I took the day off on my actual bday. I spent the day spoiling myself with my favorites in the capital city. This included a Denny's breakfast, shopping at the mall, enjoy a cafecito while reading a great book in the plaza, and ending with a sushi dinner. Later that week, my TEAM (English class) students had a birthday surprise waiting for me in class, a huge cake, gifts, plus having them all sing the birthday song in English & Spanish. At the end of the week, after a committee meeting, the girls from the hogar plus Mary & other staff members had a surprise of their own. The girls had each made me a little gift out of the recycled materials they work with. Each of the girls wrote me a letter thanking me for being a part of their life. The staff members made me a slideshow of pictures and phrases/quotes. It wouldn't be a Honduran celebration without a cake, they had a pastel de tres leches (sweet milk cake) for everyone. I felt very special having so many different people show their appreciation for me all week.
Prior to my birthday, I'd spent the week with my fellow Youthies in Valle for our last IST (In Service Training). The topic was career development and the director had many organizations join us. One of the groups served as our facilitators teaching us a ton of new dinamicas and team building ideas. The group had mentioned creating a video to enter the Peace Corps Third Goal competition. That's all that needed to get said to have the entire group work together in creating a rap music video on the use of condoms. Before you knew it, we had a video director, music editor (yours truly), dance choreographer, costume designer, song composer, singer, dancers, etc. It was so much fun I wish we had started this idea in prior ISTs. We plan to soon post it on YouTube and become famous. LOL
Much of the group stayed a night in Teguz. I invited Mary and her sister to join. We watched Fast & the Furious 5, had dinner and went out dancing. The girls had a ton of fun! I think it was their first time out to a nightclub in the capital. Creo que he despertado una nueva pasion en Mary. (I think I sparked a new passion in Mary.) I invited her out dancing this past weekend for her birthday and again she agreed. :) I'm glad we've been bonding more, she's a very special person and I hope we can continue to learn a lot from each other.
My observations are going well. I'm trying to finish everything this month & have jammed packed my calendar. All in all, teachers mostly struggle with classroom management. Some of them could be a lot stricter in their expectations of the kids' behaviors. This is especially true in the most marginalized communities as the children need a lot of guidance.
Next week is a school holiday, celebrating Student Week. Plus, I'll be taking a week off in late June to visit a friend in El Salvador. I'm very excited for this trip. It will be really special to connect with someone from home since I probably won't be going back this year.
I'm about 20 days away from my one year in country anniversary. How time goes by. The more days that pass, the more I want to extend my service here. It makes me very happy knowing I am content with my work here and see myself growing even more from it. However, my parents would be heartbroken if I extended.
'However, my parents would be heartbroken if I extended.' Relax sis, yet they dont even have a clue what you mean to those you've helped out through out your Life. If it makes you happy, I honestly believe that is all that matters. That your Beautiful Smiles Shines like Sun, bringing new Life to those its Rays it Falls Upon.
ReplyDeleteAhh, wow pretty good huh, for your College Drop out ;)
I only wish that it was closer to home what you did, but hey, Earth is Home que no. So, do as you wish, you got my Vote.