Christmas Preparations at Casa Guatemala
Hello Everyone-
So, while you are having snow storms and icy fun, I am in tropical paradise drinking beer on beautiful beaches. No, that`s a lie. I am drinking beer here and there, but I am NOT relaxing on any beaches, nor am I getting tan either. I have been working my butt off. I am now officially a teacher, which is good news. That is why I came down here after all. I am teaching Kindrgarten. At the moment I have nine children, but when the school year arrives, I will have ten more. They are a VERY roudy group, and I do a lot of yelling. But I am happy with the work. I see it as challenge, and I know I will do well. You've got to be very clever, and very creative with these kids. They have very little respect for anyone, especially some white girl who can't even yell at them in correct Spanish. They are learning to write numbers and letters and some of the more advanced kids are adding and subtracting numbers. None of them can read very well. But they're getting there!
So, other than my new job, I've been fighting for a new bed in the volunteer house. I finally got the one I wanted. It's in a room with a lot of sun, and better mattresses. In my old room, Ryan (my stuffed animal...he's a rhino and also my pillow...and very dear to my heart) came down with a terrible case of mold. Everything get's mold on it around here. Nothing really dries because it is so freaking humid down here. So poor Ryan got all moldy in my dark room and he smelled terrible too. So I had him washed in the machines here at the hotel, and he is much better. I was very worried, and still am worried that he might get mold again. Dad, when you get down here, you are going to have to rescue Ryan from the tropics. He is not happy here.
This past weekend I was in charge of a group of children that went to Guatemala City on an excursion. We went to the zoo, the theater (to see a Christmas play about Rudolph), and a tour of the national palace. The children all had a good time, but the trip was badly planned by Angie, and I was stressed out most of the time. It is a long story and I am very upset with Angie. I seriously think she is crazy. I very rarely understand anything she says or does. All the volunteers are angry. She treats us like crap, and then expects us to do a good job and be responsible. I hate the organization of this place, but I love the kids. I am in constant limbo. Today I like it, but tomorrow I'll want to quit. Well, at least I have work now that is completely my own. I can design my class as I like and if I don't speak to Angie about it, I will have no problems. At all costs, she must stay away from your project.
Right now (starting tonight!) I have my break. After five weeks of working everyday, I am SO ready for my vacation. I am going to travel with my two friends, Lene (from Denmark) and Iraxi (from Basque country!). We are going to this bio preserve tomorrow morning. We are spending tonight in Hotel Backpackers, and in the morning we leave. I think we will be spending a couple of nights there. We are planning a day long jungle hike, which should be really great. We also want to go kyaking. For the rest of the week, I'm not sure what we will do. Surely, we'll find something interesting.
Sara had a question about what my Christmas will be like. It will very big, actually. In the orphanage, Christmas is HUGE (or so I've been told). Every kid gets lots of presents, and even the kids from surrounding villages get presents. I am in charge of christmas trees (all fake), and I have been making decorations in my free time. All the kids are obsessed with Santa Claus and they sing Christmas carols constantly. They all want sneakers, toy cars, socks, hair clips, perfume, training bras, footballs, and puzzles. I am buying presents for my group of little girls and the kids in my class. I can't wait to see Christmas morning. They are all going to be so happy. Finally, they'll have underwear without holes. Boy, they need Christmas. I am sad that I won't be with my family during this happy time. I miss all the wonderful food, and the smell of the tree, and opening my stocking (after Mom has had her coffee...very slowly). I can't really even think about it, or I will be homesick beyond words. If I hear one Christmas song from Bing, I will fall apart. Haha, so no, christmas is nothing like I would like it, but I am really sharing christmas spirit here. That's what's christmas is about, right? Like sharing, and helping and stuff? Yep, I am the Christmas spirit materialized as a human. Wait, wouldn't that be Jesus? Ugh, whatever.
I miss everyone VERY MUCH. I love my mom and dad and my brother and sister. And I love my aunts and uncles, and my cousins. And I love my grandparents, and my friends. And I love my pets, Gus, Bella, Penelope, Jack, Sally, and Doobs. Damn, now I am homesick. Well, that's the life of a traveler. Talk to you all soon.
