desks on the grass!

So passed my one year site visit. It was interesting for sure. My project manager, Sandra, and I met with the director and sub-director of the colegio and the two teachers that I work with at the grade school.

It was a LONG meeting mainly because it came back to the same thing—the library and the fact that is not where it should be. Here is a sampling of the conversation:

Sandra: “Why isn’t the library in its’ proper place?”
Director: “Well, we need space….we have to be somewhere otherwise our desks would be out on the grass and we have these brand new desks from PLAN” (a NGO in Honduras that works in development)
Sandra: “Well, if you wanted a teacher’s lounge, you should have requested a building that would be used as a teacher’s lounge rather than asking for a library because what you’re doing is not right.”
Director: “But we don’t have a place for the teachers right now because we have more students. Our desks would be out on the grass if we weren’t in here!”
Sandra: “You should have thought of that ahead of time before you signed papers requesting a library.”
Director: “Do you want our desks to be out on the grass? These new desks? Out there?!” (motions to the outside for emphasis)
Sandra: But do you see the problem here? You asked for a library and you’re using it for something else.”
Director: “The library works where it’s at, doesn’t it?”

It went on like that for about 10 minutes. Sickening. (Naturally, I couldn’t stop saying ‘desks on the grass’ for the rest of the afternoon when I was spending the afternoon in San Marcos with my friends Connie and Desi.) I think the director is a good person but as a director, he is horrible and corrupt. When we left the colegio, I just felt less motivated to work there because of the acceptance of the way things are and the fact that they feel as though nothing is wrong…but I’ll stick it out a little longer and if it doesn’t work out…well, I’ll cross that bridge when (or if) I get to it.

After that meeting, the 5th grade teacher apologized to me. “I am so sorry that that meeting went so poorly. Please don’t think we feel this way about you. We know what they’re doing is incorrect.”

Sandra then visited my 5th grade English class and they were absolutely perfect. She asked they questions in English, played hangman and another game that I can’t explain because we don’t have it in the U.S. They were enthusiastic and lovely. (especially my doll face Brayan). They were crazy about her and they said really sweet things about me. (“Cati is friendly, she is fun, she is intelligent…”) It was the perfect way to end the day.

Positive news was that my 5th graders appeared to be very interested in learning baseball. They are the perfect age and I’ve hit my head against the wall for not thinking about it earlier…but then again, the colegio during the meeting claimed the baseball equipment (and yes, it is just so useful sitting in a locked cabinet)…if they get their dirty claws off the equipment, it should be good times.

Sandra was positive and really relaxed considering the situation at the colegio. What makes me sad is that we are both unsure if the situation will change in the next year.