Honduras
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Gracias, Adios!
After many days and nights spent in my home away from home I am overwhelmed by a flood of emotions now that I am leaving once and for all. Over the past two months I have experienced more on a personal level then I have in my entire life. Having so much time to reflect has been nothing but positive and the more I think about it the more grateful I am for the time I spent here. Leaving my familiar, comfortable life in Bozeman was no easy task but I sought adventure and change. I didn't know what to expect when coming to Honduras and now that I am leaving I know I came here for a reason. These last few months I have realized everything I took for granted and I have found a new appreciation for life. I don't think I would have realized how truly lucky I am if I didn't experience a life apart from my normal one. I always knew people throughout the world were not as well off and had bigger problems then the people I am usually surrounded by but I never knew the feeling of actually experiencing it first hand. I have now seen the world through the eyes of the people of Honduras as well as my own. Before coming here I never thought twice when I got in the hot shower in the morning or when I walked around freely at night not having any worries. Every time I fill up my glass from the sink or make myself a nice, balanced meal I will think of how not everyone has these simple luxuries. In the last two months I have met new people, spoken a new language and eaten new food. I loved the new experience and I am thankful for this amazing opportunity I had. My view on life has changed dramatically and I know it wouldn't have if I had not chosen to embark on this journey. As I re-adjust to life back in beautiful Bozeman I will enjoy every moment experiencing all of the old in a whole new light.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Escape to Roatan
The next morning Ella and I woke up early and had pancakes at the hotel restaurant. We breathed in the fresh air and soaked in our breathtaking surroundings. We began the day at an Iguana farm, feeding the iguanas and looking at the other wild life they had. We fed barracudas and sat on the dock over looking the crystal clear waters. Our class toured a couple hotels and then settled in at a small beach for a couple of hours. Ella and I immediately began to swim. Looking around we noticed our classmates weren't getting in the water or they were just wading in. Later on, after talking to them, we found out none of them knew how to swim! Keep in mind the live about 4 hours away from some of the most amazing beaches. After enjoying fresh fish sticks for lunch we left to stop somewhere else so the rest of our class could eat. Once again by popular demand Wendy's was chosen. I was so thankful I ate an early lunch! Afterwards we went to the most famous beach of Roatan, West Bay. It was sunset and the view was amazing. I wanted to stay longer but it got dark and we had to be on our way. When getting back to the hotel Ella and I were both feeling sick so we called it a night.
Waking up refreshed and rejuvenated I started my day of right with a hot shower, which I had not had in about a month and a half. Our teacher told Ella and I we could have the morning to ourselves while the rest of the class went to tour more hotels. We were anxious to explore more of West End and to eat as much good food as possible before we left. After walking up and down the main road we chose a small breakfast place that overlooked the ocean. We ordered egg sandwiches with cheddar cheese, fresh squeezed orange juice and a local fruit salad. I savored every cheesy, delicious, bready bite and the fruit was some of the best I have ever had. We bought brownies for the road and left to explore more of the town. When walking down the beach a older islander man began walking with us and proceeded to tell us his life story which included falling in love in Denmark and owning a fishing boat in Roatan. He was a riot and certainly very entertaining. He knew everyone we passed and managed to introduce us to almost all of them. After we parted our separate ways Ella and I spent the rest of our time browsing souvenir shops and planning how sometime in our lives we would live in this little, tropical hidden gem. We found an international restaurant for lunch and we both ordered pasta, mine with fresh fish and Ella's with bolognese. Our meal was cut short when our bus rolled up and told us it was time to leave. We finished off our last bites of good food for the next few months and then joined the rest of our classmates on the bus. Driving to the ferry I kept wishing we would be late and miss it but of course we were there with time to spare. I sat solemnly reminiscing about the short time I spent on the island and cooking up plans to come back. Watching the island disappear into the fog and rain clouds Ella and I found ourselves tearing up. Thank goodness I had my brownie to help soften the blow!
