Typical bailaring night!!!!!

MY HOUSE!!!!

OHHHHH HONDURAS!!!!

SOOOOOO....

Still in Roatan, we got held back a day because buses weren´t running....

We are leaving tomorrow morning, taking the ferry to Ceiba and then one of Nick´s friends is picking us up and driving us all the way to Teguc and Guatepeci (sp?)....

Anyways... Situation is still stable, friends in Teguc say that things are still peaceful, and it´s still safe to travel. Last I heard Hugo Chavez has troops lined up on the borders of Nicaragua and Honduras ready to attack... To my knowledge all propaganda... But I´m going to the capital tomorrow... I should be fine... The locals know what they´re doing....

Anyways, just wanted to say, I´m still safe and the Honduran president is an IDIOT! UGHHHHH...

Anyways, as of now, still flying out on the same time, same day and plans are normal.... thanks!!!

PEACE!

I´m safeeeeee

So despite the headling news on cnn and bbc and everywhere else I´m safe just to let everyone know...

The Honduran President was kidnapped this morning, the military is in Teguc, Taca airport is closed andddd all the buses aren´t running...

So I´m staying an extra day in Roatan... POOORRRR MEEE.....

anyways... I´m safe, and I´m completely removed from the situation and I should be still coming home on the same day as of now...

And it´s really cool to be in country while this is happening :) don´t worry though I won´t do anything stupid....

As of now, I´m going to go shower so I can get some good Thai food tonight!!!!

And I had the best lobster salad today!!! YUMMMM!!!

Roatan!!!!

Greetings all!

I´m sitting about 3 yards from the Carribean Sea... Yesterday, cocounuts fell on the beach so we picked them up, and got a guy to cut them open for us. The water is PERFECT temperature and today I went snorkling for the first time...

Basically, I´m living in a tropical paradise at a very cheap price. It´s hot here, but it´s nice because I can jump in the Carribean anytime I want.

I am having a lot of fun here relaxing, but still adjusting to the ¨culture shock¨even though I am in the same country. Everything is so toursity here... Everyone speaks English... The community in Esperanza is non-existent here... People are always busy... Everything is expensive according to Honduran standards and everything is a luxury... After living so simply for amonth, it just in a way, slightly disgusts me. I don´t need any of this stuff... And, I really miss my host family a lot.... It´s so weird that I won´t be going back to them after this weekend...

But despite the culture shock and missing the Morale´s I´m having fun... I´m thankful to be here and I´m glad I came here before returning to the states... It´s helping me ease my way into going back home...

Anddd.... The next few days will be interesting with the elections going on... No one freak out, I´ll be safe... I´m not even on the mainland, I´m on a Island that is full of toursity things... And Hondurans love Americans, minus the president who everyone hates...

Anyways, just wanted everyone to know I´m still alive...

PEACE

Greetings from Roatan

Sorry about the last post? I don´t know what just happened...

Anyways, greetings from Roatan. It is incredibly humid here, but incredibly beautiful. I really like the Carribean.

So Wednesdsay night was my last night in Esperanza. It was nice to hang out with the family basically the whole day before I left. At night, the sisters bought Val and I a cake and said really nice things... Ít´s was realy mushy and sappy and then... All of a sudden there was cake in my face... So confusing, and then there was cake in my hair. And then cake on the floor, on the walls, on the doors and basicaly cake everywhere. Darcy ran into her room and locked it so we couldn´t get her, Elvis ran outside out of the house and Angel and Alan attacked everyone with cake. It was a mess, but SO much fun!

After that, we just hung out, bailared and had fun.... It was a good last night... Until I actually had to say bye which was incredibly depressing.... I am thinking I most DEF need to come back to Honduras and visit the family. I can´t not se them again... Not going to work for me.

