"My sister was singing uglyly."
-D., 11th grade
Sunday, September 26, 2010
...high and dry
So Matthew turned out to be a big joke for Tegus. It's obviously a good thing that we didn't have disastrous rain, but it's certainly a bit humorous that considering all the rain we've been having so far this year, the two days we were supposed to be affected by a tropical storm actually had less rain than average, or at least equivalent. It's been really cloudy and everything, and hours of drizzle may have been higher than normal, but if I had a rain gauge, I daresay it would have been less or the same. Thanks for the prayers - it seems they worked!
Last week we had a 5 day weekend for Independence Day. Many of the Central American countries celebrate the 15th of September as a day of independence, and September as a whole is pretty big on patriotism and the like. However, as a gringo with no direct connection to the day, it's mostly a day that results in a long weekend, perfect for travel! I was invited to go to El Salvador with five other IST teachers:
[I had intended for a photo of the group to go here. But now facebook and/or blogger is being difficult. Alas, I'm back to my pictureless blog!]
It was a pretty good trip. We stayed at a fairly funky hostel, though when we turned the corner to the hostel's street, we found the street to be flooded. I was not pleased by this. I did not pack my rubber boots, and I don't like walking through murky muddy water barefoot. But we made it, and by the end of our stay, it was possible to walk the road without being required to put your feet in puddles.
On the 16th, we climbed a volcano. It required a 2 hour drive to the National Park, a climb down over 1300 steps to get to the base, and then on this particular day, it required being soaked by a downpour that started as we were about halfway up the volcano! I was not pleased by this (note this is the second consecutive paragraph this sentence has appeared). I like to be dry and comfortable. I quickly became neither. I could not enjoy the experience, and to top it off, a locust attacked me.
On the 17th, we played on the beach. We got a day without rain - a rarity! - and instead it was very sunny. So sunny that I got an awful sunburn. My back is still peeling, 9 days later. I could say, "I was not pleased by this," and I wasn't but since that was my own fault and negligence, I won't. That night, I ate a bunch of seafood in a paella. Anyone who knows me fairly well knows this is something that NEVER happens. I decided to tolerate and even determine myself to eat seafood on this trip, as the Pacific coast is probably as good a place as any to get high quality seafood. If I still couldn't like it, then I'd be totally affirmed that my seafood aversion is incurable. But with this paella, with the heck cooked out of everything, I could tolerate it and even eat heartily! This could be a game-changer, folks.
On the 18th, we traveled back to San Salvador (a 35 km journey from our little town on the coast) to get a taste of the big city. San Sal is quite modern, and very clean and well cared for. We visited a very interesting cathedral fashioned out of an old airplane hangar, with stained glass inlaid into a stunning arched wall/ceiling (the whole building is semicicular). It was quite something.
On the 19th, we caught our bus back to Tegus, and the bus ride was VERY long. I'd have liked more time to relax at the end of the trip before having to return to school, but that's the way it went.
All in all, a fine trip. Despite my inability to put pictures in this post, this link should take you to the public album of many photos I posted on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2111051&id=15300281&l=25dfbe3738 Let me know if it doesn't work, you people who aren't on facebook!
Last week we had a 5 day weekend for Independence Day. Many of the Central American countries celebrate the 15th of September as a day of independence, and September as a whole is pretty big on patriotism and the like. However, as a gringo with no direct connection to the day, it's mostly a day that results in a long weekend, perfect for travel! I was invited to go to El Salvador with five other IST teachers:
[I had intended for a photo of the group to go here. But now facebook and/or blogger is being difficult. Alas, I'm back to my pictureless blog!]
It was a pretty good trip. We stayed at a fairly funky hostel, though when we turned the corner to the hostel's street, we found the street to be flooded. I was not pleased by this. I did not pack my rubber boots, and I don't like walking through murky muddy water barefoot. But we made it, and by the end of our stay, it was possible to walk the road without being required to put your feet in puddles.
On the 16th, we climbed a volcano. It required a 2 hour drive to the National Park, a climb down over 1300 steps to get to the base, and then on this particular day, it required being soaked by a downpour that started as we were about halfway up the volcano! I was not pleased by this (note this is the second consecutive paragraph this sentence has appeared). I like to be dry and comfortable. I quickly became neither. I could not enjoy the experience, and to top it off, a locust attacked me.
On the 17th, we played on the beach. We got a day without rain - a rarity! - and instead it was very sunny. So sunny that I got an awful sunburn. My back is still peeling, 9 days later. I could say, "I was not pleased by this," and I wasn't but since that was my own fault and negligence, I won't. That night, I ate a bunch of seafood in a paella. Anyone who knows me fairly well knows this is something that NEVER happens. I decided to tolerate and even determine myself to eat seafood on this trip, as the Pacific coast is probably as good a place as any to get high quality seafood. If I still couldn't like it, then I'd be totally affirmed that my seafood aversion is incurable. But with this paella, with the heck cooked out of everything, I could tolerate it and even eat heartily! This could be a game-changer, folks.
On the 18th, we traveled back to San Salvador (a 35 km journey from our little town on the coast) to get a taste of the big city. San Sal is quite modern, and very clean and well cared for. We visited a very interesting cathedral fashioned out of an old airplane hangar, with stained glass inlaid into a stunning arched wall/ceiling (the whole building is semicicular). It was quite something.
