Hola! Today was the first day of official work - after a trip to the super market where Mitch and Lois took some pictures of cow tongue and cow intenstines (yuck!). I was part of the demolition crew - we tore that wall down!!! I got to use a sledge hammer - watch out folks! Then I helped make a hearty lunch of pp&j - was it ever tasty.
In the afternoon - I was able to play with some of the kids. They taught me some hand games and Shelly taught them "oboe-shin-natin-tatin" - they loved it and we all played together!
After a much needed shower we were off to a great dinner and a tour of the town.
Thanks for the ice-cream Bob!
That's all for now folks.... I'll keep you posted on how sore I am!
Adios,
Krysten
Monday, March 31, 2008
Painting away!!
We are having fun painting a lot today! And I mean painting the beds, painting the walls... this is such a fun cooperative group -- everyone pitches in and finds something to do... My husband Bob, and Debbie, had a hard time finding any paint, so our new colors are... oh well.
Pooper Scoopers
I started my day with a quick swim in the pool at the Hotel Quan. Had to turn on the filter and skimmer myself then had the pool to myself. We are pretty big time at the Quan, our room happens to be poolside.... the pool is in the parking lot!
After breakfast and before heading to the hogar, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up supplies for the week's lunches. It was a cool excursion to a new and very clean Honduran grocery store. FYI- the "meat" department is a little different than our Cub back home as are many of the great products they offer.
You can't even imagine the job that Evan, "the Brave One" and I attempted today. At the end of the great wall of the hogar (that others got to tear down- see the pics on that) sits a row of outdoor toilets. Quite nice in outchouse terms... at least at one time. As they had been unused, but well backed up- cleaning out these rancid recpetacles was not for the faint of heart. Thanks to Michelle's ingenious dust mask with a handy wipe inside, the smell was almost tolerable! I only had to wretch and gag for a short while and remarkable, nothing actually came up. Alas, the job was left for another day. We have photos, but I'm sure they are much too disgusting to post. Pooper Scoopers Unite!
Enough for now- I get to go hang out with some kids. I'll tell you about Rey (King) a bit later. he is too cool!
Peace from Honduras-
Mitch
After breakfast and before heading to the hogar, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up supplies for the week's lunches. It was a cool excursion to a new and very clean Honduran grocery store. FYI- the "meat" department is a little different than our Cub back home as are many of the great products they offer.
You can't even imagine the job that Evan, "the Brave One" and I attempted today. At the end of the great wall of the hogar (that others got to tear down- see the pics on that) sits a row of outdoor toilets. Quite nice in outchouse terms... at least at one time. As they had been unused, but well backed up- cleaning out these rancid recpetacles was not for the faint of heart. Thanks to Michelle's ingenious dust mask with a handy wipe inside, the smell was almost tolerable! I only had to wretch and gag for a short while and remarkable, nothing actually came up. Alas, the job was left for another day. We have photos, but I'm sure they are much too disgusting to post. Pooper Scoopers Unite!
Enough for now- I get to go hang out with some kids. I'll tell you about Rey (King) a bit later. he is too cool!
Peace from Honduras-
Mitch
It's Hot Here
I know that's an obvious statement....but it really is hot here!
Today was a great day because we got to work at the Hodar all day. I love it when we get to do projects....if only it weren't so hot!
This is an awesome place but the amount of work that needs to be done is a bit overwhelming. I guess there are two factors that will limit our ability to see great physical success here: lack of time and money. I guess that's another reason why we are here...to tell people back home about this great place and encourage others to support it.
By the way, did I mention that it is hot here?
Today was a great day because we got to work at the Hodar all day. I love it when we get to do projects....if only it weren't so hot!
This is an awesome place but the amount of work that needs to be done is a bit overwhelming. I guess there are two factors that will limit our ability to see great physical success here: lack of time and money. I guess that's another reason why we are here...to tell people back home about this great place and encourage others to support it.
By the way, did I mention that it is hot here?
Another great start to the day in Honduras and I haven't needed to take any Cipro for stomach issues.... "Don't drink the water!" I got the memo on that but I think I may have swallowed some water while I was in shower. I will cross my fingers. :) Before heading out to the hogar this morning we made a quick stop at the grocery store. We got a ton of great stuff for the kids and some things for friends and family.
