Took some time off for a while. It felt like nothing much new was happening. And I am sick of hearing about or talking about the political situation. But I'll let you know b/c I know you're interested. It really has no affect on us anymore while they are in negotiations. There is still a curfew, but it has been raised to 11 pm-4:30 am, so that doesn't really matter either. Every day there are still "manifestaciones" in the streets, but they are peaceful demonstrations. Yesterday I traveled to some new places, which I'll talk about in a minute, and there is so much graffiti on every building in the city it is crazy. Police are stationed on bridges because that is where the more aggressive protesters still occasionally block the roads with burning tires. When I pass the bridge police I think, what a boring job. They stand there all day doing nothing. But if they weren't there...
Tuesday and Wednesday nights I had problems sleeping. It was really hot during the day and I couldn't cool off at night. Plus I was having bad nightmares. I think it's starting to hit me how broke I'll be when I get home. I considered leaving early to go home and start looking for a job before I'm completely penniless. But then I came up with the idea of asking a girl I know here if she needs help at her work. It is a government run orphanage, which would look great on my resume and could help me learn the words in Spanish that are specific for that sort of work. So I called her. She said that she hasn't worked since this whole political stuff began, but she expects to return to work on Monday and there is a lot I could do there if I am willing to volunteer.
I talked to Tony yesterday and told him if he needs me to come in and help with the breakfast program I am always available, but I want to try this for a while. Plus it will cost less in cab fare b/c it's closer to the house and it will take up more of my day.
I am supposed to be writing about my experience here for Tony's monthly newsletter, which I am honored to do, but my little funk this week has not helped in getting the creative juices flowing.
Yesterday Karla, Karina and I had a ladies day. We went to the local "club" where you can swim, golf, or play tennis, or as we did - just hang out by the pool. We were planning to use the sauna, but it was closed. Last year when I came with the ladies we spent our last day at a similar place. Yesterday I thought about the first time I ever saw someone cutting grass with machetes 25 years ago in Puerto Rico. We thought it was so strange. Now I take it for granted. Works the same as a weed wacker.
After the club we went to the mercado again. This time everything was open. It was fun. I took more photos. We bought sugar cane, just like the first time I ever went to a market in Jamaica with my parents, and ate it on the way home. I had forgotten how yummy sugar cane is. When we got home we pigged out on the stuff we bought.
Today I am helping Jose run Karla's youth group, then watching him run his own group for teens. Karla works with the little kids, ages 4-7. I am in charge of games. I already know some of the kids from the breakfast program. It should be fun. It was either that or joining Karina and Karla at a baby shower. They really think I'm nuts because I don't like baby showers. They are all excited to go and play games. And Karla is bringing salt potatoes as the snack she was asked to bring, which I think is so cool b/c I introduced her to salt potatoes. Anyway, I am skipping out on the baby shower.
Tonight Jose is playing futbol so we are all going to watch. We are talking about going to Olancho next weekend. If we don't Evelin and I are planning a 6 hour hike. I am staying busy and staying out of my funk. The following weekend is Jose's birthday, then Valerie's birthday, then my last weekend here! Not much time left. But my Spanish continues to improve daily. I can finally understand some of the news on tv. And watching movies with subtitles in Spanish helps me to put the words together too. I've also been texting in Spanish. I think I write better than I speak. But verb tenses are starting to come more easily in speech. In another month it is possible that I could pass a fluency exam. I am hopeful.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights I had problems sleeping. It was really hot during the day and I couldn't cool off at night. Plus I was having bad nightmares. I think it's starting to hit me how broke I'll be when I get home. I considered leaving early to go home and start looking for a job before I'm completely penniless. But then I came up with the idea of asking a girl I know here if she needs help at her work. It is a government run orphanage, which would look great on my resume and could help me learn the words in Spanish that are specific for that sort of work. So I called her. She said that she hasn't worked since this whole political stuff began, but she expects to return to work on Monday and there is a lot I could do there if I am willing to volunteer.
I talked to Tony yesterday and told him if he needs me to come in and help with the breakfast program I am always available, but I want to try this for a while. Plus it will cost less in cab fare b/c it's closer to the house and it will take up more of my day.
I am supposed to be writing about my experience here for Tony's monthly newsletter, which I am honored to do, but my little funk this week has not helped in getting the creative juices flowing.
Yesterday Karla, Karina and I had a ladies day. We went to the local "club" where you can swim, golf, or play tennis, or as we did - just hang out by the pool. We were planning to use the sauna, but it was closed. Last year when I came with the ladies we spent our last day at a similar place. Yesterday I thought about the first time I ever saw someone cutting grass with machetes 25 years ago in Puerto Rico. We thought it was so strange. Now I take it for granted. Works the same as a weed wacker.
After the club we went to the mercado again. This time everything was open. It was fun. I took more photos. We bought sugar cane, just like the first time I ever went to a market in Jamaica with my parents, and ate it on the way home. I had forgotten how yummy sugar cane is. When we got home we pigged out on the stuff we bought.
Today I am helping Jose run Karla's youth group, then watching him run his own group for teens. Karla works with the little kids, ages 4-7. I am in charge of games. I already know some of the kids from the breakfast program. It should be fun. It was either that or joining Karina and Karla at a baby shower. They really think I'm nuts because I don't like baby showers. They are all excited to go and play games. And Karla is bringing salt potatoes as the snack she was asked to bring, which I think is so cool b/c I introduced her to salt potatoes. Anyway, I am skipping out on the baby shower.
Tonight Jose is playing futbol so we are all going to watch. We are talking about going to Olancho next weekend. If we don't Evelin and I are planning a 6 hour hike. I am staying busy and staying out of my funk. The following weekend is Jose's birthday, then Valerie's birthday, then my last weekend here! Not much time left. But my Spanish continues to improve daily. I can finally understand some of the news on tv. And watching movies with subtitles in Spanish helps me to put the words together too. I've also been texting in Spanish. I think I write better than I speak. But verb tenses are starting to come more easily in speech. In another month it is possible that I could pass a fluency exam. I am hopeful.
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