So I spend a lot of time talking about my work life here. Patients. Reports. Health fairs. Brigades.
But I've realized recently that my favorite part about being here... is being here. Taking time to just talk and get to know people, to spend a day in real, rural Honduras rather than being cooped up in our little Westernized world of luxuries--of internet, English, and circular debates about the nature of our work. In light of this, I've been making a much more concerted effort to experience "Honduras" more, to really get to know the area and the people, not just my coworkers but also my neighbors and fellow community members.
Highlights of the past few weeks:
- Horseback riding, where I actually got to gallop as fast as I wanted up and down the mountain on a horse named Bandido (Bandit). So much, in fact, that we only got back five hours later, with sore buttocks, sunburnt faces, and the grins of two giddy five-year-olds.
- Sorting coffee beans (green to red to brown to dried!) with five-year-old Fernando, who wore galoshes too big for him and a ratty t-shirt riddled with holes. Sitting with him for an hour as we waited at his house for his grandparents, neither of whom we knew, and knowing that as creepy this would be in the States, it was perfectly normal and in fact the only way to meet them.
- Riding on top of a bus on the way back, enjoying beautiful scenery, the occasional catcall, and fresh fruit (ocote) from the side of the road. Hanging onto the side rails as we turn and swerve around the winding mountain roads. Lying down on a bunch of boxes, only to realize that my head was resting on a bunch of chickens.
- Playing (or trying to play) soccer with the local boys, doing my best to remember which were on my team and which I had to avoid. And then learning their nicknames, which included "Chicas" (girls) and "Pavo" (turkey).
- Horseback riding, again, this time bucked off by the very same horse, simply because he was jealous of another horse getting too close to "his" mare. Apparently love triangles know no bounds, even those between species...
- Traveling to the airport and back (an 8-hour venture on shitty roads--6 on a good day), making friends with the various bus drivers and ayudantes. Talking to them about America, China, and good music. Good music that is not solely limited to 80s rock ballads. Or at least, not solely limited to the same five 80s rock ballads.
- Making a stop at a local microbrewery, run by an American expat and frequented by primarily European backpackers. Jealous of all of their crazy travels all over the world, yet now realizing the vast difference between that type of time abroad and extended time in one place. Wondering if now I could ever be satisfied with just spending a day or two in a new place.
- Riding, and then learning to drive "mototaxis": motortrikes with makeshift carriages that traverse back and forth between Santa Lucía and Magdalena. Only to find that our bus was coming up from behind, about to pass us, at which point our driver (or my mototaxi teacher) points and yells at us to get off, swatting our money, and us, away.
- Working in the computer lab for a day as the only gringa in the room. Laughing and joking with health promoters, data entry staff, and our area manager, all of whom teach me various colloquial Honduran phrases. Speaking only Spanish for almost the entire day, by the end of which I can not only express myself better, but also be sarcastic and crack jokes--so that they could understand me! Small victories :)
- Spending hours and hours in the kitchen over the weekend. Doing my best to cook up pineapple fried rice (thanks Mike!) for Chinese New Year, despite lacking half of the ingredients. Then helping to make a "Superbowl dinner," complete with Skyline dip and two types of chili. Learning how to make tortillas, then frying them to make homemade tortilla chips.
These are some of my favorite parts about being here--experiences that remind me how much I love living here and how much I love the people here. After about four months here, I get both frustrated with and protective of the Honduran campo that I'm still only beginning to know. Looking at Fernando, I wanted both to take him far, far away where he could eat better food and wear better clothes, but also keep him just where he was, left alone and protected from gringos and Western influence, too much technology, and cynicism. Not that it matters, since I can't do either one...
Anyway, just wanted to share! Paz :)
