Over the past few months a few dates stick out in my mind. August 26, 201o I arrived in Guatemala; October 1, 2010 I arrived at the Finca, and now I have a new one to add to the list, February 1, 2011 the official school years starts! As the new special ed teacher, in a school with very little to no special ed in its past, this was a big day to say the least. All of our kids arrived in their adorable little uniforms (navy slacks/ skirts, white button up short sleeve shirts), nervous and excited for a new year.
While I have 7 students this year which I work with in different ways, and two different study groups of other kids, I spend almost half of my teaching time with my beloved Magdalena, a 10 year old girl with a heart of true gold. During the first week we had mostly assemblies, and procedural things with their mainstream classes, so I didn’t get to actually teach that much. But I did get to help out the younger grades, including Magdalena’s class. She asked me at recess if I was going to help her for the rest of the year as well. I told her yes, and then explained our special schedule of time together. She smiled, gave me a hug and went off to play. Then at the end of the day she went up to her mainstream classroom teacher and said I will see you tomorrow. This just about made my year. Just last October, she regularly complained about school, often even refusing to come and sit in class. And although its only been 6 days, she has come 5 of 6 days with a huge smile ready to learn (one day she was home sick). Just today she actually giggled with joy when she turned in her Spanish homework, confident that it would come back with a smiley face stamp because everything was correct. She was right, and then continued to giggle with happiness when she got the paper back.
Watching her confidence levels grow little by little with each correct answer, and her general increase in zest for school can only be summed up in her amazing smile; a smile that inspires my heart on a daily basis. (Check out my fb profile picture to catch a glñimpse of it) I know their will be many tough days in her and my own near future, but for now, her infectious smile inspires us both to come to work every day.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I walked on the moon
Some of you may know the comedian Bryan Regan. For the past 4 years my amazing friends Adrianna Chuh, Colleen Minta, Kacy Deering, Meghan Thornton, and Anna Seghetti and I loved to quote him during our many adventures at ND while living in Lyons Hall. One of our more popular sketches of his is about dinner parties. He says that he always wants to be an astronaut at dinner parties. Then when everyone tries to one up one another with stories, he can just sit back, and then when all are done all he has to say is “I walked on the moon.” So whenever one of us does some ridiculously cool or awesome, we like to say, congratulations moon walker.
On January 30, my fellow vols and I were true moon walkers. We decided after lunch to hike up to a local waterfall. When we got there, we then proceeded to hike up part of the waterfall. It was such a fun time to spend together, and the naturally beauty of the land was truly breathtaking. After hanging around for a while, we enjoyed some baleadas (tortilla with beans and cheese) while sitting in the little pool at the bottom of the waterfall. While hiking back to the farm I thought to myself, hey we just hiked a waterfall, and it was no big deal…aka we just walked on the moon!
On January 30, my fellow vols and I were true moon walkers. We decided after lunch to hike up to a local waterfall. When we got there, we then proceeded to hike up part of the waterfall. It was such a fun time to spend together, and the naturally beauty of the land was truly breathtaking. After hanging around for a while, we enjoyed some baleadas (tortilla with beans and cheese) while sitting in the little pool at the bottom of the waterfall. While hiking back to the farm I thought to myself, hey we just hiked a waterfall, and it was no big deal…aka we just walked on the moon!
Eso es su mami!
So during the week of January 16 I received a wonderful belated birthday present…a visit from my mom! Between picking her up at the airport in San Pedro, spending a few days on the farm, and then spending time in Ceiba and San Pedro again on her way back to the airport, we were able to take many mini adventures and enjoy many little indulgences. Here is a list of my top ten memories from the week...
10. 4 Hot showers….yes during the week my mom was here I got 4 hot showers at the various places we stayed at while traveling. These were my first hot showers since October 1, 2010…needless to say they felt somewhat amazing.
9. New Clothes from my sisters…my amazing sisters both sent me adorable birthday cards and two new skirts, a shirt, and shorts, all wrapped in cupcake wrapping paper! Fresh smelling super clean clothes and personalized cards all accompanied my cupcake paper made me feel super loved and put a big smile on my face.
8. Sweet new toothbrush from my dad…As many of you know my dad and I like to exchange gifts appropriate for 3-6 year old children. My dad outdid himself this time though…sending a light up snoopy toothbrush. It lights up for 1 min so little kids, and 23 year old volunteers, make sure they brush their teeth long enough. I now enjoy brushing my teeth on a whole different level!
7. Appleby’s Dinner…While in La Ceiba my mom took myself, fellow vol Deirdre, and her friend Jamie who was traveling back to the states, out to dinner at Appleby’s. I ate a bacon cheeseburger with fries and my stomach smiled like it had not in several months. I had forgotten how wonderful burgers, cheddar cheese, and bacon can taste! Needless to say there was not one crumb left!
6. Amazing Donations for the School…My old High School, led by religion teacher Mrs. Henry Gross, decided to do a little supplies drive for my school here…they not only got pencils and stickers, they got the coolest pencils, and tons of stickers! The teachers and students here are all extremely grateful, and enjoying their fun new supplies.
5. Luz…my mom’s new best friend…While I took my mom around the finca when we first arrived I showed her all 6 of the houses where our kids live. When we passed by the little girls house the light was out…aka it was nap time, so we tried to sneak away quietly. But Luz, one of the most adorable 6 years olds you will ever meet decided it was time to wake up. She then called me from the window, “Eso es tu mami/ This is your mom?” I told her yes, but please got back to sleep. She was far too excited and in about 2 min was outside being held in my mom’s arms. She did not want to let go, and was obsessed with her for the rest of the week!
