One Month Anniversary

I have been living in Xela for exactly one month now, and it is hard to believe that I have been here for so long! It seems like time is flying by!

I currently have a tos (cough), which I have had for about five days now! I really don't have any other symptoms, but I have been coughing so much lately that my ribs are sore! However, the good news is that I have insurance, and the school secretary's sister is a doctor. I talked with the secretary before I left school, and she is going to try to get me an appointment tomorrow! Also, I learned today that fig leaves supposedly help cure a cough. My Spanish teacher told me that she would bring some to our lesson tomorrow, so I will have to let you know if they really do work!

ON

My love for Old Navy doesn't have to end while I'm here in Guatemala! As I was looking online at Old Navy's new arrivals for fall, I learned that they now ship internationally...AND GUATEMALA IS INCLUDED! As you might guess, I am very, very excited!!

Party Girl

On the way home from school today, I stopped at a cafe that is owned by a couple from Missouri. I pass this cafe at least twice a day on my way to the bus stop, and they claim to have "the best cinnamon rolls in Xela"! I had to see for myself...I'm not sure if they're the best in Xela, (because it was the first cinnamon roll I've eaten since I've been here!) but it was warm, gooey, and delicious! The icing on it was really good too! As I ate the tasty cinnamon roll, I talked with the owner. He and his wife have lived in Xela for 10 years now. (He taught high school science at IAS his first year here!) They have a mission that consists of micro-business projects. One project that they are working on right now is called Party Girl. By Thanksgiving or Christmas, they are hoping to open a dress shop that sells only party dresses. Money from this dress shop will be used to meet the daily needs of Guatemalans here in Xela. Dresses are being collected in the U.S. and will be shipped to Guatemala. So...if you are interested in donating any party dresses like prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, evening gowns, or other formal dresses, let me know, and I will give you the address in Missouri so that you can send them! I'm thinking that this could be a cool opportunity for you and your sorority, Bible study, church group, etc.

Updated Pics of the Classroom

I think the room will always bee a work in progress :)

Multiple views of my desk area

Right side, near the front of the room

Left side of the room

To the right of my desk area, in the back of the room

At home...the dog, Beba, is the same size as a plastic pony!

 

This Week

School is well underway! Tomorrow night we have Open House and then a PTA meeting immediately following. Allie said I should bake cookies like the teacher from Freedom Writers, but also like in Freedom Writers, I don't think many parents are going to come. Today only two students in one class raised their hands when I asked if their parents are coming. I think I'm still going to wear a cute dress to school so that I can impress the few parents that do come! You know, I only have one shot at making a good first impression! 

It's interesting to slowly learn the students' backgrounds. For Bible homework tonight, I asked the students to recite their weekly memory verse to someone at their house who is older than them. One student asked if the maid counted. Last week, another student sent his bodyguard to run errands for him. The students definitely come from affluent families!

On a more personal note, I have been having some stomach issues since eating Chinese food for dinner Friday night. (I know what you're thinking...Chinese food in Guatemala sounds weird, but the owner of the restaurant sends his two kids to the school.) If things don't get better soon, I am going to get tested for an amoeba. As I am learning, amoebas are actually pretty common here in Guatemala. So, there is specific medicine for each type of amoeba, and it only costs Q40, which is about $5, to get tested. 

Also, I have my first official one-on-one Spanish lesson this Wednesday! I met the teacher this afternoon, and she seems very nice. We are going to meet once a week for two hours at a time. I am really hoping that I can quickly pick up conversational Spanish! It's hard to interact with Guatemalans when I can't say much beyond "How are you?" and "It's cold/hot today."

Too Much Black

Today I wore black flats, skinny black pants, and a black blouse. One of the sixth grade boys asked me if someone in my family died...haha, too funny! I'm thinking I need to wear some color tomorrow!

Guatemalan Aerobics

I like aerobics classes for three main reasons...
1. I like the cardio aspect.
2. I think it's more fun that just running on a treadmill or working out on some other machine.
3. I am not very coordinated, and I think it's really funny when I'm off beat.

Today I got to experience aerobics Guatemalan style. I went to a gym near my house with another teacher from school. It only costs Q15 per visit or Q100 for the entire month, which is really cheap. We worked out on our own for about 45 minutes before the class began. I would describe the class as a very fast-paced, Salsa dancing, Zumba class. The teacher was a Guatemalan guy with corn rows. At times I just kept thinking that I don't think my hips move that way! The other teacher and I only lasted for about 30 minutes, but it was really fun! I won't be surprised if I am sore in the morning!

Comida

Some things I don't like, but Betty serves A LOT...

• Ham
• Processed cheese (like Kraft singles)
• Mayo
• White bread
• Plantains (usually served with spaghetti)

For dinner, I had mac and cheese (which was yummy!) with a ham and processed cheese omelet and a white roll. I'm sure you're thinking...that is a very yellow plate! Trust me, I know! I think I'm having vegetable withdrawals! If I ever do eat some veggies here, I will have to let them soak in bleach. The grocery store sells a specific vegetable bleach. When I first heard this, I thought it sounded unsafe, but everyone does it!


