I promise I won't be writing evey day-- just initially when there are a lot of decisions and first impressions to record.
On Friday, Jay's patient's parents did not come-- so the surgery was postponed until Monday when consent could be obtained. A non-parent friend came to take the child home over the weekend. So the hospital is closed now until Monday. A "brigade" is going out this Saturday morning to the Puerto Cortes (the port of Cortes) which is the largest Carribean/Atlantic side port for Honduras. They will have an outreach clinic as well as continuing to establish relationships with local churches and pastors for further work in that region. They will see new patients at the local hospital (ones who have been referred for pediatric orthopedic consultation with CURE) as well as seeing follow-up patients who have already been seen previously by CURE staff. Ruth, Danny, Dr. Gustavo, and others will be going... Jay will be staying back with us to get some necessary work done.
Yesterday, Grace took all five Bridgemans out to see five homes in the north part of the city near the mountains and the schools. We were encouraged to find safe, gated areas-- and clean, new-ish homes. Several would be fine-- but we did not both have immediate peace about any one of them in particular. So we are going out with a realtor by ourselves this morning (our first time looking without a CURE staff accompanying us). We are going to meet her in the parking lot of a grocery store and look at three places. These homes are also in a safe residential gated community near markets and malls. They are bit less of a drive to CURE but a little further from the schools. Then we will go to the Zizima waterpark.
In the evenings, a slightly cool breeze sometimes blows- but it affects the ground level more than the second floor where the apartment is located. So we have been going down to scooter in the parking lot. The two night guards are Bilhilio and Jose. Bilhilio has six children-- the youngest of whom is twenty years old. Jose has one two year old daughter. Jay and I try our best to communicate with our very limited Spanish-- it's amazing how much can be said without words. And I think they look forward to our evening treks down the stairs to their world. There are a lot of mosquitos. Bilhilio tells me I need to put on some pantalones and spray my ankles with insect repellant. We've also noticed fireflies.
Please continue to pray for just the right home soon so we can start to unpack and settle for the start of school and surgery.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A Better Day!
(NOTE: If you are reading from the blog page, you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.)
Last night we spent a little time as a family sharing some of our Yeahs! and our Yucks! of being in Honduras. While at our cross-cultural training course in Colorado, we learned about the paradox of going to the missions field-- part of you really wants to go, but part of you really wants to stay. For the children, they taught them that the experience is a "pair of ducks"-- a Yeah! duck and a Yuck! duck. This was one of the many reasons why we are so grateful for having spent those three weeks in preparation-- we now have a vocabulary for talking to our children about their experience in cross-cultural adjustment. Abigail said that one of her Yeahs! was the many new kinds of fruits which she is enjoying. Lillian said she was happy for the ice cream we had for dessert. Another Abigail Yeah! was all of us sleeping in one enormous bed for the initial adjustment-- Jay said this was a Yuck! for him:) Abigail also told us that the heat was yuck! And I agree. But today was my first day without a heat headache-- and I'm told that we will eventually adjust to the oppressive heat. And then we took turns thanking God for both the Yeahs! and the Yucks!
Today was much more of a Yeah! day. We got up early enough to go downstairs for the staff/patient devotions at 7am as a family. Jay's been going without us. Then we had a little time to watch some Spanish TV-- we get Spanish PBS Kids, Disney, and Nickelodeon here at the CURE apartment. And the girls worked on some paint-by-numbers sent in a big bag of crafts from Heidi Garber. Abigail has also been enjoying playing Moshi Monsters on the computer. Then, while Jay worked on issues still related to moving back at the hospital while taking Charlotte, the girls and I went on another school hunt this morning with Aracely (the spiritual director) and Grace (clubfoot program director). It's been really fun to get to spend time with these wonderful women who speak English and committed to the mission of CURE.
Our first stop was the Village Montessori school, located in the northwest area of San Pedro Sula. Aracely (who has children of the same age) had heard about the school and arranaged for a visit for us. The school serves children through the third grade currently-- but has plans to expand to a full elementary school.
Inside the gate.
A shaded area for play.
