Tuesday, May 3, 2011
My First Published Article!!
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/features/05/03/nurturing-your-children%E2%80%99s-learning/
Peace Love and Meaningful Moments
Three
Its Easter Sunday. The sun is shining bright, the clouds are shaped into circuses of animals and things, and kites are filling up the sky like a the God just shook the world like a snow globe and filling it with colors. After 16 hourse of driving I look up to see these kites…and there he is. A stranger, a child I have never met, standing on top of 20 foot pile of sand. His eyes are laughing like my grandpas used to. He is a warrior of kite flyers with his flying high and breezing well. It is blue and wooden; hand made. I bet he made it himself. I didn’t have time to ask, but with his smile bright I couldnt help but stare. He looked down from his high pile and saw me in the bus…with a group of tired adults. He locked eyes with me for a long moment and in that moment I felt as if I were ten again too. With that look he told me to stay young at heart. To not forget the feeling of being young and enjoying the moment. I have to say…I enjoyed this one very much. After a long journey, a childs gaze filling my heart with passion for life and fun, was exactly what I needed. Exactly what should never be forgotten.
Its Easter Sunday. The sun is shining bright, the clouds are shaped into circuses of animals and things, and kites are filling up the sky like a the God just shook the world like a snow globe and filling it with colors. After 16 hourse of driving I look up to see these kites…and there he is. A stranger, a child I have never met, standing on top of 20 foot pile of sand. His eyes are laughing like my grandpas used to. He is a warrior of kite flyers with his flying high and breezing well. It is blue and wooden; hand made. I bet he made it himself. I didn’t have time to ask, but with his smile bright I couldnt help but stare. He looked down from his high pile and saw me in the bus…with a group of tired adults. He locked eyes with me for a long moment and in that moment I felt as if I were ten again too. With that look he told me to stay young at heart. To not forget the feeling of being young and enjoying the moment. I have to say…I enjoyed this one very much. After a long journey, a childs gaze filling my heart with passion for life and fun, was exactly what I needed. Exactly what should never be forgotten.
RockyRoad, and not like the icecream
It all started with a Nuggle.
This nuggle is a little peanut caramel chocolate delight and also my new favorite word. . I bought one at the gas station in Georgetown that we were meeting the bus at. The gas station that sells magazines, oil of olay soap and diet pepsi….where am I, I thought?!
I was overwhelmed by the choices of candy and food that I settled on something I’ve never had, and lets just say I don’t regret my decision. Nuggle.
Meeting at 8:30 turned into leaving at 11:30…because..well..just because it is Guyana.
I met the conductor Gary, and our driver Don and a whole crew of 30 others that were ready for the journey down to Lethem as well. (other Peace Corps Volunteers, some VSO a forestry guy, world teach, Guyanese etc) The prediction was a 15-20 hour drive, reasonably 500 km away on unpaved roads will do this to you…
We packed in, 4 to a row. I sat behind the conductor because I told him I wanted to practice being one too. The bus was so packed he actually had to sit on a bucket……
boooom we were offfffffff
So it started with a smooth 1.5 hours , then a 20 minute wait at a random house where Kirsten and I peed between two semi’s that had a bear head concrete statue thingy between. I pretended he was my protector cuz it was dark…but that didn’t protect me from Kirstens stream!! Ahhh I thought..but then I realized im gonna be on a bus for awhile anywho…nothing to get grossed out by Get back on the ride and
Then the bumps began…30 packed into this vehicle and me next to a window= a constant window bump to the side of my head… luggage on our lap because there is no compartments..and music has stopped because of the road…The only noise to hear was the shifting of gears, and the rattling of the entire bus. It kinda reminded me of our family road trips to Florida…where my siblings told me to hold the van door because the rattling was annoying so I had to keep my foot on it the entire time….only this time, the rattling was everywhere…and my foot against the door didn’t help!!
