sweet freedom
So I'll be honest... the hardest thing for me to get used to is the lack of independence I have here. I am currently still learning my way around the city, and since there are no addresses, I cannot really describe to a taxi driver where I live. I know what neighborhood I live in. I can almost tell you how to get from the main road to my house, which is what I need in order to take a taxi... but until that day I am under the mercy of those who are returning teachers. Either those who can tell me where to go, or those who have cars and can pick me up. =)
Today, one of the teachers (bless his soul) offered to take us shopping after school today. We went to the Metromall (also deemed the ghetto mall by one of the returners, although really it didn't seem ghetto at all). Supposedly, this is the 3rd coolest mall to hang out with, but it was still pretty nice. We went to a grocery store to get our food. Then we also went to a department store because we needed watches. Because I almost never know what time it is without my cell phone.
Cellphones, another item of change. I'll be honest in some ways I love not having a cell phone. Although, apparently the school is getting us all some and requires us to have one for emergencies at least (probably not a bad idea). But it's a pay as you go plan. You use it as much as you want and at the end of the month you get a bill. Mostly you just use it locally to contact other teachers. One of the guys said that he just used his to make plans with some of the other teachers and his bill ran about 12 lempiras a month, which is about 75 cents. I'd say that's a deal for a cell phone bill.
It's hard getting used to the money exchange too. To know how much things are going to cost you. Thank goodness the cost of living here is pretty cheap. I can get an ice cream cone for about 40 cents. I can get traditional food at the store really cheap. I bought my groceries for lunch this coming week for about 10 dollars. However, some things are much more expensive, for instance peanut butter or laundry detergent. I saw a regular bottle of tide on sale for about 20 dollars.
In other news, my classroom is coming along. Today I finished my bulletin board, I'll have to post a picture of it next time. It's called Come Explore 5th grade! Then I put a globe, a map, and a compass on it. I have little tiny globes with all the students names on them. It's not too fancy but it's still cute.
I also need to post some pictures of the school. It's an open air school and I'm on the bottom level of the 4 floors. The school overlooks beautiful mountains. There are palm trees everywhere, including right outside my window. There are parrots. And when you walk out into my hallway there are these sweet little garden things with bright plants at the bottom of a cliff. The rock face of the little cliff looks pretty sweet too. And that is IN my hallway. It's crazy and awesome. =)
Well, I think that's enough random facts about my life for one night. Oh, except also tonight we cut up a pineapple. Yum! Fresh and delicious!
Today, one of the teachers (bless his soul) offered to take us shopping after school today. We went to the Metromall (also deemed the ghetto mall by one of the returners, although really it didn't seem ghetto at all). Supposedly, this is the 3rd coolest mall to hang out with, but it was still pretty nice. We went to a grocery store to get our food. Then we also went to a department store because we needed watches. Because I almost never know what time it is without my cell phone.
Cellphones, another item of change. I'll be honest in some ways I love not having a cell phone. Although, apparently the school is getting us all some and requires us to have one for emergencies at least (probably not a bad idea). But it's a pay as you go plan. You use it as much as you want and at the end of the month you get a bill. Mostly you just use it locally to contact other teachers. One of the guys said that he just used his to make plans with some of the other teachers and his bill ran about 12 lempiras a month, which is about 75 cents. I'd say that's a deal for a cell phone bill.
It's hard getting used to the money exchange too. To know how much things are going to cost you. Thank goodness the cost of living here is pretty cheap. I can get an ice cream cone for about 40 cents. I can get traditional food at the store really cheap. I bought my groceries for lunch this coming week for about 10 dollars. However, some things are much more expensive, for instance peanut butter or laundry detergent. I saw a regular bottle of tide on sale for about 20 dollars.
In other news, my classroom is coming along. Today I finished my bulletin board, I'll have to post a picture of it next time. It's called Come Explore 5th grade! Then I put a globe, a map, and a compass on it. I have little tiny globes with all the students names on them. It's not too fancy but it's still cute.
I also need to post some pictures of the school. It's an open air school and I'm on the bottom level of the 4 floors. The school overlooks beautiful mountains. There are palm trees everywhere, including right outside my window. There are parrots. And when you walk out into my hallway there are these sweet little garden things with bright plants at the bottom of a cliff. The rock face of the little cliff looks pretty sweet too. And that is IN my hallway. It's crazy and awesome. =)
Well, I think that's enough random facts about my life for one night. Oh, except also tonight we cut up a pineapple. Yum! Fresh and delicious!
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