back to life...back to reality

Happy Saturday everyone!

This weekend seems extremely anticlimatic and extremely short compared to the adventures we have had of late.

Last weekend was a 4 day weekend due to Independence day (Guate, San Salvador and Mexico signed their independence on Sept. 15th, 1821) and they threw in the Friday for good measure. So off to El Salvador to the beach we went! Now... maybe you sense a theme in my get aways...the hotter the better! El Salvador definitely kept up its end of the deal!

A group of us from the school went in a mini school bus... but more like a huge van. We got to San Salvador at aroun 1230 (we only went into town because we can't check into the hotel until 3) and I had lunch with the Acostas. For those who do not know them, Esther is the social events coordinator at the church in San Salvador and she and her family are good friends. I stayed with them for a weekend last year.

Fernando, Esthercita and I at lunch

Anyway, I had lunch with them...it was wonderful! Fernando was very pleased that i could speak more spanish and understand what on earth he was saying! (the fact that he is almost 4 now and uses real words helped a little! ) We had lunch..then went for little walk and then i had to be on my way. The visit was much to short, but I will try to make it back before the end of the calendar year.. we shall see. there is SO much to visit in Central America before I leave...more on that later, perhaps.

So from the city we took the 40 minute (hour and half) drive to the beach. We were definitely ready to get out of the bus and onto the beach! We checked in and rendez-voused at the pool. From there the usual beach type things ensued. Won't bore you with the details.

My balancing act on the edge of the salt water pool (when the tide is low there is NO water around it...when it is high the ocean water flows in and out...)

Lindsey and I surfing a turtle!

Sunset

Brian and I - thats the most exercise we got in all weekend :(

We left Sunday, more people sunburnt (not me), everyone happy, noone ready for school the next day.

On Monday we had a prefessional development day (so, for those counting, the kids had a 5 day weekend and took full advantage: one of my students went to NYC to see Mary Poppins). As I mentioned in my quick blog earlier this week...the day was interrupted by 6 earthquakes...well 1 real one (5.8) and 5 tremors (4.6-4.8). During the first tremor I was alone in my classroom and was kind of paralyzed by it..but it was over before I knew it and everyone was like: did you feel that? did that really happen? it was my first Guatemalan earthquake...well that I actually felt! The second one, I was in a meeting and we did leave the classroom, as it did last a good minute, I would say. But we were all fine... after the third one we were told to go home as some disaster had struck outside of the city. woo hoo short day!

The last one I felt was around 10:30, while I was lying in bed. That one freaked me out the most, since I worried there would be more over night and I would be trapped in my bedroom! Luckily non of that ensued...and the kids were thrilled to tell me where they were during the quakes the following day at school.

That about sums up my life. Next week is finals...and then report card writing hits... enhance the title of this blog! But it can't be all fun and games... or can it???

Next long weekend...after much debate, we are thinking of going to the Ruins in COpan Honduras. It's about 5 hours by shuttle and supposed to be super nice and educational (also did I mention it's in the jungle= heat= suitable destination for Camille!)

the day Guatemala shook...and shook...and shook some more

Good afternoon friends,
This is a quick entry and not about my AWESOME long weekend in El Salvador...but rather just to let everyone know that I am a-ok after the 6 tremors/quakes yesterday here in Guate. The first was minor and I was excited to feel it... the second was much bigger and made me and my team (we had a pro-d day and were in grade level meetings) take cover... the others were all minor and kind of felt. The last one was around 10:30 at night and made me nervous..I had trouble sleeping due to the fear that I would not wake up if things started to shatter around me (you know it's true...I love to sleep!). But got a few hours in.

The kids were excited to tell me where they were during the shakes and I was just relieved that they were NOT at school...Americano had 4 evacuations in one day...talk about disturbances!

More to follow about El Salvador!
Thanks for the emails, bbms and texts about my safety!

elections elections elections!

Wow, I have been a busy bee of late!
Aubrey (another 2nd grade teacher at Inter) and I had a big hand in organizing an mock presidential election for the elementary school. (Guatemala goes to the polls tomorrow). The kids all made ID cards and had to register them last week over their lunch time. On Friday , the Highschool students in Political Science came and made presentations to the kids on 8 of the 9 candidates (there were 3 groups of presenters). Then later that day the kids, in elementary, all wen to the polls.

Wow, typing it in a few sentences here makes it seem very simple... but it was quite the ordeal. Totally worth it, as the kids were thrilled, but consumes my life for the past 3 weeks. We had parents (moms) run the registration stations last week and run the election booths on Friday. I thought I had made the whole thing idiot proof, with labels, written instructions etc. Apparently not. It took alot of explaining and standing my ground to convince these ladies that it would work the way I planned it and that their way would not. (ok, that sounds arrogant, but hey, it's true!) Anyway the day was HECTIC yesterday! But you know me, I love a well organized event, even more so when I organized it! Definitely something I am good at :)

That has been my life in a nutshell for the past 3 weeks. This weekend, we are hanging around Guatemala city, staying close to home due to the potential of road blocks tomorrow on election day...maybe a riot or two as well!

Next week is a 3 day week, as the country celebrates their independence day on the 15th! (as do many central american countries). A group of us are headed to the Beach in El Salvador. I hope to meet up with Esther and her family on Thursday afternoon in the city (we are stopping there for lunch).

I took some pictures of the whole election process, but have to find my camera cord etc. Will do at some point. ALso need to see about blurring people's faces... not sure about putting kids photos on here...illegal and stuff.

All in all its been a great first month of school! We are already starting to put together first reports!!!!! Our new principal is slowly getting the hang of things...kind of. but, he did compliment me...in his twisted non complimentary way about the elections: he said i think that went well. I don't think it could have gone better. what do you think. and then walked away. but hey...i take what I can get...and really the kids smiles and excitement was MORE than enough thanks! THough I did need a long nap when I get home from it all!