A great way to end the week! :)

I guess I have to start with the beginning of the week though... I did a lot of observing this week, so nothing too exciting.  I observed various teachers in the school, I sat in on meetings with the mayor (which is incredibly useful because I met a lot of important people), and I attended asombleas.  Asombleas are meetings with the townspeople hosted by people who work in the municipality and are basically about population statistics.  Way more interesting than you would think!  And now I have a better understanding of my town and how it functions.  For the most part, everyone grows corn and that is what we all live off of.

I also met the Japanese volunteer, Risa, who is here with JICA which is also a two year program.  She has been in San Vicente since February and focuses on teaching math at the school and helping teachers improve their strategies.  She is a very sweet girl, motivated and happy, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her during our overlapping time.

The highlight of my week was today.  My host-dad's 28 year old brother speaks English and currently teaches an English class every Saturday to a group of youth in the town of Zacapa.  My friend and fellow volunteer, Chris, lives in Zacapa and helps Wilmer with the class.  Wilmer said I should come along and surprise Chris by visiting for the day and helping out with the class, so I did!  I wish I had captured the expression on Chris' face when he saw me walking down the street, because it sure is a happy surprise to see a fellow American after feeling isolated in a little Honduran town.  We had a great time teaching the class, although these students have never been taught basic manners or listening skills.  It was still a fun experience and definitely gave me practice for when I start my own English classes.  I think I will have more adventures to come because there are waterfalls and hot springs nearby that we can hike too, and next weekend Chris and Constance are going to come spend the weekend with me and my family because my town is having a big party on Saturday.  Both of my host-mom's brothers are in a punta/merengue band, New Combo, that their dad actually started back in 1975, and the band is performing at the party.  It will be fun to see what a big town fiesta is like, because apparently they happen often here!  Hondurans like to be social!

 Taking turns teaching the English class.  Wilmer and Chris teaching.

 All of the kids wanted us to translate everything written on their shirts, because it is all in English.

 Me and Chris in the central park in his town of Zacapa!

 While waiting for the bus, we watched this woman trick the chickens into running towards her by offering them food, then she snatched one up and wrung its neck.  So this is her holding her baby and her chicken...

Then she hung the chicken on the fence while she waited for the bus...