It´s only 5 pm and my brain is FRIED. But it´s been an interesting day, so I want to write about it. As I wrote the last entry I smelled something yummy cooking. (All right all of you who have been her before... get ready to be jealous!!!) Karla was making pupusas of spinach and cheese for lunch for us. She made a ton of them, I asked it Jose was coming home for lunch but she said no, there were 5 for each of us. We each ended up having 2,with the sliced cabbage and another mixture of onions, jalapenos and broccoli on top. They were soooo good. She has promised to teach me to cook and let me help from now on.
During lunch we talked and talked (all in espanol with a little help from my spanish dictionary). I think our mothers are very similar in some ways. And I can´t wait to meet Karina. She sounds like she is a lot of fun.
Then I unpacked all of my stuff and was headed out for the store, but it was hot so I decided to take a quick shower. I felt foolish when I asked Karla how to turn on the shower. She came upstairs and explained that the shower head doesn´t work so I use a bucket to scoop water from a barrel of water to wash myself. It´s not a big deal as I was used to billy baths when I worked in the wilderness. At least it´s not snowing, and I have as much water as I want. Seriously, I am not complaining.
Karla and I headed out to do errands. She asked what I like best about Honduras. I told her the food, the people, and the bright colors of the houses. Walking down the streets here is something I will have to get acccustomed to. There are many street vendors. I´m not sure what they´re selling. And although we live at the end of a row of houses, which is at the end of an alley, which is at the end of a street, still people walk up to the door and yell inside trying to sell empanadas, avocados, plastic containers... almost anything you want you can buy from your couch.
Back to the errands. We exchanged my money. Karla warned me never to carry my cell phone in my hand because someone once shoved their keys into her ribs and told her to hand over her cell phone. So I´ll keep mine in the new little bag I bought for this trip (shout out to Heather who helped me find it!). I had to leave my phone overnight for them to set it up to work in Honduras. I can pick it up tomorrow. I was happy to have Karla there with me because I had no clue whether they were trying to rip me off or not, but she said it was fine. Then we went to Valery´s school. Valery has Down Syndrome and was in day care until recently. Valery´s teacher seems wonderful, but she has a whole class to teach and Valery needs individual attention. Valery does not like school at all and does not like to socialize with her peers at all. It is a sad situation. I feel like the teacher and the family expect that I will have answers for these problems, but what do I know?
On the way home Karla stopped at a little store and asked if I want some juice so I ordered what ended up to be a banana milkshake and the best part was they served it in a bag, then you drink it with a straw. I told Karla that if I had my camera I would have asked her to take a picture of me drinking my milkshake because pèople in the states would like it.
Well, it´s time for dinner. Jose just came home and I don´t want to miss out on my cooking lesson. Looks like we´ll spend some time out back first. I really like these people a lot. Sometimes I forget the language barrier and it feels like I´ve known Karla for much longer than less than 24 hours.
There are so many noises here that aren´t familiar - besides the vendors. But soon they will be familiar. And Karla also invited me to see her mother´s house in the country. I hope I have time to do all of these great things! Lots to look forward to!!!!
Anyone have ideas about how I could help Valery, please let me know---
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
My First Night
Last night was my first night back in Honduras. Although I was very tired after traveling the night before, we stayed up until midinight talking and getting to know each other.
I will try to explain where I am living. Tony took a dirt road which seems like an alley because I saw mostly garages. Then we stopped at a basketball court where some men were hanging out. Tony said that because we had two computers between the 2 of us, and so much lugggage it would be best for us to call Jose and ask him to come out to help us. He said that way people would know we were with Jose.
So Jose came out to Tony´s truck and seemed very excited to have me here. Later he explained that he really enjoys hosting people, in fact 2 Canadian girls stayed here very recently. Inside I met Jose´s wife, Karla, who at first seemed very quiet. But later, and today when we are alone I see that she is not. Tony and Jose went to pick up Tony´s wife, Nidia, who was visiting her mother in the hospital and left karla and me alone to speak only spanish and we did just fine. I showed her pictures of Jack and we only got hung up on one word, cunada, which means sister in law. I won´t forget that one now.
So we ate a really yummy dinner. It was spaghetti baked in a pan with a sort of alfredo sauce, some diced chicken and lots of spinach. Right up my alley! Karla also served some carrots marinated in vinegar and something that made them spicey. Today we talked about what foods I like and I am in the right house. They don´t like a lot of meat here. In Karla says the children pick the meat out of their food just like I used to when I was a kid!
Speaking of the girls, I haven´t met them yet. They are with Karla´s parents because they have a vacation from school. Karla says we will go and spend a weekend with her parents if I want to, so we will do that while I am here. Also with the girls is Karla´s sister, Karina. I will be sharing a bedroom with her. (I took a picture of it last night but have not had luck uploading pics yet. I´ll figure it out.) Karina stays here and goes to college nearby, but she also is a big help with the girls. Karla not only is a mother, but is also getting her bachelors degree in psychology and working. Busy lady! Karla has been staying up until 3 or 5 a.m. every night lately with school work.
