La fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción

Yesterday we had the day off school to celebrate "The Feast of the Immaculate Conception"


"Today is a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States, a day on which we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (the Immaculate Conception has been, since 1846, the Patroness of the United States). Note that it is she, Mary herself, who is the Immaculate Conception; the day does not refer to Mary's conceiving Jesus by the Holy Ghost, but to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by Mary's father, St. Joachim. What makes her conception immaculate is not that she was conceived by the Holy Ghost of a virgin, as was Christ Our Lord, but that from the very moment of her conception, she was filled with grace by God, Who knew, in His omniscience, that she would say "yes" to the Angel Gabriel and become the Mother of the Savior. Exactly nine months from now, on September 8, we will celebrate Mary's birthday (I always knew someone like Mary had to be born in the month of September ;) )"


My day started with mass at the Cathedral. There were three masses offered and I chose to go at 9a.m. When I arrived and saw the entire church filled with people I realized that the 6:00a.m. mass wasn't over yet. That prepared me for the long mass I was going to sit through. It was beautiful though and the songs were jammin'! During communion some ladies and little girls in traditional Honduran dresses danced up the aisle:

Qué Linda

It was a FULL house:

And no mass in Honduras would be complete without a stray dog wandering in:

After mass I went shopping in town with Anne and came across this funny store:

Just a wild guess...but I bet they don't accept dollar bills!

Then it was time for a nap before round two. I headed back into town around 6:30 to participate in all of the nighttime festivities. On the walk there I ran into lots of my students. I love seeing them out and about! 

Marcela and Me

When I got into town I saw they had put a Christmas tree up in the center. It was so festive :)! Although it's hard to imagine it's the Christmas season when it's still 80 degrees outside!

There were lots of vendors out selling different types of food, candy, and knick-knacks of all sorts! After checking all of that stuff out we walked around town to see all of the different alters set up to honor Mary:

Our religion teacher's (Olban) alter to Mary

One of Jeff's students posing with baby Jesus

We ran into some of the teachers from Santa Clara:

Kandice (my new roommate), Carrie, Lacey, Ella (Kinder teacher), me, Anne, Angela, and Jeff's student

Spotted a crazy painted truck:

WE WANT DEMOCRACY!

Then saw someone running through the streets with firecrackers strapped to a box on their head. MUY LOCO!!!!

Finally around 8:00 or so they brought the Blessed Mother out of the Cathedral...

Complete with a short fireworks show...

The people process through the streets with Mary while saying a rosary. After the rosary is finished the people run through the streets going from altar to altar - screaming some phrase that ryhmes and getting food (mainly fruit and candy) thrown at them. We stayed for part of the procession but it was getting really late so we walked home before the people started running through the streets. I was bummed that we missed it, but since we had to come to school today I needed that sleep!

Today is December 9th and it's also 9 days until I'm home!!!! I can't believe how fast the days are flying by! 

TGIF tomorrow!!!!!

"If you think you're carrying something heavy, just imagine that the next person is carrying something twice as heavy next to you." I went for a run once and I passed a mother (a little bit older then me) carrying a wailing baby, holding the hand of another child (who had Down's syndrome) and walking next to another one of her kids. They were leaving town (most likely after a hard day of work) and walking home. I remember the mother's face, exhausted and worn, and she still managed to pass me with a gracious "que le vaya bien." At that moment "my load" didn't seem quite as heavy." -Mary Monley

A Brief Glimpse...

de mi loco estudiantes:



"Thinking back two years ago I remember how tough of a period this last stretch can be. Feelings of homesickness were coupled with a lingering doubt that I was failing these kids at school. There isn't a quick fix to this problem but I promise you that THINGS WILL GET BETTER! When put in an unnatural setting it is hard to step back and take stock of your accomplishments, because the day to day living is enough of a challenge on its own. But the reality is you are molding 30-40 young minds that otherwise would not have this opportunity. You are playing a crucial role in laying the groundwork for these kids to potentially achieve goals that their parents' generation would have deemed impossible. Hang in there and know we are al thinking about you. One final thought....it will all be worth it when you get off the bus on your first day back from Christmas break and your entire class engulfs you in a monstrous group hug. There isn't a better feeling in the world." - John Monley

Laughter is the BEST Medicine

I have had a lot of good laughs these past few days...

Thursday: Peggy came into my classroom to ask me for my house keys because some maintenance people needed to do some work on my house. I asked what work was being done but Peg wasn't sure. So I handed over the keys and when I got home my bathroom stuff was all over my dinning room, so I knew it had something to do with the bathroom. Peggy told me she thought it had something to do with the water. When I first moved into my house we didn't have running water but two weeks ago Carlos had the pipe that goes to my house fixed and now I get running water, well until it gets insanely hot again that is! But for the time being I'm really enjoying it. So Jackie and I scanned the bathroom to try and figure out what they had done. She said "OMG Bridget it doesn't smell in here anymore, I think they cleaned it" and I was thinking "What? Why would people come in to clean my bathroom?" So I checked it out only to realize it was just as clean as when I left it that morning, but Jackie was right - it didn't smell anymore. The sewage comes up through my bathroom and the toilet doesn't flush on it's own, so you can imagine the smell - it's horrible! Well twenty minutes later I went to the bathroom and to my pleasant surprise I saw a brand new toilet!!! I couldn't believe my eyes and wait for it..........IT FLUSHES ON IT'S OWN! WHAT?!?!?! Crazy stuff! Later in the evening I was talking to another volunteer about it and he asked what they did with the old one. I told him they probably threw it on the side of the road somewhere knowing how Hondurans work.