I closed my eyes because it was 2 a.m. but sleep never visited me that night…although I pretended to a lot….2 stops 2 pees later, I decided to stop drinking water, when I scraped my legs on bush twigs…as well as noticed that we were in the middle of nowhere.. Looking around there was one dirt road…nothing to the sides for miles and miles except jungle. I got dizzy watching the trees pass by…couldn’t even see over the tops of them as the sun rose.
There was a point in the first 12 hours when we met a hill too large and started up it…the bus couldn’t handle it, although the conductor told me it was only because I was on it we were not getting up that hill driving. So we get out and walk. Walk on a red dirt road that has ridges from rain and wind….like a wash board.
. We make it up…and then 2 hours later we make it half way and we are in Irokrama. If you ever closed your eyes and pictured peacefulness, this was it with trees and rivers so beautiful its as if they were cut outs from a snowglobe of landscape…without snow…so simple. So evident of the fact that it was untouched by outside forces.
We get out of the vehicle and cross the river on a fairy. Classy jillian fell and broke her flip flop in the water..…14 hours later…
We are on the dusty trail for 2 more hours….its 4 p.m. and sun is starting to shine not as heavy. With the 30 seats next to me, we meet a line of vehicles. A line of vehicles from a fairy that passed before us an hour ago..as well as vehicles that were 2, 3 and 4 hours ahead of us….hmmmmmmmmm whats going on?! We got out and started walking in the heavy rained on mud. Oh did I mention it was down pouring before we crossed the river? Im soaked, muddy and sliding through the mud to get to the bridge. The wooden bridge that is the cause of the hold up. And there it is. A military like vehicle…with a tarp over its back has glided off the bridge and has broken a chunk of the bridge as well as is stuck in a way that nothing larger than a van can pass. Apparently it has been here in the middle of nowhere for 4 hours….where’s Triple A, I think to myself.
Vehicles are switching tires to get them small enough to sneak past, but now a vehicle is stuck with it….how are we going to get it out without the military vehicle falling over to the creek and snapping the bridges stand?????
An hour more and the vehicle that was stuck between wiggled through…and is off to Lethem as quick as he got through. We are left behind with a stuck truck..and no equipment to move it…..except when a vehicle shows up around 6:15. The sun is starting to set as they are removing all that is in the back of the stuck truck…..soda, onions, potatoes, bicycles, beams, mattresses, bags of rice, beer. I’m tempted to jump on little orange bike with my bag and start riding the next 10 hour ride, however someone handed me a beer..so I thought to myself…well atleast I am not going to die.
Another hour passes. I get stuck in the mud. The vehicle however amazingly gets unstuck..without falling sideways!!
YAY WE ARE FREEE!!!!
We pile back in the bus…smiles on our faces!! We are not stuck!! OWOWO but then there is a little muster from the engine…oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We get out to push and as the driver puts it in reverse it is revved up enough to start…we take offffffffffff!!!
We drive 4 more hours till we get to food and water. I stuff my face with a butter flap pastry, that is really just pastry and get two waters. Everyone stops and eats for about 30 mins..then back onto the bus because we are told its just 2 more hours….
The 2 hour mark passes and I am ready to sleep…but stay up just to see us reach. Then the 3 hour mark passes and I am so over anxious I am laughing outloud and inside breaking bit by bit. Then the 4 hour mark comes and the driver is tired so he pulls over to take a 30 min nap. We stand outside…look at the full moon and the mountains in the distance. Im so giddy I decide to take off my panties….mainly because they are still wet from the downpour before and its not my favorite feeling.
We pile back in. The 4.5 hour mark is approaching and I see a light finally!! The light comes…and then goes…..and another hour later I realize that light is just a distance dot. 6 hours into …after crossing over countless almost broken bridges I see it. A red shinning light…and that my friends I was told was LETHEM!
AHHH my heart is screaming with excitement…we made it we made it!! I want to yell but only look around me to see disappointed stares or sleeping with their mouth open faces. 20 mins later we enter. A town that looks nothing like the Guyana I know or am sharing my life with. A Guyana that is savannahs and quiet. A Guyana that meets me with a peaceful calm.
