Nicaragua: Even just for a day
On the last Friday of each month, all teachers in Nicaragua gather together in their respective schools/municipalities for a day of evaluation and planning. Basically, it is a day off of class for the students so that teachers can sit around for a few hours making up statistics about last month's progress and copying down the topics which will be covered in their classes in the upcoming month. We call it "TEPCE."
During last month's TEPCE I was sitting with three fellow teachers who were finishing copying their lesson plans when one of them suggested we do something fun at the next TEPCE. What does fun translate to in Nicaragua? Food, of course. We each agreed to bring something to share, and even signed a pact.
One month later, the day before TEPCE arrived and I set to the market to buy peanuts, oats, flaxseed, bananas, and honey. My plan: make homemade no-bake granola bars (since I don't have an oven and since it seemed to me like a healthy and tasty snack). I toasted and chopped the peanuts, mashed the bananas, warmed the honey, and mixed everything all together. After a night in the freezer, I cut up individual bars, packed them into a container, and was on my way to school.
Upon greeting my group of counterparts that morning, I should not have been surprised to find that yours truly was the only one who remembered to bring something to share. In true last-minute nica fashion, they pooled their money together and one volunteered to go out to buy some treats. The clock was approaching 10am and in walked the treat-fetcher with a plastic shopping bag full of: sweet rolls, Coca-cola, and ice cream. I guess they didn't like my suggestion to buy fruit.
*This is the part where I roll my eyes and refrain from screaming because I am sick and tired of being forced to consume soda, sugar, and carbs galore.*
Nevertheless, I ate what they gave me (even after refusing the soda at least three times). When it was my turn to share the granola bars, everybody was too full to really want to take a taste. I don't know if that was the reason why nobody asked for more, or if they honestly didn't like my choice in snack.
Throughout that morning and in other conversations with people here I try to non-chalantly throw in my two cents about keeping a healthy diet. I tell them how much I love fruits and vegetables, that a high intake of soda is probably the cause of dental problems, kidney problems, diabetes, etc, and that drinking water is great. I don't seem to have convinced anyone yet, however.
Change is tough.
During last month's TEPCE I was sitting with three fellow teachers who were finishing copying their lesson plans when one of them suggested we do something fun at the next TEPCE. What does fun translate to in Nicaragua? Food, of course. We each agreed to bring something to share, and even signed a pact.
One month later, the day before TEPCE arrived and I set to the market to buy peanuts, oats, flaxseed, bananas, and honey. My plan: make homemade no-bake granola bars (since I don't have an oven and since it seemed to me like a healthy and tasty snack). I toasted and chopped the peanuts, mashed the bananas, warmed the honey, and mixed everything all together. After a night in the freezer, I cut up individual bars, packed them into a container, and was on my way to school.
Upon greeting my group of counterparts that morning, I should not have been surprised to find that yours truly was the only one who remembered to bring something to share. In true last-minute nica fashion, they pooled their money together and one volunteered to go out to buy some treats. The clock was approaching 10am and in walked the treat-fetcher with a plastic shopping bag full of: sweet rolls, Coca-cola, and ice cream. I guess they didn't like my suggestion to buy fruit.
*This is the part where I roll my eyes and refrain from screaming because I am sick and tired of being forced to consume soda, sugar, and carbs galore.*
Nevertheless, I ate what they gave me (even after refusing the soda at least three times). When it was my turn to share the granola bars, everybody was too full to really want to take a taste. I don't know if that was the reason why nobody asked for more, or if they honestly didn't like my choice in snack.
Throughout that morning and in other conversations with people here I try to non-chalantly throw in my two cents about keeping a healthy diet. I tell them how much I love fruits and vegetables, that a high intake of soda is probably the cause of dental problems, kidney problems, diabetes, etc, and that drinking water is great. I don't seem to have convinced anyone yet, however.
Change is tough.
Comments
Post a Comment