dos mill once

A few days before New Years Eve Taryn, Adam, and I set off to Utila, the closest of the Bay Islands just off the North Coast of Honduras. Our traveling party to the Island was supposed to be larger but a small, little blizzard hit the east coast of the US delaying/ canceling some of our visitors. As soon as we arrived Taryn and I set off to scuba class, playing catch up with our class. Taryn and I had both taken all of the classroom section of the Open Water Certification but none of the actual dives in the ocean. So, we had to retake/relearn the course to be fully and properly certified. You would think with having taken the course previously we would not answer any questions incorrectly, yet we managed to prove our incompetence to the class by answering questions incorrectly in front of everyone, more than once. Lucky for us our two instructors loved to point out when we did something totally wrong, thanks Juicy and Morgan. We spent the first few days either in the classroom, in the water or in a bar; definitely an entertaining way to spend my first real vacation in Honduras. Without fail Taryn would manage to crack me up daily- leading to excessive air usage and a large quantity of salt water swallowed, another opportunity for the instructors to take jabs at us, but it was all in good fun.

When I arrived I went through a strange culture shock, I was just another face in the crowd, a crowd of white faces (though I was definitely still the whitest). Along with this initial shock I quickly realized that I had absolutely no idea how to interact with them! For the last year the only people I have spoken to were Hondurans, other PCVs, or missionaries. Being thrown into a population of traveling 20 something’s was actually stressful. During conversations I would think, “What is happening in the US? What can I talk about?” I legitimately used the iPad as a conversation topic, a definite low point! But, I think I bounced back drawing on some perennial topics like football, where they had been traveling, and celebrities in rehab. Classics.

So 4/5 of our way through our certification it was time for New Years Eve. Our night started out with delicious bbq, followed by a rousing game of Big Booty, then we set out for the bars, threw some swimming in there, and finished up with dancing until 6am. It all seemed like a great idea, that was until the next morning when we had to wake up, get on a rocky boat, and scuba dive. Surprisingly, I felt alright (for a while at least) whereas my compañera had to be coerced onto the boat by fellow classmates and our instructors.  Because the power’s that be wanted to test our commitment to becoming certified scuba divers, the ocean was atypically choppy, making it impossible to stand and exacerbating any ‘symptoms’ we may have been feeling. In the end, the dive turned out well and left Taryn and me feeling invigorated.

As soon as the festivities were over everyone was ready leave the island, everyone except for me, I hadn’t had my fill of scuba diving! With a few extra days left of my vacation time I decided to become an Advanced Open Water Diver. So as everyone set off to the mainland, I was swimming with Moray Eels, Spotted Eagle Rays, Sea Cucumbers, and Porcupine Fish. Definitely the right decision.

As far as New Years Resolutions go mine changed pre and post trip. I am a little apprehensive to post them online because that makes me even more responsible to accomplishing them, but here goes nothing:

1. To be more creative
2. To run to El Salvador
3. To finish all my current projects
4. To be a better daughter
5. Follow my true north

(oh yeah and lose 10 pounds, quit smoking, run a marathon, fall in love, learn something new, spend more time with my family, quit drinking, get out of debt, get organized, and travel… any that I am missing?)

I hope you all have had a wonderful start to 2011 and that your year is prosperous and fulfilling!

Christmas in Copan

This year I had a very challenging time getting into the holiday spirit leading up to Christmas. It was the first time that I had spent all of December in a hot city, and my first Christmas without family. I just sat thinking that there was not even the slightest possibility that I would see a snow flake. I tried tricking myself by constantly listening to Christmas songs and watching Love Actually over and over. Mariah nor Hugh Grant could kick the Grinch out of me. Finally a two-day bake-a-thon with Meredith brought in back my Christmas cheer, I think it was induced by consuming my weight in sugar and butter.

So, with my ever-so-slight but still existent Christmas spirit, I set off for Santa Rosa de Copan. Eight or so volunteers all met up in the metropolis of the west to exchange gifts and eat an amazing dinner together.

On Christmas Eve we held our white elephant gift exchange, which was filled with holiday classics like- machetes, fireworks, moonshine, and epi-pens. Then, in true Honduran tradition, we took to the streets to light off fireworks for about 4 hours. At first the fireworks were beautiful and seemed like a great tradition to have, and then soon felt like we were in a war-zone, with bangs and flashes coming from every direction.

Christmas morning greeted us with gloomy overcast skies with the threat of rain. We decided that a walk around town was the best way to see how families traditional celebrated. We found at least two people painting their houses, people playing in the piles of newspaper- left from the fireworks, and a select few going to church, not what we were expecting. Kat, Taryn, and I were enticed to church with the familiar sounds of Christmas carols and decided to stay listening to the service and the songs. In the early evening we ate a delicious dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, the best multi-grain rolls I have ever had, bean salad, and more Christmas cookies.

It was surprisingly the most relaxed, laid-back Christmas I have ever had, and great alternative to going back to the USA.

Turkey Bowl 2010

I know Thanksgiving was more than a few days ago, but I also know you all are still on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what I did to celebrate this oh so American holiday in a foreign country. After having plans fall through last minute a group and I of my friends, were turkey day refugees. So, I decided to host Thanksgiving at my apartment. All tolled, we had a group of twelve make their way to the beautiful pine valley of Ocotepeque.

In true Honduran fashion the afternoon before the feast our electricity went out- mid pie baking session mind you! We immediately started planning where we could find a gas oven to cook our 14.5 turkey and other sides; luckily we had my gas stove to cook some of the food. 6 am the electricity came back! But… it was a tease, going out again at 9 am. This did not look good for our ambitious menu, and we had no way of telling if or when the power might come back. Undefeated, Kyla (fellow chef for the day) and I set out to the market to get the last few ingredients in case the lights came back on. It was a Thanksgiving Day miracle and the electricity came and stayed on while we were out shopping.

After prepping most dishes we set off to play in the Turkey Bowl 2010. We planned a touch football game up in a “field” a.k.a. a cow pasture by Kyle my site mate’s house. Team Oco vs. Team Penguins took the field, with crowds (ten at least) of Honduran children cheering.  The final score was 21 to 7 with the home team- Team Oco- coming out victorious! During our hour long game as a collective we managed to have a pulled groin, at least four scrapped knees, and some blood was drawn- by accident I swear! Then, it was time to get back for some serious cooking. 

I wrangled together 5 tables so that we could eat family style, not a common Peace Corps occurrence. The menu included a delicious turkey (thanks all to Kyla the vegetarian), chive mashed potatoes, biscuits, bacon wrapped green beans, tomato-cucumber salad, roasted vegetables, stuffing, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cream pie, and banana bread.  Many stories were told, bottles of wine consumed, fireworks lit, body rolls perfected, and even some magic tricks performed. It was, all in all, a very successful celebration.

Light it and slide it!