Tuesday, 12 May 2009
THE Holiday
Hello,
I apologise to all my subscribers (hehe, heard you were worried about me!) that I havn't blogged in a long time. I was on holiday for two weeks with Dave, then since i've got back things have been really busy and frankly i've been putting off writing because I knew it was going to take an AGE to write.
Dave arrived in Tegus on April 20th and it was a very happy day for me. It was also quite funny because there were 6 of us to meet him at the airport, me, Carlota, Chi (Carlota's aunt), Berta (Carlota's friend), Berta's daughter and neice. And loads more people wanted to come to see him too but couldn't and were quite disapointed. One of the family members wanted to have a party for him! But we were only in Tegus for 3 days really and all weekdays so couldn't happen unfortunately. I think he was a bit overwhelmed with all the people and all the crazyness of Tegucigalpa and the Spanish, he even spoke French at one point! haha! I can laugh because I did the same at first too. We did the usual trip to the mall and the bank, not the pharmacy which was surprising because we seem to live in the pharmacy sometimes! On our way back to the house we happened to bump into some of the children from my school on a little walk with one of the teachers. So we said hello and they came crowding round the car 'KATHARINE', 'KATHARINE', 'KATHARINE', hehe they are cool children.
The next day we got up super early to get the bus to Copan Ruinas. We really liked Copan Ruinas, its a small, safe, pretty town with plenty of places to buy cocktails, whats not to like? Well Dave aparently doesn't like Honduran mantaquilla as we had to leave for the hotel pretty quickly that night!
We went to the archeological park to see the ancient Mayan Ruins. They were really impressive and the Lonely Planet Guide taught us alot ;-) Smoke from a nearby fire hung around giving it quite a forboding atmosphere. Well I think I mean forboding, not too sure. Anyway it was definately worth going to see and there are other volunteers in Copan that we met up with too so it was fun.
Also in Copan we went on a tour of a coffee plantation place thing, was cool but bit weird as there were only 4 of us. Strangely enough it was a couple from London! They get everywhere the English!
Our next stop was Tela on the north coast. Very nice hotel (apparently no room was on the same floor/level) and there were hammocks which I was really excited about, Dave not so much. The beach in Tela was great with good waves, dont think i've stayed in the sea so long since I was a kid, with good reason probably because afterwards I was buuuuuuuuuuurnt! The town not so great but not horrible either, we mainly stuck to the sea front.
Next we went to La Ceiba. Hmmmm we did NOT like La Ceiba. Probably a combination of the fact that it was a sunday and nothing was open, there was a very dodgy guy on the beach who spoke to us and after eating pizza hut I was violently ill for the whole night and wasn't properly better for 3 days. I was even sick in the street! haha, not so fun times. Anyway because of that we decided not to go on a canopy tour but to head straight to the island of Roatan, a very wise decision I think.
The boat journey to Roatan would have been horrific if it wasn't for Dave's travel sickness pills! I have never been on a boat journey soooo rocky and with members of staff rushing around giving out sick bags and paper towels but looking like its something they do everyday. Which they obviously do!
Roatan was pretty amazing. It wasn't luxury but it was still idealic. The beaches, the hotel, the restaurants, the fruit smoothies, the sunsets, the lizards, the snorkling, the DIVING! All was amazing and even though I spent a day and a half in the hotel ill I still had an awesome time. But it was over way too quickly and we had to go back to the smelly, dirty, dangerous and crazy city I call home.
We had a whole day in Tegus so I took Dave to my school to meet the children and we ended up spending a long time in the public hospital because one of the girls had to take her brother and didnt want to go alone, bet Dave didnt expect that! Then we went to the city centre and got covered in 'polvo' or dust in English.
When we went to the airport to say goodbye to Dave it was horrible, I was really upset and I still am sad but I'm much better than before. It wasnt as bad as leaving England in January because I was leaving everyone for a whole new situation, at least I know where I am this time and what to expect. Its not so bad really. ;-)
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Solo falta 4 dias hasta mi novio esta aqui! (just 4 days till the boyfriend is here)
Semana santa is over but I definately enjoyed a break from work and the chance to bond more with my family and friends here.
