So four weeks in and I'm still alive and most definitely kicking. I've survived overflowing toilets (I now have no aversion to poo), intense heat, disobedient kids, eggs, cockroaches in the classroom (see later on in the blog), a lack of cold water, car journeys on the roads and I'm loving it! The hours are long and the work is pretty hard, but it's not without it's rewards. Bring on the next 11 months!
Last night we caught the tail end of (what I think) was hurricane Isaac, the hurricane that's just passed New Orleans, the weather was crazy. In just under 15 minutes the roads were like rivers, the school was pretty much flooded, the thunder was deafening with lightening lighting up the sky as if it was day. We weren't allowed to walk the 400m home as we would've been washed away. And I'm not joking. I've never seen rain like it, and that's saying something having lived in Scotland for nearly 18 years. When we were finally allowed to leave, the rain had calmed down, the streets were more like gentle streams than raging rivers, we made a mad dash home. Arriving in record time but still looking as if we'd been swimming. It's safe to say last night I was glad for my wooly jumper. Thanks mum!
Cockroaches in the classroom! I'm not a fan of cockroaches. I think they're disgusting and vile. While teaching 6th grade, one decided to make an appearance. It scuttled out from behind a bookshelf and made a beeline for my desk. The only girl in 6th grade spotted it and jumped up onto her chair. I'm not ashamed to say I joined her, jumping swiftly onto my chair. Having only flip flops on, which aren't exactly prime cockroach killing material, I think this was the best option. The boys of the class took great delight in killing (sorry decapitating) and disposing of this particular cockroach. Next time, for I'm sure there will be many more cockroaches to see this year, I'll be ready!
I'm finding myself check the kitchen every now and then, just to make sure the fridge is still there. It always is. And I love it!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
We're gonna make ice cubes. Why? Because we can!!
THE FRIDGE HAS ARRIVED!! This is the best day so far. It's beautiful. And has a freezer part. I have never appreciated a household appliance so much in my life. It's amazing. We no longer have to drink warm water. And can eat fruit all the time. Starting cooking for ourselves this weekend coming. So no more egg!! Just makes things even better. In our excitement, we filled all our water bottles from our lukewarm water container and into the fridge they went. We even made ice even though we have nothing to put it in... Can't wait to make some iced coffee. The coffee out here is FANTASTIC. And Trinidad has many coffee plantations surrounding it, so it's cheap!
This weekend we spent more time with our hosts. Conchita (principle of the school and our surrogate mother for the year, as she told us), her husband (Dr Allan) and two sons (Juan and Rodriguez). After lunch on sunday, they asked us if we enjoyed football, as Barcelona were playing. Of course I said yes. And we headed to the living room to watch the game. Here I bonded with, particularly, the men of the household, with our joint hate of Real Madrid (mostly Cristiano Ronaldo) and our love of Messi. Barcelona won the game, and they asked if we wanted to watch Real Madrid lose.. Naturally we said yes! We seemed to get on much better, things were more relaxed, we joked and they invited us to go with them on day trips if we wanted. Which we agreed to! This was all done in broken Spanish on our part and much gesturing on their part. Giving us a small sense of achievement that they actually understood us! I'm feeling more and more at home the more I get to know people here. They're very welcoming. And considerate of our lack of Spanish. We can only improve!
This weekend we spent more time with our hosts. Conchita (principle of the school and our surrogate mother for the year, as she told us), her husband (Dr Allan) and two sons (Juan and Rodriguez). After lunch on sunday, they asked us if we enjoyed football, as Barcelona were playing. Of course I said yes. And we headed to the living room to watch the game. Here I bonded with, particularly, the men of the household, with our joint hate of Real Madrid (mostly Cristiano Ronaldo) and our love of Messi. Barcelona won the game, and they asked if we wanted to watch Real Madrid lose.. Naturally we said yes! We seemed to get on much better, things were more relaxed, we joked and they invited us to go with them on day trips if we wanted. Which we agreed to! This was all done in broken Spanish on our part and much gesturing on their part. Giving us a small sense of achievement that they actually understood us! I'm feeling more and more at home the more I get to know people here. They're very welcoming. And considerate of our lack of Spanish. We can only improve!