Here was some Highlights of the next 1. 5 days when we were not on the bus:
1. Stayed at Auntie Foo’s….a kind woman who woke up and made us all breakfast. Porridge, hotdogs and eggs…and bread that actually tasted like grandmas…something that I didn’t believe was possible…but Grandma, she’s got your recipe!!
2. Rodeo!!! Whats more to say about listening to country and watching men buck on bulls and horses. They actually had so many cowboys they had to reuse the horses…they were so tired at some points that they bucked for a second then rested…bucked again….very anticlimactic…buttttttttttttt my favorite one was when they opened the gate after sattling a man up..and the bull just layed down.
3. Ferris wheel….3 bumper cars..one named bob espongi and meat on a stick
4. A jewelry man Lawrence
5. a gambling table game called chic chic
6. beautiful sunset
7. even more beautiful waterfall(Kumu Falls)
8. monkeys, birds and nature
9. Kite flying…millions of kites…it’s a tradition here to fly them on Easter Sunday and Monday….its one of the most freeing sights….definetly a tradition id like to keep with my own family someday
So many things to challenge you..so many things to fall in love with. Like everyday life, only in a journey do you realize the good will always out weigh the challenge…and the next day will come to show you the luckiness you truly have.
Peace Love and an unforgettable Journey
This nuggle is a little peanut caramel chocolate delight and also my new favorite word. . I bought one at the gas station in Georgetown that we were meeting the bus at. The gas station that sells magazines, oil of olay soap and diet pepsi….where am I, I thought?!
I was overwhelmed by the choices of candy and food that I settled on something I’ve never had, and lets just say I don’t regret my decision. Nuggle.
Meeting at 8:30 turned into leaving at 11:30…because..well..just because it is Guyana.
I met the conductor Gary, and our driver Don and a whole crew of 30 others that were ready for the journey down to Lethem as well. (other Peace Corps Volunteers, some VSO a forestry guy, world teach, Guyanese etc) The prediction was a 15-20 hour drive, reasonably 500 km away on unpaved roads will do this to you…
We packed in, 4 to a row. I sat behind the conductor because I told him I wanted to practice being one too. The bus was so packed he actually had to sit on a bucket……
boooom we were offfffffff
So it started with a smooth 1.5 hours , then a 20 minute wait at a random house where Kirsten and I peed between two semi’s that had a bear head concrete statue thingy between. I pretended he was my protector cuz it was dark…but that didn’t protect me from Kirstens stream!! Ahhh I thought..but then I realized im gonna be on a bus for awhile anywho…nothing to get grossed out by Get back on the ride and
Then the bumps began…30 packed into this vehicle and me next to a window= a constant window bump to the side of my head… luggage on our lap because there is no compartments..and music has stopped because of the road…The only noise to hear was the shifting of gears, and the rattling of the entire bus. It kinda reminded me of our family road trips to Florida…where my siblings told me to hold the van door because the rattling was annoying so I had to keep my foot on it the entire time….only this time, the rattling was everywhere…and my foot against the door didn’t help!!
I closed my eyes because it was 2 a.m. but sleep never visited me that night…although I pretended to a lot….2 stops 2 pees later, I decided to stop drinking water, when I scraped my legs on bush twigs…as well as noticed that we were in the middle of nowhere.. Looking around there was one dirt road…nothing to the sides for miles and miles except jungle. I got dizzy watching the trees pass by…couldn’t even see over the tops of them as the sun rose.
There was a point in the first 12 hours when we met a hill too large and started up it…the bus couldn’t handle it, although the conductor told me it was only because I was on it we were not getting up that hill driving. So we get out and walk. Walk on a red dirt road that has ridges from rain and wind….like a wash board.
. We make it up…and then 2 hours later we make it half way and we are in Irokrama. If you ever closed your eyes and pictured peacefulness, this was it with trees and rivers so beautiful its as if they were cut outs from a snowglobe of landscape…without snow…so simple. So evident of the fact that it was untouched by outside forces.
