From Honduras With Love

Saturday, January 24, 2015

I Am From

During our poetry unit in English class, I was able to teach my 5^th graders about “I Am From” poems. This poem follows a certain template that allows you to explore your childhood, favorite memories, family traditions, your culture, and your dreams. Observing 5^th graders expressing themselves, and taking pride in their family, culture, and community, is something I will never forget.

I engaged my students by reading my own “I Am From” poem. They were so interested in my own childhood and where I grew up. I think I spent about 10 minutes explaining why my hometown is nicknamed “Pretzel City USA” since ¾ of the class had never heard of or seen a pretzel before. The common response, “Mizz, that is weird.” Yes, I know!

I am from Pretzel City USA

From skinned knees and homemade slip and slides

I am from terrace sunsets and late nights with best friends

I am from the two pine trees planted in honor of my grandparents

These trees

Whose memories of love and life

will stay with me forever

I'm from Badger Game Days and Family Nights

From On, Wisconsin and exploring the world

From Mark and Mary Jo

I'm from daddy's little girl and Mamas best friend

From dream big and life's too short

I'm from "two wrongs don't make a right" and "never give ups"

From Grandpa as Santa Claus and Christmas Eve family dinners

I'm from St. Paul, Minnesota and strong Irish roots

From teaching,

Inclusion and tolerance

From family pictures on the walls

Of all our journeys we've taken together

And the moments yet to come

We then spent a lot of time discussing our own ideas and sharing our own personal stories revolving around these 10 questions:

1) Where do you live?

2) What is your house like?

3) Who are your family members?

4) What are your favorite memories with your family?

5) What are some of your family traditions?

6) What do you like to eat?

7) What do you like to do?

8) What gets said to you a lot?

9) What do you believe in?

10) What dreams so you have?

They then began to write their own poems including their own ideas from the brainstorm. We edited, peer edited, edited again, edited some more, and then finally wrote a finished draft.

We celebrated our final drafts and shared them together in class.

What they created blew me away, gave me goose bumps, laughter, and brought many smiles to my face.

Below are exerts from their poems, and pictures/videos during our poetry corner celebration:

I am from my little house with pink and white walls.

From riding horses and playing with my cousins.

I’m from one day giving my family a nice beautiful house, one my mom dreams of.

I'm from Copan Ruinas, where we have lots of beautiful memories.

– Naara

I am from Honduras, San Pedro Sula
I am from playing cars with my brother
I'm from the torrorid plant and my pet bird
From wanting to be an engineer and having good work
From Chicken Soup and delicious meat
I'm from hoping to have a family someday and going to the beach in Tela
All these memories are kept in a book under my bed
- Emilio

I’m from Copan and Mayan culture, from barbies and make overs.

I’m from a friendly house where you smell the fresh air and see the blue sky

I’m from Guatemala and wanting to be a doctor and save people.

– Sara

I’m from the orange house and two dogs running around.

I’m from the banana tree and the roosters that wake me up

From “Do your homework!” and “Are you going to eat?”

I’m from wanting to be a teacher and being the best futbol player in the world!

– Edy

I’m from the praise of my mom,

and reaching my dreams.

I’m from believing in God and going to the U.S.A to study at Harvard.

From lasagna and chicken with tajadas

From building a house in Italy.

-Nahomy

I’m from calling my mom “Ma” and always saying “goodnight”

and believing in My big God.

I’m from always believing in my family.

From Santa Rose and wanting to be a big pilot.

– Roberto

I’m from the town with the ruins.

I am from “I Love You” and “Do your homework”

I am from Guatemala and having a dream to be an astronaut.

From cake and tamalles, wanting to be a scientist and making a robot.

– Fernando

I am from my parents protection.
I am from a cultural place in Honduras, a happy place Copan Ruinas.
I'm from the coco tree that is very tall
and the rabbit that jumps into my house
From wishing to go to a university in the United States
and to be a gardener.
-Marilin

I am from Copan, where the animals are free.
From playing futbol in the street
I am from dreams of becoming a doctor.

– Hector

I dream that I have a big party for my birthday

and many things to eat, like chicken and meat

From being an adult and owning a mansion.

-Andrea

I am from Copan, a little town.

From riding my bike and playing soccer.

I am from the jungle surrounding my house and chickens running around.

I am from the mango and guayaba tree and the dogs that bark in the morning.

I am from going to my grandmas house,

from Jose and Carmen.

- Josseph

I am from the pulperia (small grocery store) that is in my house
and the smell of the lime tree

I am from the black birds that fly in the sky

and the dogs near my house

I’m from Christmas dinner and New Year fireworks

From my mom Yesenia and my dad Hector

I’m from “I’m hungry” and “Give me money”

and believing in my classmates.

