Wishing we had a Memorial Day right now...

Ok, fine, I admit I don't deserve any more days off. (Although, quite honestly, it is surprising we don't celebrate Memorial Day here because they celebrate just about every other obscure holiday there is...) Anyway, instead I found out today that our school year has been extended (are they allowed to do that?). I'm not surprised though, really....even though we already get out so late! We were supposed to get out June 15th (even though all the other schools -- like Justin's -- get out the 8th...remember how our school is always one step behind?), but now we get out the 20th. Okay, I know it's only three more days, but really? I suppose it doesn't affect my life that much anyway though...my plane ticket is for the 24th (I have to stay the week after school gets out to give re-takes for kids who failed). Then again, I'm not sure when they are going to give those recuperation tests now, but, well....not my problem. Either way I'm peacing out the 24th.
Anyway, though, like I said, I can't complain, as somehow I've been able to take mad days off. So this past week was Sam's visit! It was great, and I took Thursday and Friday off of school. I didn't even have to end up feeling bad either (I usually do feel guilty taking days off, because the other teachers just have to cover my classes, and believe me, I know how much that bites) because Thursday was a fun "water" day (they brought in little pools) to raise more money for some scholarships, and Friday was a half day with a celebration for Founder's Day (obscure holiday #742938). So really I didn't miss classes.

Speaking of fun days, that Friday before Sam came to visit was a fun game day too. It was pretty great -- we ended up playing a teachers vs. students basketball game...so it was me and four of the other guy teachers against the junior and senior guys. It was really funny because we wore jerseys and everything and people got super into it...and I actually scored some lucky baskets (I think they felt awkward guarding me)...so I think they found a newfound respect for me (way easier to gain respect from them on the basketball court than in the classroom).

So then I went to go pick up Sam from Tegus on Saturday, and she came back with me to Cata for school Monday-Wednesday. We tried this new Mexican restaurant in Cata, which is my new favorite place here. It seems really out of place here, because it is like an actual nice restuarant. Ok, not "nice," per se, but like a small Mexican restaurant in the states.

Mexican restaurant with the best drink I've ever had...maracuya (passionfruit) slushie

Then we went back to Tegus Wednesday to spend some time at my second home here in Honduras: Hotel Honduras Maya. I love that place. The weather was perfect too -- which was lucky since it's the rainy season now -- so we got some great sun/relaxing time at the pool.

Hot tub at the Maya

And then it was back to G-Rap for Sam and to Cata for me (I feel like I've been on these buses a zillion times). The bus on the way home actually ended up being a whole thing too -- I get to the bus station at like 1:30 so I can leave on the 2:00 (occasionally there'll be like five people in line), and the bus station is absolutely filled...like people spilling out on the streets. Apparently all the university students were in Tegus for something and then were coming back to Cata on Sunday...so it's ridiculous. I wait in line for like 45 minutes, finally get my ticket, and then head over to the bus. The guy put a number 15 on my ticket, and I go over and wait in line to get on the bus, and when I get to the front the guy tells me the bus is 13 (since when are there different bus numbers?). So I feel pretty much like an idiot because then when I turn around I see a zillion people with their bus tickets waiting in the station still (the 14s and 15s). Oops. They were probably wondering what the heck I was thinking going over there. So I'm thinking I'll end up having to wait in the station for the 5:00 bus (there's a 2, 4, and 5). Great. But then I'm standing there in the sea of people and the bus driver points to me and motions me to come with him. He's like, "Do you want to go now?" And I'm like, "Well...is there room?" So there's this seat up front in the little bus driver cabin, and he tells me I can sit there. So I pretty much get a first-class ride back to Cata with air (well, actually it broke) and coffee/snacks.  As much as I hate being the only gringa here, it does have its perks. Never mind that I had to endure a few near hard attacks watching the bus driver navigate the roads and text at the same time...or the fact that I was beginning to question his motives for inviting me to sit up front by the end of the trip. Well, can't have everything.