You better BELIZE it!

Now, only a few of you know how dismayed and unenthusiastic I was to take this trip. My NGO thought it better to send 4 American girls on a voyage to Belize for visa renewals, rather than put us on a safe plane and have us on our way, in order to save a few dollars. I have some choice words for this said NGO, but I can only be so angry, hmm that is a strong word, I will use irritated. Yes, so like I was saying before, I can only be so irritated because I did not die. Have any of you ever seen the meme about someone driving recklessly/bad driver and the driver says, "but did you die?". It's funny when you see the meme, which if I find while writing this I will attach, but not funny to be the passenger in the car, or in my case the American who needs her visa renewed in order to keep teaching my cute little poor Hondurans.

Anyways, let me begin the story. Ok, I am not completely ready yet because I have to inform you that the only reason I am writing this blog post at 9 am on a Monday morning is solely because school was cancelled today! Lord Jesus knows how happy I am because I am still so exhausted from this weekends' travels. I woke up with the notion I would be fatigued all day at work, but then we got to the bus stop and our driver says it was broken, hallelujah! I screamed. While my director was figuring out what to do about the children and the day etc, I said a short prayer that I will share with you all today, "Dear God, I have never asked you for anything today, please let school be canceled because of this bus, Amen". Low and behold my prayers were answered!

Finally, I am ready to tell you all about this ridiculous journey to Belize. Remember, no planes were boarded in the process of writing this post* The plan for us was to take 2 buses to the Honduran border (public buses), get out and walk to the migration office and cross the border by foot, then get on a bus (public bus) in Guatemala to travel to Puerto Barrios. While on the bus in Guatemala, we were to stop at an migration office and give the driver our passports to get stamped (not a joke, but I am chuckling as I write this), then go to Puerto Barrios and go to the migration office there and then get on a speedboat to Belize. Now, remember the above mentioned was the plan they had for us to go to Belize. I was livid about this plan and downright frightened. I forgot to write ransom money for each American traveler was to be given to hide on their person, if you so happened to get kidnapped on this trip. I had no plans of dying while in Honduras, but if God forbid it happened, I imagined it to gang violence while doing a really heroic thing like teaching, or getting robbed on my way to work and one of the assailants guns goes off. Something like that (I'm still chuckling), but the fact that I already live in the most dangerous country in the world, I was very shocked my company was willing to play with my life like this.

Ok, so what actually happened was we got a ride to the Honduran border by one of our trusted drivers -2 hour ride. We then had to go to the migration office in Honduras and get the paper tourist visas that we got upon entry ripped out of our passport (such an ugly nuisance for me), then we walked across the border and we had to change money. Changing money on the street you will always get ripped off, but what choice is there. So we exchanged Lempiras (Honduran currency) to Quetzales (Guatemalan currency) and then we got on one of those sketchy buses on our way to the port. Luckily for us, it was very early in the morning so it was mostly women on the bus, and the only real sketch-ball was the man who collected the money and helped people load and unload. We went to the migration office in Guatemala, got another stamp since we were exiting the country, and stayed in Guatemala for 2 hours waiting for the boat to come. Then, at last the little speedboat came by, and we boarded. To my surprise I do not get sea sick. Once I ignored the fact I was in a little speedboat, with too many people in my opinion, I just looked out into the beautiful Caribbean Sea for the hour ride.

Alas, we get to Belize, I did not think anywhere could be hotter than Honduras, I was wrong, not the first or last time. Belize is hot my friends, I think the sun is hotter there. I felt like the sun was standing behind me the entire time I was there, but it was beautiful! We stayed in Punta Gorda, a very quiet beach town. This is a place you do not know what language to speak first, English is the official language, but this place reminded me more of Trinidad and Jamaica. I loved it! There is a heavy current Mayan culture in Belize - Mayan ruins are located throughout the country. The food was amazing. I think, actually I know, the reason I liked Belize so much was because it's a caribbean country and I am, you guessed it, Caribbean. I felt like I would eat this food at my grandmothers house or aunts, fried red snapper, red beans and rice, fried plantains, pickles (there is an accent somewhere there). I also found hair products! I was so happy. I needed shampoo with a colored girls face on it and products that would not make me go bald. Although I was there for a very short period of time, I got a chance to really enjoy it. I could have stayed longer, the girls were missing Honduras, but I did not at all haha. I took a shower, with temperature control and water coming out of the shower head for the first time in 3 months, I almost cried (I'm cracking up). I then slept in AC with a full size bed for the first time in months, it was just a lot and wonderful! I had a lot of me time over looking the water and thinking and praying and I loved that! I am not completely anti-social, but I have a firm, non-negotiable need for alone time. Nonetheless, it was an adventure, the trip back was exactly the same.