It was thrilling for Abigail and Lillian who attended a wonderful montessori in Hershey-- Abigail for two years and Lillian for three (and would be going for one more year if we had stayed). They even call the upstairs area for the younger children Children's House, just like ours in Hershey. They immediately saw materials that were familiar. Lillian pulled out these map templates with which the children make their own maps.
This photo came out sideways-- but shows some of the exact same biology material as we used in Hershey. The school was not quite set up since classes do not begin for another two weeks, but we saw enough to get excited.
Sensorial materials that teach gradation of size and volume as well as fine motor skills.
The building does not allow for one large area for everything-- so each room has several stations-- like reading and math or culture and geography. Maybe a good thing for Lillian who sometimes needs encouragment to try new areas of study and play.
More math materials. All their teachers have montessori certificates through the Honduran montessori organization-- and they continue to update their training regularly.
And then we went to visit the Agape Christian school-- a school to whom I had written in inquiry, but had received a response saying that they could not accept Lillian. But, encouraged by the fact that she was accepted by the most academically rigorous school in town, we pushed on with a visit. Once inside gates, there is a large soccer field beyond which the school lies.
This is the primary school.
The computer lab
The library in progress.
The view from the primary school.
Afterward, we drove around the area looking for houses for rent-- even getting to go inside one. It was very encouraging. We have some calls out to look at other homes. Several times we had to cross this road with a river running over it which I thought was interesting. Of note, I drove everywhere on this trip today without problem. There are very few street signs and even fewer indications of traffic laws (including no speed limit signs and numerous bicyclists-motorcyclists-horse carts around which I need to weave).
One of the gated neighborhoods is the Villa Mackay where Aracely is building a new home. In the center is a large park with some playground equipment where the neighbors walk and play in the cool of the evening. We would be able to ride our bikes here and play in relative safety.
And we made it safely back for lunch at the hospital! The hospital provides a big noon-ish meal for all the employees as one of their benefits. And we get to join them. Gina has even purchased Tinkerbell plates for our girls. And in the evening, we cook our own supper in the apartment. On Tuesday we made mushroom-clam pasta and fruit salad. On Wednesday we made rice, chimichurri chicken, and stir-fried ronde du nice (round French) zucchini. Tonight Ned is going to make us breakfast for dinner.
Gina really is an excellent cook, and we look forward to our lunches every day. Today she made some chicken noodle and vegetable soup for the girls with a bowl of rice on the side.
Last night we spent a little time as a family sharing some of our Yeahs! and our Yucks! of being in Honduras. While at our cross-cultural training course in Colorado, we learned about the paradox of going to the missions field-- part of you really wants to go, but part of you really wants to stay. For the children, they taught them that the experience is a "pair of ducks"-- a Yeah! duck and a Yuck! duck. This was one of the many reasons why we are so grateful for having spent those three weeks in preparation-- we now have a vocabulary for talking to our children about their experience in cross-cultural adjustment. Abigail said that one of her Yeahs! was the many new kinds of fruits which she is enjoying. Lillian said she was happy for the ice cream we had for dessert. Another Abigail Yeah! was all of us sleeping in one enormous bed for the initial adjustment-- Jay said this was a Yuck! for him:) Abigail also told us that the heat was yuck! And I agree. But today was my first day without a heat headache-- and I'm told that we will eventually adjust to the oppressive heat. And then we took turns thanking God for both the Yeahs! and the Yucks!
Today was much more of a Yeah! day. We got up early enough to go downstairs for the staff/patient devotions at 7am as a family. Jay's been going without us. Then we had a little time to watch some Spanish TV-- we get Spanish PBS Kids, Disney, and Nickelodeon here at the CURE apartment. And the girls worked on some paint-by-numbers sent in a big bag of crafts from Heidi Garber. Abigail has also been enjoying playing Moshi Monsters on the computer. Then, while Jay worked on issues still related to moving back at the hospital while taking Charlotte, the girls and I went on another school hunt this morning with Aracely (the spiritual director) and Grace (clubfoot program director). It's been really fun to get to spend time with these wonderful women who speak English and committed to the mission of CURE.
Our first stop was the Village Montessori school, located in the northwest area of San Pedro Sula. Aracely (who has children of the same age) had heard about the school and arranaged for a visit for us. The school serves children through the third grade currently-- but has plans to expand to a full elementary school.
