Panama City

Panama… been there, done that, and I have the hat to prove it!

In February we had a blessed 5-day weekend which left Molly, Sharon, and me with no choice except to jet off to a new country: Panama! As usual, no weekend is long enough (normal or with extra days) so the trip felt like really quick, but I would highly recommend the city to anyone and would love to return again someday. Even though it was a short trip, the three of us packed in as much touring as possible.

The Island of Tobago: Off the coast of Panama there are a series of little islands where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day and feel like you are in a tropical dream. We decided to spend a day at Tobago – in reality we did not have a choice of how much time we wanted to spend there because the ferry takes you in the morning, and then does not come back until late afternoon. With rented beach chairs and a big umbrella for shade, we found a perfect spot on the beach to park for the day. Sharon and I took a few kayaks out for a while to explore around the island. We went out early enough to avoid any waves or strong winds, and just floated through the water effortlessly. The water was such a beautiful blue in some parts, but unable to mask a sad reality in others. We learned that there is a lot of illegal oil trafficking through these islands and people are often careless with minor oil spills that are ruining the marine life. If you looked close enough, you could see a thin layer of oil sitting on top of the water. Unfortunately, because of this, the water was not ideal for soaking in, but we would dip in every once in a while to cool off from the hot, hot sun. Even still, for a little bit we played volleyball with a few other beach-goers in the water to avoid becoming total beach bums! (Warning: nerdy Spanish moment) I loved meeting other tourists on the island because we were coming from all corners of the world, and yet able to communicate with each other via a language that was not native to any of us.

The rest of the day was spent dozing in and out of siestas in our beach chairs, reading books, eating fresh fish, and exploring the beach. Some people discovered a turtle nest on a busy patch of the beach; sadly, since it was in a high-traffic area, the majority of the baby turtles had already died, but they managed to save a few! Have you ever seen a turtle so little? We babysat this little one for a while to keep hungry birds away while he got used to the water, and now we can only hope he is still swimming somewhere out in there in that big ocean. I also thought it would be fun to get all my little ones a souvenir from the beach (since in reality, most of them may never see the beach or the ocean in their lifetimes). I hunted all along the beach for the most beautiful shells and collected them to bring back to my students. I would like to boast and say that I successfully protected my white skin from the sun’s rays all day, but too much fun in the sun left me with my own souvenir: a sunburn. 

The Canal: What is Panama City better known for than the Panama Canal? It was inevitable that we would make time to visit this historically famous site. Coincidentally we visited during the 100^th year anniversary and celebration of the canal! We inquired about the best time to visit – we wanted to see the canal in action – so we went in the morning to watch boats go through. At the Miraflores Locks there are two chambers for boats to pass through and each one has two holding areas. When coming from the Pacific Ocean, the boats enter into the first holding area and wait for the water level to rise, then they pass into the second where they again wait for the water to rise more. Once the water is at the same level as the river that leads into the country, the boats are released to continue on their journey. While in the chambers, boats are hooked up to little moving cars along the side to help pass them through the canal and not bang into the sides. It is a slow process, taking about 45 minutes for each boat to move through the canal, but it is entirely fascinating to watch.

At the site of the canal you can wander through a museum dedicated to Panama and its world-famous canal. There was no need for us to hire a tour guide because we had acquired a regular taxi driver for the weekend and he volunteered to guide us through the museum. We learned all about the history of the canal and what the future holds for it. I found it interesting that the United States had complete control over the canal for so many years before finally handing over power to Panama. As well, the canal is man-made but I did not realize how drastically the land area changed in order to accommodate it. The river that connects one side of the country to the other, allowing boats to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, was not always a continuous river. La Corte de la Culebra, “the Snake’s Cut,” is rightfully named because the original builders had to literally cut through the hillside to extend the river towards the Pacific Ocean. The rock they blasted was used to build a highway that connects Panama City to a few of the islands along the coast. We also learned the future plans for the canal: they are in the process of building additional chambers to allow more boats to pass through in a day and to introduce a more efficient and economically-friendly process of doing so. However, plans have been halted as the engineers in charge of the project have changed. It truly is a historical marvel! 

Old Town: I absolutely fell in love with this part of the City. In the heart of a city that is very modern and westernized, there is a beautiful colonial neighborhood that has been well-preserved and offers a lot of history to the country. The streets are lined with old buildings that are intricately designed with bricks and columns, and vibrant with brightly colored doors and plants. This part of the city embodies so much history and culture to give insight to what Panama City was like before the modern world shaped into a metropolis. It is an area that is very much alive with Panamanian heritage and pride. We dined here one night at a traditional restaurant, Monola Caracol, that offers a 9-course meal. Each plate was served like tapas and we feasted on fresh seafood, colorful vegetables, homemade bread, and intriguing sauces. The most daring plate involved me eating whole-calamaris (tentacles intact), while the most delicious one included grilled fish, maize puree, and tomato jam. We thought we had died and gone to culinary heaven after this meal! 