Anyways, the next morning a group of us woke up and traveled all day for less than $75 to an island on the exact opposite end from us. I am now sitting at a computer at a hotel that is only costing me $20 a night that is right across from the Carribean Sea. It´s hot, it´s beautiful and it´s weird.... I´m glad I decided to come, because it´s helping me adjust a little bit to the culture shock I think I´ll experience when I go home, and it´s helping me get used to the idea of being away from the family for so long.... It´s weird that when I first walked into the room in Esperanza that I asked myself how I would live there for a whole month, and now I just really want to go back...

Anyways, pictures, videos and more will be posted later.... See you all when I get home...

I´m Safe...

....

It's so depressing. I can't walk into a room without someone telling me that I'm leaving Thursday... It kills me!!!!

Yesterday, Clare and I tried to steal Elvis' hat which turned into an EPIC water fight... Which is probably a stupid idea in Honduras since the water only comes at certain times during the day and can be quite scarce... But it was SO fun because since everyone in Esperanza knows each other, our whole block got involved... Which was fun because they gave us water, but it was bad because Elvis hid in people's houses since he is a CHEEETTTEERRRR....

Oh and awhile ago... The family had this dog named Blackie... And we hadn't seen him for the past week. So we asked Angel what happened to her and he said she died... But yesterday, we found out that the family had a pet bird and we saw Blackie... Which means Angel is a BIG FAT LIAR.. But anyways, the bird was... vicious! It kept attacking us...

After that though, the night was a bit depressing. Darcy's aunt is really sick and from what I could understand, I think she may die soon, so if you think about it keep her in your prayers...

Other than that, not much to report, it's weird to think that I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Roatan... Infa is going well.... Kids look cute, but are slightly disastorous and need to learn to share... as usual....

And I need to get the family a thank you present, but I don't know what... I'm printing out a few pictures... Any ideas anyone? Candy for the kids????

Pictures of dancing and this weekend

Left is Alan and I trying to figure out who Angel´s girlfriend is... Clare is in the background asking if he´s kissed her yet...¿y mas?




Below is Alan and I dancing to Te Amo... and he def has a crush on me... Oh dearrrr....

Below is me yelling at Clare to help me because elvis is kind of a creeper, but a good dancer.

Below-Clare, Patrick and I at an overlook in Tegucigalpa.

Below is Patrick and I at the National Art Museum in Teguc.

Happy Fathers Day!

Hi Dad

Daniela and I made you a card today! Happy Fathers Day!!!!!!!

Back home

Tegucigalpa was loads of fun! On Saturday, Clare and I met Patrick and then we walked around Antigua the old town and went to a really pointless Museum. It was really good to see a familiar face and see how he was doing and hear about his trip to Colombia After we went to MultiPlaza the mall and just hung out there for awhile. We got to eat some GOOD American food.... After we got really bored and decided to go see a El Noche al Museo 2. It was in English luckily, but it was fun to see a movie in Honduras. After that we split off.

The next morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to do an incredibly anti'climatic hike to the jesus cristo which overlooked the city... Except it was foggy and we couldn´t see anything. Then we walked to ther center of town and just took pictures like normal tourists and went to the National Art Museum which was actually really cool. I miss looking at art. We got to get to eat some Honduran soup which was delish and then Clare and I heaed back to La Esperanza.

Overrall, Tegucigalpa was fun, but it was very city like and fast paced and verrryyy Americanized... It was weird being in a city again. It was a relief to be back here at home in Esperanza. I really missed the family and the kids. I haven´t got to see everyone yet sadly, because a lot of them just got back from the wedding, but tonight we are going to dance like crazy!!! I have three more full days here in Esperanza with the family and I honestly don´t know what I´m going to do when I have to say bye... I think I may go insane... And I´m expecting to be in culture shock to since life in the US is so fast... uggghhhhh...... anyways Clare and I have been taking pictures with my extra memory card on her camera, so I will try to post them later.

Oh and lor lor and resrie I have new favs to have some sweet freestylin´moves too.. Makano, Punta y Daddy Yankeee....... WOOOTTT!!!

And happy fathers day daddy!!! I would call, but the phones here are broken .... saddddddddd

Greetings from Tegucigalpa! It is 8:00 in the morning and it was SO wonderful to take a nice shower last night with not scorching hot or freezing cold water. We are staying at a wonderful hotel for only $20 a night and it is one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in!

