I arrived in Honduras and I knew almost immediately I was in love. It was hot, yes, but I knew I was going to have the best year of my life. I got off one of the smallest planes I had ever been on, walked across the landing strip, through the airport to await Charlie and Amalia (the coordinators here). As we drove through El Porvenir, I couldn’t believe it. It was almost everything I dreamt it might be. Side dirt roads, people out and about, small stores on every corner, soccer fields, children running everywhere, bright colors everywhere you look, mountains behind and the beach in front, animals here and there, etc. I couldn’t take the smile off my face. We pulled up to the beach house where Im staying, I love it! It is right on the beach, all open aired, two floors, lots of rooms and randomly decorated. The downstairs has a big room that we are using to hang out with the kids, do extracurricular activities with them, help if they are behind in school, and so on. Eventually, we will be doing Vacation Care every day downstairs which will start in November, similar to their summer. Anyways, as I write this, I sit on the porch looking onto the most beautiful view. A nice breeze, sunny day, and dare I even try to explain the heat. I have never sweat so much in my life. Its come to a point where I feel like I have no more sweat left in me, I wonder how im still perspiring. From the moment I wake up, to the time I go to bed, I sweat. I get out of the shower and I never actually dry. It’s kind of ridiculous. But everything else makes up for it. I can sit on the porch, enjoy the amazing view and be entertained enough just by the animals. Chickens, geckos, lizards, horses, crabs, scorpions, dogs, and so on. The best is at night, when your walking down the street and along side of you is a wild horse, church music in the background, kids playing in the street, mountains in the distance, the beach at your front door step, and the sounds of Spanish all around you and the usual “hola gringa” as you walk by.
Street view in El Porvenir:
So, Ill start with my first day here. The Kinder starts at 8 am till 11:30. We walk from the beach house to the Kinder, and along the way we pick up some of the kids. These kids are the most adorable children ever. They are just genuinely beautiful. I believe the kids that are chosen to be in the Kinder are from families that are struggling to provide, have working parents and are left alone, or need care for whatever reason. But in general, they are the poorer children in town. These past few days Marlito hasn’t been coming when we pick him up at his house. His reason is because he doesn’t have underwear or shorts to wear. Another boy, Oscar, said he doesn’t go to school because he can’t afford shoes. To just give a background on another, Bryan, comes from a mother who is only 22 years old. She has 5 children, a 5 year old, three 4 year olds and a one month old. Two of the 4 year olds are twins, and they are visibly malnourished. When I asked her how old they are, I was expecting her to say 2, maybe even younger. Their arms were thin and they were obviously not growing as they should for her age. Then, I took the one month old from her and just held her. When the mom, Rebekah had her, she was just laying on her lap, almost like she didn’t care. Amalia was telling me one day Rebekah brought her the baby and said “I don’t want it anymore.” She gave her the baby, blue in the face, sick, she was dying and just said she didn’t want to care for it anymore. Amalia also said she leaves the kids at home, for hours a day, with no one to watch them. Rebekah is my age. She has 5 children. No husband. She lives in a one room house. Its hard to imagine…
Bryans House:
On a lighter note, the afternoon of my first day I was in a parade! What a way to welcome me to town, huh? It was a parade of some sort for education so the mayor invited the volunteers to walk in the parade, front line nevertheless! So throughout my first week in El Porvenir, I met a lot of people, met the children, the teacher for the Kinder, got to know the town, went to the river, etc. Everyone is really super nice. You walk down the street and people are always saying hi, some come and talk to you, some sit on their porch and wave, and of course you have the whistles and cat calls that seem inevitable wherever you go.
So, a “normal” day, begins with the Kinder. We pick up the kids (they are all about 3 - 5 years old) from their houses, then walk to the Kinder to meet Rosa, the teacher. We sing songs, do small easy activities that they can do without wanting to climb the tree, or scale the barred wall, or chase each other in the yard. Then, as break, they wash their hands, eat Corn Flakes as their nutritious meal, brush their teeth and have recess. To wrap up, we go over the alphabet, numbers, and whatever we’re focusing on that week. (Last week was taste and this week is touch). After the Kinder, we walk the kids home, and by that time we’re alal sweaty, dirty, tired, thirsty, hungry and anything else you can think of, just ready to nap. Then, in the afternoon were starting a class for some of the older kids who wanted some help. Were going to start with 5 kids, about 10 years old, who sometimes come to the Kinder for food, or just for something to do. I think some of them are left at home all day, don’t go to school, so were going to start this afternoon class to give them the help they aren’t receiving at home. We are also helping in a night class in town that teaches older kids and adults in all subjects. Right now were working on multiplication, for example 348 x 92. They are having a hard time with their multiplication tables so were trying our best to teach them. Even the adults don’t know how to do it. They still have to make tally marks or think hard about something as simple as 4 x 6. This past class we went to, we were working on spelling Spanish words. I could spell better than all of them. Shocked me a little, but I guess it is to be expected. Those that come to this class, I believe have either dropped out of school and want to go back or are in school and want extra help. They must pass the 6th grade exam, so they come to this class for help. Plus, I think they like the fact that gringas are teaching them ;)
That’s basically what our days look like. In between we do Zumba, use the internet at a local hostel/hang out place on the weekends called Nicks, go for walks, go to the beach, go to the movies, bonfires, etc. There is also a workout group in town that a bunch of locals do everynight at 6. Its very relaxing here. I couldn’t ask for more.
Friday the 10th was Children’s Day. We had our Kinder and another local Kinder come, along with the Queen of El Porvenir, the Ecotourism class at the college in La Ceiba, local families and friends all in their best dress. It was a big day for the kids and they had been talking about it ahead of time for days. “Im going to shower on Friday!” “Im going to wear my green dress!” So come Friday, they had cake, rice and chicken, piñatas, icecream, prizes, toys, games, etc. It was probably one of their best days of the year.
Childrens Day:
This past Wednesday through Sunday we went to Copan Ruinas. It’s a town about 6-7 hours away that hosts the Mayan Ruins. It was absolutely a sight that I will never forget. Incredible ruins years and years old from the Mayans. It was a miniature Machu Picchu, Honduras version. We also went to hot springs which is natural hot water in the middle of the mountains. In the states, it could have cost hundreds of dollars to do what we did. They had mud baths that you rub all over and soak in the hot water, foot massages from rocks in hot and cold water, and several small pools in the middle of a forest. It was like a natural body therapy for just 10 dollars. We also walked around the cobble stoned streets, climbed to the highest point for a beautiful view of Copan, ate delicious baleadas (flour tortilla, refried beans, cheese, cream, and sometimes eggs, chicken, avocado, etc) off street vendors. Baleadas are my new favorite food :)
Copan Ruinas:
I know I wrote a lot, but there is so much more to write about, I had to pick and choose!
Love you all
