Day of the Child.

I simply cannot believe it is October.  Time goes by so incredibly fast.

Things at school are trucking along.  The kids absolutely love our new pet.  His name is Mr. Turtle, but we all call him Mr. T for short. :)

I really wanted to write though about something I'm super excited about being able to help with.  As most of you know, the population of students that go to the school where I teach are some of the wealthiest in Xela.  And I still consider my job there as service.  The kids that we teach will likely be the future leaders of their cities and country.  They need to know Christ and receive an education too. 
However, Guatemala has many different facets.  And there have been many times that I have desired to have more of an involvement with the indigenous community here, especially the poor.  And obviously, as  a teacher, education is something I feel everyone has a right to.
Unfortunately that's often not the case here.   I found out recently, that as a country, the average level of education here is 4th grade.  That's one of the lowest in the world.  There's a American guy here, who's lived here for years and years and has connections with IAS.   However, his main job here is working with a service group that provides education for street kids  (not kids who live on the street, but kids who have to work on the street all day to provide for their family).  Clearly, these kids don't have the option of going to school.  They can't afford private, and most often the selection process is incredibly difficult to get into the few public schools here, simply because of supply and demand.  Not to mention the greatest factor, they don't have time for school.  Most times their income is necessary for their families to make it. 
So the organization that this man works with started many years ago going into the markets and offering  free education to the kids that were working there.  As the program has developed, they have been able to expand and offer more.  Literacy was the initial focus, but the families of these kids started to say that its great if they can read, but would really help them to get a "real" paying job, they needed a high school diploma.  So now they help kids get to that goal.  Many of the students are way past typical school age, but are going back so they can get their degree.  After elementary school, they have to pay to continue.  There are many students that have interest in continuing, but don't have the money to be able to afford it.  (Keeping in mind were only talking Q100 a month which is only $12)  So that's where the opportunity came in for me to help.  These kids need sponsors.  So I get to sponsor a kid to be able to go to school this year.  I'm really excited about it.  There are lots of opportunities to help kids all over the world, but I get to meet the kid I will be sponsoring and talk with them.  Its just a neat thing. 
Helps bring my teaching experience here full circle. 

I've been looking for more opportunities to serve with my time here.  And slowly but surely the Lord is opening up more doors.

Oh, and today is the official Day of the Child holiday here in Guatemala.  What a perfect way to celebrate children  :)

Teacher's pet!

I got a pet yesterday!  Well, actually its for my class.  But they don't know yet, and he's spending the weekend with me. 
Introducing... yet to be named turtle!! 



I love his shell pattern!  He's so tiny and cute!



His home-- complete with a ramp to get him from land to water.

My kids are going to freak out!  I just hope he stays alive through the year.  And that I don't get too attatched :)  He's adorable!  I'll have to let you know what the kids choose for its name.

I'm very thankful for Nameless Turtle.  He has brought a little light and joy.  Our apartment situation has been grim lately.  Basically our landlady doesn't like us and won't give us what she promised us and its kind of a big mess.    And our apartment is falling apart around us.... our gas ran out on Friday and she told us that she can be the only one to change it.... but here's the kicker... she's out of town until "Monday", although who knows when she will finally get around to helping us.  And until then we are unable to cook anything.    And then yesterday morning around 6:30 AM I was woken up to loud banging/kicking sounds against our complex gate.  Which subsequently fell of its hinges and went crashing to the ground later that afternoon. 

Other things to be thankful for?  Well, I'll start with the opportunity I've been given to co-lead the I Am Service  club for the elementary students at school.   Since coming to Guatemala, I've been wanting to get more involved in serving the community.  We had our first meeting last week, and we brainstormed ideas for what we could do this year to help our school and community.  It was a little sad, yet encouraging to hear these mostly first and second graders pinpoint most of the major issues in their community.  Poverty, people on the streets, vandalism, pollution, and the list goes on.  But their ambitious ideas were wonderful to hear.  And the fact that they recognize that there are lots of opportunities to serve.  Sometimes I worry that the population of kids that go to our school have no idea of what goes on around them.   But some of them really, really do. 