– Yhessy

I am from Copan, where summer never ends.

I am from the beautiful palm trees, roses, and the horses that eat our grass.

I’m from the empanadas we eat every Sunday.

– Yovanny

I am from going to the river on Semana Santa.

I am from “No salgas a la calle” (Do not go in the street) and “Me tragiste una cosita”

and traveling to a lot of places.

I am from the Catholic Religion.

I am from Copan Ruinas and buying a house for my mom someday.

From chilaquiles and tortegas, from wanting to go to Harvard, from eating empanadas after church with my cousins.

– Kensy

Just when I think my heart can’t handle anymore, my students remind me that it can.

I am sure it is now understandable why Mizz Jenny was found crying uncontrollable tears during parent-teacher conferences when one of her students wanted to read her “I Am From” poem in Spanish to her grandma during her conference. Seeing this grandma looking at her 5^th grade granddaughter with tears in her eyes and the strongest sense of pride bursting through her smile is enough reason for anyone to grab a tissue box.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Giving Thanks

While Thanksgiving is clearly not celebrated in Honduras, my students are very well aware of this American holiday. Since I teach at a bilingual school that follows closely to the U.S. school schedule, my students have grown up learning about Thanksgiving and have always had the Thursday and Friday off of school in respect of the American teachers. I was surprised of their knowledge of Thanksgiving, and was even more surprised when one of my students wanted to make turkeys during Art class. While I am not exactly thrilled with the holiday being taught through cliche turkeys and pilgrim fables, I was intrigued and asked why she wanted to make them. She replied, “Mizz even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, you do! So lets make them!” Yes, yes, I do celebrate Thanksgiving! A day of stuffing myself with my moms yummy, mouth watering food, and a day to appreciate and ultimately “give thanks” for the special things in life.

While the turkeys themselves are some of the most adorable pieces of art I have ever seen, the messages they wrote inside are even more special. While my students don’t celebrate thanksgiving, they still understand it is important to reflect on what they are thankful for. Their writing makes me want to smile, laugh and cry all at the same time.

Naara and Sara modeling the turkeys :)

David- "I am thankful for my family"

Kensy Sofia- "I am thankful for my mom,
family, and food."

Hector- "I thankfull to have my two parents"
PS- The turkey is in fact holding a
bouquet of flowers.

Emilio- "Thankful for my mom"

Naara- "I'm thank for because God give me lots
of years of life!"

Sara- "I am thank of my life and parents"

Josseph-"I am thankful of: My family"

Fernando- "I am thankful for my house"

Just as my students’ reflected on what they were thankful for, I wanted to do the same. This is the first year I have been unable to partake in Thanksgiving festivities with my family and friends at home, and yet it has made me realize I have more blessings than ever.

I am thankful for:

my amazingly beautiful roommates

FaceTime

my Mom and Dad’s voices

hearing “good morning, Mizz Jenny”

all of my loving family

clean water

Sarita’s Icecream

homemade soup

my pieces of home- Morgan’s stories, Allie’s smile, Bri’s laugh, Kelsey’s text

Happy Hour

all the beauties at La P

Spotify playlists

Bon Appetite

the warm embrace of childrens’ hugs

Jenna’s plantains

1861 Indian Springs Ct.

my supportive grandparents

two wandering feet

19 unique and extremely special 5^th Graders

my hammock

Carmen’s Papusaria

snapchats of Lambeau

lets be real- Lambeau anything

Yefferson singing “What a Wonderful World”

my education

selfless Lucas and her loving family from the pottery village

the hunger to travel and explore

all the things I have learned from my parents

Wisconsin Badgers

silent reading time/2^nd grade reading buddies

amazing co-workers and colleagues

all of the tea

a roof over my head

fresh guacamole

Roommate dinners

5th Graders playing cops and robbers at recess

pictures of home on my bedroom wall

German Beer

sweet memories of smiles and laughter

$1.50 weekend street food

Dunya’s weekly Spanish lessons

tuc-tucs

talks of inspiration/hardship/love/dreams in the Nunnery

Dad’s weekly sport update

all things Christmas

chocolate

Only 25 more days until I can spend some time with my family and friends

Thursday, November 13, 2014

A Forever Kind of Change

Even only after a few months, living abroad has instilled a forever kind of change in me. There is something about being catapulted into a whole new life and culture that forces you to rethink your idea of who you are.

