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Lee-Anne
Member
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Posted: 21 Oct 2008 05:23 am |
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Hi
I'm Lee-Anne and I'm currently volunteering in Honduras as an English teacher at a public school in the city of San Pedro Sula. I've been here for nearly 2 months now and it is the most amazing experience. I love the school, the children are great; really enthusiastic and affectionate. The school has a great team of staff they are really helpful and want to help you learn Spanish as much as they want to learn English.
It can be quite hard work sometimes, especially with the language barrier, but when you see how well the children are coming along with their studies its really worth it. The hardest thing has been learning Spanish, it is not the easiest thing to do! Our teacher is great and I'm learning very quickly, I would reccomend learning at least few basic phrases as it will make your first few days easier.
The family that we are placed with are great, they really look after us and make us feel like part of the family and they feed us so well I've gained weight! Kenny our rep. and his family are great too, he is always on hand to help or give advice.
If you have done any research into the country you will find that the guide books paint a pretty grim picture, especially of San Pedro Sula. Although it is a dangerous city and there are risks, like any other place, if you follow the advice of the people around you and use your common sense you will be fine. The only problem I've had is trying not to spend and eat so much.
My main advice is to pack and budget well, although if you do forget anything it is all readily available here. Oh and bring good insect repellent, the mosquitos are evil and persistent.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask and maybe I'll see you out here,
Lee-Anne.
Last edited on 21 Oct 2008 05:24 am by Lee-Anne
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Suzie B
Member
| Joined: | 19 Feb 2009 |
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| Posts: | 5 |
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Posted: 19 Feb 2009 03:05 pm |
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Hi Lee-Anne my names suzie im 18 and im going to honduras in january 2010,i know its a year away but im sure it will come round faster than i think! I was just browsing the changing worlds website and i came across this forum which i hadn't seen before. it sounds like your having an amazing time! how long are you there for? i have booked for 4 months but i really want to change it to 6 months now as i think i will get a lot more out of it!i know its a long time but im sure it will be worth it! so are you doing just teaching? what kind of things do u do in your free time?i have had an email from suzie gill last year and she told me loads of stuff about what its like there etc... but as u can imagine i would like to know as much as possible before i go! is there anybody else there with you or did u go on your own??how are you finding the spanish?? im doin it for A level and want to carry on at univeristy after my gap year so im really hoping that my time in honduras will improve my my spoekn spanish greatly!anyway... i wish you all the best while you're still out there and i look 4ward to hearing from you soon
Suzie
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Lee-Anne
Member
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Posted: 25 Feb 2009 02:00 pm |
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Definately stay on for six months it will go so fast you won´t belive it. I´m staying on for another 3 months!
There´s lots to do here, San Pedro has got lots of bars, malls and cinemas (most of the films are only subtitled too so you will be able to understand them!) so its like any other big city really. I mainly hang out with our rep. Kenny´s family as I get on really well with them. I have also travelled a bit I went to live in Copan Ruinas for a few weeks in the school hols to work in an orphanage, which was amazing seriously hard work but probably one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done in my life. I´ve been to Utila in the Bay Islands, which is where I´m going to live once my placement finishes in a couple of days, look at the pictures of it online and you´ll see why!
I came out here with another person and 2 other volunteers arrived a month ago. But really do not worry about coming out alone if there are no other volunteers going at the same time as you. You will have Kenny´s family, your host family and all their friends to hang out with and you will meet people through them.
As for the spanish, since you are are doing it at A Level you will be fine when you get here. I only knew hola, gracias and how to count to 5 when I got here and now, I´m not fluent, but I know alot.
I have to go teach now but if you want to know anything else then I´m happy to help.
Lee-Anne
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Suzie B
Member
| Joined: | 19 Feb 2009 |
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| Posts: | 5 |
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Posted: 26 Feb 2009 01:38 pm |
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hey, thank u 4 your reply, it certainly sounds like your having an amazing time!
so what are you going to do for the next three months? is it costing you much more to stay out there? i looked at the pictures of the bay islands... and that has really made me want to go there 4 however long i can :-) where are you going to live while you're there?
San Pedro sounds like a really nice city, thats gd that theres loads of bars, shops etc... what are the distances like from your host family's house to the school to the city centre etc? is it near enough to walk or do you have to get a bus/train?