Love Maia
So, while you are having snow storms and icy fun, I am in tropical paradise drinking beer on beautiful beaches. No, that`s a lie. I am drinking beer here and there, but I am NOT relaxing on any beaches, nor am I getting tan either. I have been working my butt off. I am now officially a teacher, which is good news. That is why I came down here after all. I am teaching Kindrgarten. At the moment I have nine children, but when the school year arrives, I will have ten more. They are a VERY roudy group, and I do a lot of yelling. But I am happy with the work. I see it as challenge, and I know I will do well. You've got to be very clever, and very creative with these kids. They have very little respect for anyone, especially some white girl who can't even yell at them in correct Spanish. They are learning to write numbers and letters and some of the more advanced kids are adding and subtracting numbers. None of them can read very well. But they're getting there!
So, other than my new job, I've been fighting for a new bed in the volunteer house. I finally got the one I wanted. It's in a room with a lot of sun, and better mattresses. In my old room, Ryan (my stuffed animal...he's a rhino and also my pillow...and very dear to my heart) came down with a terrible case of mold. Everything get's mold on it around here. Nothing really dries because it is so freaking humid down here. So poor Ryan got all moldy in my dark room and he smelled terrible too. So I had him washed in the machines here at the hotel, and he is much better. I was very worried, and still am worried that he might get mold again. Dad, when you get down here, you are going to have to rescue Ryan from the tropics. He is not happy here.
This past weekend I was in charge of a group of children that went to Guatemala City on an excursion. We went to the zoo, the theater (to see a Christmas play about Rudolph), and a tour of the national palace. The children all had a good time, but the trip was badly planned by Angie, and I was stressed out most of the time. It is a long story and I am very upset with Angie. I seriously think she is crazy. I very rarely understand anything she says or does. All the volunteers are angry. She treats us like crap, and then expects us to do a good job and be responsible. I hate the organization of this place, but I love the kids. I am in constant limbo. Today I like it, but tomorrow I'll want to quit. Well, at least I have work now that is completely my own. I can design my class as I like and if I don't speak to Angie about it, I will have no problems. At all costs, she must stay away from your project.
Right now (starting tonight!) I have my break. After five weeks of working everyday, I am SO ready for my vacation. I am going to travel with my two friends, Lene (from Denmark) and Iraxi (from Basque country!). We are going to this bio preserve tomorrow morning. We are spending tonight in Hotel Backpackers, and in the morning we leave. I think we will be spending a couple of nights there. We are planning a day long jungle hike, which should be really great. We also want to go kyaking. For the rest of the week, I'm not sure what we will do. Surely, we'll find something interesting.
Sara had a question about what my Christmas will be like. It will very big, actually. In the orphanage, Christmas is HUGE (or so I've been told). Every kid gets lots of presents, and even the kids from surrounding villages get presents. I am in charge of christmas trees (all fake), and I have been making decorations in my free time. All the kids are obsessed with Santa Claus and they sing Christmas carols constantly. They all want sneakers, toy cars, socks, hair clips, perfume, training bras, footballs, and puzzles. I am buying presents for my group of little girls and the kids in my class. I can't wait to see Christmas morning. They are all going to be so happy. Finally, they'll have underwear without holes. Boy, they need Christmas. I am sad that I won't be with my family during this happy time. I miss all the wonderful food, and the smell of the tree, and opening my stocking (after Mom has had her coffee...very slowly). I can't really even think about it, or I will be homesick beyond words. If I hear one Christmas song from Bing, I will fall apart. Haha, so no, christmas is nothing like I would like it, but I am really sharing christmas spirit here. That's what's christmas is about, right? Like sharing, and helping and stuff? Yep, I am the Christmas spirit materialized as a human. Wait, wouldn't that be Jesus? Ugh, whatever.
I miss everyone VERY MUCH. I love my mom and dad and my brother and sister. And I love my aunts and uncles, and my cousins. And I love my grandparents, and my friends. And I love my pets, Gus, Bella, Penelope, Jack, Sally, and Doobs. Damn, now I am homesick. Well, that's the life of a traveler. Talk to you all soon.
Love Maia
posted by chuck at 12/13/2005 06:33:00 AM
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