On the 19th, we caught our bus back to Tegus, and the bus ride was VERY long. I'd have liked more time to relax at the end of the trip before having to return to school, but that's the way it went.
All in all, a fine trip. Despite my inability to put pictures in this post, this link should take you to the public album of many photos I posted on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2111051&id=15300281&l=25dfbe3738 Let me know if it doesn't work, you people who aren't on facebook!
Friday, September 24, 2010
...with a hurricane on the way
Well, it seems fairly possible that Tropical Storm Matthew will turn into Hurricane Matthew, and it's about as likely that whatever it is at the time will hit Tegus. It's pretty guaranteed that heavy rains are on the way, probably within the next few hours. If the destructive winds, the storm proper, hits, it will be on Saturday morning, according to weather.com . Some readers may know that Honduras was hit in 1998 by another M storm, Mitch, so many folks down here are reasonably concerned when any threat of hurricane comes up. There's possibility that school could be canceled after the weekend, or maybe nothing greater than a particularly bad thunderstorm hits us in the city. But of course, it's about more than just my safety and Tegus' safety. Matthew, at the time of this writing, is basically on the coast of northern Nicaragua and is sure to hit the coast and eastern part of Honduras. Prayers for those sure to be affected are imperative.
A lot has happened since my last update. I don't want to diminish this post by getting into other stuff, but I do want to share it. Hopefully over the weekend I'll be able to update further.
A lot has happened since my last update. I don't want to diminish this post by getting into other stuff, but I do want to share it. Hopefully over the weekend I'll be able to update further.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
...asking for prayer
I'd like to ask for prayer for one of my students. She is going through a difficult medical process that causes her to have certain episodes. These episodes have been getting worse as the process (hopefully) seems to be nearing its end. She had a very bad one this afternoon in my class, fortunately at the end of class at the end of the day, and her mom happened to be here early to pick her up. Now that I know what's going on, I can respond much better, but I simply ask for prayers for M, as she continues this process.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
...where chapels and assemblies are nuts
Yesterday we had an afternoon assembly schedule (for the record, none of the first 5 weeks of school promise to have a normal schedule - we have half days, assemblies, independence day long weekends, spiritual retreats, or any combination of those, each week. We'll see about the 6th week.) for an "acto civico," or civic actions - pledging allegiance, singing the national anthem, the like. Being Monday, we also had chapel.
During those two things at the end of the day, I did, in front of everyone, the following:
After settling everyone down at the assembly, lining everyone up, turning to face the flag, pledging, and singing, there was a good 40 minutes left in the hour long assembly. How to fill this time? By playing "traditional" Honduran games (we were focused on heritage, after all) like...Tug of War? Stilt walking? Sack race? Jumping rope? I was surprised they didn't break out the Honduran Greco-Roman wrestling. Then, to close everything off, they brought up 4 North American teachers to blindfolded taste test traditional Honduran cuisine. Starting of with the baleada was good, but when I found myself with cow intestine/stomach in my mouth, I was done. Blech.
During those two things at the end of the day, I did, in front of everyone, the following:
- tried for 60 seconds to throw a flash card into a halved watermelon, and
- ate sopa de mondongo, or tripe soup, blindfolded.
After settling everyone down at the assembly, lining everyone up, turning to face the flag, pledging, and singing, there was a good 40 minutes left in the hour long assembly. How to fill this time? By playing "traditional" Honduran games (we were focused on heritage, after all) like...Tug of War? Stilt walking? Sack race? Jumping rope? I was surprised they didn't break out the Honduran Greco-Roman wrestling. Then, to close everything off, they brought up 4 North American teachers to blindfolded taste test traditional Honduran cuisine. Starting of with the baleada was good, but when I found myself with cow intestine/stomach in my mouth, I was done. Blech.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
...falling into old habits
I'm quickly finding myself procrastinating already this year. I have a stack of grading, and although I've made a promise to have everything graded within a week of receiving it, I haven't caught up with myself at the beginning of the year to meet that promise. I have a date with that stack tonight, which certainly won't be as fun as my date last night, but it's just as necessary for me to be able to be here. I'm struggling to get my feet under myself. I have a lot more good groundwork laid this year when it comes to policies and systems, but that leaves me less wiggle room. Once I get used to that system, it should be VERY good for me. Right now I'm on the precipice of last year, which should not happen. I can be so much happier down here if I can take pride in what I do.
My new good habits are helping though. I've been doing a good amount of working out, thanks to my roommates. I'm hoping that when people see me at Christmas, there will be a visible difference :) I'm picking up my Bible much more frequently. I'm currently downloading a good number of hymns and old-timey church songs, which somehow do much more for me spiritually than anything I can get down here. I am getting to know the new teachers, which is good.
I feel basically normal. And that's miles ahead of last year. I hope I can put even more of last year behind me. Speaking of which, I have a date to get to...
My new good habits are helping though. I've been doing a good amount of working out, thanks to my roommates. I'm hoping that when people see me at Christmas, there will be a visible difference :) I'm picking up my Bible much more frequently. I'm currently downloading a good number of hymns and old-timey church songs, which somehow do much more for me spiritually than anything I can get down here. I am getting to know the new teachers, which is good.
I feel basically normal. And that's miles ahead of last year. I hope I can put even more of last year behind me. Speaking of which, I have a date to get to...
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