My life is like a roller coaster baby, baby

This weekend was the first time I got to visit my site, my home for the next two years. While traveling to my site, I was sitting on the bus waiting for the last leg of the trip to start, when my cell phone rang. It was Gabe, the guy who had volunteered in my site before me. ¨congratulations on getting the awesomest site in Honduras!¨ he sang into the phone. I hestatingly said thank you, finding that hard to believe as I sat in the blistering heat, sweating from places on my body I didn't even know I could sweat from, waiting for the damn bus to start.

After I got into the site, although it was absolutely beautiful and even a little cooler than it had been at the foot of the mountain, it did not seem to get much better. My host family consisted of just an older couple who didn´t even know I was coming that weekend, and seemed almost annoyed that I was there. I also got a fairly large room to myself, but such little furniture and bed, that they fit in one small corner of my room, while the rest looked eerily like a warehouse. The next day, after going around and meeting all the people I was supposed to meet in the town, I reached my house at noon. The day of introductions was supposed to last the entire day, but somehow got cut short to one hour. So, when I reached my house, I found myself bored out of my mind. After eating lunch and having only so much to say to my host family that apparently didn´t even want me there, I went back to my room and read until I got bored with that, and proceded to sit on my bed and stare at the ceiling, wondering if this is what the next two years of my life would be like.

The next day was the complete opposite. It was filled with adventure and unexpected encounters. I went first to the class Gabe taught, to meet the students I will be teaching english to every Saturday for the next month. I introduced myself in front of the class, and sat down quickly to hear him teach. His Spanish was, of course, absolutely perfect and slightly intimidating. But besides that fact, I realized that it wouldn´t be so hard for me to do. I actually got excited about what I would teach my class, and how I would be as a teacher. I have never even thought of the profession, mainly because I have always known I cannot explain things worth crap, but more importantly I don´t have any patience (which I assume is important for a teacher). But either way, I got very excited thinking about the possibilities of teaching.

The thing that made me the most excited though, was the Catholic youth group that I joined very briefly. This youth group was meeting in the school, just two doors down from where the students were having class. So I just basically fell upon them unexpectedly. Very excited, and not really knowing what I was doing, I just entered the room and sat down in the circle, and listened as the girl talked about different kinds of leaders, which ones are good and which ones are bad. She didn´t even really say anything inspiring, and I didn´t even talk to one person there because I had to leave early, but I for the first time since I had been in Honduras, felt at home. I realized also the beauty of being Catholic. That anywhere you go in the world, you can always find someone who you know who shares the same beliefs as you, and celebrates the same Mass with you each Sunday (or once a month, as the people do in this town).

The last part of my day was also wonderful. I met for the first time the president of the coffee cooperative that I will be working with mostly over the next two years. She is a woman, which is pretty rare here in Honduras to have woman leaders, especially of farming cooperatives. She was extremely inviting and also very excited to welcome me to the team. One of the first things she said to me was how happy she was that I was a woman, because women have much more trust between one another that a man could never share with them. This made me extremely happy, especially considering that my counterpart, the vice-president of the cooperative and a very ¨machista¨ man, definately had not seemed happy that I was a woman. But after talking to her and hearing all about the work I will be doing for the cooperative, I got very excited, especially about their attempt to get the fruit grown in their area (which there is a TON of) certified as organic, so they can sell it as certified organic produce, as well as possibly make it into jams and ship it off to the states.

Well, this is all I have to say about my experience. A roller coaster, basically. And I have a feeling the next two years of my life with follow a strikingly similar pattern......Oh, and as one last note, my host family warmed up to me quickly, after the initial shock of having me show up at their door unexpectedly. I love them, and know we will get along just fine.

