Odds and Ends

So today marks two weeks that I have been in Honduras, it’s pretty crazy. I feel like this semester will be gone in the blink of an eye. I think the setup of my days really make them fly. I leave home at 7:45 and usually get home around 5. Combined with the fact that I go to bed around 10, the days go by so fast. My classes have been going very well; we have had some interesting speakers in the last few weeks. Earlier this week we had a speaker come from the World Bank to talk about the Honduran economy, and last week the second to the US Ambassador in Honduras came to talk to our class about the Coup. It is great hearing about the things we are studying from several different perspectives. On an unrelated note I have gotten pretty used to the weather, and am enjoying it quite a bit. Today it was fairly cool, in the 70’s and probably into the 60’s tonight. I am really enjoying the food. My host mama is a great cook, I haven’t disliked anything she has made yet. My body also didn’t react negatively to the change in food, which was good. I usually buy my lunch from the school cafeteria, which is basically four different food stands with similar foods. Everything I have had has been delicious. Deep friend and unhealthy I am sure, but delicious. I usually spend around 20 lempiras for lunch, which is about a dollar. Many times I will just get a fruit salad for about 75 cents. The melon here is in season right now, and quite wonderful.

Today was great; we went to see an organization called Mujeres Valientes, a support group in Nueva Suyapa for women who have been victims of domestic abuse. We heard the stories of a few different women, and then went on a tour of Nueva Suyapa to see some of their houses, and hear more from them in smaller groups. Many of these women had incredibly sad stories, and for them to open up to us was very touching. We could tell that there was still a lot of hurting there, but the group has helped a lot. Mujeres Valientes works mainly by word of mouth. Women will seek out other women when they think that they may be victims of domestic abuse. They have individual counseling, group meetings, and support for other issues, such as cancer. Related to Mujeres Valientes is a microcredit program run by women in Nueva Suyapa. Somewhere around 70-80% of the households in this community are run by women, and this microcredit program is now reaching hundreds of households. I mentioned something about this in an earlier post, but usually financial things will go through the women in the household as they tend to spend the money more wisely, usually on their children rather than alcohol as many men do.

One of the other things we checked out while in Nueva Suyapa was pilas. These pilas are basically concrete structures where families can keep their water. The water only comes on about once a month in these neighborhoods, so the time of the month where the water is turned on, everyone drops what they are doing to fill of their coke bottles, barrels, etc. This water is for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, etc. and has to last a month. The pilas allow families to simply fill up these concrete structures, and have a larger amount of water in one place, instead of filling up 30 or so coke bottles. The pilas were constructed a few years ago, actually with the help of a Calvin group. They were able to build 16, and these went to some of the poorest families, chosen with the help of some of the leaders from Mujeres Valientes.

Last weekend I went to the Mayoreo, which is basically a giant open air market that happens every weekend in downtown Tegus. Countless people come in from the rural areas to sell their agricultural products, as well as everything from clothing to pirated dvds. It was one of the busiest places I have ever been, but it was definitely an experience. On Sunday I went to a family get together with my host family, that was a lot of fun. I also went to dinner with my host family and a Calvin grad who lived with my families several years ago, and her parents who were here for the weekend. She is not living in Honduras and teaching a few hours away from Tegus. It was nice to talk to her. Well it is almost 10 o’clock- way past my bedtime. I think this is where I will end today.