Friday, December 26, 2008

Reflecting From Home

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. "- Mother Teresa

Upon coming home and having time to reflect upon my experiences in Honduras, a particular picture and series of events keeps replaying in my mind. It is a beautiful picture, one filled with hope, love, appreciation, and a better understanding of the meaning behind Mother Teresa's words.
Two months ago, a dear friend of mine by the name of Juan Carlos lost his humble home and everything that he owned in the horrific flooding in Juticalpa. The other volunteers and myself spent an entire day surveying the wreckage, unable to comprehend what our friends must have been going through. Furthermore, we struggled with the feeling of being so helpless, unable to do much to help those whom we now considered family. We knew the only thing we could do was to ask for your help, and the help of others. You came through.

The image that keeps replaying through my mind is the change in the Juan Carlos' family's life through the generous donations of our family and friends. In October, that image is of a young girl of about 5 crying outside the remains of her home saying she couldn't go to school because her shoes had washed away in the rains and they couldn't afford to by her new ones. She had no bed to sleep in, no place to call home. The day before I left Honduras for Boston; that image changes to the same little girl prancing around a beautiful new home innocently singing "Noche De Paz" ..or "Silent Night". A family who had two months ago lost everything and seemed to have lost all hope now has a beautiful home accentuated by a Christmas tree covered in sparkling lights. Not only do they have a home, but everything within it has been replaced as well.

There are some days where I feel as though I am not making a difference. That I am in fact just making a drop in that ocean. Then I remember Juan Carlos and how that tiny little drop has made such a big difference in his life and the life of his family.

Monday, December 15, 2008

5 more days!!!!!

I just wanted to report that things have been going quite "swimmingly" for the past week and a half since I last posted. I have found as my time here progresses, I am becoming exceedingly more busy and time is flying by at lightening speed! The past two weekends have consisted of hanging out and eating dinner at the houses of new Honduran friends, evenings outside at the Feria listening to live music and eating more Pupusa's than I ever actually needed (Just to prep you everyone...I'm NOT any skinnier than when I left...in fact, I think I've GAINED a few pounds), and dancing Punta and Bachata with above mentioned new friends. Saturday night there was a concert in the gymnasium next to the Cathedral as part of the annual feria, and every Northamerican volunteer in Juticalpa was there.
Things in my classroom have been fantastic as well. We are halfway through the second grading period, and I am happy to report that nearly ALL of my students are finally recalling all the letters and sounds of the alphabet in English. I have spent long hours and have at many times lost my patience, but it seems as though we are getting somewhere! Hard work does pay off!
In any case, I will be back in the States for a MUCH needed two week vacation on Saturday. I can hardly believe it! I hope to see you all at some point while I am home. I would love to spend time with all of you as long as good food is included (I am just kidding about that, obviously; but it WOULD be kind of nice!) In any case, see you all VERY soon! In 120 hours, I will be BOSTON BOUND!!!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Floating....

I have been blogging so much lately. I feel as though all of the sudden; I am clearly able to form thoughts and describe the taciturn of emotions I am going through as this experience comes to a climax.
I have to admit that I am floating these past few days. I am feeling a sense of happiness and fulfillment that I have never felt in my life. I feel as though I am on the top of the world when I am in my classroom. I was sick on Monday. I am not sure if was in relation to the delicious tarejetas I had Sunday night with Wendy and here family; but that is neither here nor there. In any case; Annie substituted in my class. She came into my classroom on Tuesday morning to give me an update on the day and told me how amazed she was at the progress my class has made in the past few weeks. It's "la verdad" (the truth)! All of the sudden; things just seem to be clicking for my students. I see the wheels in their heads turning as I present each clearly thought out lesson. I see the delight on their faces when they correctly answer questions. Every morning when I enter my classroom, I am practically knocked over by the embraces of 20 little arms. Yes; my students seem to really be falling in love with me! Sometimes I question why on earth they would love me so much. I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West some days. Sometimes I feel as though my expectations of them are too high. Then I remember what Annie told me when I first arrived here: "DON'T lower your expectations. They ARE capable!". You know what? They are! I am pleased to report that MOST of my students now know their letters and sounds (in English!) and many of them are able to clearly read the vocabulary words I present to them on a weekly basis. I am very proud of myself for not giving up on them, and am now super excited to start each school day and all the challenges it will encompass. I feel as though all of those days that I felt I was falling flat on my face and failing as a teacher are now totally irrelevant in the grand scheme of my goals here. Suddenly doing whatever I have been doing seems to be WORKING and working well!!!! Being with my students reminds me of what I love about these children. I am imperfect. I am grouchy and sometimes impatient. But they love me nonetheless. I am learning a lot more from them than they ever could from me. I just wanted to share with everyone how happy I am here; living each moment here to the fullest and enjoying every smile, tear, and sound of children laughing around me. I know I am making a small difference in the lives of these people here; but this moment in time they are making an even bigger one in mine.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Poem I Love....

