Friday, March 27, 2009

Quick Update

Unfortunately, this posting isn't going to be nearly as intense or interesting as my previous few; but I know people read my blog religiously so I just wanted to check in and let you know that all has been going well here in Juti.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. I am going to be taking almost an entire extra week of for Semana Santa vacation, so I am in the process of trying to finish report cards and write out lesson plans for a substitute. In addition, I've decided to take on some extra work with the Olancho Aid board so I am working on going through some of that information as well.

Thing here have been "normal". It seems as though I have just sort of settled into my life here and it is just as busy (and stressful!) as it can be in the States. I have been working long hours and throwing myself into the things that i love to do. I have never felt happier or more comfortable during my time here. I continue to cherish every moment that I have here.

This weekend should be an interesting; yet someone emotional one. It is Susan and Bree's last weekend before they depart for the States. It's kind of bittersweet because Bree and I have shared in this journey together for 8 months and she will leave on Thursday to go back to her life in the States and I will continue doing what I've been doing here. I know that she reads this, so i want to wish her the best of luck with everything that she has coming up ahead of her over the next couple of months (including a BIG MOVE! SAN DIEGO BABY!) In any case, we are heading to Ixa's (principal of Cardinal's) country house tomorrow to go swimming and eat ridiculous amounts of Honduran cuisine. I think on Sunday; Susan and I will head into Catacamas to visit the caves once again (she hasn't seen them yet). The work week next week will be a series of emotional goodbyes for my Companeras de Casa...Monday night we have dinner with some of Bree's university students. Tuesday; we are heading over to Wendita's for some typical Honduran cuisine. I'm so glad I don't have to say these goodbyes yet. I can't even THINK about leaving Wendy right now! I WILL be leaving soon though. For a brief visit to the States. Next Saturday I willl board the plane once again and head to Boston for a MUCH needed vacation. I can't wait to see my friends and family. I especially can't wait to go to Fenway to see my Sox play. "You can take the girl out of Boston, but you can't take the Boston out of the girl!"

Love and miss you all! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers right now as I make decisions about next year.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Go Light Your World

The past couple of days have been difficult for me due to some things that have been happening here...but I know I am overdue for an update; so I wanted to share with you a story from today.

I went for a 90 minute run after work today to clear my head after a very stressful week. I decided that it was safe enough to run through one of the neighborhoods on a dirt road close to my home; as I know two of the women who clean the school at Santa Clara live on that road. I've been told here if you know someone who lives on the road you are traveling , that it is safe. Someone is looking out for you.

In any case, I was jogging along when I came across Majorie. I've only met Majorie three times. She has come across me standing near the Esso station waiting for the bus to school in the morning. A kind-hearted old woman, she stops to "talk" to me each time she sees me as she heads off to work to sell bolsas de agua (bottles of water) near the center of town. I'd be lying if I said I understood a single word she says to me. I simply smile and say "si" and act enthusiastic. She speaks at lightening speed and has no teeth, but has an amazing beauty about her nonetheless. She saw me running in the street and started jumping up and down to flag me down and grabbed my arm, speaking a mile a minute. The only thing I caught was her mentioning something about a gringa that seems to like the sun a lot. She let me to a home made of stick and pieces of cardboard and introduced me to every single member of her family as her "hermana" which means "sister" in Spanish. I must have met 25 extended family members, who all kissed me on the cheek and hugged me tightly as if I were in fact a member of their family. Yet another humbling experience! To be out for an afternoon run and to have someone bring me "home" as if I were a member of their family. That seems to be a common theme here. People treat you as though you are their family. It's amazing the love that strangers here have for one another. I oftentimes wonder if the people here see me passing on the road and think that I am better than them, and that I am here to try to "save" them. Then; when I actually engage in conversation with them, I realize that they do not have that impression at all. I feel so grateful to be having this experience with these beautiful people. I am college educated and have so much opportunity for me at home, yet these people who have nothing, who have a third grade education; are offering me much more than I could offer them. The love I am enveloped in on a daily basis is amazing. I can't tell you how many times I come home at night and just lay in my bed and cry, amazed by the beauty of the people around me here. I don't think I am going to ever be able to leave.

