volcanoes and chess games

Hello world,

Here's a fun activity my kids did in their workshop.  We made volcanoes outside in the mud, decorated it with "trees" and exploded them with vinager and baking soda.  Working with the mud was a good sensory aspect and the kids loved seeing them explode.

And with my class, I'm now teaching artistic expression and physical education.  I only work with small groups and in this way the kids get more attention and instruction on their different levels.  Luckily there's been huge donations of glue, paint, and various artsy stuff and an extra classroom I can use.  I hope it all goes well.  Here's a pic of Gustavo and me.  He's a little trouble maker but very cute and can be very sweet.  He's one of the kids who had a really hard time at school, but has been improving a ton in the past months.

And I was able to find a super cheap chess set a week or two ago and its become a favorite with my section of adolescent boys.  Its been surprisingly competitive especially with a certain tio who one night insisted I play in a different room away from the noisy boys to concentrate better.  45 minutes later, I won, but a rematch will be coming...
My section has been really fun as they're older and we can have more in depth conversations and play more complicated games.  Its a nice change of pace.

Speaking of changing the pace, one more week until vacation!!!! Yes, I have been here for almost 6 months and its time for me to leave the country.  The kids are going to get a break from school, and while they're out, Charlotte and I are going to take two weeks to hit up lake Atitlan, Xela, and San Cristobal de Las Casas Mexico.  We're going to kayak, hike, see ruins, relax, and eat some authentic Mexican food.  Can't wait! 

Well, I hope you all are well.  Until next time.

Rain

Yesterday happened to be one of my favorite days here in Guatemala I think so far.  There were laughs, tears, danger, love, and hot chocolate.
But I'll back up a minute first.
This past week a really sweet and awesome guatemalteca volunteer graduated from university with a degree in social work.  On Thursday 8 of us made the trip to the capital to see her graduate and it was unlike any other I've been to.  She was the only one graduating so it was very individualized.  She presented a bit of her thesis and made a speech at the end.  Her professors talked about her work and success.  Her family was so proud and it really was a beautiful ceremony.

Then yesterday 9 of us went to her house to have lunch and celebrate.  It was so cool to see a different part of Guatemala.  The family was really nice, especially her mom and grandmother, and we just felt so welcomed in.  What really got me were the speeches.  Karla and her mom just talked about how much the other meant and it was so touching.  It was beautiful and made me tear up.  After that all I wanted to do was to tell my mom how much I love her and how incredible I think she is. (hey mom! I love you and I think you are incredible!).  As the afternoon was getting later, we volunteers started getting antsy.  Taking the buses back to NPH would take 3-4 hours and we didn't want to be traveling in the dark.  But then there was cake, and gifts, and the time kept passing.  As we were stepping out the door, giving our last hugs and goodbyes, a too-generous-couple offered to drive us, all 9 of us, part of the way.  The only thing was that it was a pick-up truck, and its rainy season.  We're young, we don't care, we'd really appreciate it!  we all said as we climbed in and packed ourselves like sardines.
Faster than 60 mph, about 2 hours, holding on for dear life on the turns, pondering the landscapes when it was clear, laughing huddled under our jackets when it rained, it might have been my favorite traveling experience ever.  The too-generous-couple decided to just keep going and they brought us all the way home.
Refusing to accept gas money, the couple waved goodbye and we headed to our houses, ready to change into warm dry clothes and thinking about the great time we had and the wonderful people we met.
And then the perfect day drew to a close sipping hot chocolate, watching the sound of music cuddled under blankets, and being with good friends. 

My kids continue being their sweet, mischevious, wonderful selves.  Today I'm hoping to find a cheap chess set because one of my boys from my section really likes playing and I've been craving it for a while.  The other day I have a family project with a sweet family.  One of the three has special needs, so it was really cool to see how the siblings interacted and I could tell they really loved and took care of each other.  Walking to and from Parramos, they hardly ever were not arm in arm.