Inside the gate.
A shaded area for play.
It was thrilling for Abigail and Lillian who attended a wonderful montessori in Hershey-- Abigail for two years and Lillian for three (and would be going for one more year if we had stayed). They even call the upstairs area for the younger children Children's House, just like ours in Hershey. They immediately saw materials that were familiar. Lillian pulled out these map templates with which the children make their own maps.
This photo came out sideways-- but shows some of the exact same biology material as we used in Hershey. The school was not quite set up since classes do not begin for another two weeks, but we saw enough to get excited.
Sensorial materials that teach gradation of size and volume as well as fine motor skills.
The building does not allow for one large area for everything-- so each room has several stations-- like reading and math or culture and geography. Maybe a good thing for Lillian who sometimes needs encouragment to try new areas of study and play.
More math materials. All their teachers have montessori certificates through the Honduran montessori organization-- and they continue to update their training regularly.
Each class has 15 students maximum. Most students are from Honduras with a few from Guatemala and other nations. Classes are conducted in English except for Spanish class during which time they will give our girls special tutoring until they can catch up.
Both Abigail and Lillian jumped right in to doing some of the activities that are familiar to them. And they both expressed that they really wanted to go to school here. It's difficult to assess the academic level of the school, but we had been advised to be liberal with academics for the first year while the girls learn the culture and language and adjust to their new life. So we have an appointment on Tuesday morning from 8-11am for an evaluation.
(They also already have two children with DS enrolled there.)
And then we went to visit the Agape Christian school-- a school to whom I had written in inquiry, but had received a response saying that they could not accept Lillian. But, encouraged by the fact that she was accepted by the most academically rigorous school in town, we pushed on with a visit. Once inside gates, there is a large soccer field beyond which the school lies.
This is the primary school.
The computer lab
A high school classroom. The school has about 700 students who go up to high school. They offer an American diploma curriculum. Quite a few missionaries send their children there. And both Aracely and Dr. Vasquez (the other CURE orthopedic surgeon) send their children to this school.
The library in progress.
The view from the primary school.
Afterward, we drove around the area looking for houses for rent-- even getting to go inside one. It was very encouraging. We have some calls out to look at other homes. Several times we had to cross this road with a river running over it which I thought was interesting. Of note, I drove everywhere on this trip today without problem. There are very few street signs and even fewer indications of traffic laws (including no speed limit signs and numerous bicyclists-motorcyclists-horse carts around which I need to weave).
One of the gated neighborhoods is the Villa Mackay where Aracely is building a new home. In the center is a large park with some playground equipment where the neighbors walk and play in the cool of the evening. We would be able to ride our bikes here and play in relative safety.
And we made it safely back for lunch at the hospital! The hospital provides a big noon-ish meal for all the employees as one of their benefits. And we get to join them. Gina has even purchased Tinkerbell plates for our girls. And in the evening, we cook our own supper in the apartment. On Tuesday we made mushroom-clam pasta and fruit salad. On Wednesday we made rice, chimichurri chicken, and stir-fried ronde du nice (round French) zucchini. Tonight Ned is going to make us breakfast for dinner.
Today's lunch was a marinated piece of beef, marinated salad of cabbage-onions-beets, tortillas, refried beans, a piece of white cheese, and breadfruit. Yes, Olivia, after a lifetime of reading about breadfruit in Robinson Carusoe and other such survival-on-island books, I finally got to eat it! A bit like a piece of foam board that's been fried-- but much tastier with beans spread over it.
Gina really is an excellent cook, and we look forward to our lunches every day. Today she made some chicken noodle and vegetable soup for the girls with a bowl of rice on the side.
So please continue to pray for our decision. We long to finish this part of the adjustment so we can unpack and start to make a home. Living in San Pedro Sula will mean a longer drive with traffic for both of us to get to CURE-- but may result in an easier adjustment for our girls. Tomorrow Jay will do his first surgery-- a short one on a child's thumb. And then we will go look at some other homes with Grace. On Saturday we would like to take the girls to do something fun here-- so they can start to make some happy memories of Honduras. They would like to go to the waterpark Zizima.
School hunting!