After leaving Majorie's house; I decied to head to Pay y Bien; which is the local bakery on the same road the orphanage is on. I have TONS of pastries in my freezer (cheesecake, ice cream AND dark chocolate) thanks to Bree and Susan's birthday presents for me but I decided to go regardless. I picked up a dozen donuts and headed towards a poor barrio. There are many children here who I usually encounter =who approach me begging for a lempira. Today I approached them telling them I had a present for them and handed them the donuts. The smiles that appeared on their faces will stay in my mind forever. I can't even begin to tell you the joy that it brought me to just see these children be normal children for once...and savor a sweet treat. The real treat was for ME! On days where I feel like I am surrounded by so much sadness, I need to do things like this. I then ended up engaging in an hour long game of soccer to which I lost miserably to, but it was worth it to see the children's faces light up when I announced that I had a gift for them. Everyday, I long for them to have a normal life. where they are well fed and cared for, and go to bed with a full stomach. My time with them is beautiful, yet heartbreaking. What is equally amazing to me is the fact that I am now comfortable enough here that I can go off on my own and enjoy all of these experience solo. I love going off on my own here and interacting with these people! What was supposed to be a normal day out running to clear my head turned into a memorable day....then again, I can't think of many days that AREN'T memorable here. I am continually trying to soak up every ounce of beauty and love around me, in fear that I will have no choice but to leave in 3 months. I can't imagine leaving this beautiful country, these people people, and all the love that is surrounding me anytime soon!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

"A Friend For Life"

This weekend, we decided to once again travel to Isla De Tigre; on the southernmost part of Honduras for a couple of days of R&R. I have to say that it was by far one of the best decisions I've made during my time here, despite the fact that it involved 7 hours of travel in both directions, and a small child practically vomiting on our feet on the excursion home while his mother slept soundly.

In any case, we arrived on the island pretty early on Friday. I decided to sun myself on the beach for a couple of hours (big surprise) and ended up talking with a local by the name of Noel. Later on in the day, he ended up giving us a ride over to Playa Negra to swim and enjoy more sun (which I did not need at this point). In any case, what was really special about this whole situation was that Noel insisted on buying us mangoes from the locals on the way down. He also waited with us during our 2 hours on the beach, and afterward led us to the home of one of his distant family members, proudly boasting that he had a place for us to shower. We ended up in a backyard washing the sand off our bodies with a bucket (which I essentially do consider a "shower" at this point in my time here). Where else would you get this type of service and attention? Only on Isle de Tigre!

In any case, our time on the island was beautiful, but a bit heartbreaking. As I said in an earlier post, the island itself holds such natural beauty that I could imagine remaining there for the rest of my life and being perfectly content. The sunsets are beyond marvelous. The mountains surrounding create a perfect setting for photo opportunities. As mentioned earlier though; these resources are being under utilized due to a lack of financial resources. The poverty on the island seems to be a degree worse than the poverty on the mainland.

We ended up staying our second night on the island in the house next door. There is a sweet couple living there who were renting out one room for 300 lempira a night, right next door the restaurant where we have eaten all of our meals during our past two trips. (As a side note, the owner of the hotel brought us out this delicious cornbread type of treat "on the house" last night as we downed our 4 cups of coffee. I think they must think all Americans are caffeine addicts after dealing with the likes of us for 3 days!) In any case; back to the owners of our humble abode for last night. Their names were MariaJesus and Adolpho, and we ended up sitting outside with them for several hours talking about the history of the island and their family who had departed to make a better life for themselves in the States, and also in Spain. I was surprised to learn that the island population is just 1300 people, and that most have fled to Tegus to seek work. What a shame that such a beautiful place is becoming deserted for the mere fact that there is no work to be found. I wish I could share the natural beauty of this destination with you all.

Today when we left, I was talking to one of the boat drivers and telling him how much I liked his "Playa Burro" shirt, complete with a moose swigging a hefty sized beer mug. He started to take it off of his body, saying he wanted to give it to me as a gift. I thought of the expression of "giving someone the shirt off their back" and have to admit that I did have some tears in my eyes as we coasted away from the island. When we got off at the dock in Coyolito to board the bus, one of the men who helped us out said "you have friends for life here. We know you now. Come back home again." I left with a number in my phone for the hotel, with a promise to go back again. I think I have fallen just as in love with Isla de Tigre as I have Juticalpa! I feel a longing to go back already!!!!