Simple, quiet, shy, approval-seeking.
Celeste looks like a little angel. She sits quietly, observing the antics of her classmates, usually with a shy little smile playing on her lips. Her dark eyes don't miss much. As the year passed I watched her interact more and more.
I'll never forget one morning....
I walked into class, having dared God to show me that he was somewhere in this mundane, tiring routine.
Celeste showed up at my side on that bright, warm morning. I can still see her beaming face in the morning sunlight that shone through the doorway.
"Miss! My mom will have a baby!"
Next thing I knew, she grabbed me around the waist with stronger arms than I'd anticipated. And she didn't let go! I stood there and held her, trying to ask more questions--"Is it a boy or a girl?" "When will the baby be born?" She either shook her head, shrugged her shoulders, and gave me that I-don't-understand-that-word-in-English look. Only her HUGE smile stayed in place. I finally gave up, grinning in return. And I hugged her back.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Student Files: Katherine
Ah, Princess Katherine. She's brilliant and somewhat precocious.
Just last week she taught me about teaching.
Katherine didn't want to do the Science review sheet. School comes easily to her, but sometimes she gets tired of the tedious busy work that is so necessary for some of my students. So she sat there and distracted Geovanny and Andrea, tossing her hair, letting her diamond eyes sparkle as she giggled and screamed in outrage at Geovanny's response.
I kept walking past her desk, encouraging her to finish so she wouldn't have homework. Finally I gave her a time limit for the first 4 questions. When she accomplished those I gave her 3 more minutes for the next 5 questions. She lit up. She loves to rise to the challenge. Soon she had the entire worksheet finished and glowed with pride.
I love watching her shakes her foot back and forth, throw her head back, and raise her eyebrows as she taunts the boys. I love watching her swirl around the classroom with Sally--uniform skirt twirling, black shoes slipping, long brown hair flying--not a care in the world. I love the light in her eyes when she asks me if she can have "Bonus Points" in addition to the "Extra Credit" question at the end of the test.
Today she hung on my neck as we said goodbye. I looked down at her face, trying not to giggle at the body glitter clinging to her cheeks, and realized that she has a piece of my heart.
Just last week she taught me about teaching.
Katherine didn't want to do the Science review sheet. School comes easily to her, but sometimes she gets tired of the tedious busy work that is so necessary for some of my students. So she sat there and distracted Geovanny and Andrea, tossing her hair, letting her diamond eyes sparkle as she giggled and screamed in outrage at Geovanny's response.
I kept walking past her desk, encouraging her to finish so she wouldn't have homework. Finally I gave her a time limit for the first 4 questions. When she accomplished those I gave her 3 more minutes for the next 5 questions. She lit up. She loves to rise to the challenge. Soon she had the entire worksheet finished and glowed with pride.
I love watching her shakes her foot back and forth, throw her head back, and raise her eyebrows as she taunts the boys. I love watching her swirl around the classroom with Sally--uniform skirt twirling, black shoes slipping, long brown hair flying--not a care in the world. I love the light in her eyes when she asks me if she can have "Bonus Points" in addition to the "Extra Credit" question at the end of the test.
Today she hung on my neck as we said goodbye. I looked down at her face, trying not to giggle at the body glitter clinging to her cheeks, and realized that she has a piece of my heart.
Student Files: Javier
Every morning I walk towards 5A, with my Mathbook and waterbottle in hand and my backpack on my back. Every morning I get ten steps from the door when Javier spots me and rushes to my side, sticking out his chubby arms to pry the waterbottle from my hands; "Let me help you miss!"
His daily conversation usually starts with, "I am happy today, Miss!"
"Oh really, Javier. That's good! Why are you happy today?"
He cocks his head, tilting his glasses at a precarious angle, then twists his head to the other side as he screws up his nose to think about my question.
"I no know, Miss."
Sometimes I can't help but laugh, and he laughs with me. "Okay, Javier."
Usually he hovers at my desk as I attempt to manage a hundred things at once--write the page number on the board, announce the 60 seconds that the class has until they have to be ready, field any complaints like "Miss! Cristian has my pencil!!!" and answer any questions about yesterday's assignment. Through this mini-crisis, Javier stands and waits for a piece of my attention.
His unending love and patience with his classmates continues to amaze me. They tease him and hurt his feelings, but he never hesitates to lend his eraser or run an errand for them.
His daily conversation usually starts with, "I am happy today, Miss!"
"Oh really, Javier. That's good! Why are you happy today?"
He cocks his head, tilting his glasses at a precarious angle, then twists his head to the other side as he screws up his nose to think about my question.
"I no know, Miss."
Sometimes I can't help but laugh, and he laughs with me. "Okay, Javier."
