Thursday, February 26, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ode to my volunteer buddies
Now that I have been here for a while, the other volunteers are getting to be my close friends. It is really helpful through stressful times, because they really are the only people who truly understand the orphanage and how hard it can be. I thought I´d share some pictures of them since they are a part of this whole experience that I will never forget.
I climbed a volcano!
One amazing thing about guatemala is that there are volcanoes all over! You walk outside and there are literally views of volcanoes that would take your breath away! Last weekend, I actually climbed a volcano called Pacaya, about an hour outside of Antigua, Guatemala. It took about 2 hours to go up, then another 2 to come back down. The rocks at the top were really hot and there was even a little bit of fire, which we used to cook marshmallows. This volcano is active and sometimes there is supposedly lava at the top, but we didnt see any when we went. Here are some pictures!
My new class and job
School started again a month ago, and I was upgraded to a new class. Now, due to changes in local personnel, I am with the moderate disabilities class all day. I teach from 7:30 to 1 everyday, and then supervise the workshop jobs in which I have integrated my students. Its alot more like how a special education job in the states would be, so I am getting some great practical experience that I can use when I get back. It´s an interesting time to be working with this group of students, because they have special needs, and most are almost 20 years old. So what happens next? Do we keep them in school forever, or find an alternative job for them within the orphanage? Because of Guatemala being so disability unfriendly, it is virtually impossible that they would be integrated outside due to their lack of family contacts. So I have been working with them in class to increase their independence, hygiene, work habits, etc so they can be productive within the orphanage for the rest of their lives.
Another interesting thing that happened is that a new group of volunteers started working in January. Most of my friends are still here, but it has changed the dynamic within the family a little bit. So far, most of the new people are getting along well with me!
Its strange to have so many changes now... I feel almost like I am starting over again! But, I have been in country for 7 months and 24 days, and if I have learned anything it is that this place is completely unpredictable and unstable. Thats what makes it a good learning experience....be flexible, be flexible, be flexible.
Another interesting thing that happened is that a new group of volunteers started working in January. Most of my friends are still here, but it has changed the dynamic within the family a little bit. So far, most of the new people are getting along well with me!
Its strange to have so many changes now... I feel almost like I am starting over again! But, I have been in country for 7 months and 24 days, and if I have learned anything it is that this place is completely unpredictable and unstable. Thats what makes it a good learning experience....be flexible, be flexible, be flexible.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Livingston and Rio Dulce
Finally, another much needed vacation. For the new year´s eve celebrations, two other volunteers and I took a week off and went to Rio Dulce, and stayed in a hotel right on the river and in the woods. For anyone who likes nature and outdoorsy types of things, this is just the adventure for you. It was very rustic, and we took a good nature hike and a dip in the river.
Next, we hit Livingston, a town on the carribean sea. The only way to get to Livingston is by boat, so we had to hire a motorboat to get us there. This city has an amazingly eclectic culture because the people who have settled here are ancestors of the African slaves who were brought to this region. Over time, they have intermarried with Europeans and the Mayas to create a culture known as Garifuna. They have their own language, music, and dance. The seafood is incredible and the nightlife is wild! We stayed in a bungalow right on the sea... wow!
Next, we hit Livingston, a town on the carribean sea. The only way to get to Livingston is by boat, so we had to hire a motorboat to get us there. This city has an amazingly eclectic culture because the people who have settled here are ancestors of the African slaves who were brought to this region. Over time, they have intermarried with Europeans and the Mayas to create a culture known as Garifuna. They have their own language, music, and dance. The seafood is incredible and the nightlife is wild! We stayed in a bungalow right on the sea... wow!
Posadas
OK so I realize this is in the wrong order since I already did my christmas post, but I forgot to include this earlier. To get ready for christmas, the kids participated in traditional posadas, in which they walk from house to house in the night singing to the people inside asking for permission to enter. It is symbolic of Mary and Joesph´s quest to find an inn for the birth of Jesus. At the last house, there is an altar with an angel. At our orphanage, two of the kids dressed as Mary and Joesph while the other 300 followed behind with candles. Afterwards, there were pinatas and hot chocolate was served. It helped everyone get really excited for the big day!
CHRISTMAS!!!
IT´S FINALLY HERE!!! In Guatemala, christmas is celebrated on the 24th of December in the night time. It is the end of a few stressful weeks for me, as the caregivers at the house were given vacation and the volunteers were expected to cover the basic needs of all the children. So my lesson plans have, temporarily, taken the back burner as I have been occupied with bathing and changing and feeding the special ed kids. I think it is good for me to do this sometimes to remember how difficult that job is and how many needs my children have on a daily basis.
One interesting difference in Guatemala is that the nativity scenes here often lack the actual doll of baby Jesus until the 24th of Decemeber when he is actually born. So, earlier in the month, the nativity will only include Joesph and Mary and animals. During the night of the 24th, many of the kids took turns holding a doll of Jesus in their arms and passing it around before adding it to the nativity.
At the house, the volunteers put on a christmas skit for the kids with comical representations of Mary and Joesph. I played a pastor who had to avoid temptations of the devil in order to make it to the birth of baby Jesus. Then, we had a christmas meal with meat and ponche, a traditional drink made of fruit and cinnamon. I couldn´t help noticing that it was missing rum...but it was still delicious! Some people eat tamales at christmas time, but we saved that meal for New Year´s Eve at the house. After dinner, we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. At midnight, the kids recieved presents from Santa.... socks, underwear, a bookbag, candy, and shoes. Then, even the tiniest babies set off firecrackers. Good times!!!
One interesting difference in Guatemala is that the nativity scenes here often lack the actual doll of baby Jesus until the 24th of Decemeber when he is actually born. So, earlier in the month, the nativity will only include Joesph and Mary and animals. During the night of the 24th, many of the kids took turns holding a doll of Jesus in their arms and passing it around before adding it to the nativity.
At the house, the volunteers put on a christmas skit for the kids with comical representations of Mary and Joesph. I played a pastor who had to avoid temptations of the devil in order to make it to the birth of baby Jesus. Then, we had a christmas meal with meat and ponche, a traditional drink made of fruit and cinnamon. I couldn´t help noticing that it was missing rum...but it was still delicious! Some people eat tamales at christmas time, but we saved that meal for New Year´s Eve at the house. After dinner, we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. At midnight, the kids recieved presents from Santa.... socks, underwear, a bookbag, candy, and shoes. Then, even the tiniest babies set off firecrackers. Good times!!!
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