Friday: I wake up to get ready for school and as I'm drying my hair off with my towel I see something in my backyard and jump. I thought a person was out there at first, but on second glance this is what I see...

So I ran outside to get a closer look and sure enough...there were my toilets just hanging out in the backyard...

I couldn't pass up a funny photo...

Friday: After school it was time to decorate for Christmas for a few hours.

Fanny with her beautiful stocking

We had to paint glue and sprinkle glitter on a ton of snowflakes. Bessy (the Honduran 6th grade teacher) was doing all of the sprinkling because they didn't really trust us to, but she had to go paint and then I got to take over as glitter queen. I had a blast and at one point Mary looked over at me and said "Bridget, I'm sensing something very natural about this for you" Ahaha I was cracking up. I do love my crafts :)

Saturday: Jeff stopped by my house to pry one of my of my old toilet lids off because his and Andrew's broke this past Thursday. They both deny doing it so it's a mystery as to what happened. But it was a great laugh for me...I almost peed my pants watching him get that thing off with a butter knife.

After the toilet lid was successfully removed I went for a walk in town and stopped by Sonia's Vet Clinic. I wanted to take some pictures of the birds she's watching for an American man who's off traveling for five months...

Two beautiful Macaw's

Some other type of parrot that talks

They are just so beautiful, but one of them is a biter :/

After that I headed to the beauty pageant happening in town. My little Maria Jose was selected to represent Santa Clara :)! I ran into a lot of my students while I was there. Here is little Leah...

Don't I look like such a mom :)?

We support you Maria Jose...

The nuns and a bunch of the kids from the orphanage came to support her. So sweet! This little man was too cute for words...

Maria is a tomboy so it was funny to see her with make-up on. She took it so seriously though and rocked it. Check out that pose...

Some of the other little girls from the orphanage came to perform a dance number...

I couldn't stay for the whole thing because it gets dark so early now and I had to walk home alone, but I was informed today that Maria Jose WON!!! That's my girl!

Saturday night we were suppose to go out dancing. So I spent an hour getting ready because I was in a particularly great mood and wanted my outside to reflect my inside. Nine of us piled into Claudia and her husbands car, but when we got to the bar we were told it was closed for the night -- what a bummer! So then we drove around for another 30 minutes trying to find somewhere else to go with no luck. We were ready to get out of the car at that point because we were packed in there like pickles!

Carrie, Anne, Lacey, Jackie, and Angela all sitting in the middle seat.

Jeff and I in the back of the car. I think both of my legs were asleep by the time I got out.

Even though we didn't make it out to dance. I made everyone get out of the car to take a picture since I went to all of that trouble to get ready!

Lacey, Me, Claudia, Carrie, Jackie, Anne, and Angela.

So I spent my night at Lacey, Jeff, and Andrew's watching  "The Goonies" with Lacey while Jeff watched the USC vs. UCLA game. It was a fun time. Jeff had bought this hat in town that he swore was a sign that his team would win. So Lacey and I both had to wear the hat and pose with Jeff's Honduran friend "Carlos" (his number 11 Honduran Jersey koozie)...

Lace and Heffrey

UCLA!!!

Word

This weekend was filled with lots of laughter which is exactly what I needed after a long week of school!

I am inspired.hopeful.happy

"What keeps me going is the knowledge that education is the ONLY way that we can get this country in a better place. We can give them all the money in the world and the government will mismanage it. Corrupt governments love to keep their population uneducated. That way they can continue to exploit their weaknesses. The only way we can help Honduras is educate their population so that they will rise up and change the structure of their country. When I have students like Nemesis and Angela who are smart, engaged and truly think about questions, I know that we are creating leaders who will make a change for this country" - Meagan Tenety 

Christmas Time is Here

As I sit in my classroom during my prep period and hear "Silent Night" blaring in Spanish I am reminded that Santa Clara is in full Christmas mode...

Garland and lights have been hung around the school. Honduran teachers are doing holiday arts and crafts. Teachers are using their prep periods to decorate for the Christmas pageant in Profa. Flavia's office. Today all the students are out of uniform to wear Christmas colors. BUT the biggest indicator that a holiday is near is the copious amounts of glitter. Hondurans LOVE their glitter. If the school flooded we would still be here. If an earthquake struck school would not be canceled. If a hurricane hit the students would still be sitting in their desks learning. But if Honduras ran out of glittter - NO SCHOOL!