Last thursday we went to the house in the mountains for lunch and a swim in their pool filled with natural water from the mountain (which means its kind of murky and very very fresh - in the cold sense). I enjoyed a nice lunch of spicy tomato sardines but it wasnt long before they fought back at my stomach and digestive system! We had to leave early because of me, cringe!
Friday was of course good friday and that means alot more to the people here than back in England. In all the big towns in Honduras they make carpets of sawdust in the streets of bright colours and artistic designs which are really impressive. Apparently they spend months designing them and how they are going to fit together, two days to make them and one evening to detroy them (in a procession) which symbolises a sacrifice. We saw the procession in Tegus which was really interesting if a little scary! They march figures of Jesus on the cross and other biblical people but the way they carry the statues in a side to side motion and the smell of the burning incense results in a pretty dramatic effect. Apparently the really hardcore religious stay in the cathedral after the procession all night without sleeping and then there is another procession at 5am when they exit the cathedral to celebrate the ressurection. I did not get up in time to witness that though.
I decided it was about time I did some cooking so on Sunday I made a cottage pie, with a Honduran twist because the ingrediants differed a bit. Like its really hard to find peas or fresh mushrooms here and if you do then they're ridiculously expensive. But still it was enjoyed by Carlota and a few other friends of ours. But now I fell obliged to make some for the other people who we see on a regular basis for them to try, I can make other things you know! Bolognaise with Actimel for instance! What? its really tasty and contains good bacteria! What more could you ask for?
At CEM-H this week I have made progress because people are now signing up to my English course, which means that I cant back out of it now! But I'm sure it will be fine, I have to remember they are not paying for it and I am not a qualified teacher but anything I can offer them is more than they have so it has to be beneficial right? I have thought that maybe when the course finishes in July I will look for another project that perhaps will suit me better. I know someone who works at the public university and she thinks I could be really helpful there so we'l see.
And I am a little sad at the moment because unfortunately one of the other volunteers, got assulted and robbed the other day. I wont go into details because frankly the parents dont need to know! It was bad but it could have easily been prevented if he had taken some precautions. Please dont worry about me because I will definately take those precautions and when I go travelling next week Carlota will be ringing every day to check up on me. So anyway the volunteer is going back to his country on friday which is a shame.
On the plus side, I am going on holiday next week and Dave will be here too! Although I have been a bit too laid back about it and really have to get on with booking hotels and making a few purchases for the beach! So that is what im off to do now... :-)
Last thursday we went to the house in the mountains for lunch and a swim in their pool filled with natural water from the mountain (which means its kind of murky and very very fresh - in the cold sense). I enjoyed a nice lunch of spicy tomato sardines but it wasnt long before they fought back at my stomach and digestive system! We had to leave early because of me, cringe!
Friday was of course good friday and that means alot more to the people here than back in England. In all the big towns in Honduras they make carpets of sawdust in the streets of bright colours and artistic designs which are really impressive. Apparently they spend months designing them and how they are going to fit together, two days to make them and one evening to detroy them (in a procession) which symbolises a sacrifice. We saw the procession in Tegus which was really interesting if a little scary! They march figures of Jesus on the cross and other biblical people but the way they carry the statues in a side to side motion and the smell of the burning incense results in a pretty dramatic effect. Apparently the really hardcore religious stay in the cathedral after the procession all night without sleeping and then there is another procession at 5am when they exit the cathedral to celebrate the ressurection. I did not get up in time to witness that though.
I decided it was about time I did some cooking so on Sunday I made a cottage pie, with a Honduran twist because the ingrediants differed a bit. Like its really hard to find peas or fresh mushrooms here and if you do then they're ridiculously expensive. But still it was enjoyed by Carlota and a few other friends of ours. But now I fell obliged to make some for the other people who we see on a regular basis for them to try, I can make other things you know! Bolognaise with Actimel for instance! What? its really tasty and contains good bacteria! What more could you ask for?
