Island Time

The girls program kicked off last week and we had five girls show up.  Have you ever heard of the phrase “I’m on island time!” This phrase totally and completely is so true! Girls time was supposed to start at 5:30pm and the girls strolled up around 6:15pm.  But hey, better late than never! We just began getting to know the girls and encouraging them to come back tonight.  My next goal is find a way to provide some sort of snack, just got to find some money!

We found out some frustrating news that night that led us to begin meeting at an earlier hour! So basically in Honduras the teachers go on strike quite frequently. So right now…none of the children that we are serving through the program have access to school.  What a frustrating situation right.  As we have continued to seek out information on these strike situations we have found so many disturbing things about the school systems here in Honduras. 

Number one: The teachers strike all the time and have been controlling the education system here for years.  Their pay is not exorbitant but is significantly higher than the average salary on the island.

Number two: The people running the schools put friends on the staff payroll who don’t even work at the school.  They have been getting paid for years by the government and they don’t even go to work.

Number three: the teachers have been setting a rumor that the schools are becoming privatized and the parents must pay for their schooling.  This is has set a grey cloud above these communities because a lot of folks cannot afford a payment for school. 

Number Four: The government is looking to set laws in place that will prevent the teachers from striking, therefore they are continuing to spread false information throughout the communities they are supposed to be serving. 

With knowing all these things, I am motivated to continue to work towards an educational program that can continue to exist on the island. The children are as eager as ever to learn and continuing to push us all to continue to stay invested in the program. 

New topic! 

We met a guy last night who is from Pollytilly Bight on the east end of the island.  He is 19 years old and is working as a caddy at a resort here on the island.  This boy has an intrinsic motivation that cannot be explained.  His parents did not have this motivation, his brothers do not have this motivation but he has this incredible spark within his soul.  It takes him 50 lempira’s to get to work and home each day. ($2.50) Get this, he only gets paid tips.  When I asked him why he continues to work for this resort going days without any sort or compensation, his response was short. “I love Golf.” It then registered in his mind what exactly I was asking.  He began to tell me about an uncle who got him a job at the resort. His uncle was a very skilled chef who included his nephew in a lot of his work.  They worked for individual families coming here on vacation and also worked in resorts.  His uncle passed away last year and this young man told me that regardless of his compensation for his work, it was important for him to respect the path that his uncle laid for him.  His uncle got him the job and he is determined to make a career of it.  He wants to set the framework for his future, for his family.  This young man graduated high school which on the island is about a 6% chance.  His goal and dreams for this island is that one day there will be a university here that can continue to educate folks after they finish high school.  Is that beautiful or what!

Question: Where does intrinsic motivation come from? We see it in all cultures, where does it come from?

I had a great birthday! I turned 24 last week and Aaron and I had a great lazy day.  We went to a resort here on the island with BEDS ON THE BEACH!  It was fantastic!