http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Miss-Jenna/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Miss Jenna en-us Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:10:48 +0000 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:10:48 +0000 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 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wisconsin/Madison/blog-162211.html 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 figu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wisconsin/Madison/blog-149401.html It has been said that you don't realize how much you love someone until they are gone but this was probably said by someone who has never been away and returned after months. I have never felt such profound love and support from my family and friends as when I returned home. My hope that is that everyone during their lifetime is lucky enough to have 1. A dad who will sneak a pitbull into the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wisconsin/Madison/blog-141338.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Comayagua/blog-141069.html Once a week I have a class meeting with my students. We talk about things we like about the class and things we would like to change and the best way to make those changes. In the true spirit of 5th grade class meetings here is a list of things I love about teaching in Honduras and a list of things that I would change if I couldThings I Love About Teaching in Honduras1. My fifth graders aren't http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Comayagua/blog-101440.html 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 earli http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-95369.html Given the that we had next Monday off of school due to a national celebration of some historical figure Sarah and I decided to head to Tegucigalpa for a couple days to explore. And by explore I mean explore the mall. It was huge. Its hard to even put it into words. Although....I should probably start from the beginning. So we set off Saturday morning to catch the bus from Comayagua my new home http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-93479.html After a long weekend in the Caribbean it was time to go grocery shopping. I made a surprising discovery today. I actually found something a little more exciting than tortillas and beans that I could make for dinner. Supermercado Jumbo has coconut milk curry powder and asian noodles and had snow peas peppers and onions in their produce section. I was so excited When I got home I set to work m http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-90491.html 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 sta http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-90330.html 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 influe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Bay-Islands/Utila/blog-90249.html After arriving home from the parade I took about 15 minutes to pack a small carry on bag full of stuff for a six day vacation to the Carribean island of Utila. For those of you who know me well this was no small feat. I usually have a full sized suitcase for a three day weekend. I was proud of myself to say the least. After gathering the troops six of us all together we sent out to find the Ra http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/La-Ceiba/blog-90232.html Today was our only day of school this week. Tomorrow there is no school because we will be marching in the parade and WednesdayFriday there will be no school due to the national holiday. I 've found a one day school week to be relatively pointless but we had fun playing games and catching up on homework and all that jazz. I had a student bring me a CD he made today. I don't know what to make of i http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-89832.html After a long day of ponponara practice Sarah and I headed for home and promptly passed out for a few hours. We almost didn't get up Saturday night and once we did we really had no ambition to go out. Being the troopers that we are however we prettied ourselves up for a night of dancing and went out to explore a new bar we had heard about from some friends.What we discovered that night11pm2am http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-89665.html Not much to report from the beginning of this weekend. I felt absolutely horrible Friday morning and thought that I might pass out in front of my class. Another teacher mentioned this to our principal Mr. Cesar who promptly started 20 questions. Being that I was feeling nauseous and it was the morning I'm thinking he might have been thinking one of two things I was hungover or I was pregnant. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-89646.html As one might be able to tell from the title above my students have a brilliant command of our classroom language Spanglish. I can't think of the perfect translation of desfilar but it more or less means to line up and march i.e. for a parade. Escuela Bilingue Honduras grades 5seniors will be marching in a parade on Tuesday morning at 6a.m. and my students were less then enthusiastic durin http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-87057.html I can honestly say that I have not had a dull day with my fifth graders. On Friday I told them if they spoke Spanish during English classes they would have to translate their favorite song from Spanish to English and hand it into me by Monday. This is my favorite translation handed to me today. It is a reggaeton song by Daddy Yankee called Rompe translated to English. FYIReggaeton is the equiv http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-86610.html Mom breathe...I know how excited this title must make you however I have not found anyone who will let me steal thier babies. But I did find a way to borrow them on a regular basis I forgot to put the most exciting part of my day on my Friday update. Mr. Cesar the principal announced that they would be opening a nursery class next year for three year olds. AND if I stay the job is mine http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-86605.html Its Friday and I am well rested. I went to take a nap yesterday afternoon at about 5p.m. and I woke up at about 5a.m. this morning. I am ready to take on the world which to me is a small classroom labeled 5AI have some good stories from today or maybe they are just funny to me because I got so much sleep. Upon arriving today I had a little guy come up to me and say Meees you look beautiful t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-86261.html Thursday day 4 of the school year. I just have one short story from today. Today during science I required my students to get into groups of two or three and come up with their own imaginary living organism and describe how it utilized the 6 life processes write it down and draw a picture. My favorite was the halfman halfmartian. It gets energy by eating human skin cells and grass I don't http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-86079.html So for all of you that were hoping to learn more about Honduras from my blog you will have to wait until school is finished as the next 9 months will probably be overflowing with stories about the 5th graders. For those of you who know me well this really isn't a huge leap from my days at Head Start. However now you have the chance to read them instead of politely pretend to listen Today I http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-86075.html