Chris got some jamon (ham) and passed it around on the bus. It was kind of random, but appreciated! Ha. ha.
One of the big buys of the day were basketballs. Nick2, Chris and I purchased some basketballs. I'm hopeful that we will get a game in with the kids before we leave.
When we arrived at the hogar today we immediately went to work on taking down the huge
brick wall in front. What was originally intended as a three day project looks like it may be done in one! It's a ton of fun working with everyone. I know that I am meeting lifelong friends, which is really neat. Tomorrow it looks like I will be teaching in the kindergarten room. I brought a bunch of materials down to do a couple of projects, which I am very excited about. 40 kindergartners! Ok, now that sounds like a lot. I hope they don't run all over me!
As I’m writing this it is going on 10:00 p.m. Sunday night, March 30th. Larry is reading in a bed to the right of me, and Nick is reading in a bed to my left. But finding out about the sleeping arrangements of the tres caballeros isn’t why you’re reading this, I’m sure. So on to things much more important.
This evening we had the fortune of attending the wedding ceremony of Omar and Elisa in Villa de San Antonio. Omar is a young man who lived much of his life at the Hogar. Actually, he was still living there right up until their wedding tonight.
The wedding was outside at the home of a friend. We sat at tables and watched the ceremony which was a blend of readings, music, dancing, and the signing of legal documents. Bob, our trusty, happy leader, stood in as Omar’s godfather. And Debbie from Eden Prairie stood in as the godmother. They both played a very important role in the ceremony.
After the ceremony was complete we dined on comida typica de Honduras. The food was served buffet style. Due to the darkness, and the fact that some of us speak very limited Espanol, we often did not know what was being scooped upon our plates. The actual eating of the food was even trickier. We were in the dark, both literally and figuratively, as to what we were placing into our mouths. But most of what I ate was tasty, including the homemade tamales which were the highlight.
The day, in total, was a complete and utter success. It is hard to believe we crammed so many awesome experiences into this one day. Meeting the children at the Hogar was clearly the highlight, but also picking out custom made wood products at a local woodshop and taking a jaunt to a nearby ice cream parlor were also fun experiences.
I still can’t really believe that I am in Honduras. It’s all I hoped it would be and more. The people we have met are friendly beyond belief and the countryside is beautiful. When I woke up this morning and stepped outside my hotel room I was treated to a gorgeous view of the sun coming up over the mountains in the distance and the cries of dozens of birds in trees lining the courtyard. So far, what an experience! And we’ve only just begun!
Chris
This evening we had the fortune of attending the wedding ceremony of Omar and Elisa in Villa de San Antonio. Omar is a young man who lived much of his life at the Hogar. Actually, he was still living there right up until their wedding tonight.
The wedding was outside at the home of a friend. We sat at tables and watched the ceremony which was a blend of readings, music, dancing, and the signing of legal documents. Bob, our trusty, happy leader, stood in as Omar’s godfather. And Debbie from Eden Prairie stood in as the godmother. They both played a very important role in the ceremony.After the ceremony was complete we dined on comida typica de Honduras. The food was served buffet style. Due to the darkness, and the fact that some of us speak very limited Espanol, we often did not know what was being scooped upon our plates. The actual eating of the food was even trickier. We were in the dark, both literally and figuratively, as to what we were placing into our mouths. But most of what I ate was tasty, including the homemade tamales which were the highlight.
The day, in total, was a complete and utter success. It is hard to believe we crammed so many awesome experiences into this one day. Meeting the children at the Hogar was clearly the highlight, but also picking out custom made wood products at a local woodshop and taking a jaunt to a nearby ice cream parlor were also fun experiences.
I still can’t really believe that I am in Honduras. It’s all I hoped it would be and more. The people we have met are friendly beyond belief and the countryside is beautiful. When I woke up this morning and stepped outside my hotel room I was treated to a gorgeous view of the sun coming up over the mountains in the distance and the cries of dozens of birds in trees lining the courtyard. So far, what an experience! And we’ve only just begun!
Chris
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