I forgot to bring my camera yesterday when we went to visit the smaller sister school of the big fancy international school yesterday. EIS (Escuela International San Pedro Sula) is the one we visited first. It is very big, very fancy, in the city, and the home school of the most wealthy children in the city (also making it subject to a great deal of potential snobbery and values disparate from ours). But it is also the most academically rigorous program in the area-- offering an American diploma upon graduation. Ninety-seven percent of the students are Honduran.
Yesterday we visited EILL (Escuela International La Lima)-- which is the sister school in a smaller town. The school is definitely less fancy, but has the same academic rigor. At the end of the eighth grade year, the girls would have to transfer to the EIS to complete their schooling. The price is about the same for both. We met the new principal who arrived from Minnesota last week and the vice-principal and many of the staff. They were warm and very kind to the girls. They are also very familiar with CURE. Both girls were tested for two hours (at a cost of $100 for each) by their potential teachers. They both did great! And (an answer to lots of prayers) Lillian was accepted for admission to the school. Neither the EIS or the EILL have EVER even considered a child with Down Syndrome, much less tested and accepted one. It is a miracle.
La Lima is a town about 15 minutes east of CURE (which is already on the far eastern side of San Pedro Sula). It is much more rural and was started as a living area for the TELA railroad and United Fruit (Chiquita) company workers. The school is inside a Zona Americana which is a gated community guarded and patrolled by workers. Inside the gate are homes, the school, a swimming pool, a slightly neglected golf course, and safety. Ruth, who is constantly worried about our safety, said it would even be safe for Abigail to ride her bicycle to school inside the gated area. The drive to CURE would be about 15 minutes in a lot less traffic. We did see two homes for rent inside the Zona yesterday but neither seemed suitable for our family.
After this exciting visit, we went to see SERAN, a private secular school that is about 1/3 the size of the EIS. Eighty five percent of the students here are Honduran; and this school also offers an American diploma. It houses all twelve grades-- and apparently does not have the reputation for economic exclusivity as does EIS. It was an absolutely beautiful school with a chemistry lab that is, in appearance, nicer than mine at Princeton. All the teachers were away-- as was the principal and director-- so we only had a chance to meet a secretary who showed us the school.
SERAN (as well as the other excellent schools except EILL) are all on the western side of SPS-- about 40-60 minutes away from CURE through terrible traffic. CURE is located in the industrial eastern portion of the city-- and all of the "safe" gated communities and the other schools are in the west. (La Lima is even further east of CURE). So now we have to make a decision regarding our school and home locations. We will look for a home in La Lima to see if there is anything available-- since the relative benefits seem good. However, we do have concerns about planting ourselves in that community knowing that we will need to get Abigail to the EIS in six years on the opposite side of the city while Charlotte would still only be in second grade in EILL. While our first commitment with CURE is for three years, it makes the most sense to plan for the long-term. So pray for our decision. Where we plant ourselves in terms of our home/school determines our community and church. We would rather not uproot the children yet another time.
A few memories:
--First trip out by ourselves after dinner to Diunsa (Walmart-type store) to buy a walker for Charlotte.
--Abigail caught a baby gecko for Zoe, but Lillian stomped on it, pronouncing it "DEAD!"
--First load of laundry in the new world.
--Hot tired and cranky afternoon.
--Adjustment to face-saving culture of Honduras where people often tell what they think you would like to hear, but don't necessarily mean it. Case in point, multiple discussions with EILL regarding the time of testing. Compared to the North American obsession with accuracy without as much regard for relationship.
--Adjustment to relative "inefficiency" of Honduras compared with the time-conscious US.
Today we will go to see two more schools: Agape Christian school and a montessori school. As well as one home in SPS.
Yesterday we visited EILL (Escuela International La Lima)-- which is the sister school in a smaller town. The school is definitely less fancy, but has the same academic rigor. At the end of the eighth grade year, the girls would have to transfer to the EIS to complete their schooling. The price is about the same for both. We met the new principal who arrived from Minnesota last week and the vice-principal and many of the staff. They were warm and very kind to the girls. They are also very familiar with CURE. Both girls were tested for two hours (at a cost of $100 for each) by their potential teachers. They both did great! And (an answer to lots of prayers) Lillian was accepted for admission to the school. Neither the EIS or the EILL have EVER even considered a child with Down Syndrome, much less tested and accepted one. It is a miracle.
