Pinares just finished their 2nd quarter and the first month of 2011 is almost over. It seems like just last week we got back from our Christmas break. Looking back at these 2 quarters, it's amazing how much work and information I have done. We have gone through 12 chapters in Math, 5 chapters in Social Studies, 4 chapters in Science, 19 short stories, 17 Bible and Spelling Lessons... and the list goes on and on. Teaching here in Honduras has been awesome. As a new teacher, I have been learning how to effectively teach certain subjects and to discipline certain students. For example, my students and I played hide-and-go-seek for Science to teach them about adaptations and camouflage. It was tons of fun, but it taught them something. In terms of discipline, I have a 9 year old boy who is not scared to go to the principal's office, so I had to find a different consequence for him when he becomes disrespectful. I told him he couldn't play soccer at recess if he does not change his attitude and habits and now, his behavior has improved and I have less issues to deal with :)
In the last month, I have seen a new Calvin student each week. My best friend, Keri, moved here 2 weeks ago and is now working at Pinares as well. I am so happy to have her here. God is so faithful! Carla Lindemulder came for a day before leaving for volunteer work. We use to study in the same Math group in college and had such fun in the summers at the beach or doing random things. Brooke Van Eck was here for a day observing our school. She had come down with a group of Calvin students for interim. She is thinking about teaching here in Honduras next year and it would be lovely to see her grow and make a difference here. And yesterday, I met with Alex Cortez whom I worked with at the Calvin Admissions office. He has such a fun personality. We had dinner with a small group of Calvin people. I never realized how small our world could be. It's awesome to have gone to a college with such close relationships and connections. If any of you would like to come down to Honduras, please come visit me. It has been so refreshing seeing people and catching up. I miss you all. Thanks for thinking of me as I am thinking of you too. Enjoy the snow... it's been in the 90s here in the city :) With love, An
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Happy New Year!!
Wow. It's been awhile since I've written. A lot has happened in the last few months. Sorry for my absence on the blog. (Maybe I'm having too much fun to even spend time online...) Well, where should I start first?
Halloween: My friends Jorge and Enoc came over to carve their first pumpkin ever. It's definitely not a Honduran thing and our medium-sized pumpkin cost us $12!! It was well worth it though. The pumpkin turned out fabulous. Check it out:
Harvestfest: Here in Academia Los Pinares (the school that I work at, if you forgot), we are not allowed to celebrate Halloween, so we had this fall festival with a costume theme. So, my housemates and I decided on being Ninja Turtles since there are 4 of us. I was Michaelangelo.
Thanksgiving: In my classroom we had Popeyes delivered and had fried chicken for our meal together. I actually had 3 meals. One in my classroom, one hosted and catered at the school, and one at a family friend's house. This holiday is definitely a good reminder for me to be thankful for everything I have. I think we need to remind ourselves and become in the habit of this, not just this time of year.
I also went on a little retreat with a 3 other teachers and 3 locals to a small mining town. We hiked, went to a hot spring, rode horses, swam and laid by the pool, and watched movies. It was a much needed break.
December: The annual Christmas concert was the second week of December. It really made me feel like a teacher watching my kids perform. They all looked so cute in their new outfits and salon done hair. It was a beautiful program about the true meaning of Christmas.
My apartment hosts the annual Christmas party, so we had different centers: christmas story time, snowflake making, snowball fight, cards, and gingerbread making. It was a blast. We even dressed up as elves, santa, and rudolf for the occasion.
Costa Rica: Pura Vida. That is their famous phrase (pure life)... and now I know why that is. I rode the bus for 20 hours and arrived on Christmas Eve in San Jose. It was cold, but it was wonderful to have a nice bed to sleep in. I went to Costa Rica to visit my friend from university. He's been working there for a year. We spent Christmas in the "ghetto" of San Jose. It was the most humble holiday I have ever experienced. It was beautiful to see the little we have and be so grateful. I also experienced my first Central American wedding and my first hike. I went to the famous Arenal Volcano for 2 days and then spent the rest of my time in Tamarindo. Nothing says holiday without the beach!
I got back yesterday at 10 pm and had to wake up at 5 am for work this morning. It was nice to see my students again, but it was an exhausting day. Now, back to the normal swing of things.
OH... I almost forgot to announce some big news: 1) My best friend from college, Keri Verwolf, is coming down to live and work in Honduras at the same school as me. I am SOOO happy!! 2) I decided to stay another year here in Honduras (so please come visit!)
I missed everyone over the holidays (especially my family). It was definitely a different experience without being with close ones. I thought of all of you and hope that your Christmas and New Years went well. May you be blessed this year.
Besos,
An
Halloween: My friends Jorge and Enoc came over to carve their first pumpkin ever. It's definitely not a Honduran thing and our medium-sized pumpkin cost us $12!! It was well worth it though. The pumpkin turned out fabulous. Check it out:
Harvestfest: Here in Academia Los Pinares (the school that I work at, if you forgot), we are not allowed to celebrate Halloween, so we had this fall festival with a costume theme. So, my housemates and I decided on being Ninja Turtles since there are 4 of us. I was Michaelangelo.
Thanksgiving: In my classroom we had Popeyes delivered and had fried chicken for our meal together. I actually had 3 meals. One in my classroom, one hosted and catered at the school, and one at a family friend's house. This holiday is definitely a good reminder for me to be thankful for everything I have. I think we need to remind ourselves and become in the habit of this, not just this time of year.
I also went on a little retreat with a 3 other teachers and 3 locals to a small mining town. We hiked, went to a hot spring, rode horses, swam and laid by the pool, and watched movies. It was a much needed break.
December: The annual Christmas concert was the second week of December. It really made me feel like a teacher watching my kids perform. They all looked so cute in their new outfits and salon done hair. It was a beautiful program about the true meaning of Christmas.
My apartment hosts the annual Christmas party, so we had different centers: christmas story time, snowflake making, snowball fight, cards, and gingerbread making. It was a blast. We even dressed up as elves, santa, and rudolf for the occasion.
Costa Rica: Pura Vida. That is their famous phrase (pure life)... and now I know why that is. I rode the bus for 20 hours and arrived on Christmas Eve in San Jose. It was cold, but it was wonderful to have a nice bed to sleep in. I went to Costa Rica to visit my friend from university. He's been working there for a year. We spent Christmas in the "ghetto" of San Jose. It was the most humble holiday I have ever experienced. It was beautiful to see the little we have and be so grateful. I also experienced my first Central American wedding and my first hike. I went to the famous Arenal Volcano for 2 days and then spent the rest of my time in Tamarindo. Nothing says holiday without the beach!
I got back yesterday at 10 pm and had to wake up at 5 am for work this morning. It was nice to see my students again, but it was an exhausting day. Now, back to the normal swing of things.
OH... I almost forgot to announce some big news: 1) My best friend from college, Keri Verwolf, is coming down to live and work in Honduras at the same school as me. I am SOOO happy!! 2) I decided to stay another year here in Honduras (so please come visit!)
I missed everyone over the holidays (especially my family). It was definitely a different experience without being with close ones. I thought of all of you and hope that your Christmas and New Years went well. May you be blessed this year.
Besos,
An
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