We came back another day to see this part in the sun. We wandered through an artisanal market to shop for souvenirs and soak in the beautiful, hand-made crafts. I could not resist and bought the trademark Panama hat! (There is certainly not a shortage of them in that city.) Then we made our way through the streets to awe at the historical buildings. We were on a bit of a time crunch so we power-walked through the main parts, but took plenty of time to stop and snap photos. There were many churches, governmental buildings, and old homes to admire. I just cannot emphasize enough how much culture and character there was to be admired in this neighborhood! As well, there were some spots where you could see the contrast of what the city was and what it has turned into. Between alleys and around corners you could easily catch a glimpse of the city skyline as a backdrop. It was a harmonious mixture of the past way of life and the present reality.

The Amador Causeway: Remember when I mentioned that some of the rock that had been blasted away to build the canal was relocated to create a highway from Panama City to some of the nearby islands? That highway is called the Amador Causeway. We had two main reasons for going out there: alternative transportation and the biodiversity museum. After fueling up with another delicious, fresh seafood meal, we rented a bicycle to cruise around on. Have you seen one of these? It has always been Molly’s dream to ride in one, and she finally got to live it. There were plenty of bikes to choose from, giving the illusion that this was a popular activity to do on the Causeway, but we were the only ones taking advantage of this fun. We rented one for a couple of hours to help us get around the Causeway and see the different islands it connects. To be honest, the Causeway would be more or less not worth the time visiting if it weren’t for the hilarious fun we had on the bicycle. We caused quite the scene pedaling around and laughing hysterically (people who witnessed it were definitely laughing with us). We took turns pedaling (and simultaneously sweating), and driving or criticizing each other for almost running into oncoming traffic or inanimate objects. 

There is a biodiversity museum that is being built on the Causeway and while it is not ready to be officially open to the public, you can arrange a tour to see the progress on the inside. We walked through 4 exhibits. The first one displayed all of the diverse species of animals and plants that Panama has to offer. You could see which ones were more commonly found to the ones that are becoming extinct, if not already; as well, there was a list of all the causes for the disappearance of species. The second exhibit was my favorite! It was a 360 degree, panoramic video of the biodiversity found in Panama. There were just so many places to look and different things happening on each screen; it was a very engaging and intense exhibit. The third one displayed the geographical history of Panama via all the rocks and fossils found in the country. It was interesting to learn about how the land of Panama came together to connect two continents. The fourth, and last, display featured the history of Panama broken into categories: the people (natives and conquerors), the food (indigenous and evolved), the plants and animals, and the modern-day culture. The whole museum was beautifully done and you can feel the Panamanian pride soaked into each display. When the museum is finished and open for the public (a few years from now) it will surely be a spectacle and main tourist attraction. 

That sums up the majority of our time in Panama City! Other than all the touristy places we visited some highlights included our hotel (well-equipped with a high powered shower, dreamy beds, and a scrumptious breakfast buffet, our taxi driver turned best friend who eagerly escorted us around town, and a night out dancing on the 62^nd floor of the Hard Rock Café to welcome the start of Carnaval weekend. We turned every moment into a blast and made the absolute most of our trip!

Please be praying for the teachers who have decided to stay for another year! Jake (of course), Rachel (soon to be married to Jake), and Sharon have all decided to stay in La Union for another year, and that is great news! I know the students are thrilled to have them staying and it makes leaving easier too knowing that good people are staying behind. Pray that they prepare themselves for the year ahead while still finishing out this year with strength. Send up praises that God has called them to stay and continues to use them in marvelous ways here. They are huge blessings! 

Another Decision

It is the time of year again when we are asked to make a decision that answers a very big question: Do you want to stay and teach for another year?

I have decided not to. This is my second year working at Abundant Life Christian Schools in La Unión, Honduras, and I feel that my time is up.

When I think back to the moment I walked out of my initial interview with Jake, I could not have imagined what God had planned for me. It quickly became clear to me that this was the job God wanted me to pursue as I met new people who helped me with the transition, and I received incredible support from family and friends. Throughout both years the Lord continued to reveal himself through this job and I found myself more and more in awe with my incredible Father. It’s all in His timing and part of His perfect plan, right? His blessings and my ah-ha moments are endless but believe me, I can confidently look back on my time teaching here and know that I was exactly where God wanted/needed me, and my time was very well-served in this country.

