Light's Out

So I showed up at Ellen’s at my now usual time (8am) to find that the river has still not subsided sufficiently to allow us to cross it to get to Boca del Monte. We shall try again tomorrow. Instead Ellen took me to her doggy hospital that she runs separately from Project School Supplies. Perhaps this is a good time to tell you a little more about PSS (Project School Supplies). Ellen came here to Spanish school about three years ago. She did her one week of studying, went back to the good old U.S of A, sold her belongings, packed up what she hadn’t sold and moved to Copan where she now lives permanently. Seeing a great need she started out trying to help some of the local schools with badly needed supplies but over the three years has morphed in to so much more. Building toilets for schools, repairing and even building new schools, fixing roofs, assisting teenagers with high school grants, putting in drainage, providing milk, vitamins and pediasure and building bridges….just to name a few things.

Ellen’s doggy hotel is something she is doing above and beyond. There are street dogs everywhere and in deplorable condition. I would say that they are considered disposable items but that would suggest that at one time they were a wanted commodity. That’s not the case. Most of these dogs were not wanted from the get go. The dogs breed prolifically and only a lucky few have caring owners. Otherwise they fend for themselves and have had an extremely hard life. In some ways you can’t blame the people as they have enough on their plates feeding their own families. This is afterall a poor country. But with no checks and balances it’s impossible to see a solution or end in sight. Ellen is able to rescue the occasional dog and has been able to house a few. She took me to see “campesino” today and my heart went out to the poor fella. Ellen found him under a car and would feed him occasionally. As his condition worsened she was able to coax him to the edge of town where a very kind man “Misael” tries to nurse them back to health. Although campesino has received a lot of medication his condition is worsening and Ellen said today that perhaps his time was up. She reckons he is around 10years old. He was such a friendly fella and it was heartbreaking to see him. But sadly he is one of the lucky ones. He has had food, shelter, water and above all a kind word and some pats on his old head. If indeed these are his last few days they were at least his best. No kids throwing rocks at him or trying to kick him and probably for the first time in his miserable life he didn’t have to fend for food. The more time I spend with Ellen the more respect I have for her and the work she does here. But it’s also difficult and a challenge to the emotions.  She admitted to me that every so often she will find a day that above all others is particularly hard.  I can see why.

Anyway, enough of the somber stuff….shortly after the doggy hotel, Ellen and I parted ways…she to her errands and me to the Casa de Todo (another café which I wanted to try) for some study time. It was stinking hot and by mid-morning I headed back to my homestay for the shade of the breezeway where I sit regularly to study now.

Notice my desk on the left below my bedroom window;

Sara, my house “mum”, took me to her outside “stove”. She showed me the beans that she cooks outside. She told me that this will last about 5 days. She uses the outside stove for beans and large pots of soup that won’t fit on her kitchen stove.

Beyond that a quiet but good day. Lots of time to study before class, a pit stop at the fort (I know nothing about it yet but plan to return) and then off to school. Today in school was the Future and Conditional tense review. 

Here's the view from the front porch of the school;

Then home supper, study and a return trip to Casa de Todo for a beer and homework (FYI – I speak much better Spanish after a beer). While at the café we lost all power but it was quickly restored. It didn't sink in until a few minutes later that while we had power, it was because they were running a generator. After paying, I left the café stepping literally in to a wall of darkness. The entire town (as far as I could tell) was without power. No storm or hint of one so I don’t know why….I’m told this happens a lot here though and people are used to it. Once I got my bearings I headed towards the square figuring I would take a tuk tuk. Neither of the two taxi drivers could be bothered….guess my 8 lempiras (50 cents) wasn't worth it and they couldn’t decide which one was going to make the effort. So needless to say I wasn't going to wait and decided to walk home (sorry dad).  I was three quarters of the way when Ernesto my house “dad” called out to me. He had come out to look for me as they were worried I would get lost. I was so touched by this. They really are a great family.

So I am sitting here by candle light……..thank goodness for the modern conveniences of battery power.

Just a few snap shots from Copan;

Working horses;

This house is directly opposite my home stay...cute!

Senora selling tortillas door to door;

Beautiful flowers are everywhere;

 Entrance to one of the small hotels in town;

Road repairs;

Perhaps tomorrow will bode well for our visit to Boca Del Monte….after all;

Querer es poder……..