Semana Santa

Take 1: Antigua

Semana Santa, also known as Holy Week, is the week before Easter. The week leading up to Easter is filled with processions. During the processions men dress in purple robes and women dress in black and white and they walk through town carrying statues of Jesus on floats or wooden planks. Before the processions occur men, women and children spend hours making the most intricate and beautiful alfrombras (carpets) for the processions to walk over. The alfrombras are made out of flowers, straw, leaves, fruit, vegetables, and sawdust and the cover the streets throughout the city during Holy Week. The purpose of the alfombras are to welcome Jesus to town similar to when people laid palm leaves and their cloaks on the ground to welcome him years ago.

Alfrombra made of grass, hay, and flowers!

Colorful sawdust alfombra.

More sawdust alfombras!

Procession in Antigua--little boy leading the way.

Procession walking through Antigua-everyone
dressed in purple.

The float that took 40 men to carry through the streets.

Procession!

Waterfalls, Rivers and Caves....OH MY!

This past weekend Molly, Jessica and I (as if we don't already spend enough time together in English) took off to explore Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is series of natural pools and ponds within a beautiful jungle....in the Myan Kekchi language Semuc Champey means sacred waters. After spending the weekend there I can understand why.

We took our half day on Friday and grabbed a 2pm shuttle from Antigua to Lanquin (8 hour trip), which is the town right outside of Semuc Champey. The trip there was long and..shall we say interesting. We passed by a huge forest fire, we were pulled over by the police, and the last hour of our trip we added extra people to our shuttle so I had a dutch girl sitting on my lap. After a longer then necessary and uncomfortable trip...you can say we were happy to have arrived. We stayed the night in Lanquin because we got in so late and woke up bright and early to grab a ride into Semuc on the back of a pick up truck. The roads are too small and windy for normals cars and trucks to pass through so we all pilled into the pick up truck to start our adventure. We stood in the back of the truck and drove through the jungle for thirty minutes...it was so beautiful, lush and isolated.

Jess and I holding on as we rode through the
winding roads  to Semuc.

Molly helping out and holding down some coolers so
they wouldn't tip over on the ride.

Drive to Semuc!

Beautiful view.

View crossing the bridge..our hostel is up on the left.

We arrived safe and sound at El Portal, where we would stay that night, which is a rustic yet charming hostel only footsteps away from Semuc. Our tour began moments later. We headed into the park and began our hike up a VERY steep hillside to reach the mirador (the lookout point over the pools). After an hour or so of hiking we reached the most breathtaking sight....clear turquoise pools and waterfalls set in amongst the trees. The group quickly climbed down so we could swim and relax for the afternoon. We spent the next few hours swimming in the crystal clear pools, swimming though waterfalls, jumping of rocks and relaxing. I could of stayed at the pools for hours longer, but the group set off to tube down the river.

The amazing view from the mirador...I really did see this, 

but this is a photo from google.

The crystal clear pools we spent the 

afternoon swimming in.

After tubing and lunch we headed to the KanBa River Caves....ahhhh. You enter the caves with a guide and everyone is given a candle to light their way (the guide also has a head lamp). We entered into water about ankle deep and we all lit our candles to begin the tour. The tour lasted about one hour (and that was long enough) and we walked, swam, slide, and climbed threw the caves. Throughout the tour you had to try and keep your candle above water the whole time...even when you were swimming and trying to repel down a waterfall. There were two portions of the tour where the space was so small that we were trying to fit through that they guide has to help pull you through. The caves were beautiful and fascinating and I am glad we braved it and went on the tour, but I was really happy to see the day light beaming into the cave when we were done.

Molly and I at the entrance to the caves with our candles.
(Before Molly decided to ever so gracefully bow
 out and leave the caves to me and Jess.)

When we were done with the caves we basically crawled back to the hostel we were so tired from the days events. We finished off the day with dinner, beers and bananagrams. The next morning we were picked up by the pick up truck to head back into Lanquin and start our long journey back to Antigua. We drove back through the windy roads and jungle as the sun was rising....amazing!

P.S.- We thought it would be a good idea to bring a child's waterproof spongebob camera with us (because we did not want to risk getting our cameras wet), but unfortunately spongebob failed us and we don't have any pictures of the pools---I added a few from google so you could get the idea and I plan on going back and will bring my real camera...so more to come then.

Fresas are Strawberries

Ankayln and Solame counting out and
buying their apples.