La Lima is a town about 15 minutes east of CURE (which is already on the far eastern side of San Pedro Sula). It is much more rural and was started as a living area for the TELA railroad and United Fruit (Chiquita) company workers. The school is inside a Zona Americana which is a gated community guarded and patrolled by workers. Inside the gate are homes, the school, a swimming pool, a slightly neglected golf course, and safety. Ruth, who is constantly worried about our safety, said it would even be safe for Abigail to ride her bicycle to school inside the gated area. The drive to CURE would be about 15 minutes in a lot less traffic. We did see two homes for rent inside the Zona yesterday but neither seemed suitable for our family.
After this exciting visit, we went to see SERAN, a private secular school that is about 1/3 the size of the EIS. Eighty five percent of the students here are Honduran; and this school also offers an American diploma. It houses all twelve grades-- and apparently does not have the reputation for economic exclusivity as does EIS. It was an absolutely beautiful school with a chemistry lab that is, in appearance, nicer than mine at Princeton. All the teachers were away-- as was the principal and director-- so we only had a chance to meet a secretary who showed us the school.
SERAN (as well as the other excellent schools except EILL) are all on the western side of SPS-- about 40-60 minutes away from CURE through terrible traffic. CURE is located in the industrial eastern portion of the city-- and all of the "safe" gated communities and the other schools are in the west. (La Lima is even further east of CURE). So now we have to make a decision regarding our school and home locations. We will look for a home in La Lima to see if there is anything available-- since the relative benefits seem good. However, we do have concerns about planting ourselves in that community knowing that we will need to get Abigail to the EIS in six years on the opposite side of the city while Charlotte would still only be in second grade in EILL. While our first commitment with CURE is for three years, it makes the most sense to plan for the long-term. So pray for our decision. Where we plant ourselves in terms of our home/school determines our community and church. We would rather not uproot the children yet another time.
A few memories:
--First trip out by ourselves after dinner to Diunsa (Walmart-type store) to buy a walker for Charlotte.
--Abigail caught a baby gecko for Zoe, but Lillian stomped on it, pronouncing it "DEAD!"
--First load of laundry in the new world.
--Hot tired and cranky afternoon.
--Adjustment to face-saving culture of Honduras where people often tell what they think you would like to hear, but don't necessarily mean it. Case in point, multiple discussions with EILL regarding the time of testing. Compared to the North American obsession with accuracy without as much regard for relationship.
--Adjustment to relative "inefficiency" of Honduras compared with the time-conscious US.
Today we will go to see two more schools: Agape Christian school and a montessori school. As well as one home in SPS.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Bridgemans in Honduras 2011!
Finally! It's been weeks since I've made a post-- mostly because I was planning to write about sustainability in missions and our three weeks of training at Missions Training International in Colorado-- but that might take forever. So, I'll just start with our first 24 hours in Honduras-- and publish those posts later.
We returned from Colorado on July 15th to a whirlwind two weeks of goodbyes and packing. The photo above is our commissioning by our home church on Sunday July 31st, our last full day in the US. Packing continued all the way up to ten minutes after we should have left for the airport-- but we made it. The photo below is Jay around 12:30am on August 1st, disassembling our bikes for transport on the container. My hero-- I love my blue bicycle and wanted very much to bring it with us.
Our "packing" involved separating all of our worldly goods into five piles. Two piles staying in Hershey: one pile for our renter (including all our furniture and kitchen items and linens) and one pile for storage in our basement. Three piles going to Honduras: ten suitcases brought down by a short term team on July 19th, twelve suitcases that we brought with us, and a container of items that will be shipped on a container that will come in about three months. It was very complex, but we had lots of help and are glad it's all done!
We packed all night. At 5am on Monday August 1st, Danielle Do stopped by for a goodbye before work. And the Bushman family came to help us get to the airport using a truck and an extra car. Here is Abigail saying goodbye to her best friend Zoe Bushman.
When we pulled up to the airport curb at 5:30am, eleven friends from church were waiting to bring our 12 suitcases and footlocker to the Delta counter where another church friend helped us check our twelve sometimes-overweight bags for free with the compliments of the airline.