In closing, a few extra pics I had lying around to share.



View from my apartment




Updated view of the living room/kitchen in the apartment



Independence Break

This week has been long.  Probably because last week was a half week followed by vacation.  Its always a little bit of a challenge to return after a vacation.  
But the time off was wonderful!  I went to Guatemala City with friends who also happen to be a married couple.  The husband is Guatemalan and so they know there way around.  It was nice to be able to go to the city in a car and at our own pace as opposed to a giant bus.  Also, I usually hate the city because it has a dangerous feel and you have to take taxis wherever you go.  But having a car to get around and being with people who know their way around was better. 
When we got there we went to a giant mall that I have been to before.  It is just like a fancy mall in the states.  My friend and I went and got pedicures while drinking iced coffees which was definitely a treat.  Afterwards we went to the movie theater.  I had been to that theater before but this time we payed a little extra to go to the VIP part of the theater.   It was the equivalent of $10, which is what you would pay for a movie in the States  BUT soo much better.  Comfy reclining seats which were spaced out.  AND you can order specialty food to be delivered to you.   I got sushi.   I always crave it and you can only really get it in the city. 
For dinner they took me to an amazing resturaunt a little out of the city.  It was very fancy, but had a spectacular view overlooking the city.  And the food was delicious!!  It was all about grilled meat and vegetables.  I cannot tell you how great it was.  I literally savored every bite. 
Going to the city is all about treating yourselves to the things you can't get in Xela.  And that's exactly what this trip was.  It kind of makes you feel like you are home.   We also went to Price Mart and another grocery store that carries a lot of American items.  My prized finds were canned pumpkin (excited to make fun fall baked goods),  a jumbo bag of craisins, and a jumbo bag of ghiradelli chocolate chips.
This whole trip was extravagant.  But so fun.  And I figure it is okay to splurge every once in a while.
We got back  Saturday afternoon and I headed off with another group to visit the fair (only about a 15 minute bus ride away).  Last year I didn't eat much fair food, for fear of getting sick.  But I decided to take the risk this time because everyone says it is so good.  I tried the garnachas, which everyone jokes are made of street dog meat.  But they were delicious.  And I also tried churros.  I didn't ride any of the sketchy rides this year, but did enjoy watching them.  They really are sketchy.

Pictures to come!  Too tired to upload any at the moment.  Think I'm heading for a nap!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

It's currently Independence Day in Guatemala.  And the celebrations last for about a week.
Wednesday we had a half day for students (followed by a half day of professional development) and then Thursday and Friday off!
Yesterday was the big celebration.  Last night we all got together in the park where the action was.  Lots of parades and school marching bands.  People everywhere.  Xela is like the center of the Independence celebration for all of Guatemala and everyone comes here.   There is also lots and lots of fair food (not fair as in average, but fair as in carnival).  I'm working up the nerve to try garnachas before the fair is over.  I've had them in resturaunts before, but never as street food.   I hear they are amazing, but the running joke is that the meat they use comes from street dogs...
So after walking around Central Park for a bit, we decided to walk to Minerva-- another area of town, to watch some concerts.  After maneuvering through blocked roads, crazy traffic, and hoards of people we managed to get out of the park area.  Its about a 30 minute walk to Minerva.  And that's when things got a little ugly.
Guatemala has a lot of extremes.  Extreme poverty and extreme wealth.  A beautiful environment, yet littered in trash.  Amazingly kind and hospitable people, yet some of the worst violence in the world.  And things are only intensified in times of big celebrations.  The best of times, and the worst of times. 
We were having a wonderful time walking to Minerva, until one of the uglier sides of Guatemala decided to show itself.  We walked by a quieter part of town, as two young men were in some kind of fight.  One was literally on the ground, being beaten to a pulp.  Kicked in the face and gut repeatedly.  Shouting and ugliness.  Kind of like something you see in the movies.  And we all just stood there, frozen in fear and sickened by the brutality.  We wanted to intervene.  We wanted to step in for the guy that was screaming in pain and begging for mercy.  But its not safe.  And that is one of the most difficult things about living here at times.  Having to walk past or "ignore" people that you want to help because its not "safe".  Its a very strange thing to do, especially when your instincts often tell you to do something else.  Some of the newer people in our group were really shaken up, as it was one of their first exposures to things like this here.  Its hard to move past something like that.  Being confronted with the falleness of humanity in such a graphic way. 
We ended up getting to Minerva.  But there were just so many people and I was feeling chlaustrophobic and exhausted, so one of the girls and I just went to Wendy's to sit and chat for a while. 
A little before midnight we headed back to the park.  Its almost like New Year's Eve, counting down until Independence Day.  There were incredible fireworks, literally being shot about 10 feet away from us.  So we were craning our neck because they went right above us.  But we had an incredible view.  And then I came back and slept in an empty apartment-- my roommate left for a trip yesterday afternoon.
Today was pretty relaxing.  Several girls went over to some teachers' apartment that has a great roof.  The intention was to lay out in the sun... but, we lasted all of 5 minutes before it clouded over, got freezing and then stormed.  However, I did take some pics while I was up there.



