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Letters from Honduras: Part 6 of 7

Elly Johnson,
Special to Grand Central Magazine

How is teaching going, you ask? Ah, yes – the reason I wake up smiling everyday.

Well the last month has really been a time of learning in my newly begun teaching endeavors.

As each day passes, I am faced with more challenges than I had ever imagined. To all of the teachers in the world, I give major kudos; it’s not an easy thing to do. I have taken on many roles here as a teacher, confidant, friend, nurturer, mother, protector, jungle gym, life preserver when swimming in the river, and the list goes on.

My responsibilities never end here and I would not want it to be any other way. Not a day passes when I am not consumed by their energy, love for life, resilience and curiosity. I never imagined it would feel like this. I feel very privileged to be a part of their lives and witness the growth of their bodies, minds and hearts. I also feel privileged to be able to help them choose the colors they will paint on their individual canvases of life.

Sometimes this can seem like such a heavy burden, but then I realize that all they really need is my love, support and guidance. Goose bumps still surface when one of my teenagers takes my hand, pulling me aside to tell me a problem, revealing their vulnerability. For me this is such beautiful thing. Sometimes I have to take a step back from these daily occurrences and realize how precious these moments really are.

At the age of 23, there are many, many times when the question runs through my head: "Why are you asking me this?" As if I have all the answers. I do not, but I can still give them the answers I do have, or the words of advice that I remember receiving at that age, or simply the hug showing them someone cares. These are the things I treasure most in my experience here.

In the learning process of teaching, it is a continual exploration of what works and what doesn't. When I arrived in Honduras, before knowing my community or the students, my first task as English instructor in El Pital was to design a six-month curriculum.

Having no experience in curriculum, writing, or the slightest idea how to go about doing so, it was a daunting task. My curriculum was revised several times, printed and turned in to the director of Guaruma for a record of what would be taught in El Pital. Three months later and this "curriculum" has become another administrative document gathering dust in the already high pile.

I have discovered that for me teaching isn't about curriculum or lesson plans, but rather is a free exchange of ideas and information that help to open the minds of both the teacher and the students. At this three-month mark, I have taken some time to step back and reevaluate the progress of the kids and realize what goals are attainable and those that may not be reached in my time here.

Since I came into a rural poor community where the children have had almost no contact with the English language, we started from scratch. I remember my first days teaching, how I felt nervous walking along the road, reciting in my mind what I was going to say to each group. Then as soon as I set foot inside the gate of the school, I saw the curious faces and the eyes hungry for knowledge, the nerves calmed and the words flowed freely from my mouth. Now those faces are personalities that I know well and can read like covers of books.

Both I and the students have gone through some process or stages since I have been here. I have witnessed the changing of attitudes, dedication and commitment to the class both in negative and positive ways. Upon seeing these things, my approach changes and I try to incorporate things appropriate to all the learning styles. This means we change activities frequently, which helps to keep me fresh and on my toes as well.

As far as my traveling goes, I have stayed on the home front in recent weekends. Of course I am still seeking adventures, just a little closer to home and in the beauty of the Cuenca.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to get to know more of the river and also the mountains. Up until now I have explored quite a bit of the river and discovered some of its beauty, but sometimes life and routine take over and the amazing place that lies out my front door is forgotten. I used this past weekend as my refresher course.

Since Scott is living with me now, I have not only a roommate, but a partner in crime for my explorations. Saturday morning after a strong cup a coffee, we set off in swim gear, backpacks holding dry bags with a small lunch of tortillas, beans and cookies, and of course the most important thing, my camera. Our destination: the river.

Now I feel that I have not given the river due credit in my previous writings up to this point in time. The Rio Cangrejal is what makes this part of Honduras absolutely gorgeous and ultimately unique. Without this beautiful body of water, my living experience here would have been quite different. For me it is an important part of why I feel at home here in this mountain town.

The river is much more than just a body of water that flows freely through the mountains rushing towards the sea. It is the heart and soul of the communities that inhabit the Cuenca. It gives life to the people that occupy its shore and provides an existence unlike any other place in the world.

Normally on a beautiful sunny day before any rain has touched its surface, the water sparkles a clear blue-green color, inviting all who pass by to wander to its edge and dip a foot in or jump from one of the large, multi-colored rocks that line the shore, into its cool embrace.

Hardly anyone can say no to a swim, which is what makes this river so captivating. Once you set foot in it, you understand why the kids here are the happiest when bathing in its bliss.