Change of Scenery

I apologize that I have been so aweful about keeping everyone updated. I had internet in the last town but unfortunately, all of the Peac Corps Trainees have the same scedule and it was usually full when I had time to use it. I am sorry to say that it is unlikely that this situation will improve in the next few months because we moved to another town with out internet access. I now have to take a bus for about 45 minutes to use the internet.

I am now in Field Based Training in Cantaranas (singing frogs), Honduras. Cantaranas is about 2 hours (by bus) northeast of Tegucigalpa. It´s hot, very hot and a little humid. I am very glad we came during the winter because I´m not sure how well I would adjust from our Northwest winter into their summer. Right now it is the middle of winter and it feels like a Tacoma summer. probably 90 degrees and no air conditioning in which to escape.

Physically, I´m adjusting to the weather and the food. The food in Cantaranas is a little different than it was in Santa Lucia much of that may or may not simply be the change in families. They use a lot of salt and margerine in this country. My new host family is really nice but they try to feed me SO much! I try to tell them that I don´t need so much but I´m hesitant not to sound rude since I still am not fluent in Spanish.

My Spanish had definitely improved but I still feel that I have a long way to go. It is exhausting having to speak in Spanish all day and evening. In Santa Lucia I woke with the roosters every morning and went to bed around 9. Yes, me, going to bed early every night, by choice! (And I now drink coffee with some regularity. Yes Brian, it´s really coffee, not Nescafe!) Cantaranas is a bit different and I actually need my alarm. My host family lives a block from the Parque Central and this town is a bit noisier than Santa Lucia so it´s a little more difficult to go to sleep early.

Psychologically, I am holding up remarkably well. I really like most of the people in my project, and training class but I miss everyone from home. It´s difficult to talk about it in detail because I don´t know how to describe this place and the entire experience. The most difficult thing right now is a constant feeling of being a guest, and unsettled. Just as we adjusted to Santa Lucia and our host families, the group split up b project and we had to move in with new families. We will be here for 6 weeks before returing to Santa Lucia for a few das before heading to our sites. No, I don´t not know where I will be yet. I will definitely let you know when I find out in about 6 weeks.

It´s a beautiful country. I love it but I miss good chocolate, dried fruit and nuts. And of course, you!

Yo soy (sic) en Honduras!

Hello friends and family! I made is safely to Honduras! You may have to fogive my typing because the keyboard is a little different and I have not yet figured out how to do certain punctuation.
Washington, DC: the Laura Bush thing was a photo-op, I will leave it at that. It was, however, a great opportunity to meet other volunteers before being bombarded with all 47. (There were about 15 early arrivals at the photo).
The other volunteers are great so far. It is a very fun group and I look forward to working with all of them. About half are just out of college and most of the rest of us are mid to late 20's. there are two people a little older and of the young group, 5 married couples (1 married couple and one other volunteer are from Washington and a girl from Oregon went to UPS). Everyone is very excited and I was relieved to learn that most people were just as nervous about their Spanish skills as I was.
We were shocked when we heard we would move in with our host families about an hour after arriving in Honduras. This meant, we had to speak Spanish immediately. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I was able to communicate. Of course, there were many things I could not say or spent 5 minutes trying to get there, but I managed.
The country is beautiful but the poverty was evident from the start. It is very green here. The town we are in, Santa Lucia, is a little higher elevation so it is probably around 60-65 degrees, maybe 70 in the afternoon. Yes, it's cool because this is the beginning of their winter. One thing I had not thought of prior to arrival, was daylight. I did not think about the days being shorter since it is winter. It gets dark around 7 or 7:30 but it is light when I get up at 6:30. I have to go for now, but I will write more soon. Time to get home for dinner.

Brita, the landing wasn't TOO bad, but it could have been frightening, thanks for the warning.

I'm off!

I just want to say THANK YOU! to each of you who made it to the BBQ. We definitely had a good time and if you weren't there, you missed out. : )

Thank you also for all of the love and support. I could not do this without it. I will avoid getting too sentimental since I haven't boarded the plane yet but I promise to do my best to keep this (and you) updated.

Yes, I will have fun. Yes, I will be safe. Yes, I will miss you.