Chapter 32
ACADEMIA LOS PIN ARES
Tegucigalpa, the Capital of
the Republic of Honduras, is in a high dish-shaped valley in the interior
mountains of the country. Some miles out of the city along a winding dirt road
at twice the altitude of the city from sea level are the buildings of the
Academia Los Pinares or Pine Grove Academy.
The Pine Grove Academy was a
"day" and "dormitory", English, American-style school for
children of missionaries, business people, consular and such other people, who
wanted such an education for their children. There was an enrollment of about
sixty-eight day students who came from the city by bus. In the dormitory there
were four girls, six to nine years old; there were ten boys from six to fifteen
years old.
The Pine Grove Academy in
Tegucigalpa, Republic of Honduras
Our work was to be in
"loco parentis". We were concerned with their welfare and happiness
only while they were not in school and to help them with the care of their
persons and rooms. In other words, we
were to "just be there for them". (I heard many amusing bed-time
prayers from my five first-graders.)
Every Sunday morning, the dorm
children and the entire staff boarded the school bus for the eighteen-mile
round-trip down to the city for church service. Most of the time on the bus was
spent in Spanish singing. The services were also in Spanish, so we understood
little, but still enjoyed it.
On one of the first Saturdays
we all went by bus half-way down to the city to a beautiful city park for a
picnic. The view was a panorama of the entire city of Tegucigalpa. It was very
colorful. On October 7th, we all went over the mountains to a Catholic Craft
School. That was interesting.
Two weekends, September 30th
and November 11th, Ada and I had free time in the city at a CAM (Central
America Mission) rest house. We explored the city on foot, but could not speak
with anyone.
Five days a week, while the
children were in school, we were free. I spent most of the dry days hiking in
those beautiful pine covered mountains.
Ada and I were to be back in
Belize by November 1st, but because the Arthur Kraybill's were delayed in
Florida and because of Mary Fredrick's Illness (She was head of the kitchen and
wife of the director and principal, Isaac Fredrick) we stayed three weeks
longer, When our assignment was finished, with the arrival of the Kraybill's
and another cook, we were given the option of three flights back to Belize; the
first one being on November 23rd, Thanksgiving Day,
I insisted on the first;
even missing a turkey dinner; that
would indicate my eagerness to get back to where English was spoken and
understood. I was afraid of more delays.
All-in-all, it was a good
experience, but we were glad to be back in Orange Walk Town which was now our
NEST.