The one with the Cold Front in Honduras (?!)

Yes, that’s right… ITS COLD IN HONDURAS! (not all the time though, as shown by this photo, taken mere weeks ago) But what does it mean to be cold here? It means is actually isn’t that cold, maybe 50/60 degrees… but…. Nothing is insulated, houses and buildings are usually missing part of the roof or maybe lack a wall, and this girl didn’t come prepared with proper cooler weather clothing! Don’t take my experience to mean that its “cold” all over the country… actually… it’s not… most parts of Honduras are hot all the time… a lot of my friends from training are still sweating buckets every day… but out west where I am, we experience a more “fresco” climate… which is much more pleasant and bearable that hot all the time with no escape (just like there is no insulation, there is also no air conditioning).

I went to a Ropa Americana store last week to get a few scarves and another sweatshirt… the sweatshirt is great, I’m pretty sure it was part of a two piece set that perhaps someone’s grandmother wore to go power walking in… its velvety, and I thought it was pink, which is why I chose it, but in some lights it looks more red… Oh, and thanks to some wonderful people back home (mom and Courtney) I’ve received some warm pajamas. Thanks! I do also think that my blood has thinned out since being here... a girl who grew up in the frigid winters of New England shivers along with her Honduran neighbors saying "que frio!" when it's 60 degrees? Excuse me?

This have been going well, a bit more tranquilo since its “summer break.” I’m still working on building the support group for pregnant adolescents, trucking through Yo Se Leer, which is going slower than anticipated because you can’t teach sounds to kids if they can’t identify the letters, but that’s ok, I’ve got time and they need the basics. Funny how the usage of the phrase “the basics” gets put into perspective when you’re working in a place like this… not just syllables and vowels… but literally, one letter at a time. My English class ends this week- I can’t believe how much I have enjoyed teaching adults English… I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled about the idea in the beginning, but I had a blast! And it was great practice for when I give the course to teachers in a few months. I was also approached 3 times last week for "psychological" advice... because i'm a psychologist, right? Well,I told all three of these people that per PC rules, I can't give medical advice, because I'm here as a Youth Development Volunteer, not as a psychologist, however I would certainly talk to them "informally." It went well, I was so happy these people trusted me enough to confide in me.... ayy i thought maybe this experience would help me narrow down what I want to do with my life, but it seems to be giving me more ideas instead....

World AIDS day was December 1st, there was a parade (I marched with the Youth Center) and presentation at the park. HIV/AIDS awareness is all over the place, which is good, because out of all of Central America, I believe I read the Honduras has the highest rate….. basically you have to preach protecting yourself, and fidelity. However with the teen pregnancy rates, it’s clear that not everyone is practicing safe sex.

Working with my counterpart from the youth center has been wonderful... i am the third volunteer she's worked with, so she understands Peace Corps goals, and is a well-educated, super responsible, motivated person... the Youth Center hasn't had a YD volunteer for a few years too, which is nice because although they reference past volunteers, it was a while ago so i am not continuously being compared to former volunteers (i know a lot of PCVs have trouble with this, especially when they are sent to replace a former volunteer). It is, however, becoming more evident to me the misconception of what international aid should be when I am working at IHNFA. They have not had a long term volunteer, ever. It's a challenge to explain WHY i need to be working WITH personnel at the organization rather than working so someone else doesn't have to. Its normal here for international aid groups to come in, give money or donations, and leave. While that's wonderful if you have the means and you want to give, it doesn't help the long term development of the organization, nor the overall functioning of the country. Its not sustainable. I need to be training and collaborating with Hondurans so that when I leave, hopefully some aspect of their organization will have been improved and will continue to improve in my absence. THATS why Peace Corps service is 2 years.

Que mas! My hotel is all decked out for the holidays, I really appreciate everyone’s contributions from home! My landlady gets a kick out of the things you all send me. I think her favorite was my sequenced Santa Claus sweater that just arrived…. But when I showed it to her, she asked if it was ME!

There was a nice concert at an abandoned church this past weekend…. It was an orchestra and choir from one of the Universities and they did some of my favorite classics, silent night (noche de paz), little drummer boy (nino del tambor), and glooo- ooo ooo ooo, oo oo oooo o ooo, ooo oo o o oooooria. This picture is me and my friend from Argentina (whose here for 2 years working as well) at the concert, with candles for silent night... notice the scarf... and thats my new used sweatshirt! Looks red, right?
And this week the bilingual school is going to have some sort of Christmas show in the park! I’m psyched for that!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season…. Is it snowy?? I don’t suppose I’ll see a white Christmas this year… maybe next year…. Just remember, THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER IS SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR! (I over-quote that, I know, but it speaks the truth!) Speaking of singing…. My site mates, and the other volunteers I’ve asked, have NEVER heard Dominic the Donkey…. ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Tell me if I am wrong to think it is a fairly popular Christmas song….???