At CEM-H this week I have made progress because people are now signing up to my English course, which means that I cant back out of it now! But I'm sure it will be fine, I have to remember they are not paying for it and I am not a qualified teacher but anything I can offer them is more than they have so it has to be beneficial right? I have thought that maybe when the course finishes in July I will look for another project that perhaps will suit me better. I know someone who works at the public university and she thinks I could be really helpful there so we'l see.
And I am a little sad at the moment because unfortunately one of the other volunteers, got assulted and robbed the other day. I wont go into details because frankly the parents dont need to know! It was bad but it could have easily been prevented if he had taken some precautions. Please dont worry about me because I will definately take those precautions and when I go travelling next week Carlota will be ringing every day to check up on me. So anyway the volunteer is going back to his country on friday which is a shame.
On the plus side, I am going on holiday next week and Dave will be here too! Although I have been a bit too laid back about it and really have to get on with booking hotels and making a few purchases for the beach! So that is what im off to do now... :-)
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Semana Santa!
Last week at both my work places was pretty easy. Not much to do in the office as per and it was like end of term in the school because of semana santa.
Last wednesday evening I met up with a couple of other volunteers at the mall who I havn't actually seen or spoken to since the spanish classes finished at the beginning of February. The main reason for that being language and how we didnt have a common one. So it was extremely difficult to comminucate. However now we can talk just fine in Spanish which is pretty cool when you think about it. One of them even has a Honduran boyfriend.
Unfortunatly I found out that one of the volunteers from France had to return last week because her Grandad is sick. She has left her things in Honduras though so she obviously plans to come back and finish her project when she can.
Later that night when I got home Carlota asked me 'why have you got spots Kat?', 'You've been eating chocolate havn't you?' then there was a moment of silence where I was like 'oh busted!' then we both burst out laughing! It's true I have now officially finished the chocolate that Dave sent me, a fact which apparently had not gone unoticed! haha classic!
Last thursday I arrived at the school to find out we were going on a trip to the swimming pool, shame that I didnt know in advance but that is Honduran life. Although I did have a really great day with the kids I was a bit annoyed at what happened. Almost everyone pushed off to the swimming pool and it was just me and one other volunteer left to look after 2 blind children, 2 blind teachers and the food (there were dogs). Sometimes it seems that people dont care as much as you might think they should which is a shame.
I had a long rather confusing chat with the bus driver who was in the police. I think he was a bit disappointed to find out I had a boyfriend but everyone knows i am afraid of men in uniform especially when they are armed, so it would never have worked out! However I did get a lift back home in the bus, rather strange being in a huge bus with just three people!
On Sunday I went to Marcala with Gorkiana (who works with Carlota) and her family. We went to this park that had beautiful natural waterfalls and pools to bathe in. i didnt go swimming but I I had a really fun day and took lots of photos.
The last two days I have spent swimming and resting and eating (as you know I am on holiday this week!) and its generally been really relaxing. Carlota only let me swim in the morning and afternoon though because of the sun! Bless! I think my birth mother also appreciates this fact!
I dont really know what the rest of the week holds so I will just wait and see. Hopefully there will be an internet shaped light at the end of the weekly tunnel!
Last wednesday evening I met up with a couple of other volunteers at the mall who I havn't actually seen or spoken to since the spanish classes finished at the beginning of February. The main reason for that being language and how we didnt have a common one. So it was extremely difficult to comminucate. However now we can talk just fine in Spanish which is pretty cool when you think about it. One of them even has a Honduran boyfriend.
Unfortunatly I found out that one of the volunteers from France had to return last week because her Grandad is sick. She has left her things in Honduras though so she obviously plans to come back and finish her project when she can.
Later that night when I got home Carlota asked me 'why have you got spots Kat?', 'You've been eating chocolate havn't you?' then there was a moment of silence where I was like 'oh busted!' then we both burst out laughing! It's true I have now officially finished the chocolate that Dave sent me, a fact which apparently had not gone unoticed! haha classic!