We get out of the vehicle and cross the river on a fairy. Classy jillian fell and broke her flip flop in the water..…14 hours later…
We are on the dusty trail for 2 more hours….its 4 p.m. and sun is starting to shine not as heavy. With the 30 seats next to me, we meet a line of vehicles. A line of vehicles from a fairy that passed before us an hour ago..as well as vehicles that were 2, 3 and 4 hours ahead of us….hmmmmmmmmm whats going on?! We got out and started walking in the heavy rained on mud. Oh did I mention it was down pouring before we crossed the river? Im soaked, muddy and sliding through the mud to get to the bridge. The wooden bridge that is the cause of the hold up. And there it is. A military like vehicle…with a tarp over its back has glided off the bridge and has broken a chunk of the bridge as well as is stuck in a way that nothing larger than a van can pass. Apparently it has been here in the middle of nowhere for 4 hours….where’s Triple A, I think to myself.
Vehicles are switching tires to get them small enough to sneak past, but now a vehicle is stuck with it….how are we going to get it out without the military vehicle falling over to the creek and snapping the bridges stand?????
An hour more and the vehicle that was stuck between wiggled through…and is off to Lethem as quick as he got through. We are left behind with a stuck truck..and no equipment to move it…..except when a vehicle shows up around 6:15. The sun is starting to set as they are removing all that is in the back of the stuck truck…..soda, onions, potatoes, bicycles, beams, mattresses, bags of rice, beer. I’m tempted to jump on little orange bike with my bag and start riding the next 10 hour ride, however someone handed me a beer..so I thought to myself…well atleast I am not going to die.
Another hour passes. I get stuck in the mud. The vehicle however amazingly gets unstuck..without falling sideways!!
YAY WE ARE FREEE!!!!
We pile back in the bus…smiles on our faces!! We are not stuck!! OWOWO but then there is a little muster from the engine…oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We get out to push and as the driver puts it in reverse it is revved up enough to start…we take offffffffffff!!!
We drive 4 more hours till we get to food and water. I stuff my face with a butter flap pastry, that is really just pastry and get two waters. Everyone stops and eats for about 30 mins..then back onto the bus because we are told its just 2 more hours….
The 2 hour mark passes and I am ready to sleep…but stay up just to see us reach. Then the 3 hour mark passes and I am so over anxious I am laughing outloud and inside breaking bit by bit. Then the 4 hour mark comes and the driver is tired so he pulls over to take a 30 min nap. We stand outside…look at the full moon and the mountains in the distance. Im so giddy I decide to take off my panties….mainly because they are still wet from the downpour before and its not my favorite feeling.
We pile back in. The 4.5 hour mark is approaching and I see a light finally!! The light comes…and then goes…..and another hour later I realize that light is just a distance dot. 6 hours into …after crossing over countless almost broken bridges I see it. A red shinning light…and that my friends I was told was LETHEM!
AHHH my heart is screaming with excitement…we made it we made it!! I want to yell but only look around me to see disappointed stares or sleeping with their mouth open faces. 20 mins later we enter. A town that looks nothing like the Guyana I know or am sharing my life with. A Guyana that is savannahs and quiet. A Guyana that meets me with a peaceful calm.
Here was some Highlights of the next 1. 5 days when we were not on the bus:
1. Stayed at Auntie Foo’s….a kind woman who woke up and made us all breakfast. Porridge, hotdogs and eggs…and bread that actually tasted like grandmas…something that I didn’t believe was possible…but Grandma, she’s got your recipe!!
2. Rodeo!!! Whats more to say about listening to country and watching men buck on bulls and horses. They actually had so many cowboys they had to reuse the horses…they were so tired at some points that they bucked for a second then rested…bucked again….very anticlimactic…buttttttttttttt my favorite one was when they opened the gate after sattling a man up..and the bull just layed down.
3. Ferris wheel….3 bumper cars..one named bob espongi and meat on a stick
4. A jewelry man Lawrence
5. a gambling table game called chic chic
6. beautiful sunset
7. even more beautiful waterfall(Kumu Falls)
8. monkeys, birds and nature
9. Kite flying…millions of kites…it’s a tradition here to fly them on Easter Sunday and Monday….its one of the most freeing sights….definetly a tradition id like to keep with my own family someday
So many things to challenge you..so many things to fall in love with. Like everyday life, only in a journey do you realize the good will always out weigh the challenge…and the next day will come to show you the luckiness you truly have.