Back view from the Catholic Church in central Park



And one final picture that I stole from my host sister from last year.  It just made me laugh... aparently this ground beef sculpture was on display at Wal-mart to celebrate Independence...



Ground Beef and Cilantro Sculpture of Guatemala with the Quetzal bird!



Leaving early tomorrow to head to the city for a mini vacation trip!  And then heading back to hopefully go to the fair that is just outside of town-- complete with the sketchiest fair rides you've ever seen! 

And as an aside... nobody won the election... There is a rule here that you have to have 51% of the vote to be elected.  And seeing as how there were 11 candidates, nobody got that majority.   So... the two highest go into a run off and there will be more elections in November.

The day my students cried.

Today is the big election day here in Guatemala.  It is interesting because it falls on September 11 which, as we all know, is a pretty significant day in American History.   And as it is an election, it also reminds me of a very somber election time from when I was in Nigeria.  Lots of thinking today.
But so far things have been pretty calm.  My roommate and I did venture out to the park earlier this afternoon for some ice cream and reading.  There was even the most adorable basset hound puppy walking around.  It just seemed to be a normal day.   Hoping nothing crazy happens after the polls close this evening.  And I don't know much about the 11 candidates, but I hope that the people here select a wise leader.  Lord knows this country needs someone strong to bring about some change.
Just to show some of the propaganda, I took a pic today of the large church sign visible from town all through the year.  But since elections have been occurring, there is also a very large political sign hanging right behind it.  The church sign means Christ comes.  And the political sign... with the motto of "mano dura"/a hard hand (I think in reference to cracking down on drug trafficking).  Just an interesting combo of messages going on here...
And as a disclaimer... I do not claim to endorse this particular party, or any Guatemalan party for that matter.  I just find the political process here interesting.