Hurricane Felix

Well, no worries my friends. Hurricane Felix did not get me, or anyone around me for that matter. It was actually quite disappointing. We were all at least expecting heavy rains or at least heavy winds as well, but just got a little drizzle that I'm not even sure was from the hurricane. So no worries, all is well and I have not gotten evacuated to Panama. I guess it is just not the time for that right now :)

So I have been thinking a lot about where they are going to send me. You see, this entire time during my training, my director has been searching out sites, counterparts, and families for each one of us volunteers. I keep wondering where I am going to be put, what kind of people will live in my community, and whether I will be placed by other volunteers that I will like. But as I start to worry about all of that stuff, I just have to take a deep breath and tell myself that everything will be okay. This entire experience thusfar has actually been a great lesson in patience and trust in God. I have really had to trust in the Lord during this time more than I ever have before. I know everyone worries about the towns they are sent to, whether they will like it, and whether they will be able to live in the conditions they are put it.

I definately cannot say that I haven´t fallen subject to the same preocupations. But whenever I am able to catch myself worrying about it, I just give it up to the Lord, and realize that whatever I am given is what He wants for me, therefore it will be the best for me. Take the family that I am living with right now, for example. They are the most amazing, friendly and easy-going people I have met here in Honduras. I know that they are a blessing from God to help me know that He is here with me, and to help me with my Spanish. They are just the people I needed to be placed with to help me with my Spanish especially, because they are very patient helping me learn the language, as well as very easy to talk to. And I was extremely worried at first that I would have a bad family! Well now I know, that the Lord is looking out for me. And even if I run into problems, which I am sure I will, He will help me to get out of them. So I await the announcement of my site with anticipation and excitement. We will find out in one week, and two weeks after that, we all leave for those sites, where we will live for the next two years of our lives. It is a scarey thought sometimes, but I know it is God´s will for me.

hermanas siempre

My little sister came to visit me this week! It was absolutely wonderful. When her taxi pulled up to the immigration building where I was waiting for her, I saw her immediately. Without even thinking about what would be my next move, I dropped all my stuff and ran towards her, throwing my arms around her into the first real hug I have had since being in Honduras.

The experience I had while she was here was kind of unreal. Having such a close family member here to share my experience with was really nice, but at the same time it felt strange, as if my two worlds were colliding. We were talking one night, and she told me that she understood how much trouble I was going through at the time, trying to integrate into a new group of gringo friends, trying to integrate into my family and community, and trying to learn Spanish all at the same time! That was extremely valuable, being able to have such a close family member there, actually seeing what I was going through and really being able to understand my problems. She gave me very good sisterly advice, and we had a lot of good laughs. But the best thing about having her there, was that I was able to be totally myself and completely goofy without having to worry about anything. I have not felt that exhilaration in a long time, and it was really nice to be able to share it with my sissy!

While Sarah was here, she of course made a wonderful impression on my family! They were excited that her Spanish was so good, so we could have conversations all together with ease. They also just loved her, because who doesn’t? The last night she was here, she made a pizza and apple pie for my family, because they wanted to try some comida from the states. It was a ton of fun to make, and actually turned out wonderfully! My mother here loved having her so much, that she actually cried when she left! Of course I cried to a little, and although I was sad to see her go, I am so happy for the precious time we got to spend together. It was just what I needed, and more!

Longest week ever...and one of the best!

This past week has been the longest few days that I have spent here in Honduras. Not because I have had a bad time, but my little sister is coming to visit tomorrow! I have been anticipating her arrival with every free thought I have had this week. Although I’ve been outside of the country and away from my family for only one month, it has felt like years. And with the thought of having two long years looming ahead of me, it has already been one of the longest months of my life. This is why when I see my sister this weekend, I will be more excited than I have ever been to see any member of my family.

One of my friends from Aquinas came to visit this Wednesday and Thursday. I thought it was pretty funny that he came right around the same time as my sister. Now all the other people in my training group think I’m extremely popular. My social life apparently `makes their heads spin` as one of my fellow trainees put it. I don’t mind having that reputation (that is a hint for any of you thinking of coming to visit me!). I had a really good time with him. He spent the night with my family, who took him in as if he were one of their own. My family here, like I have been saying, is superior. He is applying to go to the Peace Corps next year, so I enjoyed showing him the ropes and what living the Peace Corps life is REALLY like!

