7.11.06

A big, red piece of cardboard, black and white shoes, a black shirt, and a white skirt. Really, that’s all it takes to make a Halloween costume. We had costume day at school the 27th, and I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I should go as. I thought of the cartoon Doug, and his super-hereo other-self. But then I asked the principal if I could wear my underwear encima de mis pantalones, and she just looked at me like I was crazy. Then I thought of Popeye. However, I realized that none of my kids would understand who I was trying to be. My children play checkers at least 5 times everyday. So I decided to be a red checkers piece. Despite the fact that I had to explain at least 50 times who I was, my kids got a kick out of it.
I went to Tela, a beach town, right after costume day with Ethan, Lauren and Sarah. Despite the rain, we had a blast. I re-learned how to play Yuker, ate a lot of really good pizza...of course not as good as Aniellos, but made with real mozerella cheese...went dancing with the clan, and totally relaxed. Our hotel room had a shower with serious pressure and cable TV, both things I have learned to live without.
We finally finished reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in my fifth grade class. Today we watched the movie. I’ve never seen my kids, or really any Honduran kids, so excited about reading until now. “I’m going to miss this book!” said Amy. Santos asks me for my copy of it everyday. I told them if they can bring me about 140 Lemps, I can buy them each a copy during Christmas break. They were excited. Cesar, one of the biggest trouble-makers, but simultaneously my favorite, told me, “Reading used to be my worst subject, now it’s my best.” His English was a bit more scratchy than that, but at least now when he jokingly says, “I’m going to kill you,” he doesn’t say “I go to kill you.” Something we’ve worked on since the moment I stepped foot on the school grounds.
We still have behavior problems that we are all working on. It seems as though in a lot of ways we American teachers are fighting a culture in our attempts to control our classroom. Parenting here often comes unwillingly. Out of boredom, out of a lack of education, out of...well the list could go on. So many moms are moms before they get the chance to grow up, and then the dads desert them or go off to find pleasure elsewhere. So when it comes time to obey, obedience isn’t something practiced at home, so why should it be at school? Throwing garbage on the ground is kosher at home, but not here. Being a bully is never punished at home (I think because it often happens outside the vicinity of a mother’s view—or because when the mother is angry, she is a bully to her children....and of course there is plenty of domestic violence)
And so as teachers, we fight not only apathy towards school work, but apathy towards treating others with respect. I’m sure any teacher anywhere has to deal with these things, and to those teachers reading this, kudos to you! One day when I’m rich, I’ll buy you all a drink for all the hard work you do.
In other news, I’m getting more involved in my church. On Saturday I “spoke” at the children’s church thing. The theme was about putting God first, which was an eye-opening speech to write for I, like Paul, am the worst of sinners.
I have also recently felt a common bond to Moses. I love my kids so much, but their attitude toward me vacillates. One moment they love me, the next they hate me. I suppose it is like this with anyone who is on a different wisdom-level than those they are trying to lead. How in the world did Christ ever die for the sins of those of us creatures who are unthankful, with miserable attitudes towards him and completely selfish? The days my children are well-behaved, I adore them. But there are many moments where I want to kick them. Seriously. Somehow those are the moments where the love of Christ somehow submerges amongst the chaos, for it is the essence of the Gospel. It says that a blameless man will take the place of the culpable, which means that when I adopt that as a lifestyle, I say goodbye to any selfish rights a normal human being claims. I, too, must die to myself, and watch as death itself moves backwards...
I can’t wait for Christmas vacation. Very very ready for some of Meema’s cooking, Aniello’s pizza, Zizi Jo’s cookies, and Ma’s apple pie! And of course, so excited about seeing the crazy Italian family.