The second day like the first defied expectations. We went to high school to what we thought was a meeting with the administration of the school, but turned out to be a meeting with the entire school. An assembly was gathered during which each of my fellow teachers and I introduced ourselves to the entire 420 students and teachers. We were all feeling a bit nervous. However, when I saw how positively we were received, my nerves quickly passed. After we each introduced ourselves, the kids were boisterous in their applause, but none more so than for Will. If was great, the way the kids reacted one would think, as it was later described, that "the hottest member of the hottest boyband had taken the stage." The kids blew up. The general reception of the student body really made us all excited to start teaching at San Pedro High.
After the assembly, we met with the teachers and administrators, which was an equally satisfying experience. During the build up to this experience, I developed the impression that most of the teachers were not going to have much experience and that I will be looked upon as a resource for teaching strategies, but through out the course of the meeting this expectation was shown to be incorrect. While some are teaching for the first time, many have been teaching for 3, 5, and several for 10 years. In order to teach high school here in Belize, teachers must have a two year degree, the equivalent of an Associates Degree in the States. I left the meeting feeling that I will be learning a lot from the educators I will be working with.
I'm determined on this trip to eat as much local food as I can, so when Mr. Kelly who heads the science department, invited us to have some cow foot soup in the cantina after the meeting I jumped at the opportunity. The soup contained okra, thick potato slices, onions, hot peppers, tripe, and of course cow foot that actually is just the meet from the foot of the cow. Accompanied with white rice, the soup was delicious. Mr. Kelly seems to be very concerned that we have a good experience in his country in which we get a taste of the local culture. I think our connection with the high school will give us an opportunity to experience San Pedro and all of Belize uniquely different from other tourists.
for serious, that cow foot soup sounds scrumptious.
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