New English Lab, misc. pictures

Pat´s kitchen attire. Two of our favorite teachers, Sulma and Lucky, with little Rosalinda. Kitchen ladies working hard as usual.

It´s been a pretty busy and exciting week here. Pat and I and Brendan (who is the other volunteer at the project) had talked about how nice it would be to have a space to use for English tutoring and Instruction. Before, we had to just cruise around and ask in each classroom if someone needed help with English homework. Many of the kids are too shy (or something) to speak up.
Last Monday, we asked Sandra (the director) and were given a classroom to use just for English. About 5 minutes of discussion, then we moved a table, some stools, and a bookcase, Pat installed a whiteboard and we were in business. Brendan went around and informed all the the teachers of what we were doing and by Tuesday, we had groups of kids coming in for instruction. I have had a chance to take advantage of my ESL experience, and have spent the week beginning to put together games, songs, materials. Pat will be building a partition, and a bookcase, etc. Brendan is a good organizer (and teacher) and we have 6 classes of the younger kids on a schedule and already are getting some of the older kids coming in for homework help, and even just practicing.
The English instruction that the kids get at school is very very poor, lacks any continuity, and is taught by people who do not speak English. They do a lot of copying. There is interest in learning English, and there is definate advantage, in terms of work, for those who can speak English. With this project, we hope to give the kids at the Project a little better access the language, and more creative instruction. We think that having the space and the materials will help future volunteers at the project. Brendan plans to be here until November, so he can keep the kids on a program for this year.
It´s a lot of fun, and has given me new focus and enthusiasm, since I get use my past experience and skills. I will send more pictures after we have had time to decorate the room more.









Outside the Cathedral in Zunil. Door to Door milk sales.

Big in the news lately is the subject of remittances, because of the "economic downturn". This term refers to money that is sent back to Guatemala by Guatemalans who are working in out of the country. 97% of Guatemalans who live outside of their country live in the US. This is about 11% of the total population. They send back to their country about 4 billion dollars annually, but that amount is way down this year. Most of the Guatemalans who go to the states for work, stay (an average of) about 4-5 years. They go with specific goals. They want to earn enough money to: buy a car, build a house, or start a business - in Guatemala.
A newpaper article last week told the story of a small pueblo (very close to Xela) called Cajola. This is a community with a population of about 18,000 people. 6000 people from that pueblo are currently living and working in the US. The Mayan people of the village used to grow vegetables for their living. Due to "remittances" from the US, many have stopped their traditional cultivation of vegetables and live on they money that comes from their relative in the US. Since the first of the year, the remittance dollars have dropped by 75%. This is not an isolated example in this country, and there is much concern in the entire country of how the US economy will have an impact.

We took a lovely hike last Sunday with friends, Brendan and Lorena. Although it was very steep, it was short and had brilliant views of the city.

Remember to check out the website for the Project
www.educationandhope.org