Well it seems I've settled in to the swing of things a bit here. I have a diet that consists of anything that's not beans (thank God for peanut butter/rice/eggs/bread), I've hung out more with the other teachers, gotten quite a bit of marking done, and I've even adjusted pretty well to the temperature. The latter of course has something to do with it slowly becoming "winter" down here, which is actually quite funny. Basically, we had our first day of it being probably 20-25 (such a relief!) and kids were wearing jackets and toques at school! HAH! The other teachers and I had a good laugh about that one.
I've started going for runs with Tobbie, Melanie (the couple from Australia) and Anita (a teacher from New Jersey), and Tobbie and I have a pretty nice route - it's great to have someone to run with! I've hung out with the other teachers a bunch more, and I've even gotten to know some of the teachers from the other school in the village (Saint Jeronimo School).
As for teaching, it's a whole lot of fun! I'm helping out with grade 1 (and sometimes grade 6) in the morning when the grade 3's have spanish, and then I'm with the grade 3's from 8:45 to 2:10, when school ends. I'm getting used to how things go, and I've got more of a routine now.
ok, funny story: we've been reading a lot of things aloud in class this week, to help the kids work on reading those tough english words like "shout" and "Excitedly". It's really funny doing "repeat after me" type things, because some of the kids don't get when to stop repeating what I say. The best is when someone isn't paying attention when we're doing it, so I'll call out their name...This is how it happened the first time:
"Ok, repeat after me: Shout" (in thick spanish accents): "SHOUT!"
"shout." (getting the pronounciation slightly better): "SHOUT!"
"...Yolanda!" (31 kids turn and face Yolanda): "YOLANDA!!!" (Yolanda almost jumps out of her seat).
I start laughing...the class starts laughing, we all have a good laugh.
oh man, good times.
peace.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Photo Situation
I'm using a camera of Harardo's and one of his cords, and I had to search and download this new software onto this ancient machine, and now the owner of this internet cafe is literally downloading the stuff to his computer and sending it over to the one I'm on (nice guy!)....so hopefully there should be photos! There's some sweet pics of the up and coming Cofradia ultimate team (my gym class), me n' my housemates, and some pictures from around the village.
School was crazy today, I had an almost full class detention, and when Ben (the principal) saw my situation, he came in to yell at the kids in spanish for me...it was quite funny. But I sure was tired when i got home. We had a spelling test today, and I'm not very optimistic about how they did, but I guess we'll see.
That's about it for now. Oh yeah, the weekend!
Went to San Pedro, read, slept, marked/planned for school, took pictures. hmm....it seems I've become the stereotypical teacher with no life. haha!
peace.
School was crazy today, I had an almost full class detention, and when Ben (the principal) saw my situation, he came in to yell at the kids in spanish for me...it was quite funny. But I sure was tired when i got home. We had a spelling test today, and I'm not very optimistic about how they did, but I guess we'll see.
That's about it for now. Oh yeah, the weekend!
Went to San Pedro, read, slept, marked/planned for school, took pictures. hmm....it seems I've become the stereotypical teacher with no life. haha!
peace.
Friday, October 19, 2007
A One Horse Town
Cofradia? Si Senor. Definitely a one horse town...but I like it that way. The power gets shut off by the government about every other day to conserve power for the big cities, so it's kind of the town that gets bullied i guess. In the words of Harardo (My hilarious Honduran Housemate, excuse his language) "same shit, different day."
But it's awesome here. Sometimes you feel like a celebrity as you across the town square, sometimes you feel like an alien with purple tentacles...you never know what you're going to get!
It's crazy to think that the first week of teaching is done. I'd say the main thing I've learned is the opposite of what I was told. Kids respond a whole lot better to encouragement than intense strict-ness. Well...to some extent. But it's been really interesting to see how positive encouragement can not only make kids work harder, but help me build a really cool bond with them. The kids are amazing. Yes I need to yell quite often just to be heard, but what can you expect from 32 (the class seems to be growing) spanish speaking grade 3's. (I don't have to teach grade 1 anymore - the regular teachers i was apparently filling in for returned). To answer some questions: no I don't really have a curriculum, but i was told where the students are at for the most part, and i was given some books that they work out of. I'm getting better at preparing for class ahead of time, which make it a bit easier, but the language barrier is still getting in the way, if you catch my drift.