Usually he hovers at my desk as I attempt to manage a hundred things at once--write the page number on the board, announce the 60 seconds that the class has until they have to be ready, field any complaints like "Miss! Cristian has my pencil!!!" and answer any questions about yesterday's assignment. Through this mini-crisis, Javier stands and waits for a piece of my attention.
His unending love and patience with his classmates continues to amaze me. They tease him and hurt his feelings, but he never hesitates to lend his eraser or run an errand for them.
Student Files: Kora
Oh Kora. Smart as a whip. Most of the time I think she looks bored in class because she understands things the first time I explain them. She usually starts on her Math assignment before I've even finished the sample problem.
A few weeks ago Kora decided that we look alike (I think our hair is a similar color... it must mean we're twins!). She keeps bugging me to "make an announcement" to the class to see if anyone else thinks we look alike.
On the last day of school I suddenly realized that Kora has attached herself to me. She followed me everywhere, half-hugging me, and tried to use my vocabulary (I told her that "hilarious" means "very very funny." haha!). This realization hit me when I looked down after the bell had rung at the end of the day and saw her eyes misted with tears.
Oh Kora. How did I not realize how sensitive you are?
A few weeks ago Kora decided that we look alike (I think our hair is a similar color... it must mean we're twins!). She keeps bugging me to "make an announcement" to the class to see if anyone else thinks we look alike.
On the last day of school I suddenly realized that Kora has attached herself to me. She followed me everywhere, half-hugging me, and tried to use my vocabulary (I told her that "hilarious" means "very very funny." haha!). This realization hit me when I looked down after the bell had rung at the end of the day and saw her eyes misted with tears.
Oh Kora. How did I not realize how sensitive you are?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Beginning of the End
Last weekend we traveled the Lake Yojoa region, hitting up our favorite spots--it turned into a ''Goodbye Tour'' of Honduras! We spent Friday night and Sabbath hiking the mountain and swimming in waterfalls at the Parque Nacional Cerra Azul Meambar (a repeat of our first trip of the year). On Sunday we stopped at the Puhlapanzak waterfall--a few of us waded in the crystal clear river above the waterfall (which probably shouldn't be allowed).
On our way back we stopped at another Adventist orphanage in Peña Blanca and I met Verlene Youngbird. She's worked at the orphanage for 49 years, and is connected to my home church! I realized while talking to her that her orphanage is the reason why I'm in Honduras this year--I grew up hearing stories about Honduras, so when it came to choosing a call I specifically looked here! I'm so glad we stumbled upon it!
Today the principle came to my door and told me to get my students out of the classroom (mini fire alert--some of the wiring in the building had sparked). While trying to keep my kids in some semblance of order on the cancha (basketball court), I tried not to laugh as Geovanny (from 5B) ran around from teacher to teacher with his "microphone." One of my 4th grade students, Geovanny's camera crew, bent his right arm and stuck it out as a video camera. Geovanny thrust his fist under my chin; "This is Maranatha TV. How do you feel???"
This morning Bethani and Hannah put their suitcases in the back of one of the school administrator's truck (the same one we piled our mountain of stuff into at the beginning of the year) and drove to the airport. Two more missinaries fly home June 2. The last of us leave June 10! I have exactly 6 days of teaching left. Then final tests. Then I have to say goodbye.
How did it happen so fast???
On our way back we stopped at another Adventist orphanage in Peña Blanca and I met Verlene Youngbird. She's worked at the orphanage for 49 years, and is connected to my home church! I realized while talking to her that her orphanage is the reason why I'm in Honduras this year--I grew up hearing stories about Honduras, so when it came to choosing a call I specifically looked here! I'm so glad we stumbled upon it!
Today the principle came to my door and told me to get my students out of the classroom (mini fire alert--some of the wiring in the building had sparked). While trying to keep my kids in some semblance of order on the cancha (basketball court), I tried not to laugh as Geovanny (from 5B) ran around from teacher to teacher with his "microphone." One of my 4th grade students, Geovanny's camera crew, bent his right arm and stuck it out as a video camera. Geovanny thrust his fist under my chin; "This is Maranatha TV. How do you feel???"
This morning Bethani and Hannah put their suitcases in the back of one of the school administrator's truck (the same one we piled our mountain of stuff into at the beginning of the year) and drove to the airport. Two more missinaries fly home June 2. The last of us leave June 10! I have exactly 6 days of teaching left. Then final tests. Then I have to say goodbye.
How did it happen so fast???
Hogar de Ninos
Hey world!
