Miss Jenna

As I read a former coworker's blog about corruption and injustice in Honduras, I began to reflect on my time there but even more so, the time I have spent back in the states. Growing up, I was quite possibly the most optimistic, idealistic child you could have ever met. After university, with a degree in cultural anthropology, I was ready to take on the world. Two years of working at Head Start (preschool program for children from low income families and children with disabilities) and I still thought I was making a difference. Honduras definitely took some of that fight out of me, but it has been my time back that has made me realize that just as much corruption and injustice takes place here. We are just better at hiding it from the world. ... read more

I wore flip flops outside today for the first time since I have been back in the states. My mood has mimicked Wisconsin springtime weather for the past few months, sunny and warm and then suddenly stormy and frigid. Getting readjusted to the weather and pace of life back home has been some what of a rollercoaster ride. But being as it is sunny and warm outside and I feel much the same way, I figured it would be a good time to update my blog. Stories from School (I wish more than anything I could share the precious pictures of the children and families I work with. However, for the sake of their privacy and my job, I will try to describe their shining smiles and entertaining personalities through words alone.) Me: "Oh, , ... read more

Almost all of my entries have been positive and up beat, so I apologize in advance for this one. I was very sad about leaving Honduras and no matter how I tried, I couldn't put a spin on it. I had planned to stay in Honduras for a couple years, if not more. And I've never been a person to walk away from a job, especially one I love. Unfortunately, however, with distance during family illnesses, personal safety concerns and dealing with a school administration that does not value their teachers or students, I had to reconsider where I was needed most. I know it was one of the most difficult decisions made during my relatively short life thus far. Ultimately, I was offered a job working with working with children and families back in ... read more

Eight in the morning is usually a late morning here for us in Honduras, however it felf very early to me as I had only had two hours of sleep the night prior. It would have been a day for sleeping in had we not had plans to go to the small town (more like village) of Rio Negro, which is about a 2 hour drive up a mountain from the city of Comayagua. Chris (Mr. Chris, grade 3) had asked around earlier in the week to see if there would be anyone interested in going up to Rio Negro with himself and Hector in Hector's Land Cruiser that usually runs on vegetable oil (I will never get over that. Too cool!). Hector is an acquintance of Chris' who, as I learned on the way up ... read more

Its never good to wake up with a fever and chills, but even worse to wake up here with a fever and chills. I didn't feel so hot this morning when I woke so I wrote about 6 pages of directions for the sub and asked Sarah to let Mr. Cesar (our principal) know I was sick. I soon thereafter curled up on the couch underneath my down comforter and fell back asleep. When I woke up, there was three men standing over me. Although I was startled, I realized it was the school maintenence man and two of the workers who had come to fix our water tanks. After a two minute conversation and Saoul (little maintenance man) feeling my forehead, he called the school from our phone to let them know, apparently, that I ... read more

Rising, like always, before the sun does, we got up and ready to go catch the 9 a.m. ferry that was a walk, a bus ride, and a taxi ride away. I would just like to add that it only took me 40 minutes to take a shower and get ready and I was ready to go on time! Like I said in my last blog, anyone who knows be knows that that is quite the accomplishment for me. I think the Caribbean is a good influence :) La Ceiba is much more hot and sticky than Comayagua and we felt its full effects while walking around and waiting for buses. After we left the hotel, we caught a bus downtown in order to catch another bus that would take us out to the ferry. However, ... read more