Gustavo, Saida, and Lupe

So, overall I've really been failing with this whole taking pictures thing...  I'll try to get better, but I did manage to add this one this past week

That is one unhappy tortilla



Mother Nature's Son

So things have settled down since all the craziness of April.  Instead of going through big events (and I apologize for the horrible haikus but I had little other choice...) or go through everyday stuff, I thought I'd just share some good moments.

So, my heart melted in music class one day.  Leo, who I'm just crazy about, has cerebral palsey, uses a wheel chair, and has a great sense of humor.  Anyway, we were all dancing in music class and everyone is kind of dancing to their own groove.  Lupe, another great kid, was dancing away and Leo smoothly turns toward her and extends his hand like his gentleman self and she accepts.  They dance together and it definitely warmed my heart.

me and Lupe



Another day, I was working with a couple girls with especial needs and language.  They both need an easy pace, but especially one seems to have a hard time grasping school stuff.  We were trying to find words that began with the letter "n" and she showed me a word that started with the letter "m", but before I could say anything she runs up to the board and points to the letter "m" I had written along with other letters.  Then I asked her what sound it makes and she made the "mmm" sound (she's nonverbal).  That was so exciting!  Many times, answers to questions turn into lots of guessing, but in this moment she was confident and knew it!

Carlitos en school

One day with my workshop with all the kids with disabilities and their tios, we used a huge parachute for our physical/exercise activity.  We did an activity where one person sits in the middle and everyone walks in a circle, wrapping up the person in the middle with the parachute.  When the person is pretty wrapped up, everyone pulls and runs in the other direction, making the middle person spin out.  The kids loved it and all wanted a turn, but what really got my attention is that the tios and tias were laughing and having a good time too.  The caregivers have a hard job, and I feel like if they can have fun and enjoy what they're doing, the kids are going to keep having fun and my workshop won't just be extra work.  It was encouraging :)

And just for the record, I have the most amazing mom in the world.  I love you!!  And to all of you who are mothers, power to you, must be the hardest job in the world.

Oh! Darling

After a good month, I have an overwhelming amount of things to blog about.  Although I have a pretty good excuse for about every weekend in April, I have no more except that my list is a bit daunting.  Just the big things are…

-          Holy Week and Easter

-          Our get away to earth lodge

-          Kermes

-          Guatemala sign language class

-          Coffee and music museum

-          All my friends (parasites, lice, and immigration..)

And what about all the stuff in between? Like my class or workshop or section of boys or my Harry Potter adventure?!?

Well, I decided to do the only reasonable thing.  I’m going to Haiku-it up (but not for everything).

Holy Week

Semana Santa

Big parade with the whole town

Jesus is risen

Play outside all day

soccer games, I mean fútbol

sand volleyball too

Three hundred children

Paint three hundred Easter eggs

Can we find them all?

And after Holy week everyone was wiped.  We worked the next week in our normal positions and then after that almost all the volunteers took a weekend get away to this place called Earth Lodge.  It’s near Antigua and up in the mountainous area.  It was great to relax and go hiking and play cards.

Kermes

 Kermes? What is that?

Volunteers plan all of it

It’s my turn to lead

 Find prizes to win

Buy 40 pounds of jello

Little hard on my back

 Its summer and hot

Water games is where it’s at

Splish splish splash thanks Em

 Everyone is soaked

Could use more waterballoons

But still big success

So, I just started this really awesome Guatemalan sign language class.  It’s once a week at a school for the deaf in a nearby town called Jocotenango.  The guy who teaches it seems really awesome and we went over soo much information in one hour.  I’m really excited because, well for one I really enjoy it, and for two the majority of the kids I work with are non-verbal and teaching them some basic sign and using it with them daily especially in my class would be fantastic.  I’d love for them to be able to communicate better and, well, to pick up some manners like please and thank you.

