Time Flying Away

Time is flying! In planning my classes for the next week or two, I realized how quickly this semester has gone. It feels as if I simply blinked back in August and have now opened my eyes to find that 3 months have passed. Although we are in Guatemala, our school follows American system, curriculum, and even some holidays. Tomorrow begins a two and a half day long school week. Wednesday, after a half day of classes, we will have a Thanksgiving meal provided by mothers at the school and then I am headed to El Salvador for our Thanksgiving holiday with some teacher friends. We are headed toward warm weather and beaches! I cannot wait! After Thanksgiving vacation we only have three weeks of classes, three days of exams, and then I'm coming home for Christmas. See what I mean about time flying?

Two weeks ago I assigned one of my classes their big project for the quarter--a flour baby project where they each will become single parents of a homemade four baby for two weeks. It actually goes along with the chapter we're studying right now on controlling population growth. Perhaps being single parents will act as a sort of contraceptive in their lives, at least in high school. It also gives me an opportunity to introduce a little bit of sex ed into the curriculum since these kids get no kind of sex ed in any class at our school. In explaining the flour baby project, I made the teacher quote board again saying, "we're making babies in class tomorrow." Of course, for fourteen years olds who are already obsessed with sex, changing bodies, changing hormones, and trying to be cool high schoolers now, that was met with hysterical laughter. It's been quite funny watching my 13 ninth graders tote their babies around every day at school. Some will make incredible parents when the time comes. For example, one of the guys carries his baby around on his shoulders all day long, holding his hands and bouncing him up and down in a loving manner. This same kid also brought a stroller, crib, and baby carrier to school the first day of the project! Many other students still need time to grow into good parents; for example, the fourth grade class was horrified when one of the flour babies was put on the roof of the school right outside their window. Needless to say, stunts such as that are met with decreased grades for the project.

During this two week time of the project, I'm am amazed almost daily at the opportunities we've had to discuss parenting, hormones, changes, contraceptives, sex, etc. in this class. Kids have questions, and it's been rewarding to provide a safe environment for objective, non perverse questions and answers to questions every teen wants to know but doesn't know who or how to ask without being ridiculed. Also, one of my students will make the teacher's student quote board on Monday for a comment made on Friday in reference to girls on their periods swimming in pools. Essentially he asked if when girls on their period go swimming get in the pool, and then all of a sudden around them (pssshhhh sound effect) "the red sea?" It's hard not to laugh at that!

Last night Xela had a town celebration for the lighting of the "arbol de gallo" or Gallo Tree. It is a HUGE christmas tree that is completely decked out in christmas lights and little Gallos (roosters). Now, understand that Gallo is a beer company that I'm convinced owns this country...not many would argue that point. So picture the hugest tree you've ever seen all alight with christmas lights, roosters, light up words "gallo", and on top, not a angel or a bow, but a large rotating light up GALLO sign. Of course, in front of the Gallo tree is a light up nativity scene. Once again, the irony is hilarious. Pictures will be coming of this great event. I arrived late, when the festivities were ending--the live music was almost over, the tree was already lit, and most of the people were leaving. But most incredible was that they ran out of Gallo at the lighting of the Gallo Christmas Tree--how does that even happen? Asi es la vida en Guatemala.


Maybe more has happened in the last two weeks, if I remember more, I will post more. But if not, I'm sure we'll have stories to share after El Salvador!