Amapala

If only every job could be like this...

We have been working really hard these last couple of weeks setting up our classrooms and preparing for the new school year. For those of you who are not teachers, it doesn't sound like a big deal. But for those of you who are or are married to a teacher can attest to the immense amount of work that is put into beginning of the year set-up. The younger the grade, the more the set-up as well. After all of the painting and repairs that are done during the summer in the classrooms, you basically start from scratch again, even if you are in the same grade and same classroom like I was. I was also nominated grade-level chairperson (not bad for a 2nd year teacher), which meant extra meetings that took away classroom set-up time. After working probably 55-60 hours the week before school started, I was able to finally let out a sigh of relief as my kids walked into the classroom on the first day of school. But oh yeah, they are super little, don't speak English, and puked on my beautiful beaded sandals all on the first week (no joke). I say all this to somewhat justify a small weekend vacation that was taken after two weeks of work. Yes, it was only 2 weeks, but it was a super-hard two weeks in which if a small break was not taken soon, burn-out would occur. This past Friday I was handed a slip of paper that stated there would be no school on Monday due to scheduled strikes within the country. I have mentioned the strikes before, and when groups demonstrate (doctors, teachers, public transportation, etc.) the country really is crippled. So, as to not spend our entire weekend in the house, Leah and I along with our housemate Elisa decided to drive to a small island in the Pacific Coast that proved to be one of the most relaxing weekends that I have ever experienced.

Truly a diamond in the rough, the island is inhabited by only about 2,000 people, and best of all, there are no tourists. Once a U.S. naval station and outlook tower during the contra wars in the 1980's (since its strategic position in the bay that allows it to see Honduras, Nicaragua, & El Salvador), after the U.S. pull-out it was left to sort of struggle and become more and more run-down due to the tropical ocean climate as well as the pull-out of money. (Hint: Click on the map, find the Golfo de Fonseca on the Pacific side, and look at the little islands. This is where we were...so small they aren't even labeled on the map!) However, recent attempts have been made though to restore the island, and even in its disrepair, it had a wonderful island charm that allowed us to relax to the fullest as well as swim in the Pacific Ocean once again. Enjoy the pictures!

Mmmmm......Delicious local seafood. This fish, like the island, is not completlely appealing by just looks alone, but as you take it in, you realize just how great it really is.