TFABB June Visit
Teachers for a Better Belize
North American Volunteers on This Trip:
Kathie, Kim, Marie, Anne (founder), and Mica (RPCV)
Boys in Amy's village button their shirts to the top. We found this leveled reader in a set of donated leveled readers.
Our two week TFABB visit started with a Saturday dinner with Mica. The first week was spent with Mica where Marie and Kathie modeled lessons and Marie modeled a workshop. I liked her idea of a 'Ritual Read Aloud' which is how she starts off all her workshops. I learned to do 'big, small, big' in workshops. Teach, break into groups to practice, share out, then wrap it up and review. It was really great hanging out in Santa Teresa all week! Laura (the newest Peace Corps to join us) and I stayed the night with Amy. In 24 hours I got hot wax spilled on me, a coke bottle was shattered, we swung from thatch beams at the corn mill, washed at Amy's river and I had to remove a glass sliver from Amy's foot. There's no electricity in Santa Teresa so for night time entertainment (after our corn tortillas and chef boy-r-dee) we moved our borrowed chairs outside to watch the lightning bugs and the lightning illuminate the mountains and clouds with pink and yellow flashes going off like a strobe light. I also heard howler monkeys for the first time in the wild. I found a copy of BED, BED, BED by They Might Be Giants and forced Amy and Laura to listen to me sing the whole book. Greg got this book for me and our future kids will be put to sleep by this story/song. Check it out.
Amy is the best host. When I got home late Friday night from my week in Santa Teresa Saturnina said she barely got any sleep because of Greg's crying...she loves to tease:)
All the mangos greg was given while I was gone...at least I know he won't starve.
Poor greg, all by himself all week :(
Wochoch li Amy (Amy's house)
Dinner by cokelight, and Amy's post bandage wound
~Boys button their shirts to the very top button
~The kids all shake your hand
~They have to wave a foot away from each person...moving their hand and then pushing it in the next persons face
~Music plays until 10PM (like my village) but is accompanied by the roar of the generator
~Amy switched from knitting scarves to pot-scrubbers out of mesh.
Amy's host sister caught sneaking a smooch.
Village lunch in Santa Teresa
Caldo and writing
Fermin showing Kathie his great lessons
'hanging' around with TFABB in Blue Creek Lodge
Just two clear ketchi.
Silver Creek
Our week in Silver Creek was set up the same as the previous week with a change of faces. Monday TFABB went to Baranco (the newest village on the TFABB team) and I got to observe with my principal two of the best lessons I've seen!!! Then in the afternoon Laura from way up north gave a homemade games workshop that my teachers ate up. I think they felt so special that she would travel a full day's bus ride just to give them a workshop! Tuesday TFABB descended upon my village and my villagers loved Amy and Laura. Brendon gave Laura her 'house name' of 'animals' Amy is still the vampire. He ran around telling his friends, "see the vampire!" On Wednesday, our village leaders lunch day we wore our ketchi uuks and po'ots (skirts and shirts). They loved it. Some of the Standard 6 girls said I should wear it every day and make one in uniform colors! Their excitement led to an impromptu dance lesson in mr. Cal's class. About 12 girls came back from lunch in their traditional clothing and at recess a boom box was brought in and we danced all recess much to the girls (and the growing crowd's) delight. Brendon gave 'his vampire' 20 mangos because Amy mentioned there were no mangos in Santa Teresa.
My staff...and Dora reading a book.
Hermin with his mango and nim sa' (big belly). Lynette did Seaford's hair!
Of course a TFABB trip wouldn't be complete without a dinner with the Ministry.
