I strolled around for a little and then settled in at Café San Rafael, a favorite of mine from last year. I caught up on emails and studied a little before heading out. My plan had been to walk around some more but it was just too hot and I headed home. There is a small area at the front of the house that gets shade in the day so I sat at the small table and chairs and continued some Spanish. After dinner I tried to do a little more studying but was too tired and went to bed early. This morning I got up to pancakes and maple syrup! I had brought the syrup with me as a gift along with a bunch of Roots t-shirts for everyone, some Canadian flag pencils, maple candy and some Inuuk Shook pins. They have Maple trees and Rudy had pointed them out to me on our camping trip. I am not a Maple tree expert but the leaves certainly look very similar…if not identical. They do not harvest maple syrup here so this was something new for them. It was a hit. This morning was my first day of proper class and I left early to go buy a newspaper (to read in class and discuss the articles) and a cafe latte each for Dunia and I. I asked Dunia which colour paper I should get…..they have two main ones here, La Prensa and El Tiempo. The blue one, El Tiempo, is for the liberals even though the liberal colour is red, and the red paper, La Prensa, is for the Nationalists whose party colour is blue . Not sure why they wouldn’t have the red paper for the Liberals and vice versa but who I am to questions this. The two main political parties here are the Nationalists and the Liberals. There are a few others, PINU and the Christian Democrats to name a couple, but they don’t seem to get much of a look in. Dunia explained the difference to me between the two main groups, the Nationalists and Liberals, and the general concepts behind each. I am going to do what no politician does and sum up their parties philosophy in one sentence each…The Liberals like the current president (President Lobo) and think that all is well with the world, specifically Honduras and that nothing needs changing. The Nationalists don’t like the President, the current government and think that a heck of a lot needs to change. There you have it…Honduran politics neatly summed up. You are one or the other and there seems to be no in between…much like the religion which I didn’t get in to much in yesterday’s blog. There are several religions here but the two main ones are the Catholics and the Evangelists. There are also some Mormans, Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Anyway, I bought the wrong paper but Dunia has forgiven me and as it turned out we didn’t even get time to open it.
As I sat down for class, Dunia handed me an exam. I thought I would be able to pass on this as I have been her student for a year now through Skype lessons. But as it turned out she knows best and the exam highlighted the areas I need to work on. The entire class was taken up with review of various subject matter from the direct and indirect article to the more complicated past perfect of the subjunctive! It’s one thing to talk but another to be grammatically correct and the review was long overdue. We shall continue with more review for probably the rest of the week.
After class I returned for lunch then walked in to town, and this is where I must pause to recognise some very special people that I work with before I proceed. About two months ago Ellen Finn from Project School Supplies, PSS for short, (who I have kept in close contact with) wrote to me about a school I visited last year. She knew that I was coming out again and that I hoped to do a small fundraiser of sorts. She suggested if I was able that the school of Boca del Monte was in desperate need for supplies especially for the kinder years. I approached a colleague that I have worked with and along with two other coworkers they held a raffle with some donated spices (thank you McCormick Spices) and some body products (sorry, the name escapes me). From two baskets of donated items they raised $540, an unbelievable amount. So, not only do I want to thank each and every person that bought a ticket I want to say a special thanks to Sandy, Jodi and Holly!! Without you the next part of the blog wouldn’t be possible….. At 2:00pm, Ellen and I met two of the teachers, Juanita and Erna, from Boca del Monte. Boca (for short) is a small rural community just outside of Copan. Ellen and PSS have done a lot of work there already. The school was painted, a blackboard supplied last year and even a bridge built to help the children get to school in the wet season when the river made it impassible. For those that followed my blog last year, I visited this school and was charmed by the children. They are still in desperate need though of items for the school, specifically for the children of the kinder years who, like all the rural schools here, are very under stimulated. Juanita told me that Kinder is from about 3 ½ years to 6 years old and they have about 70 children in this age group. The school in total has about 150 children. Ellen and I had met with Juanita the other day and we had explained that I had funds to buy supplies and toys for the school (I have to pause here to tell you that there is a little gecko of sorts in my room…..I am sure friendly but I would rather not sleep with it thank you!)…anyway, to continue…… We met at the store and the ladies began to look around. Juanita finally pointed to a little tricycle and said that the children would enjoy this. Ellen had bought them one some time ago but amongst so many children it was difficult for everyone to ride it. I looked at the tricycle and checked the price….325 lempira which is about $17….I asked Juanita if she wanted all 4 that the store had….and by the look on her face I knew she did. Sold!
Teachers, Juanita and Erna with Ellen from PSS
We then took off to store number two. Juanita and Erna seemed very hesitant and Ellen explained that they have never done this before. It’s also hard to spend money when you don’t know how much you can spend. I told Juanita to start picking stuff and I would simply tell her when we should stop….that’s when the real fun began!
They started to enjoy it and Ellen and I slipped off to store number three where we picked up a few small items (whistles and balls) so that we can make sure every child in the school gets something. Returning to Juanita and Erna, they had a pile going and we helped them add to it! It was a blast and it was exciting to see the teacher’s enthusiasm. We spent almost $400, an incredible amount for here and have enough toys and craft supplies to last quite a while.
We piled everything in to two tuk tuks and headed to Marel’s house (he works for Ellen) to store them for the week. As it’s Semana Santa school is out until Monday. Ellen and I will go with Marel next week to deliver everything. I shall also buy some water melon. It’s a great healthy treat for the kids and I can buy enough for all the students. I can’t wait to post pictures as seeing the looks on the kid’s faces will be the best part. As I was leaving the teachers, Erna hugged me hard and thanked me….I didn’t understand the expression she used exactly but it was to thank God for all of this and for me for bringing it. It is I who has to thank some amazing coworkers! What a great afternoon!
Returning home I was able to stop at a café and Skype with Brent for the first time since I have been away. Then home where I studied a little before dinner. Dunia had made my favorite….baleadas…tortillas with beans, egg, rice, cheese and cream….wow! After dinner I played with the boys…Rudy jr (10) and Leo (5). We played a computer game that was great for me as it involved finding objects from pictures on the screen. It was Leo and I versus Rudy. Leo doesn’t read yet so I would read the word, he would explain what it was (as a 5 year old can) and together by luck or fluke we would find the object. We were slower as often I would have to use my dictionary and sadly Rudy whooped us. However, it is round two tomorrow night and Leo and I will make a comeback. The three kids are incredible although at 15, their oldest Keren is hardly a kid. They have to be one of the nicest, most welcoming families you could meet. Tonight I was touched when Leo came in to my room as I was studying. He wished me a buen noche and gave me a huge hug. I think they like having me here!!!
Well, not much else. I can hear some fireworks in the distance, the dog across the way is barking (it never stops) and every so often I jump out of my skin as a cat lands on the steel roof immediately above my head. The cockerel goes without saying.
This is one noisy place. Good night All……Buenos noche.
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