I purposefully wrote this to answer all of my friends and family's questions simultaneously about my trip to Belize, enjoy the pictures!

                                                                  Happy Reading,
                                                                         Fabiola

Belize's national beer! Not bad

Many stamps- I don't hate it!

More stamps

Rainbow Cafe- Awesome breakfast!

Fry Jacks- so good! Tasted like Beignets

Me, Kate, Loli, Ella, Caroline- at the natural juice stand

Shot of Blackberry Wine @ 11am - You better BELIZE it!

View outside of the hotel room

Fresh Juice stand where we met Reggie and Loli - So many juices, we had Gooseberry, Ginger, Cantaloupe and Pineapple

Market on the water

 

My favorite breakfast! Chicken and Eggs

Chocolate and Vanilla x3 HAHA

Smile God loves you! At Waluco for our last dinner( I had the fried red snapper, but was too hungry to snap a pic and just devoured it haha)

¡Siéntate.. Siéntense!

School bus, school bus, school bus, I am not a fan and I never have been. Now, I may not be a fan because I was fortunate enough to have a ride to school everyday. I did not have to deal with the daily trepidation of a school bus, who I would sit next to or how germ-y it is. I only rode the school bus when the occasional field trip was too close for a coach bus. This entry as I am writing it may actually have a few different topics in it, but I will continue to write and we will see together how this goes. Most of you reading this know me, so as I write it is like you can hear me telling you the story, part of my charm what can I say. Ok, I will come back, just had to take a moment to compliment myself. I am back now and ready to actually divulge the reason for me talking about a big yellow bus. I get on a school bus everyday at 630 and we go on about a 45 minute drive picking students up along the way to school. I find myself constantly saying, sometimes shouting "siéntate, siéntate.. siéntense!" I guess the students are itching to get off the bus like me, but they will learn they have to stay seated for their safety. It's really hard teaching kids an issue like that in Honduras, because they have absolutely no fears here. When I say no fears I mean, people ride on trunk beds, infants are on motorcycles a parent and 2 kids on the back wearing no helmets, babies are carried on bikes which are ridden in the street. I could go on and on about things I see here everyday, and that all I can do when I see it is the sign of the cross. So when we teachers are letting them know they need to be seated they look at us like what is the big deal ma'am, and I get it, but I will continue to try. Riding the bus every morning makes me feel drained before I am even at school, but once I see my actual kiddos and start my real day, my energy thankfully comes back.

With this energy that comes back, I got the wind knocked out of me on Monday when we had a surprise lice check. I am not easily grossed out, being a former nursing major and all. I actually like human gross things, but let me tell you all I was not happy about this. So, my director tells the kids line up for a lice check. I ask where are our gloves - she chuckles "no gloves", hmm now I start to internally freak out. Eww, so gross. I never seen lice, it has never come up as conversation at the dinner table. Lice has never even been a topic of discussion in general, now I am not completely clueless I knew what it was, but anyways I was freaked out. The eggs look like dandruff flakes that are stuck to the hair follicle, I misdiagnosed many as being free of lice. Luckily, a mom that volunteers at the school was going behind me, and was like "No, tiene", Me: "De verdad?!", Julissa "Sî, lo tiene" - thank God for her! I was itching the entire day. Lice is very common here, so I made it a classroom rule, we do not touch anyones hair. Four of my girls had it and of course they wanted to hug me at the end of the day and it's still taking some time for me to warm up to that again haha. Trust me, I understand I will not get it just standing near them, but I'm still very cautious. Again, the school bus, now I have anxiety being on their even more, the seats are a cesspool of lice in my mind now, but I think that is a fair statement. Regardless, I am scared and apprehensive, but I still love my lice infected babies the same. Anyone who wants to donate lice shampoo, tea tree oil etc for my sanity and their health. Let me know! Ok that was my plug. Next topic...

Honduras being the most dangerous country in the world right now has definitely made me very apprehensive to going out at night. I just don't feel like it is worth it, so I often just do dinner and chill at home, which is absolutely fine with me. I did go see 'Guillermo Anderson' live in concert with the teachers, directors and their husbands, and some of the children from the home. It was so much fun. I am glad I actually went and got a chance to go out. I have a clip for you all to watch of the music and one of the drummer dancing punta/garifuna. I love the culture here, very latino, but the African is in there too! It is nice to get dressed up sometimes and wear makeup and not worry about it sweating off, but I am sure that will last me until my birthday or so. Being a teacher entertains me enough, my kids are so funny. My kids are so funny that I actually bust out laughing at least once a day, I cannot even hold it in. I would say I am working on it, but that's a lie. All in all, I am lucky and I am blessed, hope this feels like some of the gaps of three weeks have been filled.