I was especially excited that he got to stay and experience the festivities of `culture day` that went on yesterday, which was one of the most fun days I have had so far here in Honduras. We started the day by getting up early in the morning, and each making a cultural dish with the families we lived with. I made a dish called `pan de pan,` which is kind of like bread pudding, and so delicious! When we got to the event, we started off by watching a cultural dance that some of the kinds from the middle school had prepared for us, which was really cool to watch! Then, some of our host mothers, including mine, got up and sang a Honduran song. After that, each Spanish class in our group presented a little diddy. My class played pin the tail on the donkey with everyone, which most people got a kick out of. I also danced a swing dance number with one of the guys in our group who is a great swing dancer. Everyone loved that, and I absolutely loved doing it! Now I have quite the reputation here of a ballerina, and I definately don't mind!

Although this week has been extremely long, it has also been exciting and eventful. I cannot wait for my sister to come though, so if you read this before tomorrow, pray that I am able to sleep!

A kiss from a gringa

Yesterday, I went with my family for the entire day to the neighboring town, where they were kicking off their week-long ¨ferria,¨ which is like a town fair. My mother is a hair stylist, so she had to be there early in the morning doing people’s hair starting at 10 in the morning. The festivities didn’t start until 4 o’clock, so I spent about half the day just hanging around, watching my host mother at work.

While I was waiting, I got my first ride on a honduran horse, which was especially exciting for me. I love to ride horses, although I have not had much experience with them. Soon enough, the festivities began with a parade that started at one end of the town, and went from there to the other side and back. The ¨parade¨ just consisted of two floats on which rode the recently crowned queens of the town, and a couple of girls riding horses, and half of the town following on foot. I walked with them for a while with the sun beating down on me, but gave about half way and turned around.

One of the most exciting events of the day was a contest, where rope was strung up high between two poles that ran across the main road of the town. On the rope, they put about 25 or 30 pieces of cloth with numbers written on them, and then gave the different girls in the town sashes with the same numbers on them. The goal of the game was for the men in the town to mount their horses, run towards the rope, and try to spear one of the numbers strung on there. Whichever number they speared, the girl wearing that number had to go up to him, give him her sash and kiss him! Of course, they gave me a sash also! The man who got the most numbers, got to enter the dance that night for free, and all the girls who had given him her sash, had to dance with him! It was very entertaining to watch, and so was I, apparantly. When my number was called, the entire time I was walking over to the guy, the crown was cheering like crazy. And the boy looked pretty pleased to get a kiss from a gringa! I’m glad I could make his day J

That night, the dance was supposed to start at 8 o´clock, but it was raining, and all the electricity went out at around 6, and didn’t come back on till around 8:30. Despite the delay, the whole town was still extremely excited, and the dance floor was filled by 11 that night, and apparently didn’t empty out until 4 in the morning! I only stayed for about two hours, dancing with the only other volunteer who decided to be nice enough to come and accompany me. We originally planning to branch out, and dance among the Hondurans, but after dancing the first couple of songs together, we realized we did not wish to dance like they were, which was mostly just close, uncomfortable, dirty dancing. So we proceded to do twists and turns, and dance like total gringos (aka-complete fools) the entire time, which caused us to be the most watched people on the dance floor (as if we weren’t already). I don’t think I have gotten more attention in all my life combined, as I did in those two hours of dancing. Every time I looked around, I saw eyes on us, often looking with confusion and disdain at us. It was the first time I got a real taste of what it will be like once I go to my town. I am a little anxious about that, but besides that, the day was a wonderful experience for me.

ch-ch-ch-changes

Changes are a good thing. I have had to keep telling myself that with every change that has come up in the last couple of months. Obviously leaving the states and coming down here was the greatest change I had to undergo, but I lived through that and, i think, transitioned with ease. Yesterday, I left what I had called home for the last month, and the wonderful family I had gotten to know, and moved to a much smaller, rural site.

