Un Buen Fin de Semana

Don't be fooled. The title of this entry is just about the only Spanish I can handle. I am currently in Juticalpa, Honduras (which is in Central America, for anyone who may shamefully not be aware) where I will be living and working until June. I arrived in Tegucigalpa, the capital, a week a ago, after flying for the first time by myself and staying overnight in a hotel in Houston the night before. Then I awkwardly and timidly maneuvered my way through customs and all that good stuff and was met at the airport by about 10 people I had never met before, mostly other American volunteers in the Olancho Aid Foundation, but also a few Hondurans mixed in the bunch. We immediately got in the bus and stopped on the way to do some shopping and get lunch before completing the 2+ hour ride to Juticalpa. Needless to say, it was extremely overwhelming.

Since then, I've made a lot of progress as far as adjustment. I learn something new everyday and it will probably continue that way for a very long time. The house that I live in is much nicer than I expected. I live with two other girls, Jess and Colleen, whom are both great. There is a little picture tour of the house on my picture page.

This week was very up and down. Monday Carlos took me around to three schools, Nazareth, Santa Clara, and the Universidad. Tuesday and Wednesday I spent at Nazareth, which is the Special Needs school that I will be teaching at Monday through Wednesday every week. It was stressful for me because the students were not there yet; it was a teacher's prep week. So I was there all day with all these teachers and not a single person in the building who spoke a word of English. The teachers are wonderful, though. They are all very nice and welcoming to me which makes it easier. Thursday and Friday I was at the Santa Clara school, which is the bilingual school where most of the other volunteers here work. It was incredible. They made me a list of students that are struggling and could use me to take them out of class for extra help. Friday however turned out to only be a half day because the school randomly had no electricity or water. Typical here. Friday night my roomates and I went to a karaoke bar with some of the Hondurans that work at Santa Clara. An interesting experience. We came home to find the most ginromous spider I have ever encountered hanging out in our shower. We're talking like the size of my face. Well not really but at least the size of my hand. Don't worry there are pictures. Today was a lazy day, and we just got back from game night over at the other volunteers; house, Kristi and Rob. We played charades and it was very entertaining. Tomorrow Jess and I are getting up at 5am to go on a retreat to Tegus with a church group. Hopefully it will be good.