Just because...

How cute are they?

And we are done...

Today officially marked my last day of classes in the school year. I can't believe it! On Fridays I only have my Montessori class, which is a group of 10 kids between the ages of 4 and 6. This is by far my favorite and most relaxed class. I hold class outside at two picnic tables that look out on the hills and mountains of Guatemala...it is a pretty ideal environment. We have been studying the names of fruit in English so today we made a fruit salad. We sang a few songs before class (I like to eat apples and bananas...one of their favorites) and then cut up all the fruit together and enjoyed the salad.

Off to California tomorrow for the wedding and then back and jumping right in to summer classes. 

And then there was one...

Five...four...three...two...

Today was my last day of teaching my básico (middle school) classes and my Etapa class, which is a mix of kids from first through fourth grade who have never had school before. One more class tomorrow and then I am officially done. I can't believe it...this time of year seemed like it would never come and yet it came so quickly. I have had such a blast teaching the middle school classes, which is something I never really thought I would enjoy. When I first started I did not know how to talk to them, teach them, discipline them...I was lost. Over the past eight months we have learned together. I have learned a lot about myself and about teaching and I THINK/HOPE they have all learned some English. I have learned that middle schoolers are self sufficient (for the most part) and you can talk to them like adults, yet at the same time you can't give them too much space because boy will they run with it. I was so used to pre-school that this was a huge change for me and took a long time to adjust to.

I have really loved working with these kids over the past months and I am sad to see the year end. But don't worry we will still be spending a lot more time together during summer classes, which will start when I get back from California. Here are a few pictures celebrating the last day!

Primero Básico (7th grade)

Tercero Básico (9th grade)

Etapa (1st-4th grade mixed)

One down...four to go.

Class photo after the cake/movie party. Can you find me?

Today was my last day teaching my second grade class. Since I am not going to be at school next week (due to the wedding) this is my last week with all of my classes. When I get back from California it will be time for final exams and last minute clean up before the school year is over. I can't believe how fast time has gone by and that my eight months of teaching is coming to an end.

My second grade class was by far my most challenging class. A class of 26 students (with very strong personalities and behavior problems) under the age of 10 and one teacher---I am surprised that I survived. Through many different behavior charts and behavior management techniques we all made it through the year and I think they actually learned something through it all too.

Today to celebrate the last day of classes and them completing their behavior chart we had a cake/movie party. The had to fill up a jar with twelve cotton balls to have this party and they have been working really hard. It was not easy for them or for me---but we made it and boy was that cake good.

Guillermo and Linda

Lucia

Me, Lucia and Manuela

Back to Paradise

Does this picture look familiar? If so it's because it is...we returned to the island of paradise this past weekend (aka we went to Miguel's lake house)!! After a long week of independence day activities we had a four day weekend--much needed--and we heading to Miguel's house on lake Atitlan for a few days of rest and relaxation. We arrived in time to cook dinner and enjoy the evening. The night was filled with delicious pasta and homemade sauce, music, dancing and games.

The next day we woke up to a beautiful morning and just as I had remembered the most amazing views from the house. After a quick breakfast and much needed coffee we all headed down to the dock to spend the day by the lake. We spent all day hanging on the dock and swimming--it was just what the doctor ordered. Later in the afternoon we had a BBQ and another night of relaxing. Most of us woke up on the early side to soak up the sun and the lake before we headed back to NPH. The lake was so peaceful in the morning--I could have stayed forever.

Mid day we all packed back up and walked up the hundred stone steps to the cars to head back to NPH. It was as usual an adventurous ride back....

The running of the TORCHA

The volunteers who made the trek--Sam, Danny, Hannah,
me, Kristina and Veronika.

On Tuesday I participated on one of Guatemala's many independence day activities--the running of the torch. Schools, towns and cities come together to bring the flame of freedom/independence back to their home/school. NPH was no exception and the kids headed off early in the morning to go light the torches that would then be run (many miles) back to NPH. The torch was lit in the town of Zaragoza, which is about 45 minutes (driving) away from NPH. Around 2:30 the rest of the kids and the volunteers who wanted to participate set off to meet up with the crew who had already begun running. We met up with the other kids and all piled out of the bus, in the pouring rain, and began the run back to NPH.

The buses drove next to us so anyone could get on and off as they liked and did not have to run the whole way. I am guessing the whole run was close to twenty miles. We wound through the streets of Chimaltenango all the way to Parramos. I ran hand in hand with many of my girls and took shifts running with different groups. As exhausted as I was the energy was high and the kids were all so excited about the run that we continued. The buses drove along with kids and teachers hanging out the windows cheering all the runners on. 

When we arrived in Parramos everyone got off the buses and we ran together up the hill and brought the torches of independence back to NPH. When we arrived at NPH fireworks went off and we all came together to light the main torch on the cancha. It was an extremely fun and exhausting afternoon--but I am so glad to have been apart of it. The only downfall is I now can't move my legs because they are so sore. 

Returning to NPH as the fireworks got off--still pouring rain.

The torch of independence being lit by two students.

Happy Independence Day Guatemala

Yesterdat marked the third day that we celebrated the independence of Guatemala. Not that I am not excited about it---it's just a lot. Today was the biggest celebration of all--a parade in San Andres with all the surrounding schools. All of the children in preschool, primary, and básico came and walked in the parade with the band and the "carroza"...which is a fancy word for a decorated truck. Each school decorates a float and the señoritas and niñas of that school get to ride in the float and represent their school.

Marching through the streets of San Andres
followed by our NPH float!

The teachers were all in charge of decorating the float so we were told to get to school by 6am to begin the decoration process. We had already prepared everything to turn this truck into Tikal (the biggest Mayan ruins in Guatemala). When we arrived at 6am there not another teacher in sight...and the decorating did not begin until 7....that is just how things run here.

Señorita NPH and Señorita
 Deportiva in "Tikal".

Tikal!!!!!!!

We covered the outside of the truck with all the flowers we had made and then the inside was filled with roses and pine needles. The director of the primary school painted a beautiful backdrop and with a few wooden planks Tikal was recreated. Once the float was done we rode in the back to San Andres to catch up with the kids before the parade started. We walked through the streets, lined with families and friends, of San Andres for the next two hours representing NPH and celebrating the independence of Guatemala. It was a hot and sunny day---but the band was playing and the children were smiling the whole time.

The primary kids beginning the march uphill!

Followed by band and básico.

The babies even joined the parade!

The crowds lined the streets.

The best part is we now have two days off---HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Queens of Tikal--riding the float back to NPH (and on the way the
painting behind us broke and fell down and the incense fell
over and we set fire to the float---don't worry we survived!)