Last thursday I arrived at the school to find out we were going on a trip to the swimming pool, shame that I didnt know in advance but that is Honduran life. Although I did have a really great day with the kids I was a bit annoyed at what happened. Almost everyone pushed off to the swimming pool and it was just me and one other volunteer left to look after 2 blind children, 2 blind teachers and the food (there were dogs). Sometimes it seems that people dont care as much as you might think they should which is a shame.
I had a long rather confusing chat with the bus driver who was in the police. I think he was a bit disappointed to find out I had a boyfriend but everyone knows i am afraid of men in uniform especially when they are armed, so it would never have worked out! However I did get a lift back home in the bus, rather strange being in a huge bus with just three people!
On Sunday I went to Marcala with Gorkiana (who works with Carlota) and her family. We went to this park that had beautiful natural waterfalls and pools to bathe in. i didnt go swimming but I I had a really fun day and took lots of photos.
The last two days I have spent swimming and resting and eating (as you know I am on holiday this week!) and its generally been really relaxing. Carlota only let me swim in the morning and afternoon though because of the sun! Bless! I think my birth mother also appreciates this fact!
I dont really know what the rest of the week holds so I will just wait and see. Hopefully there will be an internet shaped light at the end of the weekly tunnel!
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Counting down the days...
The weeks are definitely going by a bit faster now which is good because it means I am settling in. I am completely happy with my home and social life, which does tend to overlap! I am also happy at the school although I still don’t feel like I´m helping much apart from amusing the kids at breaktime! So its really just life at the office where I could do with feeling a little more comfortable. However in May I am supposed to be teaching my 12 week course of English so that should give me lots to do and help me integrate more with the others and the local women.
May isn´t that long away really. Next week is Semana Santa and a public holiday for everyone so it will probably go by really quickly. We’re not going anywhere particular just going to have a few day trips out and go to the swimming pool. Basically relax so looking forward to that! Then I´m back at work for 1 week and then Dave is here for 2 weeks and we´re going on holiday! By the time he goes home it will be May! Crazy!
Last Thursday Carlota and I went to the cinema to see Benjamin Button. Not really sure how I feel about it but I can say it was very powerful. So powerful in fact that I completely forgot where I was and was more than a little confused when I was spoken to in Spanish afterwards and I struggled to reply!
Friday I left work early because Carlota, Chi and I got the (very nice) bus to Siguatepeque to stay with Chi´s daughter and family for the weekend. They have a beautiful house, two daughters, a puppy and three turtles. I have to say that Siguatepeque itself is lovely and I kind of want to live there! I cant really explain why I just felt comfortable in the peaceful and modern town.
On Saturday we had a big bbq (which was really tasty) and I met yet more family!
On Sunday we all went to visit La Esperanza, which was a more traditional rural town and whilst they had nice fudge and I´m glad I went, I have no desire to return there!
One of the daughters makes her own jewellery and I watched her make some earrings and was completely fascinated. She gave them to me as a present which was really nice of her. Unfortunately its made me want to do the same so I will have to go out and buy some materials, next week probably. I think the relaxed culture of Latin America has made me appreciate the value of chilling out and made me want to be more arty, just in writing this blog I have to be more creative. Did I tell you that Mina (the elderly woman I live with) is teaching me crochet also!
Yesterday after work we went to the mall with Carlota´s friend and they were taking the piss out of my tummy and saying im going to be brown and fat for when my boyfriend comes to visit. They weren’t being rude its just the culture here, most people get called fat, or if not then they’ll get called skinny. Its just like people here say ´give me a cigarette´or ´give me your phone´(as in show me your phone) and as long as they realise its not acceptable in some other countries then there is nothing wrong with that. It works here!
