In travel and in life there are constant opportunities to turn over new leaves or experience something for the very first time, if we are willing to take a step into the unknown...
On Wednesday, I was introduced to a new game. Anyone ever played Pica Pica? On Mardi Gras, kids (and whoever else has the guts) play a game where you run around smashing eggs on each other’s heads. The eggs are painted and emptied of their egg-ness, then filled with pica pica (confetti), and a piece of tissue paper is glued on to cover the hole in the top of the egg. There don’t seem to be any rules as far as I can tell, only that you run around and continue smashing eggs on cabezas (heads) until all of the eggs are broken. Emiliano invited me to play after our lesson on Wednesday and then gave me a whole bag of my very own pica pica eggs! іQue suerte!
On Thursday, Sarah and I had the good fortune of missing our school bus in the morning (by about 30 seconds) and were then forced to find other transportation…in the form of a Tuk Tuk! These are 3 wheeled, 3 seat taxis that cruise all of Antigua and the surrounding areas. I have seen entire families riding in them, which is easy to do because some do not have doors, but it would appear to the untrained eye that only 2 adults can ride comfortably. I can’t say that I was upset about riding to school this way, I see Tuk Tuks every 4 minutes here and have been dying to try it. The verdict? Just like a mini rollercoaster ride—you feel every cobblestone bump, every spinning tire on the sand road and even that feeling that you can’t quite make it up the hill and you roll backward just a bit so you are scared but then you make it and realize how much fun it was! Lemons can always equal lemonade.
A Tuk Tuk!!
Friday afternoon I had my first Guatemalan job interview? This remains a question in my mind because details are still to be worked out, but I do believe I acquired employment! A few days earlier, I was walking on Calle Arco (the street with a beautiful arch in the middle) and I saw a sign that said “Looking for a job? Bilingual Foreigners Welcome,” so I stepped inside. The tiny wine shop smelled of cigars and espresso, and the owner was just closing for the night but he took down my name and email and I heard from him a day later. We scheduled an interview for Friday and 30 minutes later I heard the words, “well, you seem nice, See you Tuesday.” I think I officially work at Vinos y Tabacos (if that’s what the store is called)! More details Tuesday…
On Friday and Saturday, I experienced my favorite tradition so far… every weekend during Cuaresma (who remembers what that means?! Hint: the cuarenta days before Easter), local churches put on a Velaciόn. This is a huge wall-sized display of a Bible story, and an alfombra (carpet) that covers a 30 foot space in front of the display. The Bible story last night was of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, and the one Friday night was from the book of Numbers. The display is fascinating, but the alfombra is an incredible demonstration of the dedication and faith of the church. Alfombras are created as offerings during lent, and are made with different colored sand or sugar, as well as vegetables, fruits and flowers (so, my apologies, but I won’t be purchasing any of these carpets to bring home). Using stencils, people work day and night to pour the various colors of sand into intricate patterns, while working on a scaffold system about a foot off the floor. They then add fruit and vegetable designs atop the sand, and line the sides with huge flower displays of hibiscus, bird of paradise, and every other exotic flower imaginable (which grow here in every average front yard). People come from miles away to pray, take photos and EAT, which is yet another aspect of velaciones: street food galore (basically picture a mini MN State Fair). On either side of the huge line to get into the church are vendors lining the street, selling things like balloons, light up wands, grilled meats, sandwiches, pupusas, tortillas, churros, fried plantains, and even Cotton Candy (you can imagine my reaction when I saw them spinning the pink stuff)!
Velacion from the book of Numbers in the Catedral, and the 40 foot alfombra...wow?
Velacion in Santa Catalina, in the outskirts of Antigua, worth the 15 minute drive and choque de moto on the way home!
I tried taking this photo from the back of the line to show how long we had to wait...can you tell it's a hot spot? Good, that's the point.