I was very nervous at first. I had absolutely loved my family in the last city I was in, and the mother was an especially good cook. I was also just starting to get comfortable with all the other volunteers, and even enjoying my spanish classes! But against my wishes, and most of the other volunteers, we had to pack up only after a few short weeks and split up into our 3 separate project areas (youth development, municipal development, and protected areas management) and go to separate towns for more project-specific training.

When I arrived in the town yesterday, I quickly realized that my nervousness was unnecessary. Although the town was more rural, and my famiy had never taken in an American into their house before, I was welcomed with open arms as their own `hija` as they told me. This family has two boys, one 12 and one 13. They both speak a little English, and enjoy practicing with me. There are also 5 other volunteers in the small town with me (the other half of the people in our project area were placed in a neighboring town). For lunch, all of the families of the town had a huge welcoming lunch for us all, which was delicious and so wonderful for all of us. We felt very welcomed and appreciated because of that!

That evening, we all wandered around the town, and came across the soccer field, which of course, was the center of all activity in the town that night. There was actually a game of volleyball going on when we arrived, which me and another volunteer quickly ran to participate in. We lost our first game, but won the second one! We were a team of girls against boys, and I think the boys were especially upset after we beat them. All the games of volleyball ended right after we beat the boys, and I still wonder if it was a coincidence. After the volleyball game, all of us girls were invited to play a game of soccer against all the younger boys (we of course weren't good enough to play against the men). It was a lot of fun, and we might go with them on Sunday to play in an actual game against another team of girls in a neighboring town!

The first night in my new town was, as you can see, a blast. I love my new town and situation. Although changes can sometimes be hard, they are always a good thing.

Volunteer Visit

I am sorry it has taken me so long to write another entry. Not having a computer, and having to pay by the hour at the internet cafe makes it a bit difficult.

Well, this past weekend I went to visit a current volunteer to learn about the real Peace Corps life, and although I had a couple close encounters, I am glad to say I got back alive and in one piece. In order to get there, I was supposed to take a bus from a certain station in Tegucigulpa, but I ended up going to the wrong station, although it took me to the same place. When I figured out I had gone to the wrong station (after I had gotten on the bus), I promptly began to freak myself out, thinking I was going to the wrong city, and possibly there was another city in Honduras with the same name (this in fact happens a lot). Luckily, I had just gotten a cell phone the day before, so I called the volunteer who I went to visit, and told her my predicament. Fortunately, there was no need for me to freak out, and I realized quickly that I was okay.

When I got to the town, I was quite surprised by the size and cleanliness of the town. It was a very nice, clean town with electricity and indoor plumbing in all the houses! Not something always to be expected when going to a Peace Corps site, especially one in my project area. I found out that my volunteer actually did a lot of the same things most PAMers (that is what we call ourselves in my project area) do, she just has to travel to small towns outside of where she lives each day to do her work.

So I went with her on Friday to a small town where she was doing a latrine project. We had to take a bus about 15 minutes away, and from there it was about an hour and a half hike. This is an easy hike, she told me. Uphill most of the way. On our way up the hill, we were just chatting about peace corps when I heard behind me what actually sounded like a large animal dying. I looked behind me, and to my horror and surprise, saw an enormous bull standing about 10 yards away from us, looking like it could charge at any time. Annie, the volunteer I went to visit, told me to slowly walk away from it, telling me not to make a sound. When the bull was out of sight, she told me that was the angriest she has ever seen a bull in her life (and apparently she has seen a few!) So even though I was scared out of my wits for a short couple of minutes, I knew it would be a good story to tell! And thankfully, on our walk back, we didn't encounter the angry bull again!

When we finally arrived at the town, I got to see first-hand what the townspeople were like, how Annie interacted with them, and how she worked daily on her projects. The townspeople were all extremely friendly, and the counterpart she worked with was an incredibly independent and kind man. I enjoyed seeing how she worked with them, and was able to imagine myself very easily being able to interact with townspeople like that, and working with them as well. The visit was over all a great experience, and although reality hit hard, I appreciate very much everything I learned. I am excited to see how I will adjust to similar conditions once I am in my site!