Hopefully this entry is a little less awkward than the last. This week was a little sad because it may have been the last time I will see some of my kids until next year. I leave tomorrow morning to help my fellow Washingtonians with a baseball camp. Since their site is about 10 hours from Tegus by bus, I´m going to make the trip worth it and stay a few days. The camp is 3 days anyway so I will get to spend Halloweed with them, even though it will likely be uneventful. It will be great to have friends for a few days.

On that note, I met the Catholic (Passionists) missionaries who live in Talanga. Thursday night, after a short church service, we watched fútbolito and I stayed out until 10:30 pm! I know, I'm crazy. Although I liked being able to tell the Hondurans when they ask if I am with the "other gringos" that I didn´t know any others in town, I did like feeling like I had friends and it is nice to know that if I need anything, they aren´t far away. It was also nice to speak at a normal pace for a change and not have to think so much about each sentence. Although my Spanish has improved dramatically, it isn´t quite natural yet. It´s funny because as my Spanish becomes more natural, random English words slip in more. Usually, other people don't seem to notice, or I catch it in time to translate for myself and switch back to Spanish but sometimes I can't help but laugh. Usually they are transition words like "but" or "and" and I find myself making the same mistakes in the opposite direction. When I am trying to speak Spanish, I throw in English words without realizing it. I guess that is a good sign and most of the time the other person doesn´t realize it because they probably do the same thing.

Lately I have been spending just about every afternoon in the parque central. Since I don't have much to do in the afternoons, I sit in the park and write in my journal. I've written so much lately, that it is becoming difficult to write more than a page or two each day. I try to spend as much time as I can in the park. Usually I meet at least a few new people and the same kid asks me for money every day. At first I felt a little guilty saying no but yesterday changed that. "Dime pisto," he mumbles. "Give me money." (In the command form, of course.) I always tell him no. Yesterday, about 6 other kids appeared out of nowhere and started asking me for money as well. As they sat there begging, with suckers in their mouths, it supported my hypothesis. I never gave the other boy money because I assumed he would likely spend it on candy and chips. I took the opportunity to ask the kids if they were going to brush their teeth after they ate their suckers. They said yes, which I take as a good sign. At least they know the should brush their teeth. Whether they do is another story. I ended up chatting with the kids for about half an hour. Most of them ran to another part of the park but one girl stayed a few more minutes. I was most intrigued by her. She was wearing a jacket with a clear pocket on the front. I bet you can't guess what was in the pouch... yep, money. I could see Lempiras in her pouch and a sucker in her mouth as she begged for more money. I ventured to ask her what she wanted to buy. "Pan" she told me, bread. "You had money, but you bought a sucker." "I want pan. Dime pisto." "You have money. And you had money but you spent it on a sucker." She didn't deny it. Maybe I will come up with a way that they can earn food or sandals for their bare feet but I refuse to give them money for junk food and to contribute to the deterioration of their teeth. Dental bills are a lot more expensive than bread.

Todays was a very exciting day. Yes, I am as easily amussed as always. I went to the colegio to help a few girls with their English. Year end exams are next week. The lack of effective teaching methods was quite apparent in their questions. In schools here, kids are told things, and they memorize and regurgitate it. They know that sometimes, when you add "ing" to the end of words in English, you either leave off a letter or add an extra one. They have no idea when, or why. They didn't even know the meaning of the "ing" ending (which translates almost directly to the "ando/iendo" ending in Spanish. I felt so bad for them trying to memorize each word and whether they had to drop the "e" or add an extra consonant. I tried to explain the rules but it's difficult for me to explain clearly in Spanish and for them to understand. Especially when it is related to pronunciation which they learn very little of. They learn to write English fairly well (eventually) but most of the teachers can barely pronounce most of the words. I worry that I am putting myself in a position in which I don't want to be by teaching English so much this early in my service. Granted, with the school year ending, I can't start much else but I really don't want to teach English for the next 2 years. There are so many other issues that are more important and I feel I could use my time more wisely on other subjects. I don't think I'm even very good at teaching English. There is definitely a reason I have never aspired to be a teacher. I kind of suck at it. hahaha!

