Class of 2011!

Here in Guatemala the school year starts in January and ends in the beginning of October--making this the time of the year for graduation and summer vacation. This past Friday NPH held a graduation ceremony, similar to what you would imagine in the states, for all of the kids graduating from preschool, sixth grade (sexto), ninth grade (tercero básico) and high school (bachillerato). Over one hundred students from NPH and the surrounding towns/villages, who attend the NPH school, were ready to celebrate their accomplishments.

The preparations for graduation started weeks ago with the making of decorations and making sure the comedor (dinning hall), where graduation is
held, was looking its best. The morning of graduation all of the teachers, me included, were in charge of decorating for the big day. Fake diplomas and graduation hats hung from the ceiling, large bouquets of yellow roses were placed by the graduates seats and glittery letters that spelled out class of 2011 were hung on the wall. The comedor was ready for a perfect day!!!

The students marched into the ceremony to the popular song Creeré (believe) and took their seats of honor. The ceremony started soon after with mass, a guest speaker and the handing out of diplomas and academic awards. The students were called up by name to walk across the front of the comedor, shake the directors and teachers hands and receive their diplomas. Every single student returned to their seats, diploma in hand, with a huge smile on their faces.

Graduation Day was a huge success for many because if it were not for NPH they would not have been provided with the schooling to graduate or the people in their lives to push them to achieve their goals. I could not have been happier to be apart of the day or more proud of my students (18 of whom graduated) and my girls (8 of whom graduated).

Felicidades Clase de 2011!!!!!

Graduates from my preschool English Class!

Esme (from my section)-so proud with her
diploma in hand.

Juana (from my section) showing off her diploma.

The graduates!

Lourdes, Juana, Celeste, Esme and me after graduation.

My boys from my tercero básico class--they are all externos,
which means they live outside of NPH and just
 come to attend school. I had such a fun year with them!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Guatemala! 

Pajama Party

When you think of pajama party what comes to mind?

-movies

-popcorn

-sleeping bags

-staying up late

-laughing/giggling

-pillow fights

-pajamas

If the above are what popped into your head you are correct. Last night I had a full out pajama party with my section of girls (twenty girls between 11-15 years old). The newest Selena Gomez movie had come out so that alone was a reason for a celebration and the girls had been begging me to spend the night with them. The fun started around 6:30 when I went down to the section and had dinner with the girls. After dinner we dragged all of the girls mattresses into the sala (living room) and made one big bed for us all to sleep on. Next we carried each of the girls five blankets into the sala so nobody got cold, oh and we couldn't forget the million stuffed animals and pillows as well. Once everyone was settled (two to a mattress) I handed out popcorn and the movies began.

We started the night off with Monte Carlo, the Selena Gomez movie and finished the night with Step Up 3, where they went wild over all of the dance moves. The movies went until 11pm with a small intermission of a pillow fight and hysterical laughter. Once the lights went out the whispering and giggling went on for another hour or so. Everyone slept soundly and I didn't even hear a sound until 7:30 am, which is really sleeping in for the girls. They usually are up and going by 6:15/6:30...so I could not have been happier. Everyone woke up to whispers and laughing and we all stayed in bed joking around until breakfast time.

It is times like this that make me realize how much I don't want to leave these girls in three months.

When you give a girl a puppy

The "NPH" dog (aka the stray dog that the children have taking a liking to over the years) is loved and cared for by most here at NPH. She walks with the kids to and from school, she comes to visit the volunteers, she wanders outside the comedor looking for food, but her go to location is behind the girls house where some of the girls have built her a little house. Manchas (the dog's name due to the fact that she is black with brown and white coloring) recently had a litter of puppies which have joined her in her home behind the girls house. There were five little puppies that the girls cared for and brought food to until they were old enough to go to their respective homes.

Lupe and Estrella checking in on the puppies.

The puppies were too cute and I went to check on them regularly with the girls. I fell in love with one in particular and told the girls how much I wish I could have it, although I knew I never could because I live with seven other people.

Two months old and ready to find a home

When I got back from California the girls told me that I needed to come down to the section because they had a surprise for me. When I got down there they told me to close my eyes and put out my hands and they placed one of the puppies in my hands. They told me they saved it for me and that it was a gift. All the other puppies had been taken by employees at NPH and they told me they had saved this one especially for me. How could I break it to them that I can not have a puppy in the house? They were so excited to give him to me. It took every inch of strength I had to tell them I had to check with my housemates before taking it home...all I wanted to do was stuff the puppy under my sweatshirt and sneak him into my house, but I figured before long the others would find out. Unfortunately I could not take the puppy, but another employee was able to find him a home. It was the thought that counts.

"My" little puppy!

Los Pitufos

This past Sunday all of the Pitufos (smurfs) came to NPH. And by Pitufos I mean all of the volunteers painted head to toe in blue body paint and adorned with white smurf hats! There was even a Papa Smurf---me!

We turned the comedor into a movie theatre with a big screen and a concession stand with popcorn and juice. The kids received tickets with smurfs on it as they entered and their ticket was valid for a bag of popcorn during intermission. We started off the event with a skit put on the volunteers, which involved dancing, singing and basically making fools out of ourselves. The kids thought it was hilarious. After our skit we played the Smurf Movie and enjoyed the popcorn. The kids even won prizes for the best smurf costume.

Frannie, Me, Moll and Carrie in our smurf getups.

The babies all came as smurfs...too cute!

Say cheese!

Family Comes First

On Saturday I had the pleasure of accompanying fifty kids, two tios and Francesca to an amusement park outside of the capital. Every two months NPH takes the kids who had a birthday in those months to the amusement park for the day. They are allowed to play, eat Pollo Campero and ice cream and go on as many rides as they please. It is a day for them to forget about their worries and just be kids.