As for pictures, right now (as always) I'm at an ancient computer (running on dial up) in an internet cafe...and I don't think this one horse town gives me the ability to upload photos...but ill upload them when I'm back for christmas for sure!
finally, I've started reading "Through Painted Deserts" By Donald Miller, and I'd like to take this time to recommend it to everyone who reads this. IT'S GOOD. REAL GOOD.
there's also been some sweet lightning storms...oh, and i think I'm gonna check out the village church...it looks quite beautiful, and I've heard some singing from it on certain nights, so maybe sometime soon i'll saunter over.
ok. until next time.
peace
-Tim
But it's awesome here. Sometimes you feel like a celebrity as you across the town square, sometimes you feel like an alien with purple tentacles...you never know what you're going to get!
It's crazy to think that the first week of teaching is done. I'd say the main thing I've learned is the opposite of what I was told. Kids respond a whole lot better to encouragement than intense strict-ness. Well...to some extent. But it's been really interesting to see how positive encouragement can not only make kids work harder, but help me build a really cool bond with them. The kids are amazing. Yes I need to yell quite often just to be heard, but what can you expect from 32 (the class seems to be growing) spanish speaking grade 3's. (I don't have to teach grade 1 anymore - the regular teachers i was apparently filling in for returned). To answer some questions: no I don't really have a curriculum, but i was told where the students are at for the most part, and i was given some books that they work out of. I'm getting better at preparing for class ahead of time, which make it a bit easier, but the language barrier is still getting in the way, if you catch my drift.
As for pictures, right now (as always) I'm at an ancient computer (running on dial up) in an internet cafe...and I don't think this one horse town gives me the ability to upload photos...but ill upload them when I'm back for christmas for sure!
finally, I've started reading "Through Painted Deserts" By Donald Miller, and I'd like to take this time to recommend it to everyone who reads this. IT'S GOOD. REAL GOOD.
there's also been some sweet lightning storms...oh, and i think I'm gonna check out the village church...it looks quite beautiful, and I've heard some singing from it on certain nights, so maybe sometime soon i'll saunter over.
ok. until next time.
peace
-Tim
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
TEACHING!
I wouldn't call it teaching. I would call it "flying by the seat of ones pants". Also because i love that expression. well, at least thats what it was like on day one. (ill try to keep this one short, but day one was momentous).
Wake up: 5:30 (which weirdly enough felt like a sleep in!).
by 7:15, i found myself thrown in front of 20 grade one spanish students, with nothing but three handouts on how to write "the pencil is blue, the eraser is red" etc, and the school director (Harardo, one of my housemates) saying: "...and try to teach them some math". whew! intense.
at 8:45 i was whisked over to my grade 3 class (they learn in spanish from 7:15-8:45 - so i teach grade ones) to teach them math. oh yes. my specialty. Thankyou Mr. Moore.
after break, it was P.E. (half the class goes crazy, half tries to play soccer...er, football), then english, where the whole class was pretty nuts, however im trying to listen to advice that Alex (my other housemate) gave me - "be more strict than you think you need to be".....then it was science...all i was given was one science textbook with really complex english, so i just wrote "science" on the board, and turned around and said "what is the last thing you learned about in science?"....to which some students yelled (in thick spanish accents) "the plants!"....so i quickly flipped to the pages in the textbook on plants and taught a lesson on how seeds become new plants in soil when they are transported. It was actually really fun. I think i need to work on my diagram drawing skills though.
After lunch was english spelling and reading until 2:10...it was then that i realized i had nothing to read to them...so i wrote "A story" on the top of the board and we all learnt about how to write a story together. as a class we ended up writing a story about how me and Jeff (one of the students) went to the Cofradia school, then somehow ended up in Canada. It was pretty ridiculous, and i think the syntax needed some serious work, but....fun nonetheless!
so there you have it, i somehow got through that day, with 31 grade 3's (easily the biggest class at the Cofradia school!), and i had a blast!
so school is intense, but its going well!...needless to say i came home after school today and yesterday and fell asleep for an hour, both times not on purpose. I've also met a bunch more of the teachers now and they are all pretty cool people, so it should be good times.