Friday, September 24, 2010
A Taste of Home
After the last few nights being full of Wendy's, gas station snacks and re-fried beans my body screamed for a break. Tonight at dinner when my family brought home a larger then family size portion of fried rice with assorted meats I found my perfect excuse. "Yo soy vegetariano, lo siento." I quickly grabbed my purse and made a fast dash to the super market in search of something that wouldn't leave me feeling sluggish and overly full. I loaded my basket full of zucchini, green beans, red peppers, and of course garlic and onions. After spending about 1 dollar on my fresh produce I returned to the kitchen and began the process of chopping and slicing. With the garlic sizzling in olive oil and the onions becoming perfectly translucent I began adding the rest of my bounty. When i saw my younger host sister watching me in astonishment I realized not everyone knows how to do this simple task of sauteing vegetables. I tried to explain to her a few simple steps but she lost interest and continued to eat her greasy rice with a piece of white bread as a utensil. As I threw in some salt, pepper and dried oregano the smell hit me. I caught myself smiling because not only did it smell delicious, it smelled like home. I was brought back to sitting at the kitchen counter while my mom multi tasked like a crazy woman creating a mouth-watering meal for my family and I. Even though I never got formal cooking lessons from her she had managed to implant the vital information into my brain that I needed for most dishes. Olive oil, garlic and onions. Even though I'm thousands of miles away I felt right at home till the very last bite.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Machete: A common household item
After a visiting a nearby town, Esperanza, my host family and 6 friends were crammed into the truck driving back through the winding pass. The children were getting tired and fussy and everyone agreed we needed to stop for a break. Every mile or so we drove by small stands piled high with bananas, pineapples and oranges. We pulled up to the next one we saw and rolled the window down. A young girl around 10 years old ran up to the car dressed in a dirty professional looking skirt and bare feet. Some words were exchanged that I didn't catch and she hopped into her stand and grabbed the machete that was longer then her skinny arm. She picked up the closest pineapple and in a matter of seconds and removed the skin and cut it into round pieces. She stuffed them in a bag and brought it to the car window. We payed her 20 Limperas (about one US dollar) and began to snack on our fresh treat. We ordered two more and she prepared them faster then safe considering the size of the knife she was wielding. Another time after driving to San Pedro Sula we stopped at an identical stand but on a different road. This time we ordered coconuts. They were served to us with a straw and after we drank the milk the were chopped in half and the meat was dished out, with a machete of course. The people here don't just use this giant knife for delicious snacks, it is also commonly used as a weapon. Men throughout the streets carry machetes with them, either by the blade or in detailed leather pouches. At first the sight was scary, a man carrying a deadly weapon and walking down a crowded street. No one seemed to care or even notice these men. Being concerned for my general safety I asked a few people and I found out these men are the vigilantes of the town. They are here to protect the people when the police can't, which is virtually all the time.
When it rains in Honduras.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Infamous "Honduran Time"
Being fashionably late is acceptable to some extent but the people here take it to a whole new extreme. If you say you are meeting someone for almuerzo (lunch) at 12 you aren't expected to actually arrive until 1! Its bearable when meeting friends but within my family this laid back pattern is hard to put up with. When asked when we are leaving there will never be a straight answer and when they say ahorita (now) it could still be a few more hours until we actually do what we have planned. This has caused me to do a lot of waiting around. I don't want to be late so I stick to my "normal" timing and deal with the long periods of time I spend waiting to hear the sweet word "vamos."
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Changes
I spent the first week going through a bit of an emotional breakdown. Being homesick and the frustration of learning a new language is not a great combination. Every night I would be physically exhausted from the day and I would got to sleep early. My host family wasn't very understanding of what I was going through, which caused a few problems. My first weekend in my new home I got to escape to the beautiful countryside. Siguatepeque is surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills but people rarely take advantage of it. I was happy to be out of the house and reading a book overlooking a green hillside was a perfect escape. Two days later I got notified I would be switching to a new host family. I packed up my stuff and met my new host mom Patty who was sweet and welcoming. My new host sister Eliana is my age and is in my class. My family owns a hotel called "Puesta del Sol" and we live right next door. We spend a lot of time at the hotel watching TV or hanging out with the host mom while she works. From the first day with my new family I knew we would get along better then the previous. Patty explained to me that she is a bad cook so we go out for dinner every night and for breakfast and lunch the maid brings something for us to eat. I have been cooking a lot too due to lack of healthy foods. I find myself craving whole grains, simple salads and fresh vegetables. The resources for fresh fare are never ending here but the people don't seem to embrace it. One of my favorite Honduran foods are called baleadas. It is made with fresh dough flattened out to a tortilla on a grill then while it is cooking its filled with beans, cheese and a cheesy sauce. You can buy baleadas at small "restaurants" that are usually extensions of peoples front decks or sidewalks.
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