I don't think I could exaggerate the highs and lows of teaching. Lastweek I felt like a failure. Eduardo openly disrespected me 3 times inone class period. I gave him a warning.... but detention doesn't scarehim anymore. I kept 5 of my fourth graders a total of 11 minutes afterschool. They couldn't sit quietly for 5 minutes altogether, so I hadto keep restarting their time. Sigh.
This weekend four of us visited Reach International's Hogar de Niñosin Santa Barbara--a small orphanage of 40 children. I enjoyed sharingwith the SMs there (from Andrews, Southern, and Germany???),discussing our Honduran experiences and hearing their thoughts duringSabbath School (in English!!! how refreshing!). I loved thefamily-feel of the small community of workers and kids. On Sunday wehelped out with chores--I peeled and chopped potatoes and made a messof the green peppers. One girl, Martha, followed Andrea and I aroundall weekend. haha!
Today Eduardo handed me my waterbottle as I left the classroom andgave me the most adorable shy smile and hug that any 12-year-old boycan give. Those darn kids.
I don't think I could exaggerate the highs and lows of teaching. Lastweek I felt like a failure. Eduardo openly disrespected me 3 times inone class period. I gave him a warning.... but detention doesn't scarehim anymore. I kept 5 of my fourth graders a total of 11 minutes afterschool. They couldn't sit quietly for 5 minutes altogether, so I hadto keep restarting their time. Sigh.
This weekend four of us visited Reach International's Hogar de Niñosin Santa Barbara--a small orphanage of 40 children. I enjoyed sharingwith the SMs there (from Andrews, Southern, and Germany???),discussing our Honduran experiences and hearing their thoughts duringSabbath School (in English!!! how refreshing!). I loved thefamily-feel of the small community of workers and kids. On Sunday wehelped out with chores--I peeled and chopped potatoes and made a messof the green peppers. One girl, Martha, followed Andrea and I aroundall weekend. haha!
Today Eduardo handed me my waterbottle as I left the classroom andgave me the most adorable shy smile and hug that any 12-year-old boycan give. Those darn kids.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Glimpses of Honduras
As of this week I have four more weeks of normal teaching. Every other day brings alternate reactions. Yesterday I couldn't imagine leaving my students, my fellow SMs, the people I've come to know, and this beautiful country. Today I can hardly wait to see my family and friends and to simply be home.
On Sunday we made another day trip to Valle de Angeles, the little tourist shopping town on the other side of Tegucigalpa. I stocked up on souvenirs I've wanted all year. The best part of the trip would have to be our stop at a park in Tegucigalpa--Cristo de Picacho!
We took a taxi to the top of a hill and enjoyed an amazing panoramic view of the city! We payed the 5 Lempira charge (25 cents) to get into the zoo and watched leopards groom themselves, alligators sit like bumps on a log, and monkeys swing and perform for their audience. My mouth dropped open when one baby monkey wriggled through the chain link fence and scampered away free of its cage... I guess that happens all the time? ha! Then we took pictures with the actual ''Cristo de Picacho'' a HUGE statue of Jesus overlooking the entire city. Awesome!
I wish I could describe how much I love my kids. I wanted to tell you a cute story from today's classes to illustrate my feelings. Only distinct images came to mind:
--Katherine's hair and uniform skirt twirling as she landed gracefully in her desk.
--Little Ana pressing herself against me, ducking her head shyly and asking, ''Miss, am I a candidate for Student of the Week tomorrow?''
--Orlando's quiet shrug and half smile, half grimace when I asked him to come do a problem on the board.
Yes, they're adorable when they're not running around yelling their heads off! haha!
On Sunday we made another day trip to Valle de Angeles, the little tourist shopping town on the other side of Tegucigalpa. I stocked up on souvenirs I've wanted all year. The best part of the trip would have to be our stop at a park in Tegucigalpa--Cristo de Picacho!
We took a taxi to the top of a hill and enjoyed an amazing panoramic view of the city! We payed the 5 Lempira charge (25 cents) to get into the zoo and watched leopards groom themselves, alligators sit like bumps on a log, and monkeys swing and perform for their audience. My mouth dropped open when one baby monkey wriggled through the chain link fence and scampered away free of its cage... I guess that happens all the time? ha! Then we took pictures with the actual ''Cristo de Picacho'' a HUGE statue of Jesus overlooking the entire city. Awesome!
I wish I could describe how much I love my kids. I wanted to tell you a cute story from today's classes to illustrate my feelings. Only distinct images came to mind:
--Katherine's hair and uniform skirt twirling as she landed gracefully in her desk.
--Little Ana pressing herself against me, ducking her head shyly and asking, ''Miss, am I a candidate for Student of the Week tomorrow?''
--Orlando's quiet shrug and half smile, half grimace when I asked him to come do a problem on the board.
Yes, they're adorable when they're not running around yelling their heads off! haha!
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