Thursday, July 31, 2008

I am not a dinamicas teacher

Today I was observing one of the segundo sectiones (equivalent of 10th or 11th grade) and had a pretty good time. Because the math teacher wasn´t around, I kind of took over for that period. But before I get into all the wonderful games we played, let´s start at the beginning. If you refer back to previous posts, you know my lame self messed up my ankle playing basketball. Two months later, it is still messed up, ocassional bruising here and there. I tried doing my exercises with the band, taking Ibuprofen, and putting my legs up on the wall as a read in my room. Needless to say, nothings really working. I have to juggle the pain of my ankle with that of my stomach (I´ve felt like throwing up on and off for about 3 weeks). Anyway, back to the story, this morning before heading down the block to school, I put on my ankle brace, thought it looked silly through my sandals and took it off. I get to the school, shake hands with the janitor, and proceed to roll my other ankle, tripping in front of the whole student body. Applause, please. So I started off with a bang. Two periods later in English class, the teacher asked me to bring my desk over so she could practice her English with me. I had to lift my desk through a maze of little bodies, suddenly realizing that I still had all my books and papers on the desk and they fell crashing to the ground. Today was my clumsy day. But I recovered, folks. I bounced back! I had the students first do an icebreaker where we (the class) are all going on a picnic; you say your name and the item you will bring to the picnic. I brought an arco iris (who brings a rainbow to a picnic? me, baby, me). So the students enjoyed that. Later on we did Simon Says and they got a kick out of it. Then (stealing this idea from my compañera Maggie) turned Simon Says into a lesson (moral of the story type stuff), because during the game I had them doing questionable things such as gently pull another student´s hair and smell their own armpits. They did it so I asked them how they felt when they had to do things that they may have not really wanted to do. Have they ever felt pressured to do things they didn´t want to? Peer pressure, etc. So they were all really attentive and were into. That was the highlight of my day. Later we played, a balloon game which focuses on good communication and teamwork. Lastly, during art, the teacher was simply grading their work and the rest of the class was talking so I said to myself, Anna, put these children´s minds to work. Yes, I said it, just like that. I´m a nerd. We played pictionary, getting them to use some of those drawing abilities as well as just getting some of the shy students to get up to the board and draw. A lot of the girls told me,¨I can´t draw that.¨Of course you can. Then I´d chant, si se puede, si se puede. Also I made all the students give a round of applause to a kid named Roger for coming up to the board, not being the best drawer but not being afraid to try. I think he felt good after that. As he should. Later on in the day a student told me he liked the way I was because I seemed happy. That made me feel all warm inside. So that was my day. There´s supposed to be an awards ceremony of some type for the teachers in this district. I want to go to it but it looks like its going to rain and I can´t be out too late (past 6!). Too dangerous.

Besitos to all.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Saint L

Today I ventured to one of my schools in a nearby aldea, hoping to get there on time (7:30) when class started. So I get to the bus stop and all these buses keep passing but I dont flag them down because they dont have the proper heading, lets say. Finally I just get on one that passes because I was tired of waiting there for 20 mins, get dropped off at the other stop, only to wait for about 45 mins for the darm minivan to pass by. I was ready to walk back to my town but for some reason I didnt. Finally got on the micro and ended up in my school. I hung out, observing the students in 1B (equivalent of 6th or 7th grade in the states). Highlights of the day were eating some super spongy cake that the Home Ec teacher made (Three Stooges kind of spongy cake), talking to the librarian about possibly getting more books for the library and getting these kids to read more (they only go in there if they have some research assignment assigned to them), the Idioma/Lectura teacher(Literature) made the kids stand up in front of the class and read passages from the Bible and analized how well they were reading (volume, tone, pause for punctuations, etc.) and then told them that they should read every day (her direct words were...do you eat everyday? well if you eat everyday then you should read everyday, it is just as important. Dr. Fitzsimmons immediately came into my mind and I wanted to yell, READ, READ, READ). Oh, they will be reading by the time I am done with them, if my name isnt Seño Anna. Mmm...other highlights, outside of school, I had a pizza burger for lunch, I found the postoffice and I think I know where the bus stop is which means I can make it home without having to share a cab with one of my students drunk fathers. Yipee! All and all, good day. Los quiero mucho. Shout out to the Jr Sr Scholars for twenty amazing years. I love and miss you guys. PS, our program director gave us Harry Wongs The First Days and I am rereading it as we speak. Coincidence...?

When a GarBear disowns a Bird (sung in When a Man Loves a Woman style)

I’ve listened to these two “banda” songs for at least 5 times each in the last few minutes. The first is called “Tal Vez” by the Primos de Durango and the second is called “Mi Amor por Ti” by Los Horoscopos de Durango. What has happened? This music used to make me cringe. This is all the neighbors would play next door at all the wrong hours. Everyone would make fun of it, including my Mexican friends. But alas, I cannot resist something so catchy. I remember when we lived in the white house on Avon, the neighbors would play their music and Dad would get pissed. He’d blast the Beethoven or Bach to retaliate. It didn’t work though. Once he even took what he deemed the most annoying music he could find in the house. Yes, my Hanson Middle of Nowhere CD. Countering catchy with catchy. Needless to say, Hanson didn’t deter our neighbors. This music makes me want to get off this bed and start doing the quebradita, even if it probably isn’t the right dance and I have no partner. When I get back to the states, I will be a die-hard banda music fan. The weird mix between hip-hop, reggaeton and freestyle is not so much my thing. Especially not the Costa Rican that calls himself Nigga. I can do without.