On the positive side, Betty makes some amazing pancakes! Sometimes they have bananas in them! Ever since I told her I like them, she has made them for me almost every morning, which is so, so sweet! The one difference is that she serves them either with honey or strawberry jelly. They are a great way to start my day!

Earthquake Prone

I didn't know this until today, but earthquakes are common in Guatemala. This morning we had a small earthquake, magnitude 4.9. According to the USGS, the earthquake's epicenter was about 25 miles SW of Xela. Honestly, I wouldn't even have known that it was an earthquake unless someone had told me. It just seemed like a heavy wind. It was kind of funny though, because it happened during church while we were praying!

Check out the USGS Report

Walmart is taking over the world, one country at a time!

Guatemala now has Walmart! This morning I went to the mall that houses Walmart. Guatemalans don't call it Walmart, though. They still refer to it as Hiper Paiz. I was shocked to find:

• mini cheddar Goldfish
• Muenster cheese
• Chips Ahoy
• Dunkaroos
• Snyder's pretzel sticks
• Crayola markers and crayons

So I probably would have packed a little differently now that I know what I can buy here!

First Days of School

The past two days have been surprisingly smooth, and I am not nearly as nervous now as I was yesterday morning! The students are very respectful and kind compared to some of the students I have taught in the past. For instance, when I gave the students their textbooks, most of them said "Thank you". Yesterday, we talked about classroom procedures, expectations, and discipline policies (which I had to implement today, because one student kept leaning back in his chair after multiple verbal warnings). I also had every student answer 20 questions about themselves. Here are some funny responses...

Q: Do you have any pets? If so, what?
A: I have a dog. It's little. It is white with black spots. It's name is Hitler.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I would like to be a designer of clothes. I would also like to be Justin Bieber's wife. That would be awesome.

Q: What did you do this summer?
A: I got the Justin Bieber book and watched videos of Justin Bieber online. (I am in love.)


Q: If math was a color, what color would it be?
A: I guess red, because red is like a really important color.


Q: What did your last Facebook status say?
A: If things don't go right, go left.


Q: Who do you live with at home?
A: At home I live alone, just kidding. I live with my mom, brother, sister, and father.


Q: What do you want to do when you grow up?
A: I want to be a farmer and an administrator of real estate.


Ok, I won't bore you with anymore, but I just think kids are so funny! I am very, very excited to be teaching! The only part that I don't really like is lesson planning. However, a good lesson makes class time much more enjoyable for everyone. So, I will probably spend a good portion of this weekend preparing lessons so that I don't have to do as much on the week nights. 


Right now I'm off to dinner. The school chaplain is having all of the teachers over to his house tonight, and it should be fun!

A First Time for Everything

There's a first time for everything! This afternoon I walked around by myself and...

• Found the Dispensa, which is like the neighborhood grocery store.
• Withdrew money at the ATM to pay the rest of my rent.
• Visited Xelapan, a bakery that I have walked by several times without going in. Everything smelled and looked so, so good! I didn't buy anything, but no worries, I will! Maybe I'll have to try la tortuga, which is a huge piece of bread in the shape of a turtle.

AND BEST OF ALL...

• Saw a little boy peeing on a column on the sidewalk...haha!

The Molar

This morning I "slept in" until about 8:30. Now normally I wouldn't consider that sleeping in, but since I've woken up between 5:50 and 6 AM every day this past week, 8:30 is definitely sleeping in! At 9:30 I met up with 6 other teachers at Parque Central to hike a mountain called La Muela. Instead of walking to the base of the mountain, we took a taxi. Here you have to bargain and agree upon a price for the taxi ride before the trip begins or the driver will try to charge you a lot of quetzales. So, one of the more seasoned teachers (this will be her fourth year teaching at IAS) took care of that for us. We took a quick ride in this station wagon looking taxi. Two of the teachers that are married had to cram in the trunk of the taxi so we could all fit. We paid the driver half after he got us to the bottom of the mountain and paid the other half after he brought us back to the park. I like hiking, however this hike was probably one of the more intense hikes I've done. It wasn't too long, but it was steep! All I have to compare it to is hiking in Bastrop/Austin and in Colorado. At times, I felt like I needed a harness and a rope! La Muela means the molar, which pretty much describes the shape of the mountain. On the way up, we passed a natural sauna. I know this sounds weird, but basically we could feel hot water vapor coming out of rocks. Once we made to the top, we got to enjoy an incredible view! Too bad I forgot to bring my camera...oops! Xela is in a valley, so we got to look out over the entire city. We could also see where some of the indigenous people worship their gods. We couldn't have asked for better weather...lots of sun and no rain! Actually, I think I sweated more today than any other day this week. Once we got back to the park, we all went to Pollo Campero (the Guatemalan version of KFC) and got a cono de helado. My ice cream was dipped in chocolate, and it was delicious! I just finished eating lunch that consisted of spaghetti, avocado, and a small, but thick corn tortilla. The lady that I'm staying with is always telling me how I need to eat more. She says that if I don't eat more, I'm going to have to get shots...in my butt! Sometimes I don't eat a lot, because I don't really like the food, but other times, I am really not hungry! She wants me to make a list of foods that I like. Well, I think it's siesta time!

