Thursday, May 16, 2013

Our Future Generation

This past month has been very relaxing and HOT! Apparently we are winding down from the sunny skies and entering in the rainy season again. Which is fine by me, I love the feeling of raindrops falling on my head. In other news I have focused working more diligently at the orphanage and the Jungle School. The kids are so cute (sometimes) and I realize it makes me happy knowing that I am directly influencing these kids to make the right decisions.
Last week I was asked to teach Kindergarten because the K teacher was sick and then helping prepare for the mothers day celebration. At first I thought this would be much harder than 1st grade but it ended up working out to my advantage. We go over the pronouciation of vowels, shapes, colors, and writing in their notebooks. Then it's recess and when they come back we do some kind of art project or listen to a story I would read to them. The class is very small only 11 students but those 11 kids are more than enough for me. It's hard to realize I use to be that small. When class is over they always give me a hug goodbye and head out to lunchtime.
Every Friday is our day of physical education. Of course, since I come from a CrossFit background, I figured it is only appropriate that I teach them some CrossFit basic movements. I started by teaching them how to squat and how to do a pushup. Then I had them run around the playground a few times and we played games.
Who said CrossFit isn't for everyone??? These pictures demonstrate how well I taught them. I envy this girl, Nicole, because I have always had such a hard time getting to the bottom of my squat but here she is showing me exactly what I want. I miss being a kid, you had such amazing flexibility.
In reality, the students at the school come from very poor backgrounds. Some students receive their only meals at the school and others don't even own a toothbrush. They sleep on dirt floors and shower in the river. They may have lost one or both of their parents and have their grandparents raising them. They may come to school with heads filled with lice or have an everyday cough due to their at home conditions.
Regardless of their conditions these children are happy. Every time I get on the bus at 6am in the morning I remember why it is worth setting my alarm at 5am. All these children need is love and they want to show everyone how much they are capable of loving. Whenever I am at the school they give me hugs, smiles, and more than anything I could ask from them.
Also in case anyone was wondering, I have one more month left in Honduras before I come home. T-minus 29 days starts right now!