Surprise! I'm BACK in MICHIGAN!!! Whoo-Hooo!!! I arrived this weekend for 3 weeks with family and friends in the BEAUTIFUL state of MICHIGAN!!! (then I head back to Honduras early January for another 8-?? months). It was a complete surprise to my family (except my sister, Angel, knew), and it was great to see their reactions! It's fabulous being home! I was a little concerned about adjusting, etc. But as soon as I landed in Detroit I felt right at home again! And it's amazing how easy it is to communicate here! It's strange that complete strangers have no problem understanding [View Full Entry]

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So today all the Mayatan students had a Christmas program. Each grade or class did something special (a play, song, skit, whatever). We've been planning and preparing for weeks, so it was an exciting way to end before....CHRISTMAS VACATION!! We have the next 3 weeks. Yeah, a bit sad because I really do love the kids! But also a much needed break. I plan to enjoy it all! ALSO, I've been planning for our next mission trip to La Joya!!! (read the earlier posts about our trip this summer.) I'm so excited to be back with my kids and do more [View Full Entry]

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OK, so these pictures are actually from August...they've been saved on here since then, just waiting for me to actually WRITE something. I wanted to include a picture of the small mountain/big hill that we climbed so you could see why we call it the "elephant", but that will have to wait until another day. (I'm such a slacker). Anyway, from my host family's house we can go down a steep slope (after crossed a barbed wire fence), then "balance" on a tube over a small river/big stream, walk through a make-shift soccer field, and finally make our way up "the [View Full Entry]

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Last night, walking home from town, I froze as I rounded the last turn. There out in front and above me, nearly close enough to touch, I saw the clearest sky laden with piercingly bright stars. Absolutely amazing! I stood there in the middle of the dirt road staring at this surreal image. I could almost feel a warmth from the soft black sky as it surrounded my tiny neighborhood. Never had I felt the stars that close, that much an intimate part of my personal existence. I gazed up and out, reveling in the sheer pureness of the moment as [View Full Entry]

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WOW!! So Aric arrived in Honduras last Saturday, and then we went to the airport to pick up his "friend" on Sunday...who actually ended up to be my MOTHER!!! She decided last minute to come too and SURPRISED me like none other!! Incredible! We rented a car and got back to Copan Sunday night, then spent the next three days... - visiting the ruins - exploring Copan Ruinas and meeting my friends - going to a co-op coffee finca - trying some "exotic" fruits - visiting Mayatan school - going to the Bird Park - Horse back riding to La Pintada [View Full Entry]

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Just some snipets of what's happening here in Copán... Busy + Good = Life Last Friday I had a super great day at school. I was doing the tutoring sessions and it really seemed like we were getting somewhere... LEARNING WAS TAKING PLACE!!! An amazing feeling! Also, last week was the first time I was back with my tutoring students after 7 straight school days of substituting. (When a teacher is sick or can't be there, I've been the default sub. Which I don't completely mind because I've gotten to work with nearly every single grade Pre-K through 9th. It's fun [View Full Entry]

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On Saturday, November 4th, a dear Honduran teacher at Mayatan passed away. Merian had suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and was taken to a hospital in San Pedro Sula, a large city about 3 hours away. We had thought she was getting better, but she took a turn for the worse Friday night. Her visitation was Saturday evening and the funeral was the next afternoon. Merian had worked at Mayatan for about 15 years, practically since the school was founded. As a teacher's aid for first grade, she knew nearly every student at the school. In the afternoon's and [View Full Entry]

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I AM FREEZING!!!! Someone just told me the temperature here is 63 degrees. It feels like it's 40! (So much for that Michigan blood! I'm going to be an ice-cube my first winter back in the States!) So a cold front is coming through and I think it's the coldest it's been in the 9 months I've been here. (WHOO-HOO! Side Note: I celebrated my 9 month Honduran Anniversary on October 23rd...that's the half-way point of my year and a half "commitment"....but that still doesn't say when I'm coming home.) I'm bundled up with sweatshirts and my muscles are sore from [View Full Entry]

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There's a tiny Mayan community about a 45 minute walk into the mountains from Copán Ruinas. There's not much there. Three rooms comprise the school, there's a soccer field, and several huts. Organizations have also contributed to build a "shop" where the community sells the corn husk dolls they make. There's also a restaurant that serves chicken and natural juices, and will let you try your hand at making corn tortillas! Down a small incline is a simple, but attractive building where the woman of La Pintada weave. For hours on end they sit at their looms weaving brightly colored yarn [View Full Entry]

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As a last-minute trip, I went with my host family to Aguas Calientes (Hot Waters) about 45 minutes from our house. Forty-five minutes in the back of a pick-up, on a dirt, often washed out, road, winding through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery ever! Aguas Calientes are natural hot springs. They've recently created a "spa-like" tourist place on the other side of the river. I went with some teachers back in August. It's really a lovely place, and relaxing to just sit in the natural hot-tub. On this side of the river though, there are just two swimming pools [View Full Entry]

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