Antigua and Way-way





This is all you get for now because I am at a incredibly slow internet right now.

Top picture is my host parents (Don Rodrigo and Doña Eva) at our swearing-in ceremony last, last Friday.

Next picture is me (obviously) with my host aunt and uncle (Doña Dora and Don Cesar). Don Cesar owned me so bad by giving me some tea in a cup that had a cockroach inside it (built-in ceramic cockroach).

Third picture is me and oh! is that Phillip in the back? Why yes it is! Phillip and I in the background in the tent when we went camping in Corpus Christi. Miss my boo.

Last picture is Carmen and I in Antigua by the arches where all the touristy stuff is and all the pretty stores that make me want to spend all my little bit of money.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Update





I've been rather good about updating this thing, no? Someone give me my props. So we have about a week left in our training communities and are about to depart for our new homes for the next two years. We are all pretty much over training, with all its sessions, not being to go out past a certain hour, and having to eat everything that is put in front of us (even if we are dead tired of eggs and beans, with a side of tortillas). But I am completely going to miss my town and even my family or especially my family rather. They have gotten on my case so much, but I'm telling myself that it is all in good fun. Plus, now I am starting to not let it get me down that they try to make me feel guilty for being out past 8 (even though they told me I could be out til 9...damn that indirect communication style!) It's all good though. Tonight I am inviting my two buddies over for dinner and I plan on making empanadas for them and my fam. Hopefully I will not fail miserably...that masa is so testy. I will try to evoke O-town's empanada-making skills. I know my arms will be sore tomorrow. I will put up pictures soon of this great adventure. For now, these are some old pics that you get. If you guys have questions about anything (culture, food, language, my personal life--but not too personal), please ask away. I am here.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Dear Pinguino








So today I found out that you are leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow. I don't want you to go. For some reason when Dad told me this, I thought of when we lived in the old gray house and it was your birthday. You had gotten a burro pinata and were riding it because you were still really small. I have a lot going through my mind right now, mainly you, but I just want you to know that I will constantly be praying for you and whenever I meet an Evangelical (there are many here in Guatemala), I will ask them to pray for you too. Please take care of yourself. I will have many sweet music compilations when you return. I will be waiting for you.
Love you,
me

Monday, July 7, 2008

Birthday pics for Rab








OMG, OMG...rabbits. Happy Birthday, my love.

Happy Birthday, Rabbie!

Dear Rab,
Today I went to a birthday party for my friend’s two-year old nephew. This kid is so damn cute and he has the cutest curly hair ever. The whole time I thought of you, in between all the tortillas, cake and candy I was eating. On this great day, a Rab was born. But not just any rab because as we know rabbits like to get it on, therefore, there are quite a few out there. On July 7th, 1983, the cutest little Rab was born. Her parents nicknamed her Little although, Lord knows my Rab has always had some junk in the trunk (I say this with complete respect because you know we are both there together in this department. Can’t no one mess with these Nightingale hips…wut!). So this Rab, right? She’s the cutest thing ever, but her looks aren’t all she has going for her. It turns out she is the sweetest, most sensitive being out there. And yes, sometimes her annoying Bird of a sister just wants her to get it together and not be affected by everything but really I admire you for your sweetness and wish I could be more like you. You are the greatest friend and the best sister (although you have yet to send that package that I asked for over a month ago). I miss you with all my heart and wish I could be there for your birthday. I will be celebrating in your honor by going to the PC Office, listening to wonderful information sessions, practicing for a teacher training I have to give on Tuesday and probably getting scolded by my family for being a few minutes late. Oh, I will live it up on your day. : ) I love you, Rab. Happy Birthday. Enjoy the pictures. O. O. O.

Pinguino stars

Faithful readers, friends and family:

A message from Paulo Coelho. “If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on your return.” I had this quote awhile ago and I’m not really sure which Coelho book it’s from. Nonetheless, it reappeared when I started to read Bird by Angela Johnson once more. And the quote goes so well with Roy who gave me the book. No matter what, I know Roy is always there; is always a great friend and would never betray me. Of course there’s the fam (Mom, Dad, Rab, Bear and Phillip), although Phillip has a much more coy way of showing that he is there for you, at least that is what I will tell myself. And there are a few other close friends who my love for, I hope, goes without saying. So you think of a bright star as something beautiful, really far away but always there. But really stars are constantly dying, constantly being replaced, kind of like certain people in our lives. Yet as the quote says, if you come back and its not there, then it was not pure matter. And that is totally okay. Because those stars did shine in our lives if only for a few seconds and their beauty led the way for more beautiful stars to shine.
Before, whenever I would look up at the stars I would think about nothing and everything. I would think that I was free when I’d look at them, that nothing else mattered, just the stars, the wind and me. Because for as long as I can remember, the cold air has always done something to me, made me feel invincible and invisible. I remember lying down in the backseat of the beige Taurus and looking out the half-rolled down window and starring at the stars, the trees and houses to try to figure out where exactly we were in Aurora. Since I hardly ever ride in a car anymore, I don’t try to find my way back home as much as I miss it. When I look up at the stars, I think about how far away I am from my family. I think about my brother and realize that he will soon be looking up at a different sky. And I hope that when he looks up at those stars that he will think of me and the rest of the family and how much we love him.