Registration Day

This morning was awash with people. Parents and hopeful students waited outside for a chance to register and study with us. At 9.00 I picked up 14 people from Yajoa and brought them to see the facility and learn about the program.

In between, I went to the bank and talked to Henri about water filters and hay baskets. And it still isn't noon. It was amazing to see the people wanting the opportunity to study. It was frustrating because we don't have computers to help them with and it is likely a big stretch to see them get organized to buy their own.

I don't have much else to talk about but wanted to post a few pictures of the people waiting.

TTYL

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Full Classrooms each morning

Yeni goes over the process with parents

Edel talking to the Yajoa contingent

Waiting parents - for a chance to record the details in the computers

Yojoa

Friday afternoon we had a meeting in Yojoa with a number of new students and their parents. A primary school teacher, José Luis, was concerned about the lack of opportunity for students in this village to study beyond Grade 6. For the past month or so, he has been talking with us and organizing a way to get our program into his village.

Edel, Manuel and I headed to the primary school in Yojoa for an initial meeting. Nearly twenty people were already waiting when we got there. That, in itself, shows their interest. We met in one of the primary school classrooms. At the back, a brick layer was busy constructing a block wall to replace the aging (and flimsy) plywood walls that separated classrooms. He kept working but, I noticed, kept a careful ear tuned to the proceedings.

José Luis began the meeting with introductions and, interestingly enough, a reference to the idea that this was a historic occasion for the village. I never think of what we do as 'historic occasion' material but, in a real sense, it is. Mothers, fathers and children (especially the girls) were able to contemplate something beyond Grade 6 for the first time in their own village.

Students and Parents - Dressed up for Opportunity

José Luis Introduces the Program

Because the day was a little warm José had the rickety old fan droning away in honour of special guests. Through the gaps along the tops of the walls (in lieu of windows) I could see mango, coconut and plantains growing around the compound. Thirty desks crowded the room and, by the end of the meeting, they were nearly all full.

Two students had laptops and, while we were talking, Edel installed the program in each one. Wandering children peaked in curiously at odd intervals.

Manuel gave, as always, a wonderful explanation of the program and some of the benefits it offered. He stressed the need for mothers and fathers to take the course as well. Again, it was exciting to see the faces of the women light up at even the idea of them having a chance to study. Whether they will remains to be seen but ... they were able to dream for just a few minutes.

After ninety minutes, the meeting was over and we headed home. We arranged for me to go and bring a group of them to see the school on Wednesday. I wonder just how many will be able to fit into the pick up for that trip?

Another note. Last week there were three minor earthquakes. I woke up for two of them but missed the third which was in the morning while I was busy with other things. One of the interesting results was that we had no power the next day. Evidently, the nearby dam was not built with super precautions for earthquake resistance. The workers who run the turbines deep inside the dam are, understandably, a wee bit concerned whenever they feel an earthquake. So, they shut things down for eight hours to make sure that everyone was aware of their concerns. Always interesting to think just where all the water would end up if the dam failed. Santa Cruz looks like a nice place to live.

Shhh - Don't let Manuel know that you've seen this photo

Ecocina stove in background - Carlin learning the mysteries of Baleada making

The staff used the day without power to show Carlin how to make tortillas. As it was her last day in Honduras, it worked out well. The girls even strong armed Manuel, Edel and I into learning how to make tortillas. My skill set is sadly lacking in that department. We made baleadas with the tortillas and then, later, had a chicken stew made with the hay basket for a late lunch.

Wednesday morning, Carlin and I delivered two water filters on the way to the airport where we got her checked in, past the exit tax, the first passport check, the 'have you paid the tax' check and the 'scan the boarding pass' check - all before the second passport and boarding pass check at the top of the escalator (which wasn't working that day), the luggage and body scan check, the gate check, the final 'search through carry on' check (in case you really buy something strange in duty free) and the final boarding pass check. Really straightforward though.

A rainy day - unusual for this time of year but welcome for all the crops. Jackets and sweaters abound as it is barely 22' C.

TTYL

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Tidbits

Progress continues on certificates for our students. Now that we are getting our school registered, we are allowed to prepare certificates. All of our students from 2011 now have signed and stamped certificates and transcripts. This is a huge step forward and allows us a real measure of relief.

We continue to try to meet with the Ministry of Education for future planning. However, the conflict between the government and teaches continues. It is really a stalemate of sorts as in reality, the government does not have the money to fund the teachers and the pension system that was set up.

Chicken, Rice and Vegetables in Coconut Milk

Santa Rita Hot Springs - So ... come visit already

In addition, because of the ongoing conflict, the Minister is a potential shuffle or chop candidate. There are, evidently, seven ministers in jeopardy of losing their posts. As long as the Deputy Minister keeps her position (she has survived once already) we will not have to look at starting over with Ministry connections. It is frustrating to wait ... and wait.

This morning is the first day of school in the public system and streams of fresh white school uniform shirts and blouses were headed to school. The 'big, know-all-the-ropes' Grade 5 and 6 students were striding along on their own but the little ones all had mothers shepherding them along. All the shops and sidewalk stalls have been stocked with school supplies the past couple of weeks.

Carlin's trip to Las Delicias went well. She was treated well and ate several times a day - all good food. A lesson in making tortillas was part of her education. She had lots of fun with the students and so that was great. Her return trip via rapidito went well. With only two days left in her stay, she is realizing just how quickly six weeks can go by.

We have shown hay basket cooking to a number of people. We now wait to see if anyone will take up the practice on their own. We showed one man how to cook rice with the box. He was really amazed but, I think, was sure there must be some sort of magic trick that we weren't telling him about.

Had a reminder of what it is like living without access to money or education Saturday night. Marlen, the wife of one of my workers in Santa Rita took sick. Gabriel, her husband, phoned me at 3.30 a.m. because he had no idea what to do. Without any knowledge, there is no ability to differentiate between emergency or 'wait-till-morning'. We talked a bit and I said I could make it there by 6.00 a.m. Fortunately, the problem was just gastritis (bad enough). We found the clinic and were able to have her back home by 8.00 a.m. I know how panic tends to set in when I get sick in a strange country ... but I have some knowledge and a "Where There Is No Doctor" to read. It must be truly frightening to be without transport, knowledge or access to help.

Our Learning Centre in Santa Cruz

Carlin's English Lesson

One of the English Classes in Las Delicias

Manuel is late today - the driver of his bus was pulled over and found to be driving without a licence. So all sit and wait. Yeni is seeing a judge today in a custody battle for her new baby - the grandmother of the baby's father would like to have access to Yeni's salary more than anything. It is a bit like a Soap Opera right now.

Have a good day.

TTYL

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