Last Friday I went with the Montessori class on a field trip to Parramos. Parramos is about a ten minute walk from NPH on a very steep and windy road with cars and trucks zooming past. This did not phase the teachers or students and we matched up in partners and began the walk into town. We were heading into town to buy different fruits to make a fruit salad. I was asked to come along and teach the children the names of the fruits in English and help with crowd control. The walk to Parramos was fun and I learned a few new preschool songs in spanish--one was even about having lice. (See my previous blog post if you would like to brush up on your Guatemalan preschool tunes!)

Cristina, the Montessori teacher(volunteer), and the kids
buying fruit at the market.

We reached Parramos and divided up into groups to visit the different stands and buy the fruits that we needed for our fruit salad. Each group picked a different fruit to buy--my group was in charge of apples (how american). It was a perfect time to have the children practice English because we just finished learning colors and numbers. I had each child ask for a certain number of the fruit they wanted and then they would also have to tell us the color and then we learned the names. Once everyone had their fruit we got back in partners and headed back to NPH.

When we arrived at NPH we began washing, cutting and preparing our fruit salad. The Montessori program stresses the importance of the children being independent--so they give each child a sharp knife and they were all cutting the fruit by themselves. I was so nervous the whole time and was just waiting for someone to cut themselves..or someone else. Fortunately all the fruit was cut successfully and no one lost a finger.

Alan, Fredy and Toni washing the fruit.

Fredy and Diego cutting the bananas...he is holding
the knife the wrong way.

Concha, Alan and Yeimy cutting mangos.

When the fruit salad was finished we all sat around the picnic tables and enjoyed the outcome of all of our hard work!

Yeimy and Fatima serving themselves...yum!

Tonu, Fredy and Auri enjoying their fruit salad!

YUM!

Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

Some Guatemalan preschool songs  for you entertainment!

Song #1:

"Tengo un piojo....

No me deja o me molestar

Pica por aqui y pica por alla

Pasa a (nombre de un otro niño)."

Translation...yes they are singing about lice!

"I have one louse...

It won't leave and it is bothering me

It itches over here and it itches over there

I will pass it to (name of another child)."

Song #2:

"Quien roba el pan de la casa de San Juan?

(Nombre) roba el pan de la casa de San Juan.

Quien yo?

Si tu!

Yo no fui.

Entonces quien?

(Otro nombre)..."

Translation: Spanish version of Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

"Who stole the bread from the house of San Juan?

(Name) stole the bread from the house of San Juan.

Who me?

Yes you!

I didn't go.

Then who?

(Another name)....."

Learning new things every day here!

90/365

Today marks my three month, 90 day, anniversary here at NPH. Molly and I made signs for each other to hang in our office to celebrate the day We went yesterday to pick up our renewed visas and I can stay for another three months. It is crazy to me how fast time is flying here. Some days are longer then others and some weeks drag on more so then others, but I can't believe I have already been here for a fourth of my time.

Some days I feel like I just got here and I am still learning the ropes and other days I feel so at home here and feel like I have been here forever. It is crazy to me how much can happen in three months and that only excites me to see what more will happen and what more I will do in the coming nine months. So far I have:

Camioneta (aka-old painted school buses)

-Mastered the art of riding a Camioñeta (chicken bus)
-Waited patiently under a tree until an avocado fell directly into my hands
-Met a pig and then ate it a few days later (I am pretty sure)
-Taught a class while girls sat at their desks and picked lice out of their hair
-Sat next to a man (very closely) on the bus as he plucked his chin hairs with two coins
-Bought groceries for the week for under five dollars
-Attempted to teach girls how to dance for
their quinceñera (15th birthday party)
-Traveled many times to the beautiful city of Antigua

The arch in Antigua and a street
performance!

-Grown accustomed to washing my dishes outside
-Celebrated my birthday Guatemalan style
-Eaten at many delicious restaurants
-Found a new favorite drink...a liquado
(fruit, ice and water in the blender)
-Spent more time in a hammock then ever before
-Climbed a volcano and roasted marshmallows at the top
-Visited and swam in the most beautiful lake I have ever seen
-Relaxed on a beautiful beach and body surfed in huge waves
-Helped set baby sea turtles free
-Figured (well I am still in the process of figuring) out
how to teach kids over the age of four (aka. high schoolers)
-Made many new and amazing friends from all over the world
-Spoken more Spanish then ever before
-Met many amazing children who I am quickly falling in love with
-Seen more poverty and beauty in one country
then I ever new possible

Marshmallow roasting!

Can't beat that view!

No better way to celebrate 25!

Relaxing weekend at the beach!

