-Girl Scouts. One of the teachers here on staff thought it would be a great idea to start a Girl Scouts Troop. Being a girl scout myself for about 7 years, I loved the idea. I am now a troop leader for the "Bees" (Kindergarten to 3rd Graders). We had our first meeting last Friday and had about 25 girls show up. They were so excited to start their journey of being a Girl Scout! They are excited to start "helping others" and to get "patches". This whole Girl Scout thing is still a very new idea, but a very fun and exciting one at that. I think it is a great idea for these girls to have a group of women that they can identify with and look up to. A lot of the children here lack confidence in so many ways. Whether it be self confidence or even school work, I think being in Girl Scouts will help better their confidence.
-HONDURAS WINS!!! If you know anything about Central America, you know one thing and that one thing is soccer! They love their soccer. So over the past couple weeks we have had the awesome opportunity to watch the road to the world cup become tangible. It started last Friday, when after school we watched Honduras win their match which advanced them into the next game. This game was last night (Tuesday). We went to a local restaurant to watch the game. It was a really neat experience eating, drinking, and watching their team play for their spot to the world cup along side 40 other Hondurans. All Honduras had to do was win the game or tie and they had sealed a seat in the world cup. So 90 minutes later game was over and the town was going crazy! Honduras had tied the game and they were on their way to Brazil! The town was nuts until sun up the next morning. We have a local beer stand near one of the teachers house's and karaoke was going on until 4 am! (No exaggeration) Coming from a school where we take college basketball very seriously and we know how to celebrate a win, I felt very similar feelings last night. Seeing the town so spirited the days before the game and seeing the town go in a instant uproar was so awesome! The town had a constant parade of cars, trucks, and motos fitting as many people as possible, for about 2 hours straight! Safe to say, Honduras is very excited at the fact they are going to the World Cup for the 3rd time!
-Birthdays! Birthdays here are so fun! I have now experienced a few birthdays being here. All ages are so fun to celebrate! One of my kiddos birthday's was last week and we celebrated by having cake and soda (ya i know just want children need is more sugar, but hey they loved it). This morning we also celebrated a very special birthday. Our director and founder of our school (aka my boss) turned the big 5-0 today. Well here in Honduras it is very very common to get a serenade for birthdays. So we decided to surprise Doctora Sandra with just that. Little did I know that these serenades happen about 4 in the morning. So this morning we crawled out of bed, welcomed the still celebrating partyers, and stood outside our boss' house as the Mariachi band serenaded her. About 15 minutes later one very tired Doctora opened her door and welcomed us in. We had coffee and ate some danishes. It was really neat to see the Honduran teachers and the international teachers come together in a time of celebration (even at the crack of dawn).
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| 4 am Happy Birthday to Doctora Sandra. |
-Travels! Next month, I get the pleasure to travel to not one, but two countries. First I will be traveling to Antigua, Guatemala for a educational leadership conference. Nine teachers from Minerva School are going. I am super excited to learn more about education and leadership, bond with other Honduran teachers who are going on the trip, and to see Antigua. I have only heard awesome things about Antigua. Secondly, for Thanksgiving (so bizarre to even think that Thanksgiving is in one month!) myself and some other teachers will be making a very long bus ride to El Salvador. We are going to the beach! Never in my life have I ever been able to say I was laying on the beach for Thanksgiving!!! I think being at the beach will help take away the thought and pain of not being with my family for my favorite holiday! However, I was given some great advice today. I was told by an amazing teacher I work with that not to worry about what you are missing back home because you are only missing things you have done before. Here we are doing brand new stuff every single day. That was the truest statement I think I have heard so far. It's true, often times when you are abroad or away from your family for long periods of time it is so easy to get homesick. It is so easy to dwell on the things you are missing out on back home, however, it is only stuff you have done before. So life in the moment and absorb every single opportunity that comes your way.
So there it is, just a little update on my life. My life as a kindergarten teacher in Honduras. I am still in awe and at a loss for words with my life right now. I honestly don't think I can say I have had a bad day thus far because the good out ways the bad in so many ways, shapes, and forms. My days here are so awesome and eye opening. I continue to learn so much every single day. The country I live in is so pretty and the people here are even prettier. God sure made on beautiful world. Take some time out of your day to enjoy it!
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| (Photo Cred to Alice.) This is the breathtaking view I get to see every single day. This is just a fraction of the beauty. |
xoxo,
Carly