                                                                       Happy Reading,

                                                                            Fabiola

From the concert: Program Director Keri, Lauren, Kate, Caroline, Suyapa, Haydi, ME, Ella

Country Director Suyapa, Spanish teacher Haydi and I

My 4th grader Abel and I

Yalena, Keri, Santi and Lauren

                                         Punta/Garifuna dancer!

Disfruten la musica !

¡El día de los niños!

Wow! Today has been a day. In Honduras, it is a very serious holiday and everyone takes part in "El día de los niños" (Children's Day). Obviously, teaching at an elementary school we went all out for this day. I know I have not been blogging as much as I would like, but to say I have been busy is the understatement of the year. Plus, I am the type of blogger that I have to be in the mood in order to write, and I have not been in that mood recently, my day to day state is one of fatigue. I will of course update you all on what has been going on these past three weeks or so.

Nevertheless, this post is about el día de los niños, seeing my kids come to school without book bags filled with the homework I give daily -weird. The students also did not have to come in uniform, which that in itself causes a different attitude in them immediately. We had 4 hours full of activities: Juegos con su maestra, baile en el aula, los saltarines (Moonbounce), payasitos (clowns) and then my favorite, WENDYS for lunch! I was very excited about having Wendy's for lunch, such a rarity.

All in all today was amazing, full of fun and so much laughter! Oh my gosh I forgot, we had piñatas!! So important and so fun. All of the children were so happy, smiles on their faces and full tummies - I would call it a success! Disfruten las fotos :)

                                                                       Happy Reading,
                                                                              Fabiola

¡Feliz dia de los niños!

My boys! Please understand this picture is them in real life. Captures all of their personalities.
Mario, Kenneth, Deyvi, Abel, Michael, Dorian and Hector (Bottom)

My girls! Who obviously outnumber, but what's the statistic now 1 in 3 in college are men, guess at Villa Soleada también :)
Melissa, Beilyn, Melanie, Joseline, Ashley, Natalie, Jade, Arleny, Dominic, Yaritza, Daniela, Mercedes, Estefany, Angie, Yaneth

Obviously :)

Los enanos - I literally fell off the speaker cracking up when they came out!

¡Tan ocupada!

You ever just feel like there are just not enough hours in the day to complete all of your tasks? That is how I have been feeling for the past three weeks.

Summer school ended last Friday and it was two weeks of a lot of work and learning. Waking up everyday at 530am to be at work by 7am was not the easiest for me, exclusively due to me not being a morning person. Yet, once I got to school and was in the classroom with my students, all of my fatigue whittled away. Summer school was broken up since it was considered training. Kinder with Ms Kate, 1st and 2nd with Ms Ella and Ms Lauren and 3rd and 4th grade with Ms Caroline and I. In Grades 1-4 English Language Arts and Math were alternated between the two teachers - for example Monday I would teach ELA and Ms Caroline would teach Math and we would alternate the next day. I loved this part, it gave me the opportunity to see my colleague in the classroom and learn from her. She has taught elementary school for 4 years, and has been a great resource for me. Summer school was from 730am-1130am everyday. Teaching summer school was very eye opening for me, because it gave me the opportunity to see which faces, personalities and level of fluency would actually be in my class. Teaching 3rd and 4th grade together was a little bit of a challenge in the beginning because they were at very different levels. Great news for me, the more rambunctious children are in 3rd grade, not fourth. I also learned that in all of my lessons I need to offer differentiated learning, because the students do vary.

