COMO ESTAN??? MUY BIEN!!

WOW in one month I will know my site. I can’t believe how fast training is starting to go by, it’s flying now that we’ve gotten our projects started!

For our self-directed projects, Team El Rosario is taking over that little aldea! We are having so much fun, our kiddies are fantastic! Asombroso, if you will! It’s the school that has 2 classes, and both teachers are phenomenal, they are so excited to have us. The first day we went, we talked with the kids to see what they wanted to do with us, then we played some games outside. Over the next 5 weeks we will be doing projects that will lead up to a parade we’re going to have through the town. We went yesterday to make masks and it was a hit for sure. At first the kids seemed to not know exactly what to do with themselves, but after a bit they got into it. One girl had glitter all over her body (no, it wasn’t me) and I’d like to be her friend. We will go back and make instruments, teach them a song in English, and some sort of dance.

I started my individual mini-proyecto and the kinder- its basically going to be a story hour and activity with 2 classes (separately). I am still going to find a way to incorporate puppets, but the age group is a little too young to teach a theme to other kids (I think). This week my story is about how every child is special and we are all individual. I made a big world, and had them color little people to put around the world, showing that “Aunque somos diferentes, podemos vivir en paz.” (Even though we are different, we can live in peace). I’m changing the other class’s project just to spice things up a bit (same story/theme)- They will decorate little stars to glue onto a big sky that says “Con todas las estrellas diferentes, encendemos el cielo.” (With all the different stars, we light up the sky).

The school in El Rosario is in a rural little community, without many resources. They did not have their own pencils, crayons, or any sort of art supplies. In contrast, the kinder I am doing my other project is here in Talanga, a more urban setting with more access to resources, and each student has her/his own little container of crayons. It’s unbelievable to see the difference between the schools here. In the states, access to resources depends on the school district, but

I think most schools have a least a box of crayons to share.

Anyways, though it’s slightly overwhelming, as we are busy with other parts of training and sometimes there doesn’t seem like there is enough time to plan, it is definitely worth the practice. Also, it had been almost three months since the last time I was in a preschool and it felt so nice to be back with my people!

This past weekend we trekked up a hill to find a cave…. We found bats inside! Very cool. Sadly I didn’t bring my camera, as I’d heard some horror stories and decided I wasn’t ready for anyone to rob me of it just yet… thankfully we didn’t come across any ladrones or creepers.

Religion. My host mom is Catholic, and my host dad is Evangelical- This is a crazy scenario here in Honduras, because you are either super super super Catholic or super super super Evangelical, and the two groups do NOT intermingle. It’s kind of like society’s reaction to interracial marriages 50 years ago, a “taboo” but people know it shouldn’t be so they just ignore it and talk behind your back about it. Anyways, both my host mom and host dad are extremely involved in their congregations separately, and the kids bounce back and forth to both churches. I think it’s cool. They’ve both kept an important part of themselves, do their own thing, and now the kids are exposed to both. I’ve been to the Catholic service both Sundays, and it is exactly like Catholic mass in the states, just in Spanish. This weekend I went to my host dad’s Evangelical church (out in an aldea) which involved much more singing and shouting, AND in the middle of the service, the pastor noticed me, made me come up to the altar, gave me the microphone, and had me explain to everyone why I was there, where I was from, and what my deal was.. T

hankfully I know Spanish and could do that- I would have peed myself if I didn’t. As it turns out last November, that pastor was visiting Boston- his comments were that it was enormous, and cold.

My host mom thought my 2-year-old host sister thought my name was Hola. Every time she sees me, and then every 3 minutes after that she says “Hola!” But we’ve cleared it up. She knows I’m Lisa (e-sha).

Last week was Ronaldo’s birthday (Youth Development Training Director) so we celebrated by making him two pinatas and cake! One piñata was a big peace sign (go figure), and the other was his head! Actually, it was one of the language facilitator’s birthdays as well so one side was Ronaldo’s face and the other side was Jose Louis’s face. Unfortunately, Jose Louis could not celebrate that day because he had malaria and went home. Thankfully he’s back now, and all better, but he did not get to enjoy his birthday piñata.

HUELGAS. Those are strikes. The teachers have them all the time. I haven’t even been here two months and there have already been three. Public schools close for a day, two days, or several days…. There is so much corruption in the government, and a lot of times the teachers go on strike when they don’t get paid. A valid reason, but as it is the education system is rocky…. So not only do kids get out of school at noon (if not earlier), but rarely do they have a full, 5 day school week. And when they’re not at school, there are little to no extracurricular activities, clubs or organizations (Enter, Youth Development project). Today marks day three of the most recent huelga... we´ll see if i get to do my kinder project this week!

Que mas! Things have been busy… OH we are starting dance classes this week! After we expressed interest, Ronaldo found a teacher who’s willing to meet with us two nights a week to teach us Honduran dance… Wooo!

And, one of the language facilitators hosted a movie night at her house.... Juno in Spanish, with English subtitles.... let me tell you, the jokes do not translate quite the same (Example, "Your eggo is preggo = Esta embarazada).

Dad! I would like to bring one thing to your attention. Last week we were playing basketball at the park, and another trainee Stacie said I was CARRYING our team! Imagine that! (For anyone who doesn’t already know, I played basketball for about 4 years before I ever scored a basket.).

TOILET PAPER ROLLS! SAVE THEM! If you live near my parents, drop them off (I’ve asked them to leave a box in our breeze way). In the fall, once I’m settled at my site, my mom is going to send them down (and will hopefully be able to send them here and there over the next 2 years). They make for PERFECT craft projects! Fire crackers, microphones, maracas, kaleidoscopes, reindeer (thank you, Bright Beginnings)…. Thanks!

On that note, I will end this entry. Everything’s going swimmingly here in Talanga…. The Youth Development group is lovely, and equipo El Ro

sario a force to be reckoned with. It’s hot, and rainy sometimes. It’s not uncommon to be stuck behind two giant bulls pulling wood in the middle of the road. Everyone sells things from their homes. And juice is sold in bags.

Miss and love you all, abrazos para todos! Oh one more thing, as I am typing this up in a word document on my laptop, I am watching Peter Pan in Spanish.

Love, Lisa