My Time in Honduras: Starting Anew

My Time in Honduras: Starting Anew: "Feeling better! Around 85% which is pretty good in my opinion. I'm able to talk, able to eat more than liquid, and basically be normal; so y..."

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My Time in Honduras: When I miss my Mother

My Time in Honduras: When I miss my Mother: "Nothing makes you realize that you aren't at home quite like being sick in bed somewhere that your mom can't come take care of you. It's one..."

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My Time in Honduras: Sickness

My Time in Honduras: Sickness: "All teachers who have ever come to school sick, I forever give you my complete and total respect. It is not an action I would like to repeat..."

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My Time in Honduras: How the Storm Hit

My Time in Honduras: How the Storm Hit: "To the acute disappointment of Natalie and Ethan (who spent the entire night recording a song about the arrival of Richard), Richard indeed ..."

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My Time in Honduras: 'Te Quiero Mucho'

My Time in Honduras: 'Te Quiero Mucho': "We are currently preparing for the advent of a tropical storm and possible hurricane. I suppose the majority of preparation is mental, but ..."

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My Time in Honduras: All grown up

My Time in Honduras: All grown up: " La escuela no tiene classes hoy, porque ayer fue un dia ferriada. (Today there were not classes at the school because yesterday was a 'holiday'). So we rested up, slept in all the way until 8:30, showered in the cold water because the water heater is mysteriously not working today, and then headed over to attempt to draw money out from our Citi accounts that we purpously set up so they would work, but which do not. The citi bank in the center of town didn't have an atm, so we took a taxi to the mall. Once in citi bank we tried the atm. Our cards were declined and the people at the front said that we couldn't get cash from the citi atm, we had to go next door to an atm at a different bank. At this point we were quite dejected. Ethan had only 5 limperas left (the equivalent of about 20 cents). But we tried the bank next door and Glory Halleluia! our cards worked! Ethan kissed his money. Now why our cards worked at a different bank and not at our citi bank I can't tell you. Limperas in hand, we went shopping for some much needed supplies. I felt so grown up, dealing with all the money and going shopping; coming home and cleaning out the fridge and putting groceries away. I'll have to get used to this!

Eddie cooked some amazing pasta and sauce today! Spaghetti and home made tomato sauce. I don't know if I've ever tasted better. Oh and did I mention that he went to Georgetown? I thought that was a funny coincidence. Anyways, he is going to be the new sponsor coordinator for Helping Honduras Kids. I think that will be great. Already he has made little bios for each of the Hogar kids and is working on udating the sponsor list so he can send them to each sponsor. We are trying to centralize all communication for HHK so we shall get things going soon!

We are launching a new program for the holidays to help raise some much needed funds for HHK and hopefully expose more people to what we do. It is called the HHK Give Challenge. We are sending out packets to all of our donors which include 4 Holiday cards with handmade drawings by the kids. A cover letter asks each sponsor to send these letters to their friends and relatives, asking them to donate to HHK in lieu of recieving a gift for themselves. Our idea is that every person has people who send them gifts that they really don't need. Think about it. Aunt Martha who sends the same yellow sweater every year... you know the type of gifts. We are challenging those who care about our organization to give up gifts for themselves and experience the true meaning of the holidays. For one season to truly give. I think it is an interesting concept, and I know that I'm planning on participating completely. If you want to get involved and send some letters out let me know! I can have a packet of cards made by the kids mailed to you to send out to friends and family. Then your friends and family can donate on line or send checks to you which you can forward to HHK. See how much joy it will bring :D . "

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My Time in Honduras: A Taste of La Ceiba

My Time in Honduras: A Taste of La Ceiba:

" I think I am going to enjoy teaching English more than the kinder. I am more comfortable with the older kids, who are used to listening and want to learn. I love the little one's but I don't know how able I am to occupy four year old minds. I respect my Kindergarten teacher so much more. Lumilla came to the rescue today. She does so well with the kids. She pulled out some modeling clay and they were fascinated with molding it and shaping it. Then she gathered them all around like little ducklings for a story. Soon it was break time and all of the kids went to drink their warm milk which is part of their daily ration. I decided to tackle organizing the library which they have in the back of the kinder. The disarray the books were in was quite impressive. There are two shelving units with four shelves each filled with books, now nicely stacked more or less be grade level. Previously, they were thrown together and obviously hadn't been in use for awhile (evident by the mouse poop scattered throughout). Hopefully the books will be easier to access now. By the time I finished that project, it was 11:00; our allotted time for English classes. I wasn't planning on teaching and was going to let Ethan and Natalie do it, but in typical Kyla fashion I took charge of the second level English class anyways. Natalie began with the first level, the kids who don't know any English. I spent my time trying to find out how much English my kids knew, and was pleasantly surprised. They can all introduce themselves and say where they are from. They know the colors and several verbs. And of course they loved to sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" which we did several times. It was fun and I think I will have fun teaching the class. After classes were over, we waited for the bus and Rosa and Mercedes decided to teach me the dance they know. Well I ended up with a broken sandal and so was forced to walk around La Ceiba, through the dirt and on the bus and to a taxi etc. without a shoe. Ha! They got a kick out of that. First falling into the mud, then breaking a sandal... Aye.

When I got back to the Volunteer house I walked in to find Carmen sitting on the couch and a house without electricity. We had a conversation for about an hour in my broken Spanish, hoping Cristy would come save us. Turns out the electricity company shut off the power because the bill was more than the automatic payment. Hahahaha, no power because of an unpaid bill! But Cristy came through, got it fixed and then she treated us to a movie. Movies are so inexpensive here! Only $3.00. Granted they are not the latest blockbusters but still. And I am happy to inform you that they WILL be premiering Harry Potter seven in November! Happy days. I tried my first balleada today. These delicious creations are sold on every corner of La Ceiba and consist of a simple, melt in your mouth, handmade on the spot, tortilla filled with beans, cheese and meat or avocado if you ask. So amazing, and the best part is they cost about 40 cents each. Ah you gotta love it. I also learned about Honduran addresses. So the La Ceiba mail system apparently works with landmarks. People do not know street names, or have house numbers. You find a place by saying what its close to. For example, Carlos - A friend of Cristy's whom we met today - lives 'behind the soccer field, in a two story house across from the Pulperia' . And this is his address that he has people send letters to. Somehow mail miraculously is delivered to him! I am amazed. And on that note. The kids want all of their tia's y tio's to send them letters! I now have the official Honduras address for the Hogar de Amor. Ready? "Col Naranjal, Calle montecristo, atras de Gimnasio Nautilus, frenta a Mary's Castle, La Ceiba, Honduras". Mary's Castle is a bright pink house directly across from the Hogar, with a sign that literally names the house 'Mary's Castle". Hahah whatever floats your boat. Tomorrow there is no school, so we can sleep in! Buenas noches! "

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