Helping the girls was interesting and I enjoy that group of girls, but what I was really excited about today was completely selfish. I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! All the cookies here are hard and the chocolate generally sucks. I had to go to Tegus to buy brown sugar and chocolate chips. My family seemed to like them and even though they weren't the best cookies I have made in my life, they did the trick and of course I ate more dough than I should have. I think Emily and Kyler (check out their blog http://emilyandkyler.blogspot.com/ I haven't actually had a chance to read it but I know some of the stuff that is in there and it's pretty funny. Yes, the thing about the dogs is true.) will be excited for cookies that aren't hard. (If you happen to read this before I get there, sorry I spoiled the surprise!)

After several tries (still having trouble the network keeps failing my uploads), here are a few pics of my baseball team in Rio Dulce.

Love and miss you all! If you want to see other blogs from PC Honduras, here's the link http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/ho.html

Sorry guys, not that much interesting has happened this week. There are only a few weeks left of school before vacation so for now I continue to teach English and play soccer and baseball with the kids. Every town has an annual feria to honor a patron saint. Mine is the first week of November so street food vendors and circus games are popping up around the central park. Each night there are "futbolito" games int he park. Four on four (always guys of course) playing with a miniture ball on a cement cancha about the size or a basketball court. Unfortunately, I have only seen half of one game because they don't start until 7 or 8 and there is a slightly sketchy area in the 3 block walk between my house and the park. Essentially, it's safe to be at the park at night, and it's safe to be at my house, but it isn't as safe to travel between the two. I could go if I had an escort but so far, no luck with that. My family is really nice, very Catholic and very concerned about my safety. So for now, I don't leave the house after dinner. That is probably my biggest challenge right now, I miss having a social life.

I know I mentioned hair scrunchies last time, but this week, I have not been able to get over the presence of the 80's. Anyone who said the 80's are dead was wrong. They just moved to Central America. It's amazing. Not only hair scrunchies and banana clips but spandex, Michael Jackson and more. They LOVE 80's music. I think I saw 3 or 4 different ads during one TV show for 80's compilation CDs. I'm telling you, the 80's are alive and kicking.

Of course I am getting plenty of new cultural experiences both in town and in my house. This past week celebrated a saint (forgive me, I don't remember which saint). The living room in my host family's house was transformed into more of a shrine of articial flowers and the sofas were replaced by stacks of plastic chairs. I didn't fully realize the significance of all of this until I came home to about 15 woman praying in the living room. I think my house is sort of a worship center this week and judging by the materials my family has for this occasion, I think it is a yearly occurence (possibly more frequently but I haven't asked for details yet). Part of me wants to stay and watch but I don't feel comfortable intruding on their prayer time. I did go to church with my host mother and brother last Sunday and that was an interesting experience. It was a nice ceremony but I definitely felt like an observer and an outsider. Since they recite the prayers, repsonses and songs from memory, it was a little difficult to participate. I recognized a few of the tunes but when it came to joining, I was clueless. I don't know the lyrics to hymns in SPANISH! I'm sure if I go frequently enough, I will learn, but that will take time.

This turned out to be sort of a strange entry but so are my days. I'm chugging along trying to meet people and get to know my community. Next week I get to collaborate for a baseball camp in Ocotepeque. That means I get to visit friends. Yea!! Love and miss you all!

tried to upload pics but after 4 tries, I gave up. Sorry, next time.

Let them in!

What´s more important, hair... or education. Yeah, I was thinking education, but apparently not everyone agrees. Last week, I watched a few boys get locked out of school because their hair was too long. I´m not sure exactly what the rule is but I´m not sure the hair on these guys was even touching their collar. True, they know the rules and should have known to cut their hair before it got too long, but HONESTLY! It is enough of a struggle to keep kids in school past (or even until) 6th grade, is keeping them out really the best solution? It is a widely known fact that the education system in Honduras is struggling. Anything we can do to get these kids a little education (especially once they make it to high shcool) should be a priority. In the US, we have laws to force kids to go to school, that is definitely not the case here. Sadly, those boys probably only missed out on a chance to socialize from 7:30 to noon. It´s hard to watch kids do nothing while at school. In most of the schools I have seen, the kids don´t really do anything after about 11. I mean, they hang out in the school yard, play soccer, and chat. It´s basically recess from 11ish to when they go home. I take a school bus to the colegio. Supposedly, classes end at 12:30, the bus leaves at 12 (with +75% of the kids). It´s a difficult problem to solve from the bottom up. This one needs to come from the top down. Hondurans seem very aware that the education system is less than adequate but it´s such a systematic, structural problem that it´s going to take awhile to fix. Luckily, there are several groups, organizations and individuals trying to improve Honduran education little by little. That was my rant for the week.

