beautiful! Hi Sarah....what beautiful sand carpets! I can't believe the amount of work that would go into something like that. I suppose the closest thing we can compare it to is the ice sculptures during Quebec's winterfest! Glad to hear you and Walt had a nice Easter and holiday together. Good luck to Walt in his job search.
Beautiful, painstaking work I'm forever blown away by the wonderful, delicate art in these sawdust carpets. It is a gracious, impressive way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Splendid. Glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday and that all is well in your corner of the world. My best to Walter. Look forward to seeing you in July. All my love, now and always, DAD XXX OOO
You are NOT alone Not sure if you know this yet but I'm currently teaching over here and the pressures are HUGE. Not as much the pressure from the parents or admin but pressure I put on myself. I am driving myself crazy trying to be perfect. I am up super late, waking up with nightmares, then rising ridiculously early to prepare. I'm petrified by the upcoming literacy test, terrified that my students will fail and reflect badly on me, I'm worried about everything and my stress level is through the roof but Sarah, rumour has it that is what first year teaching is all about. I can't even count on my two hands the amount of times I've cried or the hours of sleep i've lost as I try try try to be my own dream teacher. The thing I'm trying to learn and come to terms with is that the perfection will all come with time and even then, I doubt it will be perfect. The first year is about survival, about just making it through on a day to day basis and it's okay to feel crappy some days and exhilarated the next. I hope everything improves there, just remember to pay attention to the small moments of beauty -- one kid opening up when they never have before, another writing with more clarity and confidence, another taking responsibility for himself when he never has before. Right now, in these first few years, its the tiny miro-moments of awesome that matter.
Bon Voyage!!! Everything about your trip sounds GREAT!! Hope you have a good time. Let me know all about it. Also let me know how your diving is, always interested and envious of that. Hope to see you this summer. Love you.
Uncle Wayne
wow, sounds like a blast sarah, enjoy your trip to peru, and i am sure you will enjoy having walt at home with you, hope he finds a job fast. well take care,
love les
Well said Kari Great advice Kari - I especially love the last bit about just learning all she can and doing her best - hang in there Sarah - I hope words of encouragment like that help!
I know you are an amazing teacher - you have touched so many kids lives already for the better
Love Mom
Just keep swimming Sarah- I know you and I both (as the only certified teachers our year) went through all these questions several times. I questioned and doubted our 'administration" so much that I eventually quit. When I returned to the states I was so worried that maybe I wasn't meant to be a teacher, maybe I wasn't a good teacher. I have since realized a few things. #1 it IS the country... Honduras just is not where Canada or the States are when it comes to education in every sense of the word. You are absolutly right about the lack of disciplain due to nannys raising kids... they do not beleive anyone is the authority. Schools and administrations have yet to take the initiative and implement any sort of system this way and until they do this will not change. #2 Once you find where you belong in the teaching world, you will know... you will look forward to going to work, to planning new lessons to seeing your students. When I taught 2 years of high school in Colorado, I was a good teacher and did my job well, but I didn't really enjoy it. When I began teachin ESL at the college level, I realized I was always meant to teach, but at this level not the secondary level. You will find where you fit, but I can almost garuntee you it will not be in Honduras, not any time soon any way. Especailly if your school is supposed to be so much better than EBH, and still isn't... just do your best, learn all you can and be the best teacher you know how to be, so that when you realize where you fit you can enjoy every part of it!! Love ya chica fruerza!
So cute and heart breaking at the same time - this brought me to tears.
I'm sure you are like an Angel to them - lovely of your friend and her family to do this
Hostels? Hello Swills,
after reading your blog, I realized that you live in Tegucigalpa. Could you advise me towards any good hostels as it is nearly impossible to find some on the net?
Thank you very much,
Dean
Worth a thousand words Hi Sarah,
I'm rereading your blogs since you've added the photos. Scenery is beautiful. It's so true - a picture is worth a thousand words (this from a words guy). Anyway, it's clear you're having a good time and that all is well. I'm still tracking the MEL story on a daily basis. Hopefully, 2010 will be a better year for beloved Honduras. Stay safe. God bless. All my love, as always, now and forever. XXX OOO
DAD
GREAT PICS HI SARAH, WONDERFUL PICS,YOU ARE SO LUCKY, I AM ENVIOUS OF YOU TRAVELING TO ALL THE PLACES YOU HAVE BEEN. KEEP ON TRAVELING, I AM LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU. HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS, NEW YEAR TO YOU AND WALTER.
LOVE LES
Loved that you could do a blog so often - Nana loved it - she had a map out and tracked where you guys were every day.
Have a safe trip back to Tegus
Love Mom
Sounds Great Sounds like you having another great time. Again I am envious. I'm heading to Cuba on Jan. 10/10. Hope to do some diving there. Sheila dives too so that would be neat. Anyway, keep having fun and sending your blogs. Love you.
Uncle Wayne
Oh adventurous travel! Hey Sarah! WOW...I must say you have had quite the amazing journey...even with the obstacles along the way, you have undoubtedly made the best of your opportunities and the results have been super! YAY! Enjoy the rest of your holidays and keep the stories coming...may the rest of your travels be filled with only happy days!!
Amazing stories! WOW Sarah!! I love living these adventures through you...you are a very visual writer, which is fantastic, as it's easy to envision all the hikes and sights you are experiencing! Keep having fun and I am so glad that all is super with Walt! Take care and keep the stories coming! Happy happy holidays!!! :D xo
Exciting! It all sounds great - what a wonderful experience for the 2 of you - enjoy the rest of your trip and Merry Christmas! We will miss you like crazy
Love Mom
no blog updates? are these your only blog updates?? i always looked forward to hearing more.. let me know if im missing any i think this is #4 since September or whenever you got there
It started with a year teaching in Honduras. Then it was home to the COLD winter of Canada to try and pay off some debts, followed by sailing the seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines, working as a youth counsellor.
Next it was back to Honduras, teaching in a school in Tegucigalpa!
Now, I am home in Canada but continue traveling.
Thanks for joining me on my journey!
"So don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wish for. Maybe you'll get more tha... full info
Shawna
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Looks like you guys had a fantastic time! Glad you had a great vacation! Love the pics and those carpets are amazing!!