I love my job. My students have captured my heart and I am not fully convinced that I will ever teach students who compare. They are adorable and loving (in ways that I do not deserve), and smart and ambitious to achieve brighter futures. For the vast majority of them, this education is their ticket out of La Unión to continue learning and growing; it is our hope that they then return to La Unión and pass on their knowledge to change the futures of others in return. They have been my reason for staying here and my daily motivation to persevere through life in a third-world country. My students have gone above and beyond my expectations and made this job immensely rewarding.

The job itself has provided me with an incredibly unique opportunity to start off my teaching career with. I am grateful to have had a lot of grace when I make mistakes, a lot of flexibility as I grow through trial and error, and a laid back environment where students forgive me quickly. Although I am primarily the 3^rd grade teacher, I have had the blessing of getting a chance to teach at the secondary level thus expanding my experiences. My skills have been pushed to extremes while trying to meet the needs of these students. I have been forced to become creative with classroom materials, lesson activities, and projects (without any aid from technology). I have had to re-write the curriculum and develop my own lessons that still cover the material students need to know. And I have had to become very flexible with ever-changing plans, limited resources, no substitute teachers on-hand, and cultural differences.

While all of these things have contributed to me growing vastly as a teacher in some areas, and allowing me to stand-out against other teachers with this unique experience/skill-set, I am discovering that I also feel like it has inhibited me in other areas. That is my primary reason for deciding to leave and return back to the States. Since teaching is the career that I am called into, I find myself deeply longing for a work place that fosters my growth as a professional rather than leaving me to figure things out on my own. My co-workers have always been exceptional and huge blessings, but they can only provide so much support – it’s not that they do not want to help, it’s often that they cannot. I desire to collaborate with other 3^rd grade teachers, math teachers, or even Spanish teachers (for the future) who know the situation and/or students better. It’s those kinds of seasoned co-workers that can offer experience-based advice that is more specific to my concerns. I also wish for more support from my administration. On a whole-school level, communication from the head-honchos is not ideal and we are often alerted of their decisions at the last minute. At my school, it would be nice to have a principal who speaks English in order to accurately supervise/observe me and offer constructive feedback to help me make appropriate changes or focus on certain positives.

There are too many moments when I am reminded that I very much work in a third-world country and it frustrates me. I have no standards to follow or anyone checking on me to make sure my students are reaching certain goals or educational milestones. And honestly, the curriculum is not my favorite to begin with so I am constantly changing it, unsupervised. I do not know how to incorporate technology into my classroom because the lights overhead are the best that I have. Even with the little technology available to us, that I rely on (mainly machines like the copier), I cannot control the power or their functionality so when they fail spontaneously, I feel desperate and helpless. As well, I often find myself being stretched beyond my limits with the amount of classes I already teach and then am asked to step-in and cover when someone is gone, or the extracurricular activities that are non-optional for me to participate in. My patience is constantly being pushed to the limits (God must love testing me that way) and it does not always feel necessary.

With those things being said, I still cannot speak highly enough about my two years in Honduras. Without an ounce of doubt, I will always look back on this time with a huge smile on my face and have a deep desire to return and hug my kiddos again. I think about really leaving (aka not definitely seeing those precious faces within the next year) and my heart starts to ache. I know it will be more than challenging to walk away but I know that the Lord will continue to provide for them and they will achieve incredible things, with or without me. There will be many more teachers that pass through their lives; I can only hope they never forget “Miss O.”! I will cling dearly to the relationships I have built here and the people that are going to stay for a big longer, just to keep in touch with the little ones I am leaving behind. As much as I have impacted their lives (hopefully for the better, and not traumatized them), they have been even bigger blessings in mine.

Thankfully I still have two more months of school so until then, I will cherish every moment with my nuggets. I will cling to their hands a little longer each day, give them an extra kiss, find ways to hear their giggles and reveal their toothless grins, and hold onto their little arms wrapped around me.

Please be praying for me as I look for a job back home. It is my heart’s desire to move back to Colorado and be close to my family – it’s been six years since I have lived at home and it is definitely time for me to go back. I am confident that the Lord has the perfect job planned for me, but it’s all part of his timing for when I find about that job. Pray that I have patience throughout the search and am actively seeking his guidance. Pray for confidence as I partake in interviews and send samples of my professional work to schools. Pray that He gives me the wisdom when it comes down to it on where to accept a position. And until that decision is clear, may I just fully enjoy my final months here surrounded by the students who are my reason for working every day and fill my life with too much joy!