We attended last night’s velaciόn with the usual group of friends (by the way, when I use “we” it refers to Sarah, Christian and I, as they are my cultural liaisons, and their group of 8 closest friends who are SO much fun and have invited me to upcoming concerts and events!). One of these friends helped me in accomplishing another “First” for the week. Frederico drives a moto (aka motocicleta aka motorcycle/bike) and as it is the most popular form of transit here in Antigua, I have had the ganas (desire) to try it since my arrival. So, Christian arranged for Freddy to give me a ride home! My first moto ride was somewhat addicting …maybe I’ll trade in that bike I bought for my very own… and Freddy was an excellent tour guide- we cruised passed the best places to salsa dance, and the huge choque (car accident) that happened earlier in the evening (a 2 car choque = pandemonium in Antigua).
Then, about 30 seconds from my house, another first! A car turned too quickly in front and didn’t see us, clipping Freddy’s moto’s front headlight and we had a choque of our own! No one was hurt, only the yellow covering of the headlight fell into the street and the other car was scratched (don’t worry Mom!), but it was quite the experience! Freddy was entirely mortified and asked me at least 36 times if I was sure I was okay, and I thanked him for showing me the ropes. Really not a huge incident, but the sound of car hitting metal is one that sticks in your mind…maybe I’ll wait awhile on my moto purchase.
As my dear Patrick would say, “Never a dull moment!”
En El Colegio (AVISO: Muy Philosofa…WARNING: Much Philosophizing Below…)
After these three weeks of observation and shared teaching my desire for autonomy has multiplied dramatically. Acting as a support in the classroom is a nice way to ease into things but I have so many ideas in my head that I can hardly wait to begin my own classroom! Thus, I have requested to begin lead teaching full time starting Monday (aka tomorrow Holy Cow). So, in addition to the beauty of velaciones, the thrills of motos and choques, I have also been drowning in a sea of lesson plans. Overwhelming? Yes. Thrilling a la vez (at the same time)? YES!
My lofty goal is to have this classroom running like clockwork by the time I am finished. I have ideas for classroom management systems like the magic homework chair, morning work assignments that students begin immediately upon arrival to the classroom, and I’m sure I have more but my mind is swimming at the moment…
I want to institute a policy of respect for self, others and environment that creates a powerful atmosphere in which all students can learn, and I want these students to make huge strides in pride and responsibility in their academic and personal lives. My objective overall is to leave students with a strong grasp of the concepts of respect and responsibility so that if they do not remember my name they will at least remember that I respect them and their learning and want them to be successful. I want to leave students feeling empowered to become leaders! (Stepping down from my pulpit now…)
Moving back to last week, there were plenty of thrills. Tuesday was the Mardi Gras parade, as I mentioned last week, Wednesday the Catholic kids left school at 9:00am for Miércoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday) mass and the remainder of students left at noon, while teachers attended a capacitaciόn (similar to a professional development meeting) on assertive discipline in the classroom. Certainly interesting to re-learn this en Espaῆol!
I feel entirely grateful to have had the training and background education that I have (thank you, Hamline University). I am learning that much of the teaching philosophy here is based on little to no theory background; that anyone is a teacher who stands in front of a class and that students need to be disciplined and have strict consequences to succeed. To be perfectly frank, I do not appreciate nor do I abide by this philosophy and I believe one must find the balance between theory and practice to achieve expertise and truly be an educator who respects and empowers students not by iron fisted rule and fear, but by tapping interests and abilities and allowing student discovery. While I believe in experiential education and have benefitted greatly from its tenets, I am not entirely in agreement with experience as the only method of teacher education. Does that even make sense? My head is exploding this week.
Some of my students; a reminder of why I want to teach!! Kids, in any country, are the BEST.
Well that was intense. I’ve had a great week of living, teaching and thinking and as I begin to feel more comfortable and empowered in my surroundings, my mind tends to wander! Thanks for listening, I hope all is well at home!
Que les vaya bien, jill
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