Now, onto raving about my fourth graders. They are the oldest students at the school - which makes them the leaders. Villa Soleada Bilingual School started as K-1 and grows every year. My fourth graders are so intelligent and well-behaved it almost shocks me. Another shocker, I was not expecting my students to speak such good English. The majority of my students could come to America tomorrow and succeed in the classroom - no exaggeration. I have 21 students and about 15 of them came to summer school, so I had the opportunity to form that initial bond with them and their parents. First day of summer school, the kids were very excited, to the point they could not contain themselves, but they got the rhythm quickly. By the 3rd day I was getting drawings and pictures from my students. By the end of the week, all of the students loved me and I was getting good morning and goodbye hugs daily. Now, I am not a hug person at all, like not even a little bit, but when my kids hug me I could hold them all day! Alright, enough of the sentimental stuff, ok just a little more, I had one student during summer school who would bring Ms Caroline and I something almost everyday. One day that stands out in my mind, is a students mother made us panqueques con miel (Honey Pancakes). Let me tell you all that I will never need syrup again. Los panqueques are made with honey, not served on the side, just to be clear. It was so simple and delicious, and it really touched me that she was going home everyday saying she was learning so much and having a great time at school and her mom would send us a token of her appreciation. I would also get candies from other students, let me tell you about candies in Honduras, I, Fabiola St Hilaire am NOT about that life. Anything that is made with sugar in this country is so unbelievably sweet, like ridiculously. Weirdly, I think it is because everything is made with real sugar. I can barely drink Pepsi here, because the sugar hurts my teeth. I tried a candy one of my students gave me, mango flavored - my favorite and I had to hide my genuine reaction because of course the little one was looking at me with dazzling eyes and a smile. While eating the candy, I was 97% sure my teeth were gonna fall out. In Honduras' defense, I have never really liked sweets I am more of a salt girl, but nonetheless I appreciate all of my students gestures.

Speaking of teeth, dental hygiene is almost non-existent in the village I work in. There are kids that their teeth have fallen out due to decay, cavities and rotting and I know those teeth are never coming back. My Academic Director, Keri, mentioned having a dentist come to the school and teaching the kids about hygiene. It is one thing to lose your teeth as an adult, but to lose them in childhood, it's sad. I want to help them so badly, but not entirely sure where to start. Getting water once a day, not even knowing what floss is - it is going to be tough, but all I can do is try.

Alright, I think I am more or less done talking about my students and work, I think it is time I talk about myself. Hmm, how am I? I am great actually. As mentioned previously, I am adjusted. I feel stressed for lack of a better word. I want to do my best and have my kids above grade level by the end of the year, but I know that will take consistent work. I know I am capable of succeeding so that helps me sleep at night. Most importantly, as of Friday, August 8th I have lost 9lbs. Now, that weight loss is due primarily to sweating - 95 degree days my body was not ready. Smaller meal portions, no drinking alcohol, sweating, eating lots of fruit, sweating, drinking water, sweating and did I mention sweating are all factors of my weight loss. I cannot wait to see how much weight I will lose in a year, but I promise not to return emaciated. I also stay super busy because I am in the process of applying to graduate school. Believe it or not I am not going for a Masters of Teaching. I actually want to get my Masters in Global Health. Diseases that affect minorities in the US and third world nations are important to me. I mean let's be frank, I will probably teach for the rest of my life, but the content will be different. Empowering people through education, in regards to academic, health and the environment, is something very important to me. Hopefully, one day I will be Dr St Hilaire, PhD, living in Europe giving talks and working all over the world educating young professionals and citizens of health issues affecting their communities.

No more of my soapbox, if you would like to sponsor one of my students (pay their tuition $20 a month) please let me know. As always...

                                                           Happy Reading,
                                                                Fabiola

P.S Enjoy the pics!

Ella, Kate, Lauren, Keri, Caroline and I

One of many :) -I'm popular!

At a parade to educate the Honduran youth so they do not emigrate

Playing Monopoly at Recess! Only the girls are mine 

What my kids will see everyday

Such a good restaurant! Las Tejas

Positive affirmation helps build self-confidence

Some Honduran students at the parade

Bucket Baths..

I am so happy to have a second this beautiful Saturday morning to just sit and write. It has been 11 days since I have moved to Honduras, and I feel better and better about the decision everyday. Now, I will not say the adjustment has been easy, but it has happened much faster than I ever could have imagined. Believe it or not, I have learned to stop complaining about the heat, and more so embrace it - ok that is not the truth, I have adjusted. Nothing will change that it is hot here every single day, lows in the 80s and highs in the 90s. Without AC, the high temperatures really got to me in the beginning, but now being hot is a part of my new life that I chose, and I move on. Being hot all the time, sweating and constantly needing to down water is my present and I am alright with it now. 

Make no mistake, despite my parents third-world nationalities, I am still first-world born and with that comes perceived entitlements. Yes, I said entitlements. We Americans believe we are entitled to electricity whenever we flip a switch, water whenever we turn on a faucet and wifi EVERYWHERE. I had to get over that real quick. Electricity is pretty available where I live, minus the biweekly or more city wide blackouts. Yes, blackouts, if we had a blackout in the US not storm related people would think they are gonna die, people here go about their lives. I love talking to my dad about my new experiences and he just laughs me out, "Fabiola, you are not telling me anything I do not already know", well I did not really know, but it is alright, now it is a reason to just go to sleep early - bright side. There is no way to stress enough how I now possess a genuine humility, that I know I could have never gained without seeing things with my own eyes. Let me tell you all about water. In my apartment I get water once a day, probably for 10 minutes, usually begins at a God-forsaken hour. We leave our shower head open so that when the water begins it will pour into the bucket during our slumber. Bucket baths, bucket baths, buckets baths... this is a very new concept to me. I will probably not take a "normal" shower for a year, but I am alright with it. Bucket baths are exactly what they sound like (do not overthink it). I find that I get ready so much faster in the morning, the fact that the water is cold I'm sure helps move that along as well. As previously mentioned, I talk about being hot all the time, so I take at the very least a couple of these baths a day, and now I look forward to it! Yes, I said I look forward to it, how? because I have adjusted. 