I spend my mornings at either the colegio or escuelas getting to know the schools, education system, kids and communities. Here are a few of my kids. You want to know how bad (or good) you are with names? Go to a foreign country and try to learn the names of several hundred kids you only see once a week. I think I remember about 2 so far. Or I rememberthe names, and the faces, but not together.

When I first visited Talanga, the first question I received was "Are there pigs in the streets? Our host mom said there are pigs in the streets." Yes, there are pigs in the streets so Kyler, this pic is for you.

But no, I don´t get a donkey. I know, I´m pissed too! I don´t get a donkey, a horse OR a bike! I´m actually quite disappointed about it. My town is too big for Peace Corps to give me a horse or mule and we aren´t allowed to ride bikes on "main roads". Since the road between town and my schools is considered a main road, I can´t justify needed a bike for work. LAME huge town with resources! At least I have wheat bread!

Things I love right now: hair scrunchies (yes, they are everywhere), the same songs I have been hearing since I arrived, and the fat dog I saw shaped like a pig (98% of the dogs here look like they are about to die from starvation).

Where in the US will strangers join you on a run while everyone else thinks you are INSANE because you like to exercise?

Sorry, no pictures this time because the computer won´t read my camera. That´s just the way things go, you take what you can and try not to worry about the rest. I will try to continue posting pictures when possible.
The big news this week: I have friends. Don´t judge me since they are all between about 6 and 12 years old, like I said, I´ll take what I can get. The good thing about working in the schools as a foreigner, kids flock to you just to hold your hand and listen to you talk, probably because it sounds funny.
I took a leap of faith and went for a run by myself for first time in three months. Don´t worry Mom, I checked with my host family about where to go and if it was safe. As it turns out, the safest place to go is up the side of a mountain to ¨Cerito¨, a lookout over the entire valley. I was a little nervouse since I didn´t know the road above my house and we are hounded constantly about safety and security. My solo run lasted about 5 minutes. As I reached the top of the first hill, a boy of about 10 started running after me. Not in a threatening way, but chasing me as a puppy chases it´s owner on a bicycle, with a big grin. I offered for him to come and by the time I reached the next house (about minute later) three girls ran from their yard to join. The youngest, Stefany Michella, looks like a Honduran version of Stephanie Tanner (yes, I mean the little girl on Full House) when she was about 6 and missing her front teeth. The older two girls are probably 8 or 9, and only the boy wore shoes. I was a little embarrassed at how easily these kids kept up as we climbed the hills and they led me exactly where I wanted to go, to a beautiful view of the city just before dusk. As we scrambled over boulders, through mud and horse manure, down loose rock, I cautioned them, "Cuidado." I realized instantly that I was the one who needed to be careful. While I skidded down parts of the hills and nearly fell a time or two, the barefoot kids nimbly navigated the loose rock. When I ran the same route a few days later, 3 of the 4 kids joined me again, and again, kept up quite well. Although I still miss running by myself, it´s comforting to have people there with me. Kids are great running partners, they don´t expect you to talk to them, they will keep going as long as you continue to run and they always want to know when we can go again.

I am definitely learning to appreciate the little things. A side from making friends with elementary school kids, I love finding good English shows on TV. I watched about 3 episodes of Da Ali G Show yesterday and was Exstatic to catch the end of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, in English. Finding whole wheat bread and skim milk made my day. What can I say, some days are rough, but I´m learning how to truly appreciate what I can.

Mostly Photos

One of my favorite things about this country, are all the people who wear T-shirts you know they don´t understand. Like this guy. ¨Deez Nuts¨ eh? The back had a picture of Mr. Peanut. If this isn´t a college intramural sports shirt... By the way, this was the guy taking money on the bus from Cantarranas to Valle/Tegus. He´s a big guy and usually wears a yellow shirt. Sometimes, we were lucky enough to catch him wearing this one. Luckily I had my camera the first time and thank you Kyler for your excellent photography skills. Sometimes you feel torn between relief that they probably aren´t trashy enough to wear that shirt on purpose, but sadness that they are willing to wear something when they are clueless to the meaning. Like the older couple walking down the street, the woman wearing a shirt stating "I´m the bitch your husband is sleeping with". In that case, it was in a PCV´s site and he decided to fill the woman in. They were pretty embarrassed. Although that´s rough, enough people do understand English to catch on. Sad, but funny.

