Our First Hash

No!  Not that kind of hash...

Hashing, as we have come to learn, means getting together with some others and running around the bush. The overall group goal is to try to find and stay on the trail to ultimately find the end where there is a healthy supply of beer. 

The "Hares" (trail makers) purposely include false trails and markers to mess everyone up. The trail can include just about any kind of terrain and is marked by small piles of shredded paper on the ground.  There is lots of yelling as there are different code words to let everyone know where the trail is leading.  ("ON ON" means you are on the trail, "ARE YOU" is what you say to hopefully get someone to let you know which way to go...)

Yesterday we took two other teachers with us and drove about 45 minutes. There were about 200 or so of us who converged on a little rural town and ran (sometimes aimlessly) for about an hour and an half. At the end everyone was milling about re-"hashing" the run, drinking beer and eating Roti (a local favourite -- a wrap with meat and/or vegetables).

Some people walk, some try to lead.  (Leading, is tricky, because if you pick a false trail, you will end up in the middle of the pack very quickly.) In the end, it really doesn't matter because you will be sweaty, muddy, scratched and tired and the beer tastes the same.

It turns out that these are held just about every two weeks, so if you show up to visit us on a Saturday, you might get lucky and have your first hash.


Marie, Gayle and Maddy eating Roti after the run



Jamie, Todd and the boys (our Frisbee friends) were also hashing.

People were lining the curb on both sides after.

Our first week at Maple Leaf

One week under our belts and we are ready for more at Maple Leaf!

Here is a quick recap of how it all shook down during our first week:

I have a grade 11 Biology class of 9, a grade 12 Biology class of 13 and a grade 12 Chemistry class of 14. For those of you not in teaching in Ontario, these are VERY small classes. Our students are extremely polite, conscientious and hardworking. I've only had one student on one day not have their homework finished. Imagine my surprise! They genuinely want to learn and do well. No pressure as their teacher.

The school day starts at 7:40 am, but because of the huge volume of traffic on the road we roll into school around 6:30 am. I have finally managed to find a work space for my period 1 prep. The school has a small footprint so teacher work rooms are limited and given that the Trini culture is quite social, I don't really want to be "working" in the staff room during my prep. 

The school day ends at 2 pm, and the school seems to clear out rather quickly.  I'm excited to help coach volleyball, as the head coach plays on the Trinidad National Team! I'm also looking forward to starting a science club that will run hands on "mad science" after school workshops for the elementary students.

The school is also open on the weekend, but no, we did not darken the doors this weekend.

Parents' night is this Thursday evening, so we'll get the chance to meet the parents. Thursday is also a big day with a House League Assembly, and on Friday there is another assembly for our 20th Anniversary kick off. 

All for now...

Queen's Park Savannah

One of the neatest things we've discovered is the Queen's Park Savannah. This is a large tract of land (the road around it is 3 km) in the centre of Port of Spain. It is surrounded by mountains and there is a "pitch" walk way all around it.

Essentially, most of the area is a hay field. The grass is cut with a bush hog, (and not very often).

Despite this, it is used by hundreds of people everyday!  When we go, it's usually to play Frisbee.  We just set up some cones and play. There are always soccer games and cricket happening.  Usually there are countless people running or walking around the outside. Occasionally someone is flying a remote control plane.

While some of the areas have goal posts for soccer or rugby, there is no "booking the field".  People just go!  and PLAY! 

At night, in the summer at least, and on weekends the rest of the year, a food court magically appears at about 5pm. There is bar-b-que chicken, juice bars, ice cream, gyros...If you like coconut water, you can always get fresh coconuts chopped open with a machete!

This photo, while not ours, captures it nicely

A Great Long Weekend

Abigail came to visit for the long weekend. A little vacation for her has she prepared for school to start up. It was wonderful to have her visit and to tour her around our new "playground".

We did an ice bucket challenge in Chagaramus.

 Our first breakfast "Doubles" at Maracas Beach.

 Beach minstrel, Peter sang for us. 

 The Covigne River hike is a nice walk up the river. We added about 1.5 km up a mountain just for fun. Daughter not impressed!

We hiked up the mountain into the clouds (really!) and got dumped on petty hard.

Gayle at the entrance to the cliffs near the end of the Covinge river. Soaked from the rain.

This is the bamboo cathedral. Bamboo covers the road from both sides.

Boogie Boarding at Maracas. Every wave is a good wave!