Friday, August 24, 2012
A challenging week.
This week has most definitely been the hardest so far. On top of teaching from 1 to 6.30 each day, our daily planning, writing exams, and preparing revision sheets, we have been given extra morning two hour classes, from 9 to 11 each day. Tired doesn't even cover it. To top it all off I have been feeling a little under the weather. Consisting of a headache and not being able to eat without wanting to be sick. Challenging when you're teaching in 35 degree heat for 8 hours each day.
But I'm coping. I knew this year would have its ups and downs. And the first month would be one of the hardest. Onwards and upwards as they say. Irma (Conchita's cook) seemed unconcerned to my illness. Unlike the treatment Mali received when she uttered the words 'estoy enferma' (I am ill). This might have been due to the fact that the only other words in Spanish Mali had said until that point were 'Hola' and 'gracias'. Alerting them to the fact that she might actually be ill.
I'm excited to get our fridge though. That's brightened up my week. Cold water how I long for you!!
Discovered a while ago that I have managed to lose one brown sandal en route to Honduras. How I have done this I cannot imagine but it's happened. And Mum, Dad before you ask it's not in my tip of a room, because my room is spotless (if you can believe that!!). Said shoe definitely did not make it into Honduras. The other one of the pair is now hanging on my wall, in memory of the disappearing sandal.
But I'm coping. I knew this year would have its ups and downs. And the first month would be one of the hardest. Onwards and upwards as they say. Irma (Conchita's cook) seemed unconcerned to my illness. Unlike the treatment Mali received when she uttered the words 'estoy enferma' (I am ill). This might have been due to the fact that the only other words in Spanish Mali had said until that point were 'Hola' and 'gracias'. Alerting them to the fact that she might actually be ill.
I'm excited to get our fridge though. That's brightened up my week. Cold water how I long for you!!
Discovered a while ago that I have managed to lose one brown sandal en route to Honduras. How I have done this I cannot imagine but it's happened. And Mum, Dad before you ask it's not in my tip of a room, because my room is spotless (if you can believe that!!). Said shoe definitely did not make it into Honduras. The other one of the pair is now hanging on my wall, in memory of the disappearing sandal.
Friday, August 17, 2012
I think I've eaten more egg here than I have in my lifetime.
Don't get me wrong, the food here is great, but almost every single meal has some form of egg in it. Scrambled, fried, boiled, omelette, eggs and beans, eggs and chicken, eggs in tortilla with mince, eggs on the enchiladas, eggs and rice. Worst thing is, I hate eggs. I eat the meals because it's what we're given but I can't wait til next week when we are able to cook our own food! Mali can eat all the eggs she wants, I will avoid them like the plague.
Food wise, today for breakfast we had tortilla with scrambled egg, beans and mantiquilla (almost like sour cream but cheesier) orange juice, coffee and two biscuits. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day here, and we had chicken marinated in spices, rice and peas, and a green vegetable (that we have yet to find out its name) covered in mantiquilla. Usually we have fruit but today we had a banana custard/mousse. For dinner we had beans, eggs again (this time in the form of an omelette), fried plantain (A banana that's green before you cook it) and a singular slice of white bread. Photos below!
Last night we had an amazing thunderstorm. The lightening lit up the sky as if it was day but with a purple tint. The thunder was deafening shook the house. Then came the rain. Incredibly heavy, the noise it made on the roof made having a conversation with Mali near impossible. The storm continued late into the night. It was by far the most spectacular we've witnessed since arriving.
Accompanying the frequent storms are even more sporadic power cuts. They can happen any time of day. But usually in the afternoon and they're much more likely to happen before or during a storm. When this happens, we lose the function of our fan. This may not seem like such a big deal. But it's SO hot in our apartment, we literally cook without it! Thankfully our power cuts haven't lasted more than 3 hours, yet...
