The Best Laid Plans.....

Even with the best laid plans, nothing seems to go to plan and it is even truer here in Honduras. I arrived at Ellen’s this morning for our planned trip to Boca del Monte and Sinai only to find that thanks to the rain we had here last night our plans were on hold. Ellen explained that the road to Boca was impassable as the river was too high (which we have to cross). Some quick rethinking and it was decided that we could make it to Sinai. As we waited for out tuk tuk, Marel explained to me that the children, if they wanted to get to school in the community of Boca del Monte often had to wade or swim across the river after the rains. They had wanted to build a bridge that could take cars but it was cost prohibitive. Instead they settled for a foot bridge that will allow the children to reach their school in any weather. The road to Sinai (pronounced sin-i-e) was uneventful if you call magnificent scenery and mountains right in front of your nose uneventful. Honduras is an exceptionally beautiful country and I don’t think I could get sick of just looking.

Sinai is an exceptionally poor community with many Mayan Chorti people. We were welcomed at the school and visited the two main classrooms. The kindergarten teacher has three grades in her class. When we entered there were children sitting on the cement floor and smaller students sitting two on one chair. There simply isn’t enough furniture to go around. This was also the case in the other class. The kids are shy, especially of me. Some of them are very friendly with Ellen as she has been many times before but I am a strange gringa and only a couple of kids plucked up the courage to speak with me. They are adorable and seemed to enjoy my attempts to chat with them even if they didn’t reply.

Marel showed me the two toilets they built for the children just behind the school as well as a very simple yet effective drainage system that diverts water away from the back of the school. Prior to all of this the kids would go to the bathroom behind the school, then when the rains came, feces and excrement, both from humans and chickens, would be washed passed the school in to the front yard where the kids play. The toilet provides them with a bathroom and a place to wash their hands with running water. Such a simple thing that does so much!

Bathroom built by Project School Supplies (with running water so students can wash hands)

Curious students;

Notice the two young girls at the front who have to share a seat;

This is also one of the schools that Ellen helps with her kinder feeding program that gives out pediasure, milk and vitamins. We were able to leave a few toys behind and as I left the school yard I couldn’t resist giving a marble to each of the little boys in the adjacent yard. Obviously they don’t go to school and it was heartbreaking to see the way they looked. There is nobody to enforce school attendance so children like these really slip through the cracks. As Ellen said, if she could even get them in to the school they would at least be part of the kinder feeding program.

These children are in the yard immediately adjacent to the school;

Back in Copan, I headed home quickly to pick up my netbook and school books and headed off in to the centre. Many of the cafes and bars have free internet which is great and I have been making good use of it. On the way back, I pit stopped at a table where a lady was selling handmade jewellery. She told me that she makes them all herself and showed me one she was working on. I liked the look of a bracelet which was made out of wood. She started at 30 Lempiras (just under $2) but quickly said OK to two bracelets for the same price. I ended up giving her 40 lempira and got three. That’s about $2.50 in total. She has a big stand on Friday and Saturday when the market is set up, so I will be back. I also like the look of the colourful hammocks that many of the stores have. They sell for about $25 so will bringing a few of those home as well. I still can’t get over the friendliness of the people here. I think this is what has stood out above all else. It’s been a hard year for them. The political unrest in the country has scared away many tourists and they are really feeling it.

Lunch today was chicken with “mucho ajo” (much garlic), rice, veg and tortillas. Then last minute studies before heading to school. Today we spent four hours reviewing all the tenses in the past form. It was good revision for me. We spent a lot of time doing exercises and I although my brain was somewhat fried at the end, it was good for me. You have to remember that my teacher doesn’t speak one word of English so she is explaining all the concepts to me in Spanish. Luckily I have a pretty good grounding in it and I'm happy to say that I understand most of what Delmy tells me.

My study area at Guacamaya; 

I’m in a bit of a routine, for this week at least as after classes I race home and start my homework. Then it's supper, and then back in to town to a café that has internet and a place to study. I’ve been able to Skype with Brent and my parents a couple of times. I’m told it’s still very cold there (ahhh) so it breaks my heart to tell you how hot it is here.  On another note, I asked Ellen why we often saw the younger children in the poor communities with no pants rather than no shirt. Simply, it’s often because they are not toilet trained so saves on the laundry I guess. I’ve started thinking about this weekend as I will have two days class free although still studying to do. I think on Saturday I will head to McCaw Mountain Park. It’s a rescue centre for parrots and McCaw’s but also has a great place to have a coffee and study while sitting by the river. Sunday, possibly horseback riding in to the mountains. Ellen (a source of local knowledge) says she will point to a local Honduran man that does treat and feed his horses well.  I refuse to get on one that looks half dead! Every morning at about 7:30am two young boys ride down the street in front of my homestay house herding several other horses. They are used for excursions for the tourists but look like they’ve never seen a good meal.

By the way, thanks to my niece Molly…she is the spelling police and tell’s me she has only found two mistakes so far in my blog. Between her and my nephew Oliver (who just won a speliing Bee at school) I am going to have to keep on my toes!!! Not that it is an excuse but I type my blog at night while sitting in bed,after homwork, then usually have time in the morning before class to go to a café to post.

Two things I wouldn’t be without here….my knapsack (comes everywhere with me) and my netbook (light weight and portable)….just FYI.

A few More pictures of Copan;

What balance;

Nada mas, para ahorita. Manana!