You face new challenges, some you never expected to face, and hope never to again. You get to know parts of your mind, body and soul that you didn’t know existed. You’re amazed at the changes within yourself and at the world. You learn, you broaden your horizons. You relearn, unlearn, and after coming down and embracing a few lessons, you start growing as an individual. You evolve. You feel homesick…you begin endless countdowns. You shape memories that will stay with you forever. Memories of my students’ laughter, the many smiles, the man on the corner of the street I pass every day, the woman that knows my Papusa order by heart, the hour and a half hike up to visit the cutest and most kind abuelita. With so many memories I have already made in this town, tugging at my heart.

Below are a few observations/snippets of my thoughts during these past 3 months in Honduras.

WHAT EVEN IS NORMAL?

Living in a different country makes you realize that ‘normal’ only means socially or culturally accepted. When you dive head first into a different culture and a different society, your idea of normality soon crumbles. You quickly learn there are other ways of doing things; one is not necessarily right and the other wrong. After a while, you too take habits you never thought you’d embrace. You get to know yourself better…doing things, handling situations, thinking differently in ways you never imagined in your previous life. You discover that there are differences between the ideals you really believe in, and ideals that are just cultural customs of the society you grew up in.

Time.

It’s as if you were looking through the car window. In the back of the car, everything moves really slowly, in the distance. While life passes by at full speed in the front of the car. In the back of the car, you receive news from home, occasional iMessage from friends, birthdays you missed, family-get-togethers, Badger Saturdays, celebrations you won’t be able to attend. On the other hand, life here seems to speed by full force. Time is so extremely distorted, you learn how to measure it in tiny little beautiful moments. A Skype call with your family and friends, a beer or cheesecake J with the new friends, million dollar smiles from the most beautiful children passed on the streets, the rare free time enjoyed on the hammock with a good book.

The inevitable change.

While there are many things in life that I am still unsure of and are questioning, I know for certain, living here in Honduras has profoundly changed my life and who I am. Living abroad- It will shake up your roots, your certainties and your fears. Living Abroad- 3 short months- I’ve learned, I’ve got scars, I’ve changed, I’m living...I’m evolving.

My mom was able to visit me at the end of October. Her visit was something I will always remember. I am so fortunate to have such a strong support system. It was extremely special to share this experience with my best friend. It is always nice to hear a new perspective, here are her thoughts!

From a Mother’s perspective…

I spent 11 wonderful, fun and adventured filled days with Jenny and her roommates. My impression of Copan Ruinas is it is a beautiful city due to its lush’s surroundings and its simplistic and rugged beauty. The people are kind and family oriented with wonderful smiles. It was very apparent to me that after living there for 3 months Jenny and her friends had already adjusted to life in Copan. The things I saw or experienced for the first time didn’t even register to them as being unusual. A prime example is the lack of a quiet night! Copan has more roosters than any place I have ever been and these roosters must have missed Crowing 101, where they are told to only crow at dawn and dusk….no these roosters crow 24/7 all night long. If by chance they do get tired and take a break their backups are the many dogs who seem to have a lot to say during sleeping hours. I asked for a shot gun and Jenny gave me ear plugs! To see a bike, a motorcycle, a beat up car, a brand new truck and 4 guys on horses walking down the street was a normal occurrence. Once in a while there would be a horse meandering down the road…all by himself…
REALLY??

As with any city, you quickly learn the do’s and don’ts; where to eat, walk, which ATM is safer for getting money without your card being compromised, and most importantly who has happy hour on any given day. They know where the best deals are and shop frequently at the “Farmers” type market opened daily where the fresh vegetables and fruits are delicious and very inexpensive! I have been introduced to Papusas, Plantains and Tipicos…all delicious and won’t cost you more than $2 for a meal.

For a parent to watch their child in their natural setting is a sight to see. I spent 3 days in the classroom with Jenny as Mizz Mary Jo…Room Mom. What I saw those 3 days was a well-organized, confident, patient, caring but in control of her classroom teacher. Jenny’s students are very much aware of when it is time to listen and do their assignments and when it is ok to have a bit of fun. Before walking her class to recess one day the kids were being a bit excitable. Jenny stood silently at the door waiting for things to calm down, when I heard one student say “Shhh, Mizz has that eye face!” and the class quieted down instantly!

I loved every minute of each day. Hiking to see Lucas in the Pottery Village, the adorable kids at Pintada, a three day trip to surf town El Tunco, El Salvador…crossing the Guatemala boarder, walking through town, visiting the Tea and Chocolate Place for some amazing tea and beautiful landscape. Hanging out on the deck of the apartment and picking out cows grazing on the distant hillside. Whether you are in Copan Ruinas or San Pedro the hills/mountains are visible in all directions. Many living in Honduras may not have a lot of material things but they love their families believe in God and seem to live simple but very fulfilling lives.

Below are some pictures from my Mom's visit to Copan Ruinas.

El Tunco, El Salvador