Critters 

Time to wash my sheets

And use horrible shampoo

Can’t escape the lice

 Belly feels too full

Something is not quite right

Parasites inside


 I will give them names

To help me cope with their stay

Can be my small friends

Yesterday, Shawn, Charlotte, and I went to this really neat coffee farm with a museum. We learned all about coffee and how it’s grown and made. I’m inspired to get a coffee tree or two someday – although only to supplement what I drink… A grown coffee tree makes one pound of coffee a year or 44 cups. Whoa, I wonder how many coffee trees are supporting my habit…

Immigration Adventure

 Need to get passport

Three buses several hours

Finally arrive

 Not many people

“Thank you for understanding”

The sign says “we’re closed”

 Feeling disbelief

Will have to come back again

Now for the third time

Also we went to a Mayan music museum.  We learned a lot about different Mayan instruments and materials they used like turtle shells, horse jaws, and special wood from a tree called hormigo.  It was super interesting, especially how cultures are always mixing up and creating different unique versions.  For example the marimba, which is kind of like the xylophone, is the most important and well known musical instrument in Guatemala.  However it probably doesn’t originate in any way from the Mayans, but a better guess is from the African slaves the Spaniards brought over.  Huh.

 Well – I hope I covered the last month pretty well though missing a lot.   I'm in the second half of the 5th book with Harry.  Its still going and the tension is still building.

Hope all is well friends and family!

Eight days a week

This week the time to renew our visas snuck up on us, reminding us of the constant theme of how time flies.  The trip to the immigration office in the capital went smoothly and I enjoyed seeing some of the city as the only other time I've been there was at the airport.  Knowing that we've got it all done is a nice feeling :)
Other than that, we had a normal week of school and the workshop in the afternoons.  I think  lot of the kids (and maybe teachers...) were getting a bit antsy as all the excitement of Holy Week is coming up, and for many vacation.  I'm also pretty excited to see what spending Easter will be like here and it was fun incorporating Easter with the workshop.  One day we made crosses out of popsicle sticks, yarn, and paint.  My kiddos were pretty exciting about wearing them and we got to talk about Jesus for bit too. 

And this weekend, me and Charlotte ventured to the volcano Pacaya.  It was really great to go for a hike, be in nature, and learn a bit about volcanoes.  It was a pretty cloudy afternoon, so we actually weren't really able to see anything.  However, this didn't really ruin our time and the fog actually looked really mysterious and peaceful.  I liked it.

and, we got to roast marshmellows from the natural saunas, that is, originating from lava!

Yum!



sooo semana santa... big week,  also known as holy week, starts our adventures as tios and tias with our sections and all the festivities that go with Easter.  I think a lot of volunteers are excited and nervous and happy for a change of pace.
There's no debate that the absolute hardest job is being a caregiver or a tio/tia for a section.  You are always with the kids - to make sure they do their chores, to talk, to make sure there not getting into too much trouble, and to build relationships with them.  This last part is the greatest fruit that comes from this exhausting position, having the closest and most meaningful relationships.

Although my section is Santiago, a group of 12-14 year old boys, I will be spending semana santa with the section of kids with special needs.  I'm really happy with this because I love these kids and it'll be really interesting to take part in all the Easter activities with them.  We're going to have services for the last supper and Good Friday and Sunday Easter morning and also a huge Easter egg hunt.   It'll definitely be an interesting and out of the ordinary week. 

I will probably be too busy and too exhausted to blog next week, so I hope everyone has a great Easter!

Been together for a while now

The past couple weeks have felt like entering into a new stage.  The newness is starting to fade, the routine of the days and weeks are setting in.  Its like a dating relationship leaving the giddy first starting out part and moving into the comfort and more honest stage.  Me and Guatemala know each other better, of course there's still a lot more to go with our time together, but we're not always needing to do exciting expensive things, but can enjoy the quiet and the everyday.  And maybe we're being a bit more real with each other.

One fun activity we did this week was make balloon pinatas.  We made about 9 of them and I'm saving them for when kids have birthdays.  The first birthday we have is Juan Carlos the 30th.  I think he'll enjoy it!
                                           Here's Lupe with a pinata she was working on.

I also had a really fun friendship project with two of my kids, Leo and Delmi.  We took a walk into Parramos and ate some ice cream.

Here's me and Leo.  He's holding a purple flower and fell from this really pretty tree in the park in Parramos.