The laptop has arrived at home (with a webcam) so I am halfway to being in better contact with everyone. Just need to get the internet sorted. I am guessing it will be about a month before that happens. ´Give me internet!´
May isn´t that long away really. Next week is Semana Santa and a public holiday for everyone so it will probably go by really quickly. We’re not going anywhere particular just going to have a few day trips out and go to the swimming pool. Basically relax so looking forward to that! Then I´m back at work for 1 week and then Dave is here for 2 weeks and we´re going on holiday! By the time he goes home it will be May! Crazy!
Last Thursday Carlota and I went to the cinema to see Benjamin Button. Not really sure how I feel about it but I can say it was very powerful. So powerful in fact that I completely forgot where I was and was more than a little confused when I was spoken to in Spanish afterwards and I struggled to reply!
Friday I left work early because Carlota, Chi and I got the (very nice) bus to Siguatepeque to stay with Chi´s daughter and family for the weekend. They have a beautiful house, two daughters, a puppy and three turtles. I have to say that Siguatepeque itself is lovely and I kind of want to live there! I cant really explain why I just felt comfortable in the peaceful and modern town.
On Saturday we had a big bbq (which was really tasty) and I met yet more family!
On Sunday we all went to visit La Esperanza, which was a more traditional rural town and whilst they had nice fudge and I´m glad I went, I have no desire to return there!
One of the daughters makes her own jewellery and I watched her make some earrings and was completely fascinated. She gave them to me as a present which was really nice of her. Unfortunately its made me want to do the same so I will have to go out and buy some materials, next week probably. I think the relaxed culture of Latin America has made me appreciate the value of chilling out and made me want to be more arty, just in writing this blog I have to be more creative. Did I tell you that Mina (the elderly woman I live with) is teaching me crochet also!
Yesterday after work we went to the mall with Carlota´s friend and they were taking the piss out of my tummy and saying im going to be brown and fat for when my boyfriend comes to visit. They weren’t being rude its just the culture here, most people get called fat, or if not then they’ll get called skinny. Its just like people here say ´give me a cigarette´or ´give me your phone´(as in show me your phone) and as long as they realise its not acceptable in some other countries then there is nothing wrong with that. It works here!
The laptop has arrived at home (with a webcam) so I am halfway to being in better contact with everyone. Just need to get the internet sorted. I am guessing it will be about a month before that happens. ´Give me internet!´
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Allergies, pumas and strange toilet situations
It seems summer has arrived here in Honduras, its getting hotter and the selection of fruit to buy is amazing! If you buy fruit on the street to eat like there and then this strange dry mixture gets sprinkled on it. I think its salt and pepper among other things, anyway the end result is that it looks and tastes like it has been dropped on the floor! Having said that the combination is beginning to grow on me! Am I going to be the freak in England that asks for salt and pepper with her fruit salad? Maybe.
The school is all going well, I´ve spoken to ICYE to extend my time here so will be working for a few more weeks at least. There was an outbreak of headlice last week which so far I have managed to avoid, or have I? My head does feel a bit itchy now I think about it!!!
Not much to report in CEM-H either, but I did find out I was in the national newspaper the other weekend, and not because I had been murdered - which is always nice to know. There was a big photo of our information stall for International Womens Day and I am right in the centre!
Last Saturday there was an organised trip to a vineyard in La Tigre national park. It was good fun, we had a little tour then enjoyed a bbq with wine in the afternoon. The bathroom was interesting though. When I walked through the clearly marked door for the toilets inside I found a room with a bed and a guy asleep on it! Ok check, definitely the correct door, so where is the toilet...oh yes here it is in a little alcove on the other side of the room, mmm no door. I could use the toilet but then the guy might wake up and it would mean locking the door and subsequently us both in the room...mmm no thanks! I was taken to a different toilet later though so it was alright in the end!
On the Sunday we went to El Picacho which is a park on the side of a mountain overlooking the city. Had some awesome views!
