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:
- To be more creative
- To run to El Salvador
- To finish all my current projects
- To be a better daughter
- 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!
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