In other news, I have a story that I've been holding on to for a few days now and need to share.
One of the craziest teaching moments I have had thus far...
Last Thursday, I walked out to pick up my class from recess and saw that a great majority of my students were standing in line crying hysterically.  Oh boy, this is going to be interesting.  Sure, I've had criers before.  But multiple criers, in hysterics all at the same time?  That was a new one.  In trying to discover what had happened, I realized no one was injured and that it wasn't something that was going to be solved in a quick minute on the playground.  So we walked back to class, students still in hysterics.  We got a lot of weird looks. 
So at this point, my entire class is crying.  Minus two students.  Even my two tough boys who I never would imagine crying were in tears.  I almost made a bolt for the guidance counselor's office, but decided to take a shot at it myself.  We got everyone in and seated and I had everyone attempt to take a deep breath...trying to calm everyone down before we could discuss things.  Sobbing, sniffles, and tears ensued.  Then I proceed to lay down the law for discussing conflicts.  Give everyone a chance to speak, speaking calmly, no interrupting others, how to respectfully disagree, etc.  This really felt like a therapy session. 
After about 10 minutes of debriefing on what happened, here's what I pieced together from very emotional charged, sniffled ESL English...
Apparently there had been a game of '"boys touch girls"...AKA "tag" with the boys against the girls.  Yes, I realize boys touch girls is a very sketchy sounding name for tag.  Anyway, the girl decided they didn't want to play anymore, and the boys didn't seem to understand that message.  And here's where we discussed what it means to have a miscommunication...
So somehow boys continued chasing girls, and the girls wanted to tell one of the boys a message or something.  Which resulted in poor boy being pulled apart between the girl side and boy side.  Which obviously ended badly.  Poor boy was hurt and ran to the bathroom crying and all the boys ran in after him.  To which the teacher on duty (who shall remain nameless) decides to finally kick in.  Although unnamed teacher thinks the boys are causing trouble in the bathroom and gives them all the punishment of sitting on the fence.  (side note- probably not the best way the situation could have been handled...)  Misunderstanding #2.  So the boys are mad at the girls and the girls feel bad that there friends got in trouble so they go over to console the boys.  And the boys scream that it is all the girls' fault and they hate them and blah, blah, blah. 
So basically there was just a giant mix of anger and hurt feelings. 
So we discussed all this, students are still sobbing.   We talk about how we can learn from this so that it won't happen again.  We say apologies.  We hug.  We pray.  And we're still crying.  And at that point I say that it is in the past and we need to move on.  (PS- this is 40 minutes of crying later.)  So I know I can't just transition right into math.  So I decide to read a funny story and play heads up, seven up.  Eh, didn't know what else to do at that point.  But finally we got the crying to stop and were in a better mood.  But man, it was a stressful afternoon.

Okay, going to go check and see if they have announced if Guatemala has a new president!  Staying in the rest of the night!  Excited because next week is a short week!  Although we didn't get off for Labor Day, September 15th is Guatemalan Independence and is a huge deal.  Most schools get the whole week off.  We just get Thursday and Friday but it is still a nice treat :) 

A sight to see.

I have internet! Success!!  And my roommate and I have been joking that we only get one success a day with our new apartment.  And so far, that has pretty much been true.  But I'm grateful that every day it is feeling more and more cozy.  And SUPER thankful to have internet.  Tomorrow I will have to be holed in for most of the day because it is elections here, and there is a chance things could get intense.  I'm planning to get caught up on school work.

As far as the new apartment goes, I thought I'd share a pic from the first night.  One of my favorite things about living here is we can have people over whenever we want!  The first night our neighbors, who are also teachers at the school, organized a housewarming party at our apartment.  It was so fun to have everyone over and they all brought gifts for our new apartment. 

Another success was that roomie and I have purchased some new furniture for our apartment.   First purchase was a mirror.  Trying to get ready for school without a single mirror was pretty challenging.  So we went and had a mirror custom made for us.  Then, on another day we went to the demo where they basically sell everything for cheap, and we found a place where they build everything out of wood that you could possibly want.  We got a nice wooden handmade counter/shelf thing for our kitchen to extend our counter space and have a place for storage.  It looks pretty nice and is very functional  (now we don't have everything just sitting on the floor).  And it only cost Q140.  Which is only about $18.  Gotta love Guatemalan prices.  But...to get it back from the demo (which is maybe a mile from our house) we decided to carry it back.   So as if we don't stand out enough as white girls, we must have looked like total fools as two gringas carrying a big wooden shelf on our shoulders through the streets.  Definitely a sight to see.  But, hey, at least we are resourceful.

Still more to catch up on from last week, but I'm sure I'll have a lot of free time tomorrow!  Prayers that the elections go smoothly!