Yesterday I got up really early as we (Carlota, Carlota´s friend and I) travelled to Choluteca down South. The journey is about 3 hours but very scenic. We stopped to have breakfast on the way and enjoyed a typical Honduran Breakfast which I love! It consists of tortillas, egg, frijoles (like kidney beans), platanos (basically banana), mantequilla (basically cream cheese) and a non descript peice of meat. Whats not to like? For some random reason there was like a zoo at the back of this place and we went to look around (not Carlota as she is afraid of monkeys!). They had parrots, monkeys, emus and pumas among other animals! When we got to Choluteca the heat was insane, but I liked it, we met up with Johannes and had a look around the town. We had lunch and bought loads of fruit as its locally grown and really cheap. Soon it was time to go back again though.
I didn´t go to work on Friday because I felt really rubbish. I´ve had this cold thing for the past few weeks and Carlota took me to the doctor. It was actually A&E but it was a private hospital so not many emergencies apparently. I had fun trying to explain the symptoms in Spanglish! It was diagnosed as Rhinitis, basically allergies. I now have tablets to take but they still insisted on giving me an injection. I hate injections anyway but they couldn´t find my vein so it took several painful, tearful attempts before it worked. Not impressed.
It was Andres´s birthday the other day and to celebrate he took a trip to London. I was looking at his photos and thinking how much I miss London and even felt a little proud and privilaged to live there when I heard he loved it. Am I becoming patriotic? No surely not!
So I´ve been here 9 and a half weeks now. I know its a long time because I had to buy a new notebook today for my Honduran diary. Just as well, I´d never remember all of the above otherwise!
Can I also just say thats its an option to have webdings font on my blog, I mean who would blog in webdings??? What?
The school is all going well, I´ve spoken to ICYE to extend my time here so will be working for a few more weeks at least. There was an outbreak of headlice last week which so far I have managed to avoid, or have I? My head does feel a bit itchy now I think about it!!!
Not much to report in CEM-H either, but I did find out I was in the national newspaper the other weekend, and not because I had been murdered - which is always nice to know. There was a big photo of our information stall for International Womens Day and I am right in the centre!
Last Saturday there was an organised trip to a vineyard in La Tigre national park. It was good fun, we had a little tour then enjoyed a bbq with wine in the afternoon. The bathroom was interesting though. When I walked through the clearly marked door for the toilets inside I found a room with a bed and a guy asleep on it! Ok check, definitely the correct door, so where is the toilet...oh yes here it is in a little alcove on the other side of the room, mmm no door. I could use the toilet but then the guy might wake up and it would mean locking the door and subsequently us both in the room...mmm no thanks! I was taken to a different toilet later though so it was alright in the end!
On the Sunday we went to El Picacho which is a park on the side of a mountain overlooking the city. Had some awesome views!
Yesterday I got up really early as we (Carlota, Carlota´s friend and I) travelled to Choluteca down South. The journey is about 3 hours but very scenic. We stopped to have breakfast on the way and enjoyed a typical Honduran Breakfast which I love! It consists of tortillas, egg, frijoles (like kidney beans), platanos (basically banana), mantequilla (basically cream cheese) and a non descript peice of meat. Whats not to like? For some random reason there was like a zoo at the back of this place and we went to look around (not Carlota as she is afraid of monkeys!). They had parrots, monkeys, emus and pumas among other animals! When we got to Choluteca the heat was insane, but I liked it, we met up with Johannes and had a look around the town. We had lunch and bought loads of fruit as its locally grown and really cheap. Soon it was time to go back again though.
I didn´t go to work on Friday because I felt really rubbish. I´ve had this cold thing for the past few weeks and Carlota took me to the doctor. It was actually A&E but it was a private hospital so not many emergencies apparently. I had fun trying to explain the symptoms in Spanglish! It was diagnosed as Rhinitis, basically allergies. I now have tablets to take but they still insisted on giving me an injection. I hate injections anyway but they couldn´t find my vein so it took several painful, tearful attempts before it worked. Not impressed.
It was Andres´s birthday the other day and to celebrate he took a trip to London. I was looking at his photos and thinking how much I miss London and even felt a little proud and privilaged to live there when I heard he loved it. Am I becoming patriotic? No surely not!