From the left, Jay, Gary Garber, Jason Holmes, Jelly Holmes, John Holmes, Steve KEbede (at the counter) Kathy Leonzo, Mike Leonzo, Shari Holmes, Sherry Harr, and Sheila Shaffer.
Sheila Shaffer, Tanyetchka George, and Heidi Garber.
Mike and Kathy had special passes to help us through security and see us all the way to the gate to board our flight to Atlanta. As he gave me one last hug, Mike told me that my shirt was on inside out.
We left Harrisburg at 6:45am, got to Atlanta by 8:15am, and San Pedro Sula around noon (we are in Central Standard time, but don't have Daylight Savings-- so, in the summer, we are effectively Mountain Standard time). Getting our luggage seemed daunting with the crowd and confusion, but a porter was sent by Ruth Castro (Executive Director of CURE Honduras) to look for us and help us through customs! Everything made it including our special booster seats donated by Clek!
What a comfort and relief to see Danny and Ruth Castro waiting for us outside of customs. Danny is the retired spritual director for CURE Honduras. Jay has known them for years-- and the girls and I know them from our trip in 2009. Also waiting for us back at the hospital was Ned Schwentker (emeritus professor of pediatric orthopedics from Hershey-- who we met in Kenya in 2000) who is here for two weeks to help us settle and orient to Honduras as the hospital work.
Outside, two CURE vehicles and our friend Catto were waiting to take our luggages back to the hospital about 15 minutes away.
What a blessing! Charlotte, who is very particular about who holds her, loved Ruth. You can't tell from the constantly serious-grumpy face-- but the fact that she's not screaming means that she's thrilled!
It was fantastic to come back to the familiar hospital where we will be staying until we choose a school and a house. Since I recorded most of our first impressions with our last trip, I will refer you to the earlier posts (on this blog) from 2009 to see photos of the apartment and the people.
After a delicious lunch prepared by Gina, we became Honduran right away by taking a siesta.
After the siesta, we went out with Ned to a local grocery store for some diapers and wipes-- and for dinner at Power Chicken, a local Honduran chain with roasted chicken served with mayo and other local delights. Abigail felt quite dizzy and sick after our exhausting day, needing some reassurance. But she felt better by bedtime and the familiar activity of reading Calvin and Hobbes with Daddy. Charlotte is brushing her teeth.
We all needed a good night of sleep. We got up a bit before six. Jay went to the hospital devotions. The girls and I made some scrambled egg and had them with papaya and pineapple. Here is Abigail setting the table for breakfast.
After breakfast, Jay, Ruth, and Grace (CURE Clubfoot program director) joined us for our first school visit. En route, a phone call made us realize that the school had forgotten our appointment. So we drove by the big international school (known locally as EIS)-- and were allowed in to walk around with our friends. It was beautiful. This is the computer center in the library.
The library which has mostly English books.
One of the reading corners.
Walking by the school store just outside the library. The library has a Subway shop just outside with Wifi.
The primary school cafeteria. The students are 97% Honduran with a large number of the "other" students being third-generation Arab.
The seating area for the primary school cafeteria.
The primary school courtyard with classrooms on two levels. Each classroom has a smartboard. Each class has a teacher and a teacher's assistant.
Another view of the courtyard.
A view from the school parking lot.
We went grocery shopping after the visit. We saw lots of American brands of foods that are familiar-- and they even have the Chinese brand of soy sauce that I use for cooking!
We plans to go back to EIS for our appointment tomorrow-- and then to their smaller sister campus (has grades K-8 only) for testing tomorrow afternoon. And the postponed visit to Santa Maria Valle at 4:30pm
We had lunch at the hospital along with all the hospital employees who eat their big midday meal here. Rice, spiced but not spicy chicken, lightly dressed salad, and tortillas. Watermelon-vanilla juice.
And they even procured and cleaned up a high chair for Charlotte.
After a few more school visits, we will make that important decision-- please pray for wisdom for us. And after we have that settled (school begins in the middle of the month), then we will work on a furnished rental house. Ruth has determined that we will need to live in a gated community for safety. And she says that there are often parks and playground inside the gates that will be good for the children-- as well as being safe enough for bike rides!
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