Peace Love and an unforgettable Journey
Monday, April 25, 2011
Peace Love and Meaningful Moments
Two.
I start my morning walk to work with my 3 point check. Sunglasses, keys and a spiderman backpack. I hit the road with my feet in flip flops. These walks to work have left permanent flip flop tan lines across my feet, its one of my favorite new parts of my body, one that reminds me of sun and the sometimes endless feeling walk. I open my gate and close it with the lock straddling it back into place. I walk over a sand pile, through a puddle or two, and already my clean legs are tainted. Not worried though, as a smile and good mawning from a curly haired woman greets me first thing. I respond with a smile just as big and a “mawning”. I walk by the food stand that is going to be used later in they day to sell. Two men are sitting there with their whistling birds, sometimes smoking a cigarette. They stare awkwardly; I say goodmorning…usually without a smile quite as big. I walk about 10 yards before another man on a bike rides by and shouts “ay a blessed day to yuh miss!” and waves his right hand ferociously, every morning, without fail, he makes me happy. I continue on, normally saying hi to atleast 4 people before I meet with the food stand that is actually selling( drink that will make your back strong, dahl purri, pholourie, channa, pine tarts) I say gudmawning and depending on who is there I either get an “Alright” or a “ya lookin beautiful dis mawnin” then I wave to the left of me where Ken is with his shop. 10 more yards I wave to Fairy in her shop and then my feet meet the beginning of the cemetery. The cemetery is serene, the graves are above ground. One of my students fathers works in it, maintaining it. He always waves hello along with the other 2 men that sit there early in the morning. Their eyes are on me for the entire passing. There is usually a herd of goats or 3 cows during this stretch. The cows always have a white bird friend crane at their side.
I get to a road called “hybridge” and cross it as cars wait at all 4 stops in the road. Cars honk honk honk..to get my attention, just to honk, to tell me that they are there. It’s LOUD. I wave to the boys in the game room to my right and then to Ms Jack at her little feel good shop. I pass Nevil about 5 mins later, loading water into a truck and then greet two older women who are selling the morning paper. I pass a car washing zone, a bakery, I wave hello to Joyce the security guard at the Doctors living quarters and then pass M. Alis grocery. This is the time that I usually have a kid start walking next to me. We continue past the building that is being built up and pitt street and the barber shop. I always stop and say hi to Krishna at his fruit stand and promise to stop by in the afternoon to get a pine. I walk by the shoe repair man, as well as the man that has about 1000 pairs of shoes in his trunk. I turn down trinity street after signing good morning to Sammy. I yell into the internet café to Charlie…tell him to have a great day. I say hello to the old couple on their veranda, the kids at Tiaras Academy school, Neron yells through her window of New Amsterdam Primary to greet me, and I say hi to Ms. Collins and all her girls before crossing the backdam road towards my work side of town. I yell good morning to Cheryl and usually step in another puddle by now. Dogs are everywhere, horses are sometimes too. I round the corner and stop to chat with Violet, another security guard, and the woman who claims to be my Guyanese mother. We chat for approx 3 mins about the weather, family, the week. I then continue on my walk, only 10 mins left. I greet my “Happy Friday” kids with a Happy ________-- depending on the day. They only tell me Happy Friday..which I love to hear everyday of the week. I turn the corners and most rainy season days this is my least favorite turn. Sometimes water is up to my thighs…sometimes its not there at all. I walk through and continue on, saying hi to random people all the way till my last turn. This is my favorite turn to make, because its when all my students can start seeing me. I hear them call “ Ms. Juiliannnn” and 3, sometimes 5, sometimes 12 kids run to the gate to wait for me. Smiling, with conviction in their eyes. Usually a few of them sneak past the gate and come greet me with pulling of my hands and hugs. This is the moment. This is the moment when everything else in the whole world doesn’t exist to me. Just these kids, their smiles, and their small voices shouting to be recognized. Recognized by me. I make eye contact and they continue to smile and lead me up to the school entrance, hand in hand. It’s the closest one can truly feel to love, I believe. And it all started with a morning walk.
