(no subject)
It just doesn't feel like I've actually spend so many months away from home, since I've been in really close contact with my family and other people. I've experienced so much over the past few months which I probably won't ever be able to relate to you people since you just weren't there. Again, all the stories about the children really mean nothing to you, since they're just pictures.
So I started off on January 8th in Dominican Republic for six weeks, working in an orphanage. An Iberia lost my bag on the way over, so I started with fuck all. I'm trying to think of the key moments that happened over my time, and one stands out above all the rest. There's this one boy, Daniel, who is really messed up. I don't mean that in any bad way, but he has scars all over his arms and legs and generally walks around in a bad mood punching people. And I remember this one day I went there, I sat down with him helping him with his homework and he was laughing and smiling. I also have a video of him singing and having fun, and it's just a really nice sight to see. And then there's the second best moment: I bought Abel a present, since he never seemed in charge of any toys, and the day after he ran up to me, hugged me and whispered "I haven't lost it yet." and just smiled at me.
In a non-teaching memory, the best (and most hazy) was going to Ateresana 9 with locals and getting absolutely wasted. I remember me and Sean being willing to get driven to the club by this wasted local, having to get Sean home (whilst being off his face) and calling him Paul, all the local women loving me. (need more of that when I get home!) Good times, bad hangover.
It's always the little moments like that you remember, I don't know why. They just seem so insignificant, and really wierd that it's more memorable than going whale watching.
I then went to Belize for about ten days, which mainly resulted in bumming it on Caye Caulker with no real aim. I went to Belize Zoo, which as it stands is the best zoo in the world. Then it was Guatemala, where I was due to meet up with this girl from Sheffield University (due to be on my course) but she was "ill." It's good since I was worried she was going to be a wierdo, since she always spoke about learning, which is not really why I am going to University. Nothing really memorable happened over this time, since it was just blah.
And then it's Honduras, which is by far my favourite location so far. I love everything about Honduras and my time spent there. The family was amazing, and I have inherited two younger brothers for life in Kenneth and Brandon. Then there's the fact that Honduras has amazing beaches (check out images of Utila), Mayan ruins, Jungles, a cosmopolitan capital and friendly people. And then there's the school, the fun of teaching, and of course the children. I have so many memories of actually being in Honduras. The best was my first night when I flooded my room, the family blamed it on Jeremy, and apologised to me for it happening on my first night. I'm just going to include all of the kid stories in the later post, since I could just ramble about them forever.
Then I went to Nicaragua for Semana Santa, where I passed a top time. It was a really good place to spend a religious time of the year, since it was just so calm. I have got sick of all the chicken buses though, since I roughly spent two whole days travelling by bus to and from cities. After Nicaragua, I returned to Honduras, and went to Copan Mayan Ruins, Utila (the island where Robinson Crusoe was) and then Trujillo.
And the people I've met along the way! I met someone who worked for More4, a man from the Nicaraguan circus, Geordie Sean, Leconne, Laura, Aureo and several other locals, Sylvia and Alicia. It was Alicia who brought it up that I've probably changed so much, but I still believe that I haven't changed so it's up to you.
I've sent home 26kg in gifts (I'm so quality at shopping) and can't wait until I can get back and just look at everything and then give out gifts to everyone.
So I started off on January 8th in Dominican Republic for six weeks, working in an orphanage. An Iberia lost my bag on the way over, so I started with fuck all. I'm trying to think of the key moments that happened over my time, and one stands out above all the rest. There's this one boy, Daniel, who is really messed up. I don't mean that in any bad way, but he has scars all over his arms and legs and generally walks around in a bad mood punching people. And I remember this one day I went there, I sat down with him helping him with his homework and he was laughing and smiling. I also have a video of him singing and having fun, and it's just a really nice sight to see. And then there's the second best moment: I bought Abel a present, since he never seemed in charge of any toys, and the day after he ran up to me, hugged me and whispered "I haven't lost it yet." and just smiled at me.
In a non-teaching memory, the best (and most hazy) was going to Ateresana 9 with locals and getting absolutely wasted. I remember me and Sean being willing to get driven to the club by this wasted local, having to get Sean home (whilst being off his face) and calling him Paul, all the local women loving me. (need more of that when I get home!) Good times, bad hangover.
It's always the little moments like that you remember, I don't know why. They just seem so insignificant, and really wierd that it's more memorable than going whale watching.
I then went to Belize for about ten days, which mainly resulted in bumming it on Caye Caulker with no real aim. I went to Belize Zoo, which as it stands is the best zoo in the world. Then it was Guatemala, where I was due to meet up with this girl from Sheffield University (due to be on my course) but she was "ill." It's good since I was worried she was going to be a wierdo, since she always spoke about learning, which is not really why I am going to University. Nothing really memorable happened over this time, since it was just blah.
And then it's Honduras, which is by far my favourite location so far. I love everything about Honduras and my time spent there. The family was amazing, and I have inherited two younger brothers for life in Kenneth and Brandon. Then there's the fact that Honduras has amazing beaches (check out images of Utila), Mayan ruins, Jungles, a cosmopolitan capital and friendly people. And then there's the school, the fun of teaching, and of course the children. I have so many memories of actually being in Honduras. The best was my first night when I flooded my room, the family blamed it on Jeremy, and apologised to me for it happening on my first night. I'm just going to include all of the kid stories in the later post, since I could just ramble about them forever.
Then I went to Nicaragua for Semana Santa, where I passed a top time. It was a really good place to spend a religious time of the year, since it was just so calm. I have got sick of all the chicken buses though, since I roughly spent two whole days travelling by bus to and from cities. After Nicaragua, I returned to Honduras, and went to Copan Mayan Ruins, Utila (the island where Robinson Crusoe was) and then Trujillo.
And the people I've met along the way! I met someone who worked for More4, a man from the Nicaraguan circus, Geordie Sean, Leconne, Laura, Aureo and several other locals, Sylvia and Alicia. It was Alicia who brought it up that I've probably changed so much, but I still believe that I haven't changed so it's up to you.
I've sent home 26kg in gifts (I'm so quality at shopping) and can't wait until I can get back and just look at everything and then give out gifts to everyone.