New friends with cool shades (Me, Regine and Nanna)

My girls (Enma, Flor, Pamela and Adela)

Mi amor---Marvin!

I can only imagine what more is to come in the upcoming months! I am excited and nervous in the same breath for all the adventures and experiences that I know await me. Some easier then others and some happier then others, but all the same experiences that will stay with me forever.

Thank you AppleTree!

Kevin's token board!

So working for AppleTree has really payed off over the past few months while I  embarked on my new teaching career here in Guatemala. I have some very challenging students, from preschool through high school. and whenever I have a problem with a student I think about what I would do if I was at AppleTree...even with my high schoolers some of the same technics have payed off. 

My second grade class is my most challenging class of them all. It is a class full of 23 very energetic seven and eight year olds. The class is a mix of students from NPH and students from the surrounding towns. Most of the children have not had easy lives up until now, many have been neglected or abused, and they are all trying to come to terms with their day to day lives and how to cope in this environment. For some this is much easier then others.

So proud!

Kevin is one of my most difficult students and for the first few months of school I did not know how to approach him or how to try and get him to change his behavior. He was not motivated to learn and participate in class and he made it hard from the others who were trying to pay attention. Kevin ran around the classroom, threw people's papers and markers at them, threw my belongings across the room, and was being physical with me and the other students. It wasn't until a month or so had passed that is hit me...Kevin needs a token board... he needs a tier 2. So I made him a token board where he could receive points for staying in his seat, raising his hand, keeping his hands to himself and other tasks throughout the class period. Then together, Kevin and I, came up with a few different prizes he could earn if he was able to accomplish his goal and receive four points each class period. I showed the token board to a few teachers and the guidance counselor and they were all amazed. They wanted to know where I learned to make such a thing and if I could teach the other teachers how to do so. Thanks Appletree!

I have been implementing the token board with Kevin for almost a month now and his behavior has improved drastically. He tries very hard each class to earn points and he knows when he has not done so and is able to admit it. Kevin has been trying to earn enough points to be able to get a soccer ball---his ultimate prize!! Today was the day! He earned enough points on the token board and he was able to earn the soccer ball. Kevin was so proud of himself....the smile on his face is something I will never forget.

Kevin...a happy camper with his new ball!

Visitor's Day

Visitor’s Day, this past Sunday, was definitely the hardest day I have had here so far. Due to the fact that children are not adopted from NPH it is mandated that family members be allowed to see the children two times a year. So…two times a year the children get all dressed up in their best clothes and put on smiling faces and eagerly await their visitors for the day.

All members of the staff at NPH are asked to work on visitor’s day and everyone is given different tasks. Some volunteers walk around and take notes and make observations on the interactions between families and the children, others take pictures, others man the bathrooms, and some are down in the sections (where the children live) hanging out with the kids while they wait. I was assigned to be down in the girl’s section watching movies and playing games with the girls while they wait for their name to be called and to head up to see who is here to visit them.

Some children know that they have no family, they have either been abandoned or neglected, and as sad as it is they do not expect anyone to come see them on visitor’s day.  Other children have family or godparents who they may see over Christmas or at the visitor’s days throughout they year. Despite NPH’s best effort to try and figure out who has visitors coming for the day and who does not it always ends up getting mixed up.

Visitor’s Day started at 9:30 and parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and godparents came through the gates looking and waiting to see their little girl or boy. As the day continued the children’s names are called and they are brought up to see their visitors. Little by little less and less girls are in my section and the time is getting later and later. Some girls are still hoping and waiting that someone is coming to see them. I tried to distract them and play games and listen to music, but their eyes were glued on the door waiting to hear their names called.

As lunch came around there were still six girls in my section who had not had visitors, but they were not giving up hope. They continued to ask….”visitor’s can come after lunch too…right?”. The tías and I looked at each other knowing that no one was coming to see these girls and none of us had the heart to break it to them. As two o’clock rolled around and the girls who had been out all day with their visitors started to return and it hit the other six girls in my section that the day was over and no one had come.  That’s when the tears began, the nice outfits came off, and the nicely braided hair was taken out. It broke my heart to see them hurting like this. I have grown to love each of my girls so much over the past three months and I found myself being angry with their families and with NPH for making them go through this. No child should have to feel the way these girls felt at the end of the day last Sunday.

All I could think about as I walked back to my house was how lucky I am to have the people in my life that I do. You all know who you are and I love you all more then words can express.

As you can imagine I am not looking forward to the next Visitor’s Day in the fall.