Got money and you know it, take it out your pocket and throw it ...

OK, so I'm not 'Lil Wayne and I definitely don't have loads of money to wave this a way and that a way ... but I did pay rent in cash this week and goodness I look rich!

i found jesus in guatemala

See, I told you I found Jesus.

I went to Guatemala. I'm not supposed to be home yet, but I got sick and then got my credit card stolen, so now I'm back in La Ceiba recuperating.

With all that said, Guatemala is fantastic. The amount of art and culture in Antigua is amazing. Not only were there boutiques and classy cafes on every corner, but bands were performing live music every night. Wednesday night Micah and I stumbled upon a place called La Sala and heard great latin jazz. The next night was Cuban Salsa night.

However, Guatemala has much more than arts and culture. About an hour and a half away from Antigua is Volcan Pacaya ... one of several active volcanoes that people can climb. After being dormant for about a century, Pacaya erupted in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since.

Some photos from my trip:

February 3.

I hung out with my new friend last night. Her name is Hiromi. She speaks Japanese and Spanish, and a little bit of English.

Sometimes it's weird because neither of us can communicate with each other in our native language. But we manage ... she has an awesome mini-computer thing that lets us look up words in any language ... this helps a lot. She teaches people in a textile factory. Talking to her about this job has given me a lot more insight into maquilas (sometimes known as sweatshops).

There are several maquilas here in La Ceiba. Honestly I don't know much about them, but today in my Sociology class I learned a little more when my students debated whether sweatshops were good or bad for workers. I was really proud of their work and interested in hearing their perspective. It would be awesome to take my classes on a field trip to a local sweatshop, but getting permission and money to do that is probably impossible.

In conclusion, we have a week off of school. Micah and I are going to Guatemala!! YAY!!!!
We're going to climb an active volcano near Antigua, then we're going to split up ... he's probably going to Copan and I'm going surfing along the South-west Coast. I can't wait. Guatemala is supposed to be AMAZING!!

students have problems too (& a few more circus pics)

Today was report card day.

Here in Honduras we handle grades differently. We cancel classes and invite (require) parents to come to school to pick up their child's grades.

I was fortunate to have only one parent mad at me. She wanted to know how I could say that her son was helpful in my class and then only give him a "GOOD" for conduct. Apparently to these parents "GOOD" doesn't really mean good. After she interrogated me the homeroom teacher lectured me and told to give out more "VERY GOODs" and "EXCELLENTs" next quarter.

Most of the parents were really nice though and I learned a lot about my students. Sometimes with all the challenges I'm dealing with I forget that my students are going through crap too. For instance, two of my students just found out that their dad, who's currently working in the U.S., is divorcing their mom and already engaged to another woman.

So many of my students have one or both parents in the States. One of my best students told me that he would trade everything to be with his mom. Another one of my students told me that women are really important to him and he wants to treat them really well, to be different from his dad.

I wish I could just be my students' friend. Being their teacher is too much responsibility. I'm better at just being a friend or mentor.

Anyway, after a morning with parents I went for a run and then delivered newspapers with my circus article to my friends at the circus. They loved it! I'm becoming a well known face aroudn the circus. Here are some photos that I took before leaving:








Brave or stupid? My circus friend grabs the tail of a tiger.

questions without answers

Today I was eating lunch and the randomness of me being in Honduras dawned on me like never before.

I mean, I have wondered why I'm here, but today was different. Today I didn't have an answer. At least not right away.

One question led to many more...

1. Why do I live where I can't speak the language? I don't even have a great desire to learn
Spanish.
2. Why am I in Latin America? My real love is Africa.
3. Why do I spend so many hours and so much energy at a job where it honestly doesn't matter?
4. Why did I voluntarily sign up to work with high school students?
5. Why did I commit to working at the most disorganized, dysfunctional and greedy school I've ever seen?
6. Why am I teaching? I have no training for this!

... You get the idea.

Interestingly, as the day progressed, the weirdest memories popped into my head, answering that initial question that started this whole nightmare of thought.

I haven't figured out what is going to get me out of bed tomorrow, but each day is new. I'll worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes. Hard times are unavoidable, no matter our location. The important thing in those times is choosing to remember better times. We cannot forget.

Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre

If you've got an extra $2 laying around consider using it to save a dance & drum studio from closing.

The Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre (DDDC) is looking for 50,000 people to donate $2 each to save their studio.

The DDDC is a non-profit that opened in New York City in 1992. It lost it's building facility at the end of 2008 due to financial problems associated with the national economic crisis. According to their website:

"Djoniba Dance & Drum KIDS is dedicated to crossing cultural, economic and racial boundaries by providing children with safe, fun classes in dance, drum and martial arts. Since its founding, more than 600 children have received full or partial scholarships to take part in the program. The Centre is committed to inspiring young people and helping them gain discipline, confidence and unity through the power of the arts."

To learn more about the Centre or to donate click HERE! It takes less than five minutes!

circus

The Circo de Renato has been in town for about a week now. I've been twice. I've even written an article about it and researched the treatment of animals in circuses. There's something about the circus that is so fascinating.

I can't get my head around the lifestyle: moving from city to city with a caravan of performers and exotic animals; performing twice a day every day for 12 months!

Many of the performers told me they were born in the circus. It's all they know. It's their family.

I learned that the Circo de Renato has a certified teacher travel with them so that the circus' kids will have an education.

The ringleader, Renato (pictured below backstage), took over this particular circus in 1975. His two young boys have a trampoline act and his beautiful wife is one of the opening acts.

Some call Renato the Best Clown in the World. He is amazing. He designed the show and plays a part in the most dangerous, exciting acts. He is a trapeze artist, animal trainer, comic, musician and brave enough to drive one of three motorcycles in the great, metal Cage of Death.

He said he was sad to see fewer animals in circuses today. He said this makes the circus a less magical experience.

Performing animals is a sensitive subject. Google it and you undoubtedly get page after page of PETA-like websites calling for the end of all animal use in circuses. I disagree.

Too often I think people jump to conclusions such as "whips is evil," "the tricks animals do are painful or unnatural" or "circus animals are unhealthy." These simply aren't fair observations for EVERY circus. To read more on this from an expert click HERE.

In conclusion, I love the circus. And in Latin America it provides a place for people who are interested in more than just soccer to explore and express their interests. It exposes people to exotic animals, a variety of music and alternatives to playing soccer and clubbing.