Last day of classes and a long hike

Yesterday was my final day at the school with the kids. In the morning, I read a story to the kids in Spanish about a man who wants to cut down trees in a rainforest and the animals who beg him not to. I had the kids draw the animals around a tree and write the names in English. I got a chance to talk to some of the little ones during recess and found out one of the boys has a father who lives in the States but he never gets to see him. Another little boy became very attached to me and counted the number of hugs he gave me - I think he made it to 17.  The 2nd grade teacher was very interested in my lesson today and was even taking notes herself. I left her with the book I read the kids in Spanish as well as 4 copies in English. She gave me her contact information, but she doesn't know any English, so I wasn't really sure why. 

I presented each afternoon class with a bag of supplies, read them a letter I had written to them in Spanish, led them in dancing the Hokey Pokey one last time, and feasted on apples, bananas, cookies, and juice that I bought for them. They were very excited about the new soccer ball and didn't even want to use it yet. Unfortunately, the electricity was out at the school, and the 6th grade classroom didn't have air conditioning today. I always looked forward to that class after getting all sweaty playing soccer during recess. The kids were all asking when I would be coming back. I definitely want to return next summer and even try to spend more time down here. I feel that I could be much more effective if I spoke Spanish better and had more time with the kids. 

After leaving school for the day, Rafael, Logan, and I headed up to the landfill to deliver treats to the kids.  We brought a 3 liter bottle of Coca-Cola, a few dozen small bags of churros (chips), and I had some juice and fruit left over from the party. It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. Kids were coming out of the woodwork for a chance to get a small refreshment - something sweet and something salty that they don't usually get. I was pouring the soda for the kids, and they were so thankful and full of smiles. 

After dinner, we headed to a local Italian place for a pizza and some drinks with Luis, a guy who is working with the Chamber of Commerce in La Ceiba and has a background in tourism. He is very knowledgeable about local attractions and speaks pretty good English. We also met up with some volunteers from France who are working at a local orphanage. 

This morning, I headed to the school to see the kids one last time for their Lempira Day celebration. They had kids dressed in traditional clothing performing dances, singing, and telling the story of Honduras's independence. The schoolyard was packed with kids from all 6 grades and some families as well. It was awesome to see some cultural history in action. I wished the kids and teachers farewell, so sad to be leaving after a short period of time with them. 

Later this morning, Stephanie, Logan, and I headed to Pico Bonito national park with Joel (the guide who organizes all of our trips) for a hike. It ended up being an extreme workout as we hiked to a waterfall in the park that was absolutely amazing. I don't think I've sweat so much in my entire life as it was quite hot and humid and not an easy hike. However, the view of the falls and of the city from the falls was definitely worth it. We isn't get to see as much wildlife as I was hoping, but we caught sight of a few colorful butterflies, lizards, and a small snake (and a ton of strange looking insects). We also walked by the den of a "mountain pig" which sounds like a huge wild boar. Joel was very knowledgeable about the animals and plants in the park. 

When we got back down to the road, we headed to the river to cliff jump and swim for a bit. I would have like to stay longer, but at that point I was starving. We got dinner at a private resort because Joel's uncle and brother work there. They have rooms pretty cheap and offer a great view with a nice pool. Although I have grown to like some of the Honduran cuisine, I opted for a BBQ cheeseburger with fries and an Oreo cheesecake for dessert. It was delicious!

When we returned home, Fania was celebrating her birthday with friends and family. Although we weren't that hungry, we ate with them and got to practice our Spanish a bit. They sang Happy Birthday in English (which seems to be a tradition down here).  I learned how to dance either salsa or merengue - I'm not really sure which one. Tomorrow will be my last full day in La Ceiba, and I am planning on heading out to a lagoon to do some kayaking. I understand you can see and hear lots of monkeys and birds as you paddle through the lagoon, so I am really looking forward to that. I have to plan my day in Roatan for Monday and Tuesday, and then I will be heading home on Wednesday! It has gone by so fast!

Spanish word of the day - "sudar" which means "to sweat" - I did a lot of that today!