I know 6 days is, like, a year in Brooke blog time, but its been a busy week.Also, my “chesty cough” turned into bronchitis thanks to dry season and dusty roads.I never used to understand why all the kids walked around with little rags until I got sick of hacking up a lung every day to and from San Marcos and got the bright idea to hold a washcloth over my mouth whenever I saw a dust cloud on the road.The next morning at school, when I showed up with my own rag in hand, it all came together for me.
I’ll give a quick run down of the rest of the week (and by quick, I mean long)
Monday
We did normal programming in the morning for the Standard 2-6 classes, but in the afternoon, Nelly (David’s wife) was sick, so I taught the Infant and Standard 1 classes. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have of Monday- and yes, my shorts are totally hiked.
Tuesday
Mexico!Antonia needed to go to Chetumal to buy decorations for Confirmation, which is this Monday (its cheaper to buy from Mexico or Guatemala).We got up at TWO-THIRTY in the morning to catch the 4am bus from San Ignacio to Belize City to Chetumal—a SIX hour trip, arrived in Chetumal at about 10, then caught the 3pm bus back to Belize City. We got back to San Ignacio at about 9:30.It was a long day, but really fun.Antonia managed to cross and re-cross the border with an old passport, crossed back into Belize with 6 bags of decorations and talked her way out of the tax.I paid $37.50 plus $40 in transportation and bought nothing.
Before we left, I met two Americans from Portland at the 4am bus stop in San Ignacio. They were also headed to Chetumal to backpack their way through Mexico.They were the first Americans I’d seen since January 4th and I almost jumped into their arms when they left. I told them they might make the blog.
Antonia at 3am waiting for the bus
Portlanders and me
Best moment of the day: hitting sunrise and sunset with the Caribbean out my window and Michael Jackson’s Number one Hits on the ipod.It was really great to be able to see the northern part of the country—Orange Walk and Corozol Town.
Wednesday
Prepared for San Marcos’s annual soccer tournament.The boys and teachers went into the bush to gather sticks and palm leaves to make the goals and shelters.I taught the girls and the Standard 2 & 3 classes (an by taught, I mean we played hangman and jacks all day).
Making the shelter
Lining the field
Washing dishes- well, they’re washing. I’m like, what is this so-called “cooking utensil” ?
Teaching (before I knew they had the camera)
After I realized they had the camera
After they’d had enough “teaching” from me
Wednesday night, we had a total Lunar eclipse, and I stood on the porch singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” to Inez and Bryon.
Thursday
Soccer tournament!10 boys teams and 9 girls teams came.They played from 8:30 in the morning until about 6:30 in the evening.The winners were Duck Run 2 and La Gracia.My job was tournamenteer (I made that up—it means to create and fill in the brackets throughout the day…)
Behind the scenes- taco prep
Your favorite tournamenteer and mine
The sequence of finding out I had blue streaks all over my face after the marker burst
Santa Familila team
And victory dance after first round
Santa Familia teachers (they tried to get me to switch sides)
Duck Run II cheering squad (check out the kid in blue tights)
Coach David
Cute Infant 2 student with her aforementioned rag
Nelly (David’s wife) and Imanuel (David & Antonia’s brother)
Rousing game of Jacks
Winning teams and trophies
Sunset (after an hour of picking up trash…)
Friday
Half day, spent mostly in church going through the Stations of the Cross.Its really interesting and meaningful for me to go through the Lenten period with everyone here.And it helps to be doing it with kids, since I am learning and things are slow and simplified to teach them.The rest of the morning, I did Math with the Standard 1 class.
Whew! I think I’m caught up. I’ll try to stay in touch this week. Don’t forget about me, please?
Hello 