After dinner last night Jose emphasized how he wants me to feel at home here and to help myself to what I need. He also said he hopes I will talk to him or Karla about how I am feeling whenever I need to. He and Karla have been married for 6 years. They are in their late 20´s.
One of my favorite things so far is that they have a big enclosed back yard which is shared with a neighbor. It has a mango tree, but Jose said we will buy mangos at the store, I´m not sure why, as he also said this is the time for the mango to be ripe. His English is perfect, by the way.
I had been wondering where I would find to escape to for private time, but I think the answer is the hammock in the back yard. I´ll take a picture of it soon.
Last night I was worried that I would not sleep well. It was very hot and I brought heavy pj´s as I was used to the cold nights up in the mountains. However, I slept just fine and wasn´t even bothered by the dogs or the kids outside this morning. I was exhausted. After 11pm Jose let me speak just in English, asking me about my jobs and where I lived. By that point I was lucky to follow a conversation in English. Spanish seemed impossible. But starting today the rule is no more English for me. Only Spanish will be spoken to me and by me. I´m doing ok so far, but I can see it will be hard when I am tired. And Karla talks FAST!
Must shower and get dressed. It´s almost noon. I was supposed to meet Tony at the church today to observe the English classes, but he called to say that he has to stay at his house and fix his roof, so I will have a day of rest. Karla will teach me to use certain cabs run by men she knows and she will ride with me the first few times until I am comfortable. I am spoiled here!
More later...
I will try to explain where I am living. Tony took a dirt road which seems like an alley because I saw mostly garages. Then we stopped at a basketball court where some men were hanging out. Tony said that because we had two computers between the 2 of us, and so much lugggage it would be best for us to call Jose and ask him to come out to help us. He said that way people would know we were with Jose.
So Jose came out to Tony´s truck and seemed very excited to have me here. Later he explained that he really enjoys hosting people, in fact 2 Canadian girls stayed here very recently. Inside I met Jose´s wife, Karla, who at first seemed very quiet. But later, and today when we are alone I see that she is not. Tony and Jose went to pick up Tony´s wife, Nidia, who was visiting her mother in the hospital and left karla and me alone to speak only spanish and we did just fine. I showed her pictures of Jack and we only got hung up on one word, cunada, which means sister in law. I won´t forget that one now.
So we ate a really yummy dinner. It was spaghetti baked in a pan with a sort of alfredo sauce, some diced chicken and lots of spinach. Right up my alley! Karla also served some carrots marinated in vinegar and something that made them spicey. Today we talked about what foods I like and I am in the right house. They don´t like a lot of meat here. In Karla says the children pick the meat out of their food just like I used to when I was a kid!
Speaking of the girls, I haven´t met them yet. They are with Karla´s parents because they have a vacation from school. Karla says we will go and spend a weekend with her parents if I want to, so we will do that while I am here. Also with the girls is Karla´s sister, Karina. I will be sharing a bedroom with her. (I took a picture of it last night but have not had luck uploading pics yet. I´ll figure it out.) Karina stays here and goes to college nearby, but she also is a big help with the girls. Karla not only is a mother, but is also getting her bachelors degree in psychology and working. Busy lady! Karla has been staying up until 3 or 5 a.m. every night lately with school work.
After dinner last night Jose emphasized how he wants me to feel at home here and to help myself to what I need. He also said he hopes I will talk to him or Karla about how I am feeling whenever I need to. He and Karla have been married for 6 years. They are in their late 20´s.
One of my favorite things so far is that they have a big enclosed back yard which is shared with a neighbor. It has a mango tree, but Jose said we will buy mangos at the store, I´m not sure why, as he also said this is the time for the mango to be ripe. His English is perfect, by the way.
I had been wondering where I would find to escape to for private time, but I think the answer is the hammock in the back yard. I´ll take a picture of it soon.
Last night I was worried that I would not sleep well. It was very hot and I brought heavy pj´s as I was used to the cold nights up in the mountains. However, I slept just fine and wasn´t even bothered by the dogs or the kids outside this morning. I was exhausted. After 11pm Jose let me speak just in English, asking me about my jobs and where I lived. By that point I was lucky to follow a conversation in English. Spanish seemed impossible. But starting today the rule is no more English for me. Only Spanish will be spoken to me and by me. I´m doing ok so far, but I can see it will be hard when I am tired. And Karla talks FAST!
Must shower and get dressed. It´s almost noon. I was supposed to meet Tony at the church today to observe the English classes, but he called to say that he has to stay at his house and fix his roof, so I will have a day of rest. Karla will teach me to use certain cabs run by men she knows and she will ride with me the first few times until I am comfortable. I am spoiled here!
More later...
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