We headed to Santa Barbara this weekend to meet up with Ashley and Emily, two other project trust volunteers teaching in the one of the barrios of Santa Barbara called Gualjoco. The bus journey over was spectacular. We jumped on a packed american style yellow bus, found seats and spent the whole journey staring out the window. The scenery was fantastic! Luscious green mountains, swollen rivers, and then all the villages we passed on the way. Houses lined up along the road side, all painted bright and colourful but very poor. Driving past a gas station I was astonished to see a security guard standing casually on the forecourt with a shotgun resting over his shoulder, a belt filled with cartridges and a handgun in his belt. This is the norm for banks but I'd never seen it before at a gas station!
After we met the girls, went for ice cream and bought supplies we headed to Gualjoco on another yellow American schoolbus. There was confusion from Emily and Ashley about where to get off, so once we did they didn't know where their house was. Cue trekking about Gualjoco in the intense midday sun with lots of shopping. Finally, after half an hour they finally worked out that the house was 2 minutes from where we got off the bus. The watermelon was well deserved when we eventually arrived!
WE'RE GETTING A FRIDGE!! I don't think anyone can understand our excitement at this development, unless they've lived in a tropical country for nearly 3 weeks drinking lukewarm (sometimes extremely warm) water. B This is an exciting day, it also means we will be starting to cook for ourselves very soon. Which adds to the excitement as I will not have to eat eggs. Ever again. Well not quite but much less frequently than now. The wonderful invention, that is the fridge, should be arriving at our little apartment by Friday. This gives us plenty time to work out where on earth we will put it. We're pretty pushed for space, already having the wardrobe in the kitchen due to lack of space in the bedroom....
Food wise, today for breakfast we had tortilla with scrambled egg, beans and mantiquilla (almost like sour cream but cheesier) orange juice, coffee and two biscuits. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day here, and we had chicken marinated in spices, rice and peas, and a green vegetable (that we have yet to find out its name) covered in mantiquilla. Usually we have fruit but today we had a banana custard/mousse. For dinner we had beans, eggs again (this time in the form of an omelette), fried plantain (A banana that's green before you cook it) and a singular slice of white bread. Photos below!
Last night we had an amazing thunderstorm. The lightening lit up the sky as if it was day but with a purple tint. The thunder was deafening shook the house. Then came the rain. Incredibly heavy, the noise it made on the roof made having a conversation with Mali near impossible. The storm continued late into the night. It was by far the most spectacular we've witnessed since arriving.
Accompanying the frequent storms are even more sporadic power cuts. They can happen any time of day. But usually in the afternoon and they're much more likely to happen before or during a storm. When this happens, we lose the function of our fan. This may not seem like such a big deal. But it's SO hot in our apartment, we literally cook without it! Thankfully our power cuts haven't lasted more than 3 hours, yet...
We headed to Santa Barbara this weekend to meet up with Ashley and Emily, two other project trust volunteers teaching in the one of the barrios of Santa Barbara called Gualjoco. The bus journey over was spectacular. We jumped on a packed american style yellow bus, found seats and spent the whole journey staring out the window. The scenery was fantastic! Luscious green mountains, swollen rivers, and then all the villages we passed on the way. Houses lined up along the road side, all painted bright and colourful but very poor. Driving past a gas station I was astonished to see a security guard standing casually on the forecourt with a shotgun resting over his shoulder, a belt filled with cartridges and a handgun in his belt. This is the norm for banks but I'd never seen it before at a gas station!
After we met the girls, went for ice cream and bought supplies we headed to Gualjoco on another yellow American schoolbus. There was confusion from Emily and Ashley about where to get off, so once we did they didn't know where their house was. Cue trekking about Gualjoco in the intense midday sun with lots of shopping. Finally, after half an hour they finally worked out that the house was 2 minutes from where we got off the bus. The watermelon was well deserved when we eventually arrived!
WE'RE GETTING A FRIDGE!! I don't think anyone can understand our excitement at this development, unless they've lived in a tropical country for nearly 3 weeks drinking lukewarm (sometimes extremely warm) water. B This is an exciting day, it also means we will be starting to cook for ourselves very soon. Which adds to the excitement as I will not have to eat eggs. Ever again. Well not quite but much less frequently than now. The wonderful invention, that is the fridge, should be arriving at our little apartment by Friday. This gives us plenty time to work out where on earth we will put it. We're pretty pushed for space, already having the wardrobe in the kitchen due to lack of space in the bedroom....