Fiesta Tipica

I have been looking forward to this day all year! If I could pick one weekend for you to come visit, this would be it. In my opinion, this one day is way more worth a trip to Honduras than visiting the hottest “tourist” spots in the country. It’s a day when our students and their families can be proud of and celebrate their Honduran heritage. To me it represents a rare day when the school community comes together to put on a fundraiser like none other.

The students all don traditional outfits that make them look like pint-sized adults trapped in children’s bodies. The boys wear jeans with button-up shirts, both covered in colorful patches. Their western boots were made for walking paired with cowboy hats and flashy belt buckles. The girls get all dolled up with beautiful dresses, intricate braids, and a little too much make-up. Bright colors can be seen everywhere as they adorn these kids’ outfits! Last year I did not join in the traditional clothing but this year I decided to embrace my new-found Honduran self. I had a beautiful dress made for me in the traditional-Honduran fashion. The dresses are big with lots of ruffles and panels that stretch out into a flowing, grandeur dress. They are ideal for twirling around like a Honduran princess.

They took the traditional dresses to another level this year. The day included an “India Bonita” competition amongst the primary and secondary girls. Each grade had one or two representatives that would create a dress using only materials from the Earth and that are native to Honduras. (Emelyn and Xochtil were the indias for 3^rd grade.) These dresses that the girls made were beyond anything I had imagined! They used coffee, beans, corn, feathers, leaves, flowers, and shells or husks from fruits and vegetables. The girls walked down a ‘runway’ in these ornate dresses with poise and grace. The secondary girls had an added element of answering a question that pertained to their opinion or knowledge about Honduras. Only one girl – the 2^nd grade contestant – was escorted by an “indio” and that was my favorite feature of the whole program. This little boy courageously walked down the aisle in a barely-there burlap outfit that resembled something Tarzan would wear. But peeking out from his loin cloth were his little green underpants! Too cute. The elected winners were Jhosselyn from 5^th grade and Sara from 12^th grade. All of the girls looked absolutely beautiful!

Another one of my favorite features of the day is the little village that pops up on the school grounds. Our students’ families come together to make this a memorable event and I am always impressed with the end result. The men are in charge of creating “champas,” or huts, for the women to sell food out of. I am convinced that if you asked fathers, uncles, and brothers to do the same thing in the States, they would not produce anything remotely similar or as impressive. This year each grade was assigned a department in Honduras to represent with their champa – they had to construct it, decorate it, and sell food out of it that was unique to their particular department. The men pulled together bamboo, palm leaves, grass, tree stumps, and Lord knows what else to construct the champas. All next to each other, it really does look like a small village. This year 3^rd and 4^th grade teamed up to build one together. We represented the department of “El Paraíso” and sold chocobananos (chocolate covered bananas), rice in milk, green mangos, and water.

Also new this year, we decided to have a “foreigners” hut and sell our own typical food from it. the champa was not nearly as extravagant as what the other grades made, but our food was quite popular. We made and sold pizza, cookies (sugar, oatmeal chocolate chip, and mint chocolate chip), brownies, and welsh cakes. All of our food was a hit and we were sold out of it very quickly! I, of course, love all the food options this day has. I eat enough food for an entire day’s meals. There are so many delicious menus to choose from – baleadas, horchata, pupusas, oranges, chocobananos, chicken, tajadas, carn asada, lemonade, soup… whatever you could ask for (and is a traditional meal found in Honduras)!

The day is filled dancing as well. All of the primary grades dance to traditional songs and put on a show. The songs range from romantic ballads to ranchera tunes to upbeat punta numbers. The kids all shake their little hips in a true-Honduran fashion. They twirled around, danced in lines, clapped their hands, tipped their hats, swirled their dresses, and marched to the beat of catchy Honduran music. My girls this year are huge dancers so they looked spectacular up there! It was such a marvelous day celebrating Honduras with brightly-colored outfits, delicious food, delightful dances, and families all coming out to support their children and our school. Fiesta Tipica acts as a fundraiser for the school and this year they raised 37,000 Lempiras which is equivalent to $1,850. It was definitely a successful and fun-filled day for everyone!

Please be praying for one of our teachers who is returning to the States tomorrow to be with her family for the whole week. Her family is experiencing a time of deep turmoil and heartache so she decided to go home to be with them and support them with her love as best she can. Pray for her peace of mind with leaving her classes in our hands for the week so that she can better focus on her family. Pray that God is ever present with her whole family and he guides them through this troubling time. They all greatly need your prayers this week.