Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Don't talk to strangers

Today Lourdes didn't show up until the first group was leaving.  I hadn't prepared a lesson, but I decided to talk to the kids and ask for their ideas about how to get the other kids to come back to the Breakfast Program.  Everyone agreed that the other kids are scared to come because the streets are too dangerous.  I asked if the kids think that parents are keeping the kids from coming, or are the kids choosing not to come on their own?  Nobody seemed sure.  We discussed that we should always respect parents' decision, but that if the kids are not coming lets band together and bring them back.  The kids agreed to talk to their neighbors and ask them to walk together to the Breakfast Program.  I told them I feel very sad and I miss all of the kids who haven't been here over the past month.

Tomorrow the city will shut down and there will probably be a lot of striking.  Maybe even violence.  That is how they "celebrate" Labor Day here.  With unemployment at 48% I guess there is not much to celebrate.  The church will be closed and everyone is encouraged to stay home.

I was very independent today.  It feels good!  I stopped for cash and gas on the way to the church.  Most gas stations here are full service, to prevent theft I think.  I remembered to ask for super because everyone says regular unleaded is really poor quality and bad for your car.  I watched to be careful that he started at $0.00.  Apparently they sometimes don't and are able to pocket money for themselves this way.  I even remembered a receipt for my taxes.  Later I called the Dr and made arrangements to pick up a prescription from him, then went and got the rx, had it filled, bought a toaster, tested it in the store since stores in Honduras do not allow returns.  Tried 3 outlets before we figured out that you had to push down the lever as if there were toast in it for it to work.  Hahaha!  Bought windshield wipers.  I don't know the word for windshield wipers, but I knew they were used for "brisa" which is a light rain and they were not a "toalla" (towel), so I was pointed in the right direction.  Found two guys from a tire shop next door to help me take the old ones off and put the new ones on.  Tipped the guys from the tire shop.  (That used to be hard, I never knew what to tip.)  It took a good 15 minutes in the hot sun and four people to figure out how to get the old wipers off.  Apparently the old wipers had some special lock system.   Dealt with a guy on the phone from the car dealership who wanted my address, which is tough here since streets don't have names and houses don't have numbers so you have to tell them what landmark is near you and what your front gate looks like - that is your address.  I have gotten much better at talking on the phone.  It doesn't phase me too much anymore.

Lourdes said she is so happy for me to have my own car.  She said that I seem even happier now that I have some independence.  I can see myself taking on more and more responsibilities now.  It feels nice to be serving to more of my full potential.  I'm sure it felt good to Lourdes when she pulled in and most of the kids were washing their dishes and leaving the church.  She could see that things ran smoothly without her and the kids were still happy.  Tiny Jose even made a point to tell her that he would walk home carefully and NOT talk to any strangers.  He was paying attention in our group!  Lourdes got a kick out of that.