Monday, August 13, 2012
So we'll use one glove to unblock the toilet and the other for first aid..
Our toilet is fixed, this is a very good day! No more peeing in the shower. All that was needed was a plunger, one surgical glove and a reduced gagging reflex. And it's sorted. We now know that toilet paper DOES NOT go in the toilet.
Physical education is the kids favourite class. They all come to school in their blue trackie bottoms and gleaming white tee shirts. Playing sport in this heat is not fun. Because it was torrentially raining we were playing inside. And the power was off. No fans or air con. Soon me and Mali were sweating buckets and panting while the kids looked relaxed and hardly out of breath. Once the rain eased off we headed out to the football pitch. A barren rectangle of mud and grass with tree trunks unfortunately placed across the pitch. You think the ropework's bad, try playing football on this pitch! Girls against boys. The kids were delighted that me and Mali were joining in, we quickly demonstrated our football skills; Mali by loosing her shoes and me by falling almost on my bum within the first 2 minutes. The kids sussed that football wasn't our strongest sport. I'm looking forward to developing my football skills over this year, maybe there'll be a day where the kids don't laugh at me...
Our toilet saga continues. So what we thought was a success turned out not to be. Merely a day later and we were back at square one. Time to call in the big guns I think. Tomorrow we'll speak to our host as get the problem sorted. Hopefully.
We decided to explore Trinidad this weekend, and headed off up the hill after breakfast, armed with our cameras and vast quantities of water. After 5 minutes of walking uphill we were very, very hot. But decided to continue onwards and upwards to see the apparently fantastic view. And we were rewarded with just that. It was beautiful. So much greenery, little villages and houses scattered throughout the mountains surrounding Trinidad. We got many looks, as we usually do, but today people actually started saying 'hola' and 'buenos dias' and SMILING. This is an improvement on the constant stares and tongue clicking. And makes us feel much more comfortable.
Everyone here is football crazy. You either support Real Madrid or Barcelona. Lucky for me, I'm a Barca supporter and brought my barca top with me, this made me extremely popular with half the school at PE on Friday and not so popular with the other half. The allegiance to each team seems to change on a regular basis apart from a few hardcore Real or Barca fans.
Ps our toilet is fixed!
Physical education is the kids favourite class. They all come to school in their blue trackie bottoms and gleaming white tee shirts. Playing sport in this heat is not fun. Because it was torrentially raining we were playing inside. And the power was off. No fans or air con. Soon me and Mali were sweating buckets and panting while the kids looked relaxed and hardly out of breath. Once the rain eased off we headed out to the football pitch. A barren rectangle of mud and grass with tree trunks unfortunately placed across the pitch. You think the ropework's bad, try playing football on this pitch! Girls against boys. The kids were delighted that me and Mali were joining in, we quickly demonstrated our football skills; Mali by loosing her shoes and me by falling almost on my bum within the first 2 minutes. The kids sussed that football wasn't our strongest sport. I'm looking forward to developing my football skills over this year, maybe there'll be a day where the kids don't laugh at me...
Our toilet saga continues. So what we thought was a success turned out not to be. Merely a day later and we were back at square one. Time to call in the big guns I think. Tomorrow we'll speak to our host as get the problem sorted. Hopefully.
We decided to explore Trinidad this weekend, and headed off up the hill after breakfast, armed with our cameras and vast quantities of water. After 5 minutes of walking uphill we were very, very hot. But decided to continue onwards and upwards to see the apparently fantastic view. And we were rewarded with just that. It was beautiful. So much greenery, little villages and houses scattered throughout the mountains surrounding Trinidad. We got many looks, as we usually do, but today people actually started saying 'hola' and 'buenos dias' and SMILING. This is an improvement on the constant stares and tongue clicking. And makes us feel much more comfortable.
Everyone here is football crazy. You either support Real Madrid or Barcelona. Lucky for me, I'm a Barca supporter and brought my barca top with me, this made me extremely popular with half the school at PE on Friday and not so popular with the other half. The allegiance to each team seems to change on a regular basis apart from a few hardcore Real or Barca fans.
Ps our toilet is fixed!
Friday, August 10, 2012
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