More stories to come!
peace
-Tim
Wake up: 5:30 (which weirdly enough felt like a sleep in!).
by 7:15, i found myself thrown in front of 20 grade one spanish students, with nothing but three handouts on how to write "the pencil is blue, the eraser is red" etc, and the school director (Harardo, one of my housemates) saying: "...and try to teach them some math". whew! intense.
at 8:45 i was whisked over to my grade 3 class (they learn in spanish from 7:15-8:45 - so i teach grade ones) to teach them math. oh yes. my specialty. Thankyou Mr. Moore.
after break, it was P.E. (half the class goes crazy, half tries to play soccer...er, football), then english, where the whole class was pretty nuts, however im trying to listen to advice that Alex (my other housemate) gave me - "be more strict than you think you need to be".....then it was science...all i was given was one science textbook with really complex english, so i just wrote "science" on the board, and turned around and said "what is the last thing you learned about in science?"....to which some students yelled (in thick spanish accents) "the plants!"....so i quickly flipped to the pages in the textbook on plants and taught a lesson on how seeds become new plants in soil when they are transported. It was actually really fun. I think i need to work on my diagram drawing skills though.
After lunch was english spelling and reading until 2:10...it was then that i realized i had nothing to read to them...so i wrote "A story" on the top of the board and we all learnt about how to write a story together. as a class we ended up writing a story about how me and Jeff (one of the students) went to the Cofradia school, then somehow ended up in Canada. It was pretty ridiculous, and i think the syntax needed some serious work, but....fun nonetheless!
so there you have it, i somehow got through that day, with 31 grade 3's (easily the biggest class at the Cofradia school!), and i had a blast!
so school is intense, but its going well!...needless to say i came home after school today and yesterday and fell asleep for an hour, both times not on purpose. I've also met a bunch more of the teachers now and they are all pretty cool people, so it should be good times.
More stories to come!
peace
-Tim
Monday, October 15, 2007
Fundraiser update/I'm HERE!
How could a series of 4 days be so ridiculous?
It feels like 5 seconds ago, i was throwing lights, artwork and sound equipment all around with Remy and about 15 (incredible/saintly/dedicated etc.) volunteers...and then somehow, between now and 5 seconds ago, the fundraiser happened (with incredible success - thank you so much to everyone that helped/supported!), i went sprinting across the Houston airport to catch my connecting flight to San Pedro Sula - which i thankfully caught just in time (shout out to Mr. Craig for the running training that allowed me to catch it!), and somehow I am now sitting in an internet cafe in Cofradia!
definitely a crazy few days.
So I've met my grade 3 class, I've been hanging out with my house mates this afternoon, and i start teaching tomorrow! (and im sweating like a pig!)
more updates coming soon!
peace
-Tim
It feels like 5 seconds ago, i was throwing lights, artwork and sound equipment all around with Remy and about 15 (incredible/saintly/dedicated etc.) volunteers...and then somehow, between now and 5 seconds ago, the fundraiser happened (with incredible success - thank you so much to everyone that helped/supported!), i went sprinting across the Houston airport to catch my connecting flight to San Pedro Sula - which i thankfully caught just in time (shout out to Mr. Craig for the running training that allowed me to catch it!), and somehow I am now sitting in an internet cafe in Cofradia!
definitely a crazy few days.
So I've met my grade 3 class, I've been hanging out with my house mates this afternoon, and i start teaching tomorrow! (and im sweating like a pig!)
more updates coming soon!
peace
-Tim
Friday, October 5, 2007
Intro to the trip/Fundraiser Details
Hello World!
Welcome to blog post #1. It's still got that fresh laundry type feel to it...isn't it wonderful?
Anyhow, I'd like to take this time to mention some important details.
Detail #1: "The Trip"
For those that have asked me what I am doing on this whole "gap year" thing over the last year of me planning it. First off, blanket apology for all the lies I told. At any one point in the year, you may have heard that I was planning on going to serve in Ghana, Vietnam, Thailand, Malawi, or any mix of places. The final story is this: I will be teaching in Honduras for just over two months (I leave monday the 15th! SO SOON!), teaching in Nepal for Two months with Remy (starting in January), and then heading to Uganda (and possibly South Africa) to serve in Kampala, Uganda for 2-3 months in the spring (details are still being sorted out). WHEW! A good way to make sure that is actually what I'm doing is by checking this blog to see what I'm up to...Something tells me plans like to change sometimes...