There were four younger kids (under 8) that came with us on the excursion to celebrate their birthdays. Since they obviously can't run around on their own Francesca and I spent the day joining them on the scary dragon roller coaster, the merry-go-round, bumper cars and more. They were having a blast! As lunch time rolled around we all met at Pollo Campero for lunch--this is a huge treat for the kids. On of the little girls, Marisol, who had just turned six didn't really want to eat anything. She asked if she could save it for later. So Marisol spent the next hour carrying around a happy meal like box full of fried chicken and french fries.  I asked her many times if she wanted to eat it and she continued to tell me no until finally she told me she was saving it for her three year old brother Jordy. After a lot of convincing that Jordy had plenty of food to eat back at NPH, Marisol sat down and scarfed down her lunch.

Marisol and Jordy have only been at NPH for a little over a month and many of the kids when they first come to NPH are used to having to look out for each other and older siblings are used to raising younger ones. It takes a while for them to adjust to life at NPH and realize that there are many people around them who will love and care for them and they do not have to worry any more.

Lunch time visitors

Today when we came down to our houses for our lunch break we had some unexpected visitors. The NPH cows, which are far from small, had wandered from the farm and found themselves on our patio and eating the grass in our yard. They were eager to see what was going on and one even stuck her head in our front door. 

Here is to Caleb and Jenn!

This weekend I had the honor and pleasure of flying home from Guatemala for my big brother's wedding. I still can't believe he is married. It seems like just yesterday we were playing legos in the loft above his bedroom, digging holes on the beach and waking up early on Christmas morning to watch cartoons on his mini TV in his room until everyone else woke up. It only goes to show how fast time really goes.

This past Saturday I got to be a part of his wedding to the woman of his dreams. How did we all know Jenn was the girl for him you ask? It's simple. Caleb and Jenn met right before their college graduation. They then lived in Chicago for a bit before moving out to San Francisco. Caleb always spoke so highly of Jenn and he just seemed down right happier since he met her. The real test was when Jenn cam home for Christmas one year. Caleb was so excited to show her our family Christmas traditions and to introduce her to all our family and friends. And lets just say our family is far from normal. Jenn was so easy going and sweet that she fit right in, but we really knew she was the one for Caleb when Christmas morning came around. We were all unwrapping our stockings and happened to all open underwear. I look across the room and Caleb and Jenn have simultaneously put the underwear on their heads. What else is underwear for?? haha. From this moment on we all knew that Jenn was going to be a great addition to our family.

This weekend we all got to come together in share in Jenn and Caleb's love and happiness as they were married amongst family and friends on the beach in San Francisco. I have never seen two people as happy as they are and two people that are so meant to be together (apart from my parents). They make each other better people. Their vows pretty much summed it up when they said,  "I will love you as long as the tides change and the stars shine." That is endless love.

Here is to Caleb and Jenn and that their life together may be full of happiness, love and of course a little bit of humor. Love you both.

To California and back again

Last Saturday I flew from Guatemala City to Houston, where I had a lay over before heading to San Francisco for my brother and Jenn's wedding. When I got off the plane in Houston everything was different. No one was speaking Spanish. I could not longer use my Quetzales and everything was SO expensive. When I said "perdón" on the escalator no one moved aside. When I said good afternoon to people who passed by they looked at me like I had ten heads. I could not figure out how to use my American cell phone...it has a touch screen. I could not remember my Starbucks order and made a fool out of myself in line to get a coffee. And everyone and everything was moving so fast. It felt like the world was speeding by in front of me.

After a long day of flying I made it to San Francisco and met mom in the airport and the festivities began. My mom and I spent the next week running around getting me a dress and doing last minute errands for Caleb and Jenn. On Wednesday all our family started to arrive and I got to see Hannah and Dad after nine months, which was amazing and much needed, and on Thursday Sarah got there!!!!!!

What a friend...Sarah flew across the country for two days to
 be my date to the wedding! Us at the rehearsal dinner.

Ab, Han, Sarah and I at the rehearsal dinner.

Mom and Dad--so happy!

The following three days were a blur of happiness, family, friends, love, really good food, music and drinks. Friday night was the rehearsal dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant in the Mission district and Saturday was the big day! We spent the morning getting our hair done, drinking wine and champagne and waiting for the ceremony to begin. When five o'clock hit we descended the stairs, all in gray with beautiful flowers, and led Jenn down the asile (aka the dock and the beach). The South End Rowing Club, where the wedding and reception was held, had been completely transformed and was breathtaking. The railings and tables were covered with flowers and twinkling lights hung from above.

The Jugtown Pirates...the band!

Sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge
 during the reception...beautiful!

As the sun shown out from behind the clouds our family and friends gathered together on a small patch of beach to be apart of Caleb and Jenn's wedding. The tide was not cooperating and the water was lapping up over our feet, the clouds parted and the sun shown down and Caleb and Jenn said "I DO"! The ceremony was followed by an amazing dinner, singing, dancing, drinking, toasting, swimming, celebrating and more.

"I do."

Family photo...all six of us!

The week went too fast and the time with family and friends was too short, but well worth it. The next two days we all spent recuperating from the weekend and enjoying the last few days all together. Tuesday morning I got back on a plane and headed back to Guatemala. When I arrived in the Guatemala airport everyone was speaking Spanish. I turned off my American cell phone, put my quetzales back in my wallet and said "buenas noches" to people passing by and was greeted in return. I can't believe it is already October and that the wedding is over because I have been looking forward to this all year, but time flies and I have already been to California and back.