So this Wednesday, a group of new volunteers came. We went to go pick up the girls staying with us and on the way there, a car almost hit us (going at probably less than 15 mph) and I said welcome to Honduras... Darcy, the sister laughed and said "no welcome to El Salvador" Which was funny because Honduras and El Salvador are the biggest rivals ever... The futbol game with them was INTENSE! Anyways... We have three new people staying in our house and there are altogether about 17 new volunteers. Lots of new people to meet and lots of new Gringo faces. It´s always nice to have more people to speak english with.

Thursday night, Clare and I danced with the family again... Literally all night... (well until 11PM which is really late here). Elvis, the cousin, who is an amazing dancer... was teaching Alan the little ten year old how to move his hips and it was quite hilarious and probably a bit inappropraite... Latin people can move their hips like no other! Really, its not human. Clare and I looked like fools.... But regardless, it was really fun. I have no idea what I´m going to do when I go to the US...

Yesterday, Clare and I woke up and hopped on a bus to head to the capital. We met up with my friend Patrick from UOP and got dinner with him. He set us up with an amazing hotel that I´m in right now and today we´re taking a hike on a mountain with a huge statue of Jesus that overlooks all of Tegucigalpa.

Anyways, I´m still alive, just thought I´d let everyone know... I only have 3 more days of work left, which means three more days left with the fam and it´s really depressing. As excited as I am to come home, I am dreading leaving the Morales family. They have taken really good care of us and have helped us become part of the family.

Last night, we played cards with the family for about 3 hours. It was quite intense and entertaining. The family is absolutely wonderful, we manage to keep ourselves entertained with simple things and the days are starting to go by rather quickly...

Today was QUITE eventful at the infant center. I told the family about my stolen camera and they really want me to find it... So we´re offerring the kids 20 limps (about 1 US dollar) if they can find it and give it back. I doubt it´ll come back, but I´m praying REALLY hard that it will turn up somewhere. I had REALLY good pictures so I´m disappointed that I won´t be able to share them with everyone when I get home...

Anyways, bascially the cousin of the family, Elvis came over and talked to the boss of the Infant center and got all the staff involved and they were all talking about it for an hour as the kids were running around trying to find a camera that someone probably took when we were all not looking...

Anyways, Clare my British friend was gracious enough to let me borrow hers, so here are some photos of the weekend and of last night...

SIIIGGGHHH....

well the weeekend was super fun, the ruins were amazing and I took amazing pictures....butttt...

my camera got stolen today at the infant center. I don't really care about the camera so much, as the pictures and the videos. Hopefully we'll find it though and I can upload some more videos.

Suprisingly, it was SO nice to come back to my home in La Esperanza and chill with the family after quite a fun and busy weekend.

We went to Las Gracias on Friday and chilled around a Lenca pottery village... Let's just say making pottery is not my forte. On Saturday we went to Copan and on Sunday morning we went to the ruins. They were smaller then I thought, but really cool. However, about 5 people in our group woke up with teh stomach flu that morning and the bus ride back was scary. Luckily everyone made it without getting sick despite the unpaved bumpy roads and crazy Honduran driving. People are still sick and recovering so keep them in your prayers if you think of it...

The past two days it has been raining like crazy. Normally, I like the rain and I'm used to it because Seattle IS the rainest city ever... BUT there are only dirt roads in Esperanza and it is impossible to get around.

Last night was fun. Clare and I played cards with the family. Girls v. Guys. It gets really intense and competitive. I will have to teach some of you the game when I get back. It's called 31, kind of like black jack, but not.

Anyways, I've reached my half way point and have 5 more days of work... THis weekend I'm going to Tegucigalpa with Clare to see my friend Patrick from UOP. He's there working with a microcredit organization called Katalysis. Next weekend we are leaving early to go to Roatan in the north. Apparently it's incredibly touristy and really really really humid. But I'm excited to finish this month up even though it'll be sad to leave the family.