My kids have all lost their marbles at this point and my days are absolute CHAOS! They are practicing Christmas songs and practicing for the play all during school hours, so when they have to sit in my English class and learn Science, Math, or Spelling they are not the happiest of campers -- and sometimes that lack of enthusiasm is contagious.

I have two spelling tests, two vocabulary tests, a math test, and a science test planned between this week and next. But once next week is over it's party time in Ms. King's room. I'm going to join right in on the madness that is Honduras during christmas time. Once December 13th hits, this class will be cutting and decorating snowflakes, making christmas cards for their families, singing christmas songs, playing with puzzles, etc. If you have any fun christmas craft ideas send them my way. It can't be anything that would require a lot of materials or anything that involves a lot of helping hands. It's me vs. 28 little ones at this point, so there's only so much I can do.

With all of the madness going at school and not having an aid, this week has been hard. I find myself yelling at my kids a lot - which I hate - but sometimes it's the only way to get them to listen. I talk in my quietest of voices to try and get them to come down to my level. But after five minutes of that and trying four other methods my patience runs out and I start yelling. So that's something I'm trying to work on daily.

Today was particularly hard because I had three boys on red for beating up other kids, one kid steal something, one throw a temper tantrum, and the list goes on. Having a room of 28 little kids who don't understand most of what I say is hard enough. When you add in all the extras it can definitely be very challenging.

During recess today I reached for the quote book Peggy made all of us. We've all been having a hard time at school and missing our families so she asked previous volunteers to write about how they were feeling around this time in their experiences, and to give us words of wisdom. Well I read all nine quotes and just welled up with tears, because I was so inspired by all of their words. So for the next nine blog posts I write my quote at the bottom will be from a former volunteer.

The first one is from Miss Beth Mevissen who taught first grade at Santa Clara last year, lived in the house I'm in now, and had the same bedroom I'm in now. I basically took over this girls life here. I've never met her in person but from what I've been told she's an incredible human being and I was definitely appreciative for her words of wisdom:

        "I taught first grade last year at Santa Clara. Around this time I was homesick, stressed, and just plain exhausted. I remember every day was a challenge and at the end of the day I questioned why I was there. Now, however, I can't tell you how often I think about my kids, the volunteers, my Honduran family, and all the great memories -- every memory I have is so special to me! Sometimes I'm just driving down the road and I'll think about something a student said and I'll laugh (or cry). I miss it all so much!
       What I'm trying to say is ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! I know right now you may feel like you're at the end of your rope...but trust me...the journey is only going to get better! You only have a month til Christmas break and to be completely honest, after I came back everything was different. Everything seemed to click! My class and I were having more fun and I saw them start to really make progress! God has called each of you by name to serve this year at Santa Clara -- so serve with a smile on your face! My year there changed my life and it will change yours too...but you have to give it all you've got! :)"

    "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

Thanksgiving Honduran Style - Part 3

The final celebration of Thanksgiving happened Sunday evening with a big group meal. I made some fresh wheat rolls for the occasion... 

My little beauties 

We all met at Padre's house at 2:30 for drinks and appetizers and then we walked over to a nearby classroom to have our meal. Peggy and Maki both cooked turkey's for the first time this year.

Peg with her bird

Look at that beauty!

Anne enjoying her glass of wine and carrot

Maki cutting her bird

I thought the classroom would just be the regular desks and we would pull a larger table in to sit around. I assumed we would eat on paper plates and drink out of plastic cups -- boy was I wrong! This is what I walked in and saw...

We do it high class in these parts

Real cups -- WHAT?

Happy Thanksgiving -- Gobble Gobble

Me and Angela at Padre's

Jeff, Lacey, Me, and Maki hanging out in the kitchen

Peg carving away

Bird Butt...I found it funny!

Maki showing off her delicious turkey

Boys Table: Dan, Carlos, Jeff, Andrew (way back there), Mario, and Father Dan ready to eat!

 The Spread:

Long line of food

Turkey #1 prepared by Maki. She used a special family recipe with fruit...very tastey!

Turkey #2 prepared by Peggy. Check out that coloring. As we say in Honduras - this was some awesome provech!

Turkey stuffing and fresh green beans with slivered almonds and lemon juice.

Sausage stuffing and green bean casserole

Mashed potatoes and apple cider 

Andrew made a trip back to the states a few weeks ago for a friends wedding and picked up the necessary ingredients for these:

PIES!!!!!! We had pumpkin, pecan, peach, cherry, apple, and a cake topped with fruit sauce. I really wish I liked pie :/

Beverage Table

Funny poster that was in the room we ate in

Carlos, Me, Mario, and Jeff

Jackie and Me

We took a great group picture before we left for the night but it's not on my camera so I'll have to post that later. 

Here's to a Thanksgiving I won't soon forget!

risk

more than others think is safe

care

more than others think is wise

dream

more than others think is practical

expect

more than others think is possible