Your family also sound lovely! thats another thing i was wondering about... what kind of food do they eat out there? it must be good if youve gained weight!! Kenny sounds like he is really helpful and always there when you need him, does he have a big family then and are they our age? (sorry i don't know how old u are... im only 18 but will be 19 when i go)
One thing that is on my mind is how much spending money to bring with me, as im planning on working from july until jan to saveu p for both the cost and the spending money. Obviously it depends on how much il go out and stuff but i was wondering what you would recommend?
Ive found one guy on facebook whos going at the same time as me... which like you said is good, somebody to start out with and see how it goes... if not then im all for meeting new people and hanging out with them :-) thats one of the main things about going i think.
its good to know that you soon become accustomed to the language :-) and reassuring that you didn'r know much at first but now u do :-) that must come mostly from living with the family i take it? is there anybody your age in the family?
anyway... sorry for my essay, but as im sureyou understand the list of questions is endless lol. enjoy your time in utila and i look forward to hearing from you soon :-)
Suzie
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Lee-Anne
Member
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Posted: 26 Feb 2009 03:44 pm |
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The next 3 months I´m going to just work in bars in Utila but its at my own cost as my time with changing worlds will have ended. I will be living in a hostel there, its not much but its enough to get by!
When you travel around the city its best not to use public transport, I never have, its not the safest mode of travel here. I always use taxis and sometimes the people I live with will give me lifts. Taxis only cost a pound so its not much really!
Foodwise the diet here mainly consists of rice, meat, refried beans and tortillas thats the main base of it but theres losts of fruit and veg and alot of american food etc. But if you just let people know what you like and don´t like they will tyr to cater to that. I´m a fussy eater and I managed to gain 10 pounds (although I´ve managed to lose 15 now).
Kenny´s kids are aged between 24 and 13 theres 3 boys and 2 girls and some cousins in the same age group and they´ve got loads of friends. Its good you´ve got someone to come with. The first family I lived with spoke English so it was really bad for my Spanish but now I live with a woman who doesn´t speak any English so my Spanish is so much better. It surprises me how much I know and annoys my family as I randomly speak in Spanish sometimes!
As for money budget well not just for being here but when you get home as well its best to leave something at home as a safety net. And put aside 100 ponds for renewing your visa. And try not to think of your money here in terms of pounds or you will go crazy and run out of cash! It also depends on if you want to travel whilst your here. 20 pounds per week will suffice for the basics but to travel its best to research and work out your money accordingly.
Always happy to help!
Lee-Anne
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Shirley
Administrator
| Joined: | 15 Aug 2006 |
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| Posts: | 54 |
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Posted: 2 Mar 2009 12:36 pm |
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Hi Lee-Anne,
Just read your reply to suzy, I just wanted to say thanks for being such a good volunteer, also when you are in Utila, even though your placement has technically ended, don't forget you can always ask us or Kenny for help if you need it.
Shirley
Last edited on 2 Mar 2009 12:37 pm by Shirley
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Hann S
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| Joined: | 4 Mar 2009 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 4 Mar 2009 03:35 pm |
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hi suzy!
just wanted to let you know Sam and I are here for another 5 months, and if you want to know anything from us, dont hesitate to ask.
you´re going to have an awesome time
x
Last edited on 4 Mar 2009 03:36 pm by Hann S
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sam-louise
Member
| Joined: | 14 Mar 2008 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 4 Mar 2009 03:38 pm |
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Hey suzy! Its so good to hear that there is another volunteer coming out to San Pedro Sula. Myself and Hannah are the two volunteers currently working at Francisco Morazan (the first public bilingual school in Honduras) and we are loving it. Sadly when we leave in July there are no volunteers to replace us and so there will be a gap of volunteers (so we believe) until you arrive.
It is such a worthwhile experience though and i would definalty recomm you come for the six months as i originally only applied to do three months and i´m soo pleased that i have decided to stay on for six as three is just not long enough! It gives you more flexibility to do what you want also. For example I am teaching every morning at the school, working at the orphange every other afternoon and then I soon will be starting to teach adults English pronunciation soon. Furthermore I am moving to Copan in June for a month to work in the orphanage there. The longer you are here the more you can do, I have also spent a week in Utila (a gorgeous bay island paradise) and for Semana Santa myself and hannah are going to Roatan (another gorgeous but expensive island) with our "honduran sisters" and their friends.
In regards to what to pack, dont bother with nets etc just bring what you would use at home...you can wear basically what you like (you can wear nice clothes because there will be nights out for sure).
There is so much we can both tell you so dont hesitate to ask us anything and we´ll tell you all the nitty gritty and what you really need to know.
my email is samantha-louise-s@hotmail.com
take care x good luck and dont worry x you´ll love it like we do x
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