If you think of it, pray that I find my camera please!!! THANK YOU! PEACE!

here are a few videos from the past two weeks....

Most likely, I won't have internet access this weekend... sooooo peace until la proxima semana!!!!

Hola...

I´m up and feeling much better... Everyone on the team is coming down with something though... Tomorrow is our last day of work this week. Friday morning we leave for copan to see the Mayan ruins... i´m super excited!!!!

On the left is a picture of Antonio and I. He´s a kid from the Orpahange and so funny! He loves playing with trucks and he can be kind of a trouble maker. But he loves cameras and stole mine for the first day and took about 100 pointless pictures that I had to go through and delete.... gesh!

Last night was quite a night. We decided we needed some American food so a few of us got stuff to make smores. we built a little fire by the house and the kids went WILD... never giving them sugar at 9 PM... and that is very late here. I´ve been going to bed around like 8 to 830 everynight just because the day ends so early... All of the kids were running around like crazy... and more crazy than usual. Alan (on the left with the marshmellow stick) has not left my side and we´ve concluded that this little ten year old Honduran has a crush on me... oh dear...

Tonight we´re going to watch the soccer game between El Salvador and Honduras. It should be super intenese. El Salvador is Honduras´ biggest rivals and Latins are SO intense about their soccer...

So far everything is going well... things are a bit slow around here, and I think i´m in a bit of culture shock because after work the days are so incredibly slow... But I´m slowly finding new ways to keep me busy. Only thing that has gone really wrong are all the beatles in our room. We´ve had a few freak outs. Luckily one of my roommates Valery has brought enough bug spray and bug killing substances to kill about half of the bugs in Honduras.

Oh by the way I live with four other volunteers. There is Sloan and Jordan who are from Virgina and leaving on Tuesday. And in my room there is Valery from Kansas and Clare from England. We like to make fun of her accent...

Anyways, pray that I can make it through next week, we´re all just wanting it to be next week so we reach our half way point and so we can all get better...

PEACE!

This weeekend we didn´t go to San Juan and instead just hung out with the family. We watched the soccer game with the and wow do latin´s love their soccer. Sadly Honduras lost to the U.S.
After we went dancing with the family...awkward and fun. Next day we went to the market in town and just hung out. I FINALLY went running and it felt wonderful, except now my back hurts like a mother and I think Í have a bit of a head cold.... But other than that i´m doing okay...

Next weekend we are going to copan to the ruins and I´m excited about that, it´ll be nice to get out of La Esperanza for a week. I absolutely adore the host family that I am living with. Two of the boys Angel (12) and Alan (10) are hilarious! We pick on each other probably every two seconds of the day. But regardless of that, they treat us with so much respect and are constantly sacrificing their well being for others. It´s quite humbling. Jesus (2) is one of the sweetest little boys. Two girls Anna (4) and another who I can´t catch the name of always greet us with hugs. The moms are wonderful, except they tend to overreact when anyone is sick, so I´m keeping my physical state on teh DL or else they would never let me out of the house. But other than that they are fantastic and feed us well.

The orphanage is super fun! I love playing with the kids and running around with them. The only time they are quiet is when they eat. They are able to stay entertained with just about anything.

I was able to find a church yesterday, but because I was not feeling to well I did not go... But it felt SO good to be at church again... Apparently they have Bible study on Thurday, but I don´t know if I´m going to go or not because I am not fluent enough... But I am reading my Bible every night which is a good re-charge for the rest of the day....


Anyways, this is my first full week... pray for health---mental, physical and especially spiritual if you think of it...

part of the team-host family outside of the house

HOLA!!!

