¡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