I start my morning walk to work with my 3 point check. Sunglasses, keys and a spiderman backpack. I hit the road with my feet in flip flops. These walks to work have left permanent flip flop tan lines across my feet, its one of my favorite new parts of my body, one that reminds me of sun and the sometimes endless feeling walk. I open my gate and close it with the lock straddling it back into place. I walk over a sand pile, through a puddle or two, and already my clean legs are tainted. Not worried though, as a smile and good mawning from a curly haired woman greets me first thing. I respond with a smile just as big and a “mawning”. I walk by the food stand that is going to be used later in they day to sell. Two men are sitting there with their whistling birds, sometimes smoking a cigarette. They stare awkwardly; I say goodmorning…usually without a smile quite as big. I walk about 10 yards before another man on a bike rides by and shouts “ay a blessed day to yuh miss!” and waves his right hand ferociously, every morning, without fail, he makes me happy. I continue on, normally saying hi to atleast 4 people before I meet with the food stand that is actually selling( drink that will make your back strong, dahl purri, pholourie, channa, pine tarts) I say gudmawning and depending on who is there I either get an “Alright” or a “ya lookin beautiful dis mawnin” then I wave to the left of me where Ken is with his shop. 10 more yards I wave to Fairy in her shop and then my feet meet the beginning of the cemetery. The cemetery is serene, the graves are above ground. One of my students fathers works in it, maintaining it. He always waves hello along with the other 2 men that sit there early in the morning. Their eyes are on me for the entire passing. There is usually a herd of goats or 3 cows during this stretch. The cows always have a white bird friend crane at their side.
I get to a road called “hybridge” and cross it as cars wait at all 4 stops in the road. Cars honk honk honk..to get my attention, just to honk, to tell me that they are there. It’s LOUD. I wave to the boys in the game room to my right and then to Ms Jack at her little feel good shop. I pass Nevil about 5 mins later, loading water into a truck and then greet two older women who are selling the morning paper. I pass a car washing zone, a bakery, I wave hello to Joyce the security guard at the Doctors living quarters and then pass M. Alis grocery. This is the time that I usually have a kid start walking next to me. We continue past the building that is being built up and pitt street and the barber shop. I always stop and say hi to Krishna at his fruit stand and promise to stop by in the afternoon to get a pine. I walk by the shoe repair man, as well as the man that has about 1000 pairs of shoes in his trunk. I turn down trinity street after signing good morning to Sammy. I yell into the internet café to Charlie…tell him to have a great day. I say hello to the old couple on their veranda, the kids at Tiaras Academy school, Neron yells through her window of New Amsterdam Primary to greet me, and I say hi to Ms. Collins and all her girls before crossing the backdam road towards my work side of town. I yell good morning to Cheryl and usually step in another puddle by now. Dogs are everywhere, horses are sometimes too. I round the corner and stop to chat with Violet, another security guard, and the woman who claims to be my Guyanese mother. We chat for approx 3 mins about the weather, family, the week. I then continue on my walk, only 10 mins left. I greet my “Happy Friday” kids with a Happy ________-- depending on the day. They only tell me Happy Friday..which I love to hear everyday of the week. I turn the corners and most rainy season days this is my least favorite turn. Sometimes water is up to my thighs…sometimes its not there at all. I walk through and continue on, saying hi to random people all the way till my last turn. This is my favorite turn to make, because its when all my students can start seeing me. I hear them call “ Ms. Juiliannnn” and 3, sometimes 5, sometimes 12 kids run to the gate to wait for me. Smiling, with conviction in their eyes. Usually a few of them sneak past the gate and come greet me with pulling of my hands and hugs. This is the moment. This is the moment when everything else in the whole world doesn’t exist to me. Just these kids, their smiles, and their small voices shouting to be recognized. Recognized by me. I make eye contact and they continue to smile and lead me up to the school entrance, hand in hand. It’s the closest one can truly feel to love, I believe. And it all started with a morning walk.