New Apartment= No internet

So a LOT has happened in the last week.  I'm sorry for lack of posting.  But with my lovely new apartment, I lost the free wireless internet.  They have internet "sticks" here, and I have one, and purchased time for it, but its not working.  Believe me, I've gone to great lengths to figure it out, but to no avail.  I'm hoping to have time this weekend to go the actual TIGO (brand of phones/internet) store to figure out a solution.  At the moment, I'm staying late at school to catch up on some things, and figured I'd take advantage of the time with internet.

But anyway, I'll try to update.  So much to tell, so little time.  I might have to break this up into different posts.  Although it is all very exciting, I don't want to wear you down with so much information at once. 

So I moved.  That was fun.  Minus the fact that it almost didn't happen.  The day before I was supposed to move I had a terrible day.  Just got overwhelmed with teaching and stress and lack of sleep.  I actually embarrassingly cried on the teacher bus that morning.  But that's another story.  Anyway,  I was also supposed to meet with my new landlady, who add already handed over to me the sole key to the apartment. 
Well, I got the key out and ready in my old apartment before I left (so that I wouldn't lose it) and sure enough, by some crazy circumstance, one minute it was lying on my bed and the next minute it wasn't there.  Disappeared into thin air.  I freaked out and tore apart my entire room, bed, suitcases, EVERYTHING.  And then I cried.  Second time that day.  That was just the straw that broke the camel's back.  I knew it was in that room but I could not find it.  I spent the next 6 hours meticulously searching through my room, as I packed up, in hopes that I would find the key and could move in as planned.  Literally shaking out every article of clothing, every shoe, etc.  And crying as I thought of the possibility of not finding it.  I prayed, believe me, I prayed that I would find that stinking key. 
I went to bed after midnight.  No key.   I woke up the next morning at 5AM.  My moving helpers were due to arrive at 7:30.   I continued searching, hoping that fresh eyes would help.  At 6:45 I still hadn't found the key.  I just lost it.  I cried, and just prayed asking God to help me find that stupid little key.  I literally set out stipulations...  I said that if I didn't find it by 7 I was going to call my future roommate and admit that I had lost the only key to our brand new apartment and call off the move in for that morning.  I told God I was going to search 5 places one more time.  I literally named out the places.  And then I went to the first place on the list, the first suitcase of clothes I had packed, which I had literally unpacked 5 times the day before and shaken out each individual article of clothing and the suitcase to check for the key.   This time I got to the last two articles and mentally convinced myself, that yet again, the key was not there.  And then I reached in, and I'm not joking, out of nowhere that pesky little key just appeared in my suitcase.  It really was a mini-miracle. 
  So, moving day was back on.  Some of the Dons  (or super-hero Guatemalan janitorial staff) that we have at the school brought their truck and muscles to help me move my stuff.  It was wonderful.  And I took advantage of the time to take them out to a McDonald's breakfast afterwards.  So fun. 

The apartment is great.  I love having a roommate again.  And it feels so much more free than where I had been living.  Although, it is still not fully finished.  The carpenters will still have to return to do some more construction...  Saving that whole story for another post.  And we joke that our house should be called the Fun House because everything is crooked or just doesn't make logical sense.  Oh Guatemalan construction.
Case number 1- the brick wall.  Instead of installing a door, they decided to fill up an extra door frame in our bathroom with bricks.

More examples of the craziness to follow.  But really, I'm loving the new space.  Lots of work to be done, but its becoming more and more like a home every day.

Here are some initial photos to appease those who have asked, but know that things are not finished.  I will have to post more when my room is done. 




Our living room/kitchen.  Kitchen table, under the sink cabinets, decorations, and oven to come!

 



My room.  And I know it looks messy because of all the stuff on the floor.  They aren't coming to install the closets for 15 more days :( 

  So yes, I'm getting all settled in.  And there are lots of stories to come with that. 
Hoping to get a lot accomplished this weekend, including internet set up.  Although Sunday is the big election day, and we've been informed to not be out and about much that day, especially after the polls close.  So keep Guatemala in your prayers.  And I hope to update again soon.