200+ Views

To celebrate over 200 blog views, here are some pics of the classroom...it's still a work in progress!

 View from the window by my desk

Another beautiful view 

And here are a few more pics...

My bed 

Table, plastic chair, and closet on the right 

Closet on left, "desk"/shelves on right 

High school kid from D.C. who lives at the house for about 2 more weeks

When he's not coaching basketball, he's always "chillin"

A Tribute to Matt Wertz

Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight
Hey, everything's right, said everything's right tonight

This is my theme song for the day. Being in Guatemala and at IAS seems so right. Today with all of the returning teachers, we went around in a (big) circle and introduced ourselves. We said the usual stuff plus what brought us to IAS. Talking about the journey that the Lord has taken me on since last November was a good reminder of His faithfulness and sovereignty. He knows what He's doing, and I definitely believe that I am where I should be for now! Today has been such a day of confirmation, and I am very thankful for that!

Also, it's been so cool to see how much I have in common with a lot of the teachers, in many different ways! A bunch of the teachers have a passion for missions and traveling (which makes sense, I guess). Also, the middle school math teacher from last year (who I just met this morning) and I looked like twins today! We both wore a gray shirt, skinny jeans, and navy Keds, and our hair was down and straight. The only difference was that I cuffed my jeans, and she didn't!

Interesting Facts about Guat

Just a few things I'm learning as I go...

• You cannot put toilet paper (or anything else for that matter) in the toilet, because the system can't handle it. So, every bathroom has a mini trash can beside it where you put the used toilet paper...It's kind of gross to me if I think about it too much.
• After eating a meal, you say "Gracias y buen provecha". Then, you may be excused from the table. Literally it means something like thanks and bon appetite, but that's just what everyone says.
• At school today we learned a lot of cuss words in Spanish (so that we could recognize the words if students said them, which costs them a trip to the principal's office). If you know me well, you know that I tend to laugh at inappropriate times, and of course, I laughed as we went over the English translation of these words. I think I'll keep them to myself for now. Maybe I'll tell you one if you send me a letter...haha, just kidding!

I finished writing this last night just as the electricity went out!

After receiving a tour of the school today, I am SO impressed! The library has a lot of interesting books in ENGLISH. This is a good thing, because English books are hard to find here, and I only brought 3, one of which is a Guatemala travel guide...not something I really want to read before I go to bed! The middle school has its own building at the bottom of a big hill. I'm going to try to take pictures tomorrow so that I can post them for you to see. Interesting history about the school...the school used to be a boarding school. All of the teachers lived in what is now the middle school building. So, it has a full kitchen, bathroom with a shower, and a laundry room. 

Things I am thankful for today:

1. I'm feeling good! So far my body is adjusting well to the altitude and food. I really don't want to get sick. Today we talked about different hospitals (which ones to go to and which to avoid) and how to deal with insurance (it's very specific and if you don't follow the rules exactly, the insurance company will only reimburse 65% of the bill), and I just don't want to have to experience that. I think teaching is going to be tiring at times, so I don't want to be sick on top of that.

2. This country is beautiful! The school sits on a hill, so we get a wonderful view of the city. It is lush and green, which is a big difference from dry and dusty Texas. I really can't wait to go hiking up the volcanos.

3. I am becoming good friends with the other new teachers. Before leaving the U.S., I had prepared myself to be without community and kind of lonely at times, but God is definitely providing me with a group of people who love Him and are fun to be around!

Well the electricity just went out. I am going to save this post to a Word document, so you'll be reading it when the electricity comes back haha!

Orientation Day 1

I am taking a quick (but much needed) break from lesson planning/curriculum deciphering/trying to figure out what I'm doing without a TNT. It has been cloudy all day today, and it just started raining pretty hard. I'm in the IAS library right now with some of the other teachers! Today has been a busy day so far. I woke up at 6:00 AM, which I think is the earliest I've woken up since April. It wasn't too bad, though, because I was asleep around 11 last night. Guatemala doesn't do daylight savings time, so it gets dark early. Quick funny story before I need to get back to work...

Last night I ate dinner at the house, by myself, as every meal has been so far. I'm not quite sure when everyone else eats! Anyway, Betty served me some egg, spinach, and pepper "omelette" with a mound of black stuff on the side. For some reason, I thought Betty had mentioned chocolate cake, so I thought the black stuff was just that, chocolate cake. I ate the egg thing, saving the cake for dessert. Then Betty asked why I wasn't eating the black beans! Funny, funny! So then I had to eat the beans all by themselves.

Ok...back to 6th grade math planning. It is going very, very slow! I still have Pre-Algebra and Algebra to plan, which I haven't even looked at yet! Oh, and I also found out today that I will be teaching 8th grade Bible as well. So, I need to plan for that class too! The bus comes to get us to go home in 30 minutes! Adios