Blogs from Central, Honduras, Central America Caribbean - page 3

Since my interview on the phone with the American School, they've asked me to direct a musical at the school. With 130 kids auditioned, we decided I had to take all children, so we divided them by grade group and we called it "The Best of Broadway" featuring songs from the musicals Peter Pan, Annie, Oliver!, Moulin Rouge, The Sound of Music, Grease, Wicked, and Bye Bye Birdie. Each group learned 2 musical numbers during separate practices after school. I had a special dance ensemble (composed of 4th and 5th graders) learn additional pieces during lunch hours. I also had some 3rd-5th graders as "transitional actors" reading bits of information between the numbers and providing the opening of the show. It was very much done in the same kind of way as we do musical productions ... read more

Walt and I had a great vacation. I am very sad that today is my last day before I must return to school. As soon as my parent/teacher interviews were done I was off in a taxi to the bus station, then heading for Comayagua. Saturday morning we woke up at 6am to go catch a rapidito (mini-bus or van) to Siguatapeque. This was the start of our good luck that day. We JUST caught the van as it was about to pull away. Once we arrived in Sigua, we caught a taxi to the Don Tiki restaurant where we were going to catch our bus. The bad news was that the buses to La Ceiba (where we need to catch the ferry to Roatan) were all full until 1:30pm (it was about 7:30am at this ... read more

Counting down the days until Friday. One more week of school before Semana Santa (Holy Week) and we are off on vacation! THANK GOODNESS! School continues to be frustrating. Our students aren't responding to the school-wide discipline policies. I'm sure it's because there are no consequences at home, but it's hard to motivate 1/2 of our class to do anything. I'm reconciling with the mother who thinks I do nothing to accommodate her son (my hardest case) as she finally realizes I'm not the only one struggling with him. It's to the point where the principal told her the other day that as an administrator who taught for many years SHE'S even at a loss for what to do with this child. The mother didn't like that answer so she went to the superintendent who suggested ... read more

Warning: This entry is a long rant of me whining and complaining. If you aren't going to feel sorry for me, don't read it ;) Also, it's a private entry so only those signed in may see it. Life as a teacher has been frustrating lately. I'm unsure of whether it's this Country, my school, my current position, or me... I had a breakdown in my principal's office last week. I went to talk about things I needed for the musical (black theatre boxes, curtains, etc.) but instead we got a little off topic and discussed a whole lot more: We discussed the LICE incident and how because of their neglect last time (AND making me feel like I was crazy and my words had no validity) there was another outbreak in my class (AND first ... read more

We start with Christmas and end with Valentine's Day... A friend of mine from home decided that this year for Christmas, her Christmas presents with her immediate family would be instead to spend the money on shipping a box of her son's old baby clothes to me in Honduras to donate to the people here. I was touched and felt truly blessed to have such a friend. The box took a few months to arrive but it came in perfect timing. I was heading to Comayagua this weekend to visit Walter, and would be able to take the box to the centre (where Walt teaches) where I would distribute the clothes to those in need. Friday was a "Winter Holiday" from school. Sarah and Jimmy were heading to Comayagua to see Jimmy's family and so they ... read more