On Saturday, Dec. 8, the staff from our school went to a holiday party. It was organized by the founder of our school, Graciela, for the Tela Chamber of Commerce and Industries so in addition to our school, all the leading business professionals were in attendance. It was held in the banquet hall at the Telamar, Tela's largest, most expensive hotel. The school did not give us the option of attending, it was an obligation. The dinner was 500 Lemps ($26) and luckily the school paid half which left us still paying the outrageous amount of 250 Lemps ($13) for a dinner. You can go to a very nice restaurant here for less than half that.

After the dance extravaganza, an older, hefty woman in a sweater emblazoned with sequin wreaths and Christmas trees, came out to sing. She had a well-trained voice and did some full-throttle Spanish covers. We left during her fourth song.
School News:
Last week we went to watch the school perform in a choir competition against other bilingual schools. They all had fancy choir robes and wore Santa hats. Some even wore white gloves even though it was 85 degrees F. Each school got to sing a few songs and then the judges gave out awards for singing and outfits. Our school didn't win any.
Once again I want to thank all of you that were able to donate books and money for shipping. I don't now what I would have done without them. The kids read them everyday and have been checking them out to read at home.


Oh, and the school gave me a stack of mail on Monday. I got 6 letters post-marked between Oct. 23 and Nov. 26, about 2 - 7 weeks for it to reach my hands. Remember, there is no delivery service here, you gotta go to the post office yourself. So I think since the school doesn't get much mail, they only send someone to the post office once a month or so to check their box. Well I appreciate mail late than not at all so thank you to those that have used your precious time to write. If you are so inclined to send me a letter or something, here is the address (also on blog titled "Write to me"):
Sara Burgin
Escuela Bilingue Blanca Jeannette Kawas
Barrio Venecia
Tela, Atlantida
Honduras, Central America
Isn't it weird how there are no numbers or street names? The electricity bill that is perilously stuffed in our gate has our address as Barrio Venecia, casa verde, al lado del campo (green house next to the soccer field). When we pay our Internet bill, we tell the lady our name and for casa verde in Barrio Venecia. One day a girl was at our gate looking for her friend who said she lived in la casa verde in Barrio Venecia. I explained it must be another casa verde beacuse she wasn't here. When my friend, Kristen, lived here, she didn't know how to direct the taxi drivers to her house so she would just say "el edificio rojo" (the red building, it was large and well-known) and walked from there. Maybe streets and house numbers are actually a useful idea, huh?
Nice Weather:
The nice weather has persisted and I have been able to go to the beach on the weekends and for 2 hours each morning before work. This is probably the coolest the water will get and I can still walk right in with no hesitation and swim without goosebumps. Thus not really cold at all. For some reason there have been real waves too, although still too shallow for you surfers. Here is the underside of the palapa we usually lie under:
The air has been 85 degrees F, warmer enough that I no longer have to boil water and have resumed taking delight in cold 'showers'. I sleep with the windows open and only a sheet covering me, as even at night it doesn't get below 68 degrees F. I wear tank tops, skirts or shorts, and flip flops morning till night with no chill. It seems winter is over and spring is upon us. It will be a cold shock to step off the plane into icy, 45 - 60 degree F, San Diego.
Jimmy Durante:
While riding our bikes around aimlessly, since sometimes we get bored, we met the most adorable, Jimmy Durante-esque, man, Manuel. He works at the Gran Central Hotel, an indeed grand but pricey hotel (250 Lemps - $13). He told us how much he loves the "great band era" (Big Band era) and he even sang us a few versus of an old Bing Crosby tune and began reciting lines from Casablanca. He said he was 84 years old and his birthday is Dec. 31. He has lived his whole life in Honduras and he has 5 kids, the youngest is only 15. That's right, at 69 he had a child. He makes me miss my grandpa.
We have been invited by some co-workers to go to the disco on Saturday. I do not like to dance but we have heard there is a lot of wild things to see there. I am sure it will be quite an experience. I will let you know all about it.
5 comments:
69? Manuel must be extra-ordinarily charming with all that singing and such...
Yeah Sara, watch out! He might be looking to have a sixth! :) Cate
PS-I love reading your blog over lunch.
so 69 when he have a baby?
Jennifer
Aunt Terry says.. yes you really have it rough. Loved the picture of the umbrella. I am jealous of your warm weather. We having very cold weather here. We have frost most mornings and only 28 but it does get up to 55 during the day.
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