While it has no correlation to this blog directly, I got sent this poem in my email this morning by one of my best friends and it is one of my favorites. Therefore; I would like to share it with you all. It is a reminder of what defines true beauty. It was written by Audrey Hepburn and was read years later at her funeral.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. "

Monday, December 1, 2008

Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Well, it is officially December in Honduras. I cannot even believe that I have been here going on four months. In 18 days, I will make "mid-adventure" trek back home to the states; soaking in all of my surroundings that were once all I knew of. I will take hot showers, sit on my parent's couch and watch T.V on their big screen T.V, eat sushi, turkey, roast beef, and omelettes. I will enter back into my "old life" briefly. There; I will take a portrait of it and take it back with me as I process all of the experiences that I have had thus far. I will apply all of my gratitude for all that I have torwards making the absolute most out of the rest of my experience here. I cannot believe it is almost time to do so. It surely doesn't feel like December. Sure; so many things here point to it being Christmas. A giant light up Santa Claus stands in front of the Dispensia supermarket. Supermercardo Las Palmas; our local shopping market is decorating in brightly colored strings of lights. While shopping for vegetables on Saturday for our Thanksgiving feast, I heard Feliz Navidad blaring at the usual ear-piercing level. Fireworks are being lit off at all hours of the night in the house next door to us; a sure sign that Christmas is coming according to the locals. Yes; you heard that correctly. Something we North Americans associate only with Independence Day is apparently correlated with Christmas here. Even more scary is that I went outside at 6:15am the other morning to head off to the bus stop when I saw my three year old neighbor in the nude trying to strike a match to light off a firework.

Yesterday was one of my more memorable days of my adventure thus far; but also one of the more heartbreaking. My coworkers and now good friend Wendy invited us out to her Aunt and Uncle's farm out in the country for the afternoon. It is when you travel down the road less traveled, miles away from the "city" of Juticalpa (I still can't seem to want to call this place a city for some reason) that you find the worst of the poverty. Wendy's family welcomed us with open arms, as has everyone else here when we have been guests in their home. We sat outside and ate fresh squash and drank the most delicious coffee I have ever drank (an odd combination, I know, but it was good) and "platicando"-ed with her family. I laid in a hammock and ate fresh fruit and played a game with her little cousins to see how far we could spit the seeds. I asked Wendy how many people lived in this humble home; and she did not even know. It seemed to me that about 15 people were living in a brick house with dirt floors and no electricity. I cringed as I watched a 10 year old jump from a tree branch into the river which was probably only 5 or 6 feet deep (he was at LEAST 2 stories up in the air...no exaggeration). I winced as I watched the children play barefoot amongst a pile of trash containing rusty nails. I had to walk away when I watched them start to rough-house ona big cement block, afraid someone was going to cut their head open. This is the reality here. Children as young as 3 years old play in the middle of the road, and go swimming in the river alone. There seems to be no level of fear amongst the parents where their children are. Seven year olds hold two years olds in the water when everyone goes swimming. Eight year olds take on the full role of a mother figure for their younger siblings. Swinging from a barbed wire fence? Nothing to worry about. Wrestling on concrete? It seems like everyone here is invicible. They live their lives as though there is no danger around them. It was heartbreaking to see people having to live among these conditions; but it brought great joy to my heart to spend a day with these children playing with them and enjoying their free spirits. Wendy's Mom is a doll and has invited us to another family member's house when we come back in January. I will very much look forward to it. It is days like yesterday that remind me of why I am here and what I find so beautiful about these people in this country. Here we were; total strangers at their door . Strangers whom I am certain they believe are wealthy and privileged. They shared with us the little that they have. Then invited us to come back again. I am starting to fall in love with Honduras all over again, the way that I did in April. The beauty in my day yesterday can not even be described in words. One would have to experience it him or her self. Miss and love you all! 18!!!!