My class has definitely had some rough days these past couple weeks.  We have one little 8 year old boy who can be really sweet, but is having a hard time.  He recently came in December and has had a rough past.  He will get really attached to a select few people and get very upset if he's not with them.  He runs out of our classroom a lot and gets aggresive.  I've spent a good amount of time following him and trying to coax him back in.  The hardest thing has been everyone being consistent with him in terms of rules, discipline and rewards.  But it has been really neat to see how everyone, all the kids from 8 years old to late teens, want to welcome him and love him.

Its still really neat to be among so many different cultures.  The other day during lunch I was chatting with a couple German volunteers about sayings we have in our countries.  Of course our expressions are in our respective languages (English and German) but we were explaining everything is Spanish, which altogether is pretty fun.    My favorite German expression I think is when food is too salty they say the cook is in love.  If you're cooking and in love, you're not going to pay attention to how much salt you're shaking into your food.  I like that, I might bring it back to the states :)

Yesterday a couple of us got together with two social work grad students from Dominican University in Chicago for lunch.  They've been doing a project here at NPH for the past three months and are getting ready to head home.  Also it was Mary Anne's (all the way to the left) birthday.  Shawn brought us to a really nice restaurant that looked over Antigua and was really pretty.  Here's a pic of us and some really yummy chocolate mousse I ordered.

Along with the comfort stage starting, I've decided to stop using the excuse of "but we're in Guatemala!"  For example "I know I've already had dessert, but we're in Guatemala!" or "I know we already went out to dinner last night, but we're in Guatemala!" or "I know I could use this time to go for a run and exercise, but we're in Guatemala!"  After indulging in a bit of an unhealthy lifestyle the past three months, its finally starting to kick in that I don't want to indulge forever.  I'm excited to start making some healthier decisions, like running 5-ish times a week, cutting back on the chocolate and bread, and opting to cook more.  I started running almost everyday after work this week and I've felt so much better for it.  I'm excited and hope to continue with these good and healthy decisions :)

And I am still working on Harry Potter in Spanish- I'm in the last 50 pages of the 4th book which is getting more and more intense.  I think I've enjoyed the 3rd one the most so far.  Its a danger to read with Charlotte or Shawn close by, because I'm always tempted to ask if so and so died, or how harry's name got into the caliz de fuego, or why Snape has never been the defense of the dark arts professor, and it could go on.  Sometimes they let things slip that I shouldn't know yet, and then I just get mad :P

And thank you so much Mary and Jessica for the letters and chocolate chips!!!  They really made my day!!!!!
I hope you all are well and enjoying spring!!

Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

Hey there, here's some highlights from the past few weeks.

My occupational workshop has been fun and I've been enjoying coming up with ideas.  The best one this week I think was our spaghetti art project.  I've done this at camp before, and it turned out to be really fun.  We used spahetti mixed with finger paint and threw it at big pieces of paper taped on the side of the house.  Here's some pics :)

Our beautiful artwork



My class is going well.  Some days or periods go really well and some are a bit more of a challenge - all to be expected.  The kids really look forward to the special classes like physical education, music, and the library.  This coming week we should be starting the religion class too.  The other teacher and I are talking about planning a special water fun Friday some week because we are entering the hotter summer season.  Here's some pics from the music class.  They're so fun.

We've been participating in a really cool latino Catholic tradition these past couple weeks call Via Crucis.  Its a service type thing every Friday afternoon leading up to Easter.  A different group is in charge of coordinating it each week.  We go through the stages Jesus went through leading up to his death on the cross.  The group in charge has someone dressed as Jesus, Pilot, soldiers, Mary and mourning women.  They lead everyone in a procession around campus and stop at different stations to reenact a moment, like Jesus getting arrested or nailed to the cross, to read a passage, to say a prayer, and then to continue the procession.  A different kid volunteers to help Jesus carry the cross each time.  In between stations, a different group leads everyone in hymns.  I think this is a super cool tradition and an impactful way to reflect on Jesus' death and resurrection.  This past Friday it was my section's turn to lead and I'm one of the mourning women.

I'm the one all the way to the right



Life has been really good and really fast.  Until next time :)