4. Special Friend Dates…Here at the farm each vol has one of two kids who are their special friends..just so each kid has someone who is not their teacher, or social worker, etc, just a friend. My mom and I took both of my friends (and 2 of their friends they invited) down the beach to the resort to have a soda and give them some little gifts. They had so much fun and just glowed the whole time. My favorite moment had to be when the little monkey Chimmy who lives at the resort down the beach climbed up my mom while we were entering the little restaurant…really wished I had a camera right then!
3. Brayan’s Great Reaction to his gift…each of our kids has a sponsor back in the states, Brayan’s happens to work with my mom at my old high school, Mrs. Henry-Gross. Normally our kids only get gifts on Christmas and their birthday. But Mrs. Henry Gross sent down a special present just because. Brayan little face lit up so big when he found out he had a present, and loves his new t shirt and legos more than anything. He then proceeded to draw Mrs. Henry Gross three pictures as thank you cards, it was just too cute!
2. Posa Trip with House 2…As we live between the beach and the mountains here there are lots of beautiful rivers around, and many form posas, or fresh water swimming holes. One of my favorites is about a 30 min uphill walk away. On our last day at the farm my mom came along with fellow vols Kristina and Nely and the house 2 girls (ages 10-12). She hiked like a champion, and then got right in the water with the girls and me. It was really fun to be in such a beautiful place with such a range of beautiful people, a great fusion of natural beauty and human companionship.
1. Time with a friendly face from the states…in the end it was super nice just to see a friendly face from the states, especially my mom’s. Being able to physically talk with someone from back in the states and share my new life here was truly the best birthday present I could have gotten.
10. 4 Hot showers….yes during the week my mom was here I got 4 hot showers at the various places we stayed at while traveling. These were my first hot showers since October 1, 2010…needless to say they felt somewhat amazing.
9. New Clothes from my sisters…my amazing sisters both sent me adorable birthday cards and two new skirts, a shirt, and shorts, all wrapped in cupcake wrapping paper! Fresh smelling super clean clothes and personalized cards all accompanied my cupcake paper made me feel super loved and put a big smile on my face.
8. Sweet new toothbrush from my dad…As many of you know my dad and I like to exchange gifts appropriate for 3-6 year old children. My dad outdid himself this time though…sending a light up snoopy toothbrush. It lights up for 1 min so little kids, and 23 year old volunteers, make sure they brush their teeth long enough. I now enjoy brushing my teeth on a whole different level!
7. Appleby’s Dinner…While in La Ceiba my mom took myself, fellow vol Deirdre, and her friend Jamie who was traveling back to the states, out to dinner at Appleby’s. I ate a bacon cheeseburger with fries and my stomach smiled like it had not in several months. I had forgotten how wonderful burgers, cheddar cheese, and bacon can taste! Needless to say there was not one crumb left!
6. Amazing Donations for the School…My old High School, led by religion teacher Mrs. Henry Gross, decided to do a little supplies drive for my school here…they not only got pencils and stickers, they got the coolest pencils, and tons of stickers! The teachers and students here are all extremely grateful, and enjoying their fun new supplies.
5. Luz…my mom’s new best friend…While I took my mom around the finca when we first arrived I showed her all 6 of the houses where our kids live. When we passed by the little girls house the light was out…aka it was nap time, so we tried to sneak away quietly. But Luz, one of the most adorable 6 years olds you will ever meet decided it was time to wake up. She then called me from the window, “Eso es tu mami/ This is your mom?” I told her yes, but please got back to sleep. She was far too excited and in about 2 min was outside being held in my mom’s arms. She did not want to let go, and was obsessed with her for the rest of the week!
4. Special Friend Dates…Here at the farm each vol has one of two kids who are their special friends..just so each kid has someone who is not their teacher, or social worker, etc, just a friend. My mom and I took both of my friends (and 2 of their friends they invited) down the beach to the resort to have a soda and give them some little gifts. They had so much fun and just glowed the whole time. My favorite moment had to be when the little monkey Chimmy who lives at the resort down the beach climbed up my mom while we were entering the little restaurant…really wished I had a camera right then!
3. Brayan’s Great Reaction to his gift…each of our kids has a sponsor back in the states, Brayan’s happens to work with my mom at my old high school, Mrs. Henry-Gross. Normally our kids only get gifts on Christmas and their birthday. But Mrs. Henry Gross sent down a special present just because. Brayan little face lit up so big when he found out he had a present, and loves his new t shirt and legos more than anything. He then proceeded to draw Mrs. Henry Gross three pictures as thank you cards, it was just too cute!
2. Posa Trip with House 2…As we live between the beach and the mountains here there are lots of beautiful rivers around, and many form posas, or fresh water swimming holes. One of my favorites is about a 30 min uphill walk away. On our last day at the farm my mom came along with fellow vols Kristina and Nely and the house 2 girls (ages 10-12). She hiked like a champion, and then got right in the water with the girls and me. It was really fun to be in such a beautiful place with such a range of beautiful people, a great fusion of natural beauty and human companionship.
1. Time with a friendly face from the states…in the end it was super nice just to see a friendly face from the states, especially my mom’s. Being able to physically talk with someone from back in the states and share my new life here was truly the best birthday present I could have gotten.
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