Now on to the topic of the kids - which is the main reason as to why I am even here. I love the children here, they are as rambunctious as children anywhere. The poverty is heart-breaking, but the vibrant spirits and personalities inspiring. I found out this week I will be teaching 4th grade, and I am so excited about that. Going from a high school teacher to elementary school will be very different, but I love a challenge. Teaching high school was a new arena for me because I always worked with younger students, and just like anything else I put my mind to, I set out and conquered that new challenge. The challenge of teaching the oldest students in the school, with a past of inconsistent teachers has been bestowed upon me. I have been in training this entire time, and although I was consistently bored to tears by the repetitive and surplus of information -I did get some good ideas on behavior management and classroom policies through the process. Summer school starts on Monday and I am so excited to finally be in the classroom teaching and getting to know students. When people ask me to describe myself, as I get older it becomes a much easier question to answer - I am a teacher, humanitarian and lover of rich new experiences... 

                                                               Happy Reading,

                                                                    Fabiola

¡La Primera Impresión!

My first impression!

As we began to descend on the plane I decided to look out the window. What I could see from my middle seat was a perfect view of absolute greenery. In the US, anywhere I have flown, there are parts that are foresty, but then roads, homes etc take over. The green trees, vegetation and very few homes in sight were absolutely breathtaking and took over miles. From the air, I could tell the Northern part of Honduras where I am living is spaced out and would be relatively quiet. Once I landed at the San Pedro Sula Airport I knew I was in a different country. The baggage claim area and customs were so small. Not to mention security was not too present. Thankfully my checked luggage made it to my destination with me and I found my director so easily once I left the baggage claim.

Next, I get in the taxi and I am on my way to my new home. San Pedro is HOT, now when I say HOT, I mean HOT people. I am not a 1000% sure how I will make it through this heat, but sunscreen and water will absolutely be my best friends from now on. Poverty is seen throughout the area, but not in a desperately impoverished way, but almost as a minimalist lifestyle that comes off as poverty through my first-world eyes. I see fresh fruit, baleadas posters, grocery stores and then I see Wendys! Yes you read that correctly Wendy's - please know that I was surprised as we drove past that. My blog this time around may have a few pictures, but will mostly be my written accounts, because it is honestly not safe enough here to be walking around with my iPhone and taking pictures. On that note, do not fret I have a few for you all today of my apartment.

I LOVE MY APARTMENT. My apartment is quite large and we have 4 bedrooms to share between 5 girls, but luckily I got my own room. I was actually surprised about how spacious it is, but I am thankful at the same time. I have included some pics of my new home and it is definitely cozy and comfortable.

Tonight, we will be having dinner at a restaurant nearby (I am 2 hours behind my East Coast Homies), then continue to unpack and tomorrow will consist of the tour of the city and getting acclimated with our new surroundings and jobs. I cannot express in words how enthused I am about this, but I will of course try. Now that I am here it is time to work and get my teaching on!

                                                                Happy Reading,
                                                                      Fabiola

¡Bienvenido a mi nueva blog!

Welcome to my new blog!

Writing is such a powerful and productive outlet. I love to share my thoughts and experiences with my family, friends and anyone who is literate with my words and images. As many of you already know, I have taken a job in Honduras and I will be there teaching English for the next year. I am beyond excited for this move! I sincerely believe that in life we are called to do great things, and it is up to us whether we decide to answer that call or not. Not only have I received the call, I said "Hello, yes I am ready to humbly serve!" Yes, that may have been very religious/preachy of me, but that is how I feel. I did not struggle with this decision to move to Central America, pause my life and uproot myself to a completely different country and lifestyle- I knew in my heart immediately it was the right decision and when my heart and head agree I know I cannot go wrong. A quote I recently stumbled across that I will leave you all with is "The ONLY courage you ever need is the courage to live the life YOU want" - Oprah Winfrey 

Stay tuned for new entries in the coming weeks..

                                                                 Happy Reading,

                                                                      Fabiola