Peace Love and Juicy White Girl
I received this email today from a teacher in the Inclusion program.....= toooo funnny
My Dearest friend,
A few parents along with the Grade One teachers from N/A Primary are planning to go into Angoy's Avenue on the 27th May, 2011 at 9"o Clock (in the morning). we will be happy to have you accompany us in there. You know if the juicy white girl come along with us it will be a great feather in our cap. So please, we will be happy to have u. Hope to hear from soon. We will assembly at new Amsterdam Primary and then move from there. I don't have credit in my phone but i hope to soon.
bye for now
My Dearest friend,
A few parents along with the Grade One teachers from N/A Primary are planning to go into Angoy's Avenue on the 27th May, 2011 at 9"o Clock (in the morning). we will be happy to have you accompany us in there. You know if the juicy white girl come along with us it will be a great feather in our cap. So please, we will be happy to have u. Hope to hear from soon. We will assembly at new Amsterdam Primary and then move from there. I don't have credit in my phone but i hope to soon.
bye for now
Thursday, April 21, 2011
CHICKEN YUM YUMS
End of the term = 11 kids at my house eating mac n cheese, and chicken yum yums aka hotdogs!!! the surprise!?!?!? TOY STORY 3!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOOOO fun to celebrate
Now its time for a 2o hour busride to lethem for a rodeoooooooo...then to brazil to get some flippy floppies.....then cumu falls to swimmmie......then HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !!! wooohoooooo
still secretly wish i was hunting for eggs with the fam!!!
LOver you!
Peace, Love and Chicken YUM YUMS
Now its time for a 2o hour busride to lethem for a rodeoooooooo...then to brazil to get some flippy floppies.....then cumu falls to swimmmie......then HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !!! wooohoooooo
still secretly wish i was hunting for eggs with the fam!!!
LOver you!
Peace, Love and Chicken YUM YUMS
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Run to Escape
More of my students are being sexually abused. That was the way my school day ended. We have a social worker coming in now, for a selected few students. There are two brothers that have been getting raped by their brother, their sister is asking them to touch her and they are getting beaten by their mother and brother. AHHHHHHHHHH
I run. To think. To pray. To hope that this situation is solved quickly. Knowing that it wont be makes me run faster. Its hard to escape. And there is no where for them to escape to. I want to take them in. I want to take in every child I have met along this road that has a life experience that is similar. I want to scream. I run. Because I feel helpless, and in most ways I am. I run because my heart is already beating fast from anger and I want to give it another reason. I run to stop myself from crying. I run to find answers. To think of ways the system could work this time. I run because I cant sleep. I run because im afraid to look them in their eyes with nothing to offer. I want to show them love. I run because I know they want to run with me..run away. To a safer place. I run because it feels safe. I want to teach them. I run because I am lucky enough to know that when I am done, I will go home to a place that doesn’t scare me, and that has a bed, and food, and love inside. I run and return and sit. Long after my body has stopped, my mind continues to run.
I run. To think. To pray. To hope that this situation is solved quickly. Knowing that it wont be makes me run faster. Its hard to escape. And there is no where for them to escape to. I want to take them in. I want to take in every child I have met along this road that has a life experience that is similar. I want to scream. I run. Because I feel helpless, and in most ways I am. I run because my heart is already beating fast from anger and I want to give it another reason. I run to stop myself from crying. I run to find answers. To think of ways the system could work this time. I run because I cant sleep. I run because im afraid to look them in their eyes with nothing to offer. I want to show them love. I run because I know they want to run with me..run away. To a safer place. I run because it feels safe. I want to teach them. I run because I am lucky enough to know that when I am done, I will go home to a place that doesn’t scare me, and that has a bed, and food, and love inside. I run and return and sit. Long after my body has stopped, my mind continues to run.
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