Looking up

Things are looking up... I think. This may be repetative information for a few of you but, deal with it. Today I am off to an E-Zone coordinator training in Siguatepeque. Basically, it means that I will be responsible for passing information on to a few people in case of an emergency, say, a hurricane or strike. That gets me out of Talanga for a few days. Next week will be a little crazy as well. Thursday, with the help of Mateo, my Honduran counterpart coach and two moms, I will take my baseball team (pictured) to the national tournament in Tegucigalpa. We will stay at the Villa Olimpica until Sunday. Ally and Jeni are kind enough to grace me with a visit soon after and from then on, it is work work work. Or something like that.
It sounds like my toothbrush donation should arrive by the first of June (if not sooner) so I will finally be able to start that project.
I am also excited because a few minutes ago I heard thunder. That means the rains are coming and it won't be as miserably hot all day and night. Apparently the rain has started in some areas of the country but my site hasn't seen it yet.
What else is new... oh, apparently my dueña is having eye surgery (or something) so she is gone for the next few days. Her son, who is probably mid 30s and lives with her (fairly normal in this society) decided to point out the fact that we were both alone last night and invited me to watch TV (since he knows I don't have one). Although the decision to decline was easy, getting him to go away was a little more challenging. Oh dear latin men, always trying to make a move. (Yes, that is a generalization, decent men do exsist. Sometimes, they are just difficult to find.) I am just glad to be gone until after his mother's return.
I can't think of anything else new or interesting, although I am sure there is more, so until next time...

Top 10 things I never thought I would/could appreciate

In no particular order...

1 Ants: When a cockroach (or anything) falls from the ceiling and dies in the night, it is gone by morning. Although the ants are disgusting and annoying at times, they are great house cleaners.

2 Spiders: I still don't like spiders and the huge ones (like the one I literally shooed with a broom last night) still sort of freak me out, they eat the more immediately obnoxious mosquitos. Anything that eats mosquitos and other biting insects can live, at least for now.

3 Rain: After 6 years in Tacoma, I never thought I would say it, but I miss the rain. Here, the rain is a Godsend. Relief from the relentless heat. Rain means it might cool off at night and I might be able to sleep.

4 Long Life Milk: At first, I thought it smelled and tasted disgusting, even cold. After months of living without a refridgerator, I not only use the long life milk, more often than not, it is warm.

5 Corn Tortillas (other than as a taco shell): The fresh ones, right off the fagon... mmm. I'm learning how to make them so you can experience it when I get back.

6 Lack of A/C: I know it sounds weird, but I get so cold when their is air conditioning. Then, when you walk outside, you are BLASTED with the strong heat of reality. The shade and a nice cement building with tile roof work nicely. (Metal roof definitely NOT recommended.)

7 Appearing As If I Don't Understand: Yeah, sometimes it is annoying, but sometimes I use it to my advantage and pretend I don't understand, whether I do or not. Most often, this is when people are selling things on buses.

8 Cornflakes: I never liked them growing up. Being half the price of any other cereal and the healthier of three choices in my site (cornflakes, cocoa crispies or frosted flakes, occassionally), I actually enjoy them now (yes, with my warm, long-life milk)

9 Plastic Chairs: They are all I have. Although I sometimes prefer the cool tile floor, it is nice to have a seat to offer the few people who stop by my house. They work great to throw junk on as I walk in the door too.

10 Cold Showers: Ok, so in the "winter" it sucked. But now that the days are hot without relief. I actually prefer cold showers to hot. I actually feel refreshed, as opposed to a warm shower, which you exit and immediately start sweating again. This may change as rainy season returns, but for now, I think it may be the thing I appreciate most.

Photos: Earthday activities with the Catholic Passionistas (Mateo is pictured) in Talanga and Cantarranas' comida tipica festival (the following day). The cows are turning two gears which squeezes the raw sugar cane and pure sugar cane juice pours out the bottom, into the red bucket. If you add a little lime, it tastes just like limonada.

Sorry, not too much else to report. I spent the last few days with a fever but now have meds and I am starting to feel better. Still sort of busy and waiting for the flood. I am giving my first quiz to my English class or teachers this afternoon. Should be interesting, even though they are teachers, I hear they cheat... we will see. I have two versions of the quiz but don't plan on telling them that. If I get weird answers, I will know why. I don't really have an excuse for not updating this sooner, I just haven't done it. I try really hard not to use the "I didn't have time" excuse. We definitely over use it in the States because honestly, if we want to get something done, it generally gets done. "I didn't have time" is code for "I didn't prioritize it". Here, I have given up on the excuses. I have plenty of time if I want to use it. If I don't do something, I simply didn't do it. : )

Good books I have read lately: The Alchemist (quick read, great story) and I am just finishing A Million Little Pieces (originally supposedly true then it later caim out that it was a fraud and all made up. It is about a seriously addicted guy going through rehab and his internal struggles. I find it fascinating. I am curious where he got his information or if he pulled it all out of thin air.)

I am really excited at the prospect of an occassional break from the sunscreen/bug repellent smell. Thanks Trac!