Background: Students in the elementary are supposed to line up in boy and girl lines after recess and lunch for teachers to come and neatly collect them for class. A couple of my girl students like to fight over my left arm (which is the front of the girl's "line"), but seeing as how most of the fifth grade doesn't actually walk in lines (knowing they won't have to in sixth grade), both of my arms are usually occupied by these two girls. Over the last few weeks, more girls from my class have started to join in this race to me and my popular arms, and today things got a little ridiculous.
After lunch I had a swarm of girls flock to me with big grins, hands reaching out towards me from all sides. There were at least two or three girls trying to get ahold of each arm. One of the girls who feels closer to me (she usually stays after school to do homework, help me clean, and play games with me) reached for a leg, and another started for the other. I evaded the second girl, laughing and hopping unsteadily, towards the classroom. There was talk of carrying me down to the room. I realize I was entirely unprofessional in my demeanor, but I know I have their respect. I could have stopped the fun with a look, but I think I'm feeling more sentimental as summer is approaching. I'm trying to prepare my heart to say goodbye (to my students, to the Micah boys), and it's going to be rough.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Guatemala Semana Santa
Hi guys!!!
As you may or may not know, for Semana Santa (Holy Week) some friends and I went to Guatemala. It was absolutely fantastic: rich in culture, vibrant colors, and, let's say...a diversity of experiences. :o)
We took a bus from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador, El Salvador, then took a second from there to Guatemala City. We stayed the night at a hostel (Quetzalroo, owned by a Guatemalan and an Aussie couple), and the next day took off (by chicken bus) for Panajachel. Panajachel has an ENORMOUS lake surrounded by volcanoes, and the community has a very islandy/hippie feel to it. It was, by far, my favorite part of the trip. We took a boat to see other little towns across the lake, too. After a few days we headed over to Antigua for the sawdust carpets and Easter processionals. All gorgeous, but also crowded. Somewhere in the midst of the week we also went salsa dancing, I got left on a chicken bus by myself for a terrifying 5-10 minutes, and I developed a deep love for the national bird of Guatemala, the quetzal. (Quetzals symbolize freedom because they can't survive domestication.)
I put my pictures together in an album on facebook, which you can access here (even if you don't have a facebook account):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2038178&id=65800756&l=3cf7cd822b
In closing, here is a quetzal for your enjoyment:
As you may or may not know, for Semana Santa (Holy Week) some friends and I went to Guatemala. It was absolutely fantastic: rich in culture, vibrant colors, and, let's say...a diversity of experiences. :o)
We took a bus from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador, El Salvador, then took a second from there to Guatemala City. We stayed the night at a hostel (Quetzalroo, owned by a Guatemalan and an Aussie couple), and the next day took off (by chicken bus) for Panajachel. Panajachel has an ENORMOUS lake surrounded by volcanoes, and the community has a very islandy/hippie feel to it. It was, by far, my favorite part of the trip. We took a boat to see other little towns across the lake, too. After a few days we headed over to Antigua for the sawdust carpets and Easter processionals. All gorgeous, but also crowded. Somewhere in the midst of the week we also went salsa dancing, I got left on a chicken bus by myself for a terrifying 5-10 minutes, and I developed a deep love for the national bird of Guatemala, the quetzal. (Quetzals symbolize freedom because they can't survive domestication.)
I put my pictures together in an album on facebook, which you can access here (even if you don't have a facebook account):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2038178&id=65800756&l=3cf7cd822b
In closing, here is a quetzal for your enjoyment:
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