclear to me why Latin American leaders, the OAS, and the UN feel so strongly that the coup was wrong. I mean, I understand that coups are generally not a good thing (I did major in international relations) but I hope it doesn't turn into a bigger political issue than it needs to be. Can we really even define it as a coup?
Anyway, those are some of my thoughts.
Hope everyone is well. Please pray for me in this time of transition and waiting.
Peace,
Hannah
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Honduras in the Media
Hi everybody!
Just thought I should connect with you guys regarding the turmoil in Honduras currently. It seems pretty complicated but I the director of Our Little Roses wrote me this email...
Honduras is not what it seems on the TV and newspapers. One of our Board members came back last night and said that if someone had not told him of the "coup" he never would have known that it took place. San Pedro Sula is far removed from the capital city of Tegucigalpa and that is the center of the unrest as it is reported. It is really much less that what appears on your screen.
I have been dismayed at the way the media has reported the events and the defense of Mel without considering the facts that brought the government to stand that it took on Sunday. Many have reported that why didn't Honduras simply impeach the president if he was not following the constitution but what they have failed to realize is that in Honduras we have no provision for an impeachment process like the US and the manner to deal with a president who is breaking the law is to give him the choice to be exiled to a third country, which is the case in point.
So, I have little doubt that what is happening will have any effect on the volunteers this coming year and the safety and well being of all of those who live and work in Honduras, especially San Pedro Sula.
So, according to Diane Frade there is nothing to worry about. I have heard though that Honduras is currently not letting foreigners into the country. I feel like a lot could happen in six weeks so I will just have to see how things play out. Its in hearing stories of the week latin american governments that make me especially patriotic on this fourth of July. I have spent it wearing shorts, going for a long bike ride, and enjoying time with family. All things I might not have been able to do in another country. Lets pray for the Honduran government and hope for the best when it is time for me to travel there!
Happy Independence, God Bless!
Hannah
Just thought I should connect with you guys regarding the turmoil in Honduras currently. It seems pretty complicated but I the director of Our Little Roses wrote me this email...
Honduras is not what it seems on the TV and newspapers. One of our Board members came back last night and said that if someone had not told him of the "coup" he never would have known that it took place. San Pedro Sula is far removed from the capital city of Tegucigalpa and that is the center of the unrest as it is reported. It is really much less that what appears on your screen.
I have been dismayed at the way the media has reported the events and the defense of Mel without considering the facts that brought the government to stand that it took on Sunday. Many have reported that why didn't Honduras simply impeach the president if he was not following the constitution but what they have failed to realize is that in Honduras we have no provision for an impeachment process like the US and the manner to deal with a president who is breaking the law is to give him the choice to be exiled to a third country, which is the case in point.
So, I have little doubt that what is happening will have any effect on the volunteers this coming year and the safety and well being of all of those who live and work in Honduras, especially San Pedro Sula.
So, according to Diane Frade there is nothing to worry about. I have heard though that Honduras is currently not letting foreigners into the country. I feel like a lot could happen in six weeks so I will just have to see how things play out. Its in hearing stories of the week latin american governments that make me especially patriotic on this fourth of July. I have spent it wearing shorts, going for a long bike ride, and enjoying time with family. All things I might not have been able to do in another country. Lets pray for the Honduran government and hope for the best when it is time for me to travel there!
Happy Independence, God Bless!
Hannah
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