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
Happy new year An-chan!
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