This is Adalberto, our driver for FBT (field based training). He was great. Greated everyone with a quick "hola joven", "hello youngster" despite the fact that he just turned 25 and is younger than many of the people he greets. We all started adopting his superfast way of talking. Made those last few weeks of training much easier to deal with.

It is hard to get pictures of Tegucigalpa because it is highly discouraged to bring valuables unless necessary and we definitely are not encouraged to show cameras, phones, etc. in public. Several of the new PCVs took a little time to hang out in Tegus befor heading to our sites. The read building is a pulperia (sort of like a convenient store) . The picture below is a view of Tegus from the roof of a hotel. To me, these pictures are a small snapshot of Honduras, very diverse, but all sort of the same. A strange intersection of 3rd world living trying to cross over into 1st world technology. The one thing you don`t really see in the pictures is the garbage. To me, one of the absolute most frustrating things about this country is the garbage, EVERYWHERE. You see people toss trash out bus windows, drop it on the ground then walk over it. They think nothing of it. I have ventured to tell a few people here that I dislike the garbage. They all agree but apparently it doesn`t bother them that much because no one seems to do much about it. Even when they have to pick it up themselves, they still litter like the world is a trash can. Each morning, when the kids arrive at school, they help clean. The pick up the garbage they tossed on the ground the day before. They sweep and mop the floors. 5 minutes later, I watch a girl finish eating a sucker and toss her stick on the floor of her own classroom. I just don´t understand. I am trying to lead by example, and ask the kids to use the basura when I catch them, but it´s a big job. A few towns are making a small effort by putting garbage cans around town but the effort is futile in some places where there is not garbage pick up. Luckily my town does have garbage pick up, although I have no idea where it goes. In many towns, you either have to burn your garbage, compost what you can and often, people just drive it to another place and dump it on the side of the road.

I have officially lived in Talanga for one week. The green and yellow house is where I live with my host family. In perspective, it´s a very nice house although last night I discovered that I have a cockroach issue in my room. I had seen one until last night when I killed 5, then another this morning.

My room is separate from the house, just behind it. Yes, that is a picture of a chicken in the doorway of my bedroom. I was actually in my room when I took the photo, and yes, it is a regular occurance. I think we have 4 or 5 chickens and a rooster. Yes, I wake to the rooster every morning. Sometimes, a nice alarm a few minutes before mine goes off. Other days, it is an unwelcomed 3:00 am disturbance. Such is life.

This road was just resurfaced this week. Yes, this is an after picture. The daily heavy rains create deep ditches through the roadways. Since this is the rainy season, I`m guessing the trenches will be back before long. It`s an odd change, as much as I hated the rain in Tacoma, I hope for it here. I anxiously await the downpour that brings slightly cooler weather and many of the mosquitos hide. Mosquitos, mosquitos, mosquitos. Without a doubt, the most miserable aspect of Talanga, and probably Honduras in general, at least for me. Luckily, Talanga does not currently have a Malaria or Dengue problem although it is likely just a matter of time before we do. Dengue exists in many of the surrounding areas and in Tegus. Since a large number of people travel to Tegus to work each day, Dengue usually transfers through them. The damn mosquitos bite them in Tegus, then a mosquito here bites them, then another person, and BAM! we have dengue. Hopefully, that isn´t the case. It helps when people clean their pilas too, but that´s another story. I will get a picture of a pila up there soon.

Here is another road near my house, and yes, that is a huge drop-off in the middle of the road. What´s the difference between a huge ledge and a huge pothole? Either way, every car has to take the same path.

Above is the main street in my town by Parque Central. No, the yellow bus is not going to the school, but to Tegus. sometimes, the buses even have curtains, it´s great. hahaha!

I have also included a few pictures of the prettier aspects of my town, Parque central. The blue building is the Alcladia (mayor´s office) where I work (for now, in the afternoons). The yellowish building is the Catholic church in the main square. The last one is the always locked playground for kids under age 8. Obviously, there is a reason it´s locked, all the toys are looking a little sketchy. Yes, that is a swing set in the forground, a tire swing with one side resting on the turf in the background and what I believe was at one time a merry-go-round.