So i can´t upload my pictures at this cafe, but i will try to tomorrow...

but oh my gosh, yesterday our family gave us dance lessons SOOOOOO embarassing but so fun!!! i have videos and pictures... elvis, the cousin can move his hips like none other and i can´t physically move my hips and keep everything else still...

the family is great. we have been playing with the kids a lot and they are so fun!!! jesus is 2, alan is 10, anna is 4 and there is another 2 yr old girl and 10 yr old boy.... every night we´ve been playing cards or just goofing off...

oh and i´ve been speaking spanish so much that i´ve been thinking in spanish, talking to myself in spanish and praying in spanish... weird...

and yes dad, i got my bag back...
and i ate the fruit b-c the host family gave it to me... it´s good...


we are going to san juan today with the host family to dance.... oh gosh...
bahahahhha, but we are also watching the partido de futbol... usa v. honduras. and i´m rooting for honduras so i don´t get shot. everyone is going wild today they have honduras nationalism music playing, honduras flags and hats everywhere and people are so excited. it´s fun!

anyways hope washington is well... it´s wonderful to wear clean clothes.

Day 2

First of all this keyboard is SO confusing so if there are random symbols ignore them!!!


Anyways...yesterday was funny... my friend Clare and I went to go look for a blanket b.c mine smelt like b.o.... but i didn´t know the word for blanket. So after walking around for like a million hours and talking to a million people and describing a blanket to them we found out that the word was colchon... so we talked to a million other people and asked them if they knew a store that sold a colchon.... But no one knew a store and FINALLY we came across this one little boy and he took us himself to a store that sold colchons only to discover that colchon was a mattress.... So basically after that we had to start over.... It was quite a wild goose chase and after a couple hours of running around town, we found a stack of blankets sitting outside to discover that they are actually called colchas... WOOPS but anyways, i got a blanket, it smells nice, it´s warm and I slept well last night...

Today we went to the orphanage for the first time and there were about 20 kids there and they were super cute... I will post pictures later... They were crazy though and the three of us that were there are super tired from giving piggy backs and spinning them around all day....

I think tomorrow we are going to San Juan with our host family b-c there is a carnival there or something??? Should be fun... peaaccceeeee

I'm HEEEERREEEE

Hola todas!!

I am here and still alive!!! Oh my gosh... My flight over was SOOOO tiring... First of all... My flight got canceled and I had to go on a completely different route and it was CRAZY hectic. By the time I got to my third plane I found out I was flying to San Pedro and asked the woman next to me where it was. She told me that she did not speak English so with broken Spanish I managed to figure out that it was in Honduras. Later I asked her if she lived in Honduras in Spanish, but she still said she didnt speak any english... UGGHHH MI ACCENTO GRINGO!!!!

Anyways, on top of all of this, my bag did not come... So I have been wearing the same clothes for three days straight! I smell pretty bad!!! But apparently it is coming tomorrow around 1 for sure! Whew!!!

But other than that things have been good, the hotel we stayed at the first night was amazing! We had plantane pankcakes for breakfast :-D DELICIOUS!!!! The scenery is soooo pretty... Everything is so green!!

Last night, we got to La Esperanza and met our homestay families. I am living with three sisters and some other people? There are 4 other volunteers staying with me. The house is nice, the food is AMAZING, and the host family is really wonderful. Living conditions are managable... We are kind of roughing it, but it's okay. Our group is going to do a lot of traveling during the weekends to see the rest of Honduras. I'm prety excited!

Today we got to see the building site and play with the kids for a bit. It was fun... And getting there was hilarious! We basically ride in the back of pickup trucks and hang on for our lives... Apparently that's how Honduran's roll....

Tomorrow is my first day to actually volunteer in the orpahange. Apparently, these are kids of single parent families that need desperate attention. The orpahange is run by the government and almost zero of the money that it's supposed to get, goes to the kids. But GVN is doing a good job restoring it and I'm excited to work with the kids...

Sorry this is so scattered, I just wanted to say that I'm alive and give a small update!

Oh and for anyone worried... Honduras is VERY safe.... The buses we are taking are the most trusted throughout Honduras and as long as we stay in groups and don't do anything stupid than we won't get in any trouble..... Our program director Nic assured us of this....

Anyways, I will update as much as possible!!!! Hope everything at home is well!!!!

I am still in Bellevue and still alive...