Detail #2: "The Fundraiser"
Remy and I are planning a fundraiser on Saturday October 13th. It will be a night of Art and Music at Little Trinity Church, from 7-10 pm. Details: 5$ or PWYC (pay what you can), there will be a food ticket you can buy for the lovely baked goods, which will probably be 5$, and drinks will be sold as well. There will be an art exhibition, and a series of musical performances. All donations are NOT tax deductable, and all the money that is raised will go towards our living costs for the countries we are serving in (luckily it doesn't cost as much to live in Honduras as it does here!).
Detail #3: "The Fancy Curriculum Thinger That Tim Will Be Working With"
...that's a mouthful. Basically, the school I will be Working at in Honduras uses the "e Teaching Assistance Program", to teach their students. They have a deal with the web-based curriculum company, that whenever they get another family/school/student/teacher to subscribe to the curriculum, the Cofradia Bilingual School (the school in Honduras) will earn a commission off of that cost. And the deal that they gave me, is that whoever subscribes to the curriculum through me, will not only be giving a portion of the fee to the school, but the school will then give a portion of that to me, as a volunteer staff member. SO...basically, if you are interested in a web-based curriculum for your son/daughter/students/school, check out www.etap.org and to support me and the Cofradia Bilingual School, feel free to pay for a subscription, so everyone benefits! So check out the website, and send me an email (timopay21@hotmail.com) if you are interested in subscribing, so that I can take some credit from your decision!
And that's the last of my Ad campaign.
Peace
-Tim
Welcome to blog post #1. It's still got that fresh laundry type feel to it...isn't it wonderful?
Anyhow, I'd like to take this time to mention some important details.
Detail #1: "The Trip"
For those that have asked me what I am doing on this whole "gap year" thing over the last year of me planning it. First off, blanket apology for all the lies I told. At any one point in the year, you may have heard that I was planning on going to serve in Ghana, Vietnam, Thailand, Malawi, or any mix of places. The final story is this: I will be teaching in Honduras for just over two months (I leave monday the 15th! SO SOON!), teaching in Nepal for Two months with Remy (starting in January), and then heading to Uganda (and possibly South Africa) to serve in Kampala, Uganda for 2-3 months in the spring (details are still being sorted out). WHEW! A good way to make sure that is actually what I'm doing is by checking this blog to see what I'm up to...Something tells me plans like to change sometimes...
Detail #2: "The Fundraiser"
Remy and I are planning a fundraiser on Saturday October 13th. It will be a night of Art and Music at Little Trinity Church, from 7-10 pm. Details: 5$ or PWYC (pay what you can), there will be a food ticket you can buy for the lovely baked goods, which will probably be 5$, and drinks will be sold as well. There will be an art exhibition, and a series of musical performances. All donations are NOT tax deductable, and all the money that is raised will go towards our living costs for the countries we are serving in (luckily it doesn't cost as much to live in Honduras as it does here!).
Detail #3: "The Fancy Curriculum Thinger That Tim Will Be Working With"
...that's a mouthful. Basically, the school I will be Working at in Honduras uses the "e Teaching Assistance Program", to teach their students. They have a deal with the web-based curriculum company, that whenever they get another family/school/student/teacher to subscribe to the curriculum, the Cofradia Bilingual School (the school in Honduras) will earn a commission off of that cost. And the deal that they gave me, is that whoever subscribes to the curriculum through me, will not only be giving a portion of the fee to the school, but the school will then give a portion of that to me, as a volunteer staff member. SO...basically, if you are interested in a web-based curriculum for your son/daughter/students/school, check out www.etap.org and to support me and the Cofradia Bilingual School, feel free to pay for a subscription, so everyone benefits! So check out the website, and send me an email (timopay21@hotmail.com) if you are interested in subscribing, so that I can take some credit from your decision!
And that's the last of my Ad campaign.
Peace
-Tim
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