So I´ve been here 9 and a half weeks now. I know its a long time because I had to buy a new notebook today for my Honduran diary. Just as well, I´d never remember all of the above otherwise!
Can I also just say thats its an option to have webdings font on my blog, I mean who would blog in webdings??? What?
Thursday, 12 March 2009
"If I could only reach you, if I could make you smile, If I could understand you.....that would really be a breakthru!"
So this week has perhaps been a bit of a turning point, the food I almost hated at the beginning of my time here I absolutely love now and am even craving it! (well mostly - you can never love everything can you) I´m feeling more comfortable at both my projects and can get myself around (well mostly) and I´m finally feeling like I am getting somewhere with my Spanish. So all this equals a happier Kat.
Work at the school is still going well and I´m even learning braille (thats how its spelt in espanol anyway). Definitely one to wack on the CV I reckon! Although how much use it may be in the future is debateble. I am using my eyes though, maybe this is cheating but my fingers just are not sensitive enough to identify the letters. I also took some of the kids on a walk outside the school with another profesor. The roads and pavements here are dangerous enough for your average person, if you´re blind it could be fatal! There are these huge deep holes randomly scattered around the city, which Jenny once commented was where all the blind people must be sat because its rare to see a blind person out and about here. (As an aside even the food is dangerous here, just today I cut myself on my meat!)
Last friday I was working for CEM-H in the city centre. In celebration of International Womens Day we had a stall with information and we were selling products for the women in prison. It felt like the other volunteer and I were practically running it though which is a shame really. Apparently we were in the paper the next day! Must search this out in the library.
That evening there was a free concert in the local theatre where there was more evidence of lack of health and safety - there was small ledge the other side of the balcony where people were sat! Crazy!
Saturday and Sunday we had Johannes another volunteer staying with us as he lives further away in Choluteca. Sat evening Hayley´s cousins took us out to a bar with live music. Was good fun, a little dancing, a little drinking and a lot of talking in spanish! Genious!
I was supposed to be working on sunday too but in typical fashion that didnt happen due to a small lack of forward thinking.
This week I have mostly been working at workshops, basically doing Dave´s job of taking photos film footage, probably rubbish though due to my lack of experience! On monday I spent alot of time on the road, if you can call it that, it was really a dirt track. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement! I rather hoped it would have the same effect as a Power Plate but all I got were a few bruises! We randomly gave people rides in the back of the pick up truck.
Yesterday I recieved my valentines parcel from Dave.....36 days after he posted it! Its made me really happy because I now have loads of English tea and chocolate to consume! I have missed real tea! Ahh he is the best. Life is always better after a good cup of tea (and a cream egg of course!) ;-)
Work at the school is still going well and I´m even learning braille (thats how its spelt in espanol anyway). Definitely one to wack on the CV I reckon! Although how much use it may be in the future is debateble. I am using my eyes though, maybe this is cheating but my fingers just are not sensitive enough to identify the letters. I also took some of the kids on a walk outside the school with another profesor. The roads and pavements here are dangerous enough for your average person, if you´re blind it could be fatal! There are these huge deep holes randomly scattered around the city, which Jenny once commented was where all the blind people must be sat because its rare to see a blind person out and about here. (As an aside even the food is dangerous here, just today I cut myself on my meat!)
Last friday I was working for CEM-H in the city centre. In celebration of International Womens Day we had a stall with information and we were selling products for the women in prison. It felt like the other volunteer and I were practically running it though which is a shame really. Apparently we were in the paper the next day! Must search this out in the library.
That evening there was a free concert in the local theatre where there was more evidence of lack of health and safety - there was small ledge the other side of the balcony where people were sat! Crazy!
Saturday and Sunday we had Johannes another volunteer staying with us as he lives further away in Choluteca. Sat evening Hayley´s cousins took us out to a bar with live music. Was good fun, a little dancing, a little drinking and a lot of talking in spanish! Genious!
I was supposed to be working on sunday too but in typical fashion that didnt happen due to a small lack of forward thinking.
This week I have mostly been working at workshops, basically doing Dave´s job of taking photos film footage, probably rubbish though due to my lack of experience! On monday I spent alot of time on the road, if you can call it that, it was really a dirt track. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement! I rather hoped it would have the same effect as a Power Plate but all I got were a few bruises! We randomly gave people rides in the back of the pick up truck.
Yesterday I recieved my valentines parcel from Dave.....36 days after he posted it! Its made me really happy because I now have loads of English tea and chocolate to consume! I have missed real tea! Ahh he is the best. Life is always better after a good cup of tea (and a cream egg of course!) ;-)
Monday, 2 March 2009
No hay internet!!
First I must apologise that it has been so long since my last blog. I have had trouble getting access to internet. I even went to the internet cafe and they said there was no internet! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
So you probably want to know how i'm getting along in the school? Well I've only been there 3 days so far but I am definitely enjoying it. The building itself is really big and everything is neatly packed away, obviously so the kids dont trip over, so it doesnt really look like a school - way too empty! (but the kids still trip over and bump into things although they dont seem to care!) There are only about 30 children and have to say they are all lovely and made me feel really welcomed. Everyone knows who I am, what days I'm working and what times! Probably even know my timetable! (yes I do have a timetable, makes me feel youthful again, although the timetable is only really a guide as to what might happen, I have discovered!) Some of the staff and teachers are blind too, I can't believe you can have lessons where no-one in the class can see, but amazingly it seems to work fine.
Now comes the part where I feel like I am on 'The Secret Millionaire' but i'm judging which project could benefit most from my time, not my money unfortunately. I think that although I have fun at the school, I am limited in what I can do to help there, where as in CEM-H they have said that I will be teaching English (ironically when my spanish is better). Perhaps the best thing would be to stay at both projects the whole year? I will wait and see.
Since I last blogged I have been to...
So you probably want to know how i'm getting along in the school? Well I've only been there 3 days so far but I am definitely enjoying it. The building itself is really big and everything is neatly packed away, obviously so the kids dont trip over, so it doesnt really look like a school - way too empty! (but the kids still trip over and bump into things although they dont seem to care!) There are only about 30 children and have to say they are all lovely and made me feel really welcomed. Everyone knows who I am, what days I'm working and what times! Probably even know my timetable! (yes I do have a timetable, makes me feel youthful again, although the timetable is only really a guide as to what might happen, I have discovered!) Some of the staff and teachers are blind too, I can't believe you can have lessons where no-one in the class can see, but amazingly it seems to work fine.
Now comes the part where I feel like I am on 'The Secret Millionaire' but i'm judging which project could benefit most from my time, not my money unfortunately. I think that although I have fun at the school, I am limited in what I can do to help there, where as in CEM-H they have said that I will be teaching English (ironically when my spanish is better). Perhaps the best thing would be to stay at both projects the whole year? I will wait and see.
Since I last blogged I have been to...
- a baby shower
- a freaking awesome birthday party with other volunteers and ex volunteers
- a different (but equally awesome) birthday party for a 5 year old girl. There was even a pinata*
- Valle de Angeles (a town outside of Tegus in the mountains)
- The museum in El Centro
- A club/bar in Tegus on a thursday night with some students - really classy but with a price tag to match :-(
- Hayley's house again (I found out her curtains get changed every week to match her bedding - um what??? That is crazy!)
- and the bank - to get my Honduran bank account! Now I just need some money...
- It promotes violence in children (because the idea is to beat this thing with a stick to get the sweets)
- General health and safety issues would be argued i'm sure.
- It would be considered unfair because some kids, the pushier ones, get more sweets than others (giving rise to further violence issues) In Britain we would probably make the kids put all the sweets together and divide them up equally!
- Finally it would not be considered environmentally friendly becuase of all the packaging materials. And I'm not even going to go into the whole healthy eating thing!
In summary I am finding it slightly easier here but getting through the week is still tough. I guess thats no different from life in England really. No-one wants to go to work do they?
49 days till Dave comes to visit! Not that I'm excited or anything.... :-p
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