Lake Titicaca for the long weekend!

So, we received a long weekend as school officials in the district of Arequipa closed schools Monday and Tuesday for precautionary reasons due to Swine Flu! Overkill to the extreme but it gave us some extra days to travel to Puno, Peru and to Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world and is home to many indigenous people. We toured the Uros Islands two days ago. The Uros are floating islands created with blocks of earth and reeds. The people create these islands every few years and then rebuild another island and their homes when the current island begins to recede. It was amazing to hear the history of the lake and how these people survive on anchored islands in the lake. Yesterday, we travelled to Taquila Island. It was a four to five hour boat ride round trip and we had a great time. The views from this natural island were incredible and we could see white capped mountains and also see into Bolivia which shares a maritime border on the lake with Peru. From this island we could also lay witness as to how absolutely huge Lake Titicaca is! We have eaten trout on both visits to the islands and it has been really, really good. Makes me itch to do some trout fishing when I get back home. We have also done a lot of hiking around Puno and hiked up to some amazing vantage points. Usually, they vantage points are over 4,000 meters and that equates to very heavy breathing and some coughing for me! But, well worth it as I have some pictures I will post for everyone. Tomorrow, back to Chivay via an eight hour bus ride and then finishing off our last week at the school in Canacota! Can´t believe I´m home in two weeks, so excited!

The School in Canacota, Peru

I want to post something about the incredible school we are working in currently. The school is located about forty minutes by packed shuttle ride above Chivay where we live. The elevation in Chivay is around 3,6000 meters and Canacota has an elevation of around 3,700 meters. I must admit, playing with the kids: futbol, basketball, wrestling, tag involves some serious respiration! The kids call me Profe Gigante, Giant Teacher, and I love the little buggers so much! The school is very rural and there are around 25 kids in the 1st through 6th grades. I am teaching the 5th and 6th graders and they are brilliant. There are seven kids in the class between the two grades and I can basically make them laugh at will and it must be pretty easy to laugh at the big, white, shaven headed gringo! Yes, shaved head. We tend to get a little bored in remote Chivay and all of my fellow volunteers took turns chopping off my lovely locks. Gil was the main perpetrator and I was left with a very, very bald head. Pictures to follow! Anyway, back to the school. There are two local teachers in our school along with a teacher for the inicial which is a pre-school program across the street. I teach with Rogerlio who happens to be the school director as well. He is hands down, the finest local teacher I have worked with yet. You hear and see at times, many examples of teachers who use power and control and negative epiteths to control kids in the classroom. Rogerlio is right up my ally: passionate to the point of yelling about topics such as history or math, energetic, encouraging, funny, and compassionate. He loves the kids and he has told us he has been rejuvenated with the help he receives from us. We are the first group of volunteers in this school and once again, it is amazing to have been among the first in two schools in Ecuador and Peru! Rogerlio will usually introduce a lesson and then I will work with the kids on worksheets and assignments. It is a lot of fun and I always have to mix in some jokes or funny faces with the kids. The kids are very, very smart and have amazing abilities; abilities I hope can flourish despite their economic status and their rural location. Also, given the communities remote location, the government of Peru has "forgotten" about the school and does not provide funding or support. This is very upsetting to Rogerlio and the other teachers but this is what makes GVI´s involvement that much more important. Further, while we have been here, the community and GVI has implemented a food program for the kids. Each day, the kids receive milk and cookie-crackers and then receive a very nutricious lunch after school ends each day. It is so nice to see the kids enjoying their food and many take leftovers home to their families each day. Also, the kids here are athletic, especially the older girls. I have been teaching some fundamentals of basketball to some of the girls and boys and they eat it up and are really taking the lessons to heart. Anway, very sad to leave the kids and this school soon. It will hit me double hard as this is my last GVI school and project! I will post some pictures for everyone soon when I´m able. Take care!

Chivay, Peru, My New Home!

Last stop on my journey, Chivay, Peru. The elevation is 3600 meters and the small town is an entry point to Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world. Chivay is very small and rather remote but is special to all of us who live there. We have a great group of volunteers: Maya and Aviv of course, Gil from the UK, Tristan from New Zealand, and Megan from the USA. We live in a motel as family stays have not been set up given this is a brand new project. Chivay consists of a bus station, hostels, a bull fighting ring, a small soccer field, restaurants, a food and good market, and street vendors. We eat street food for lunch and dinner and it is really good but really repetitive; chicken, rice, potatoes, bread, repeat! But, you get used to it and begin to crave the food when your hungry which for me is all the time. It will be nice to have some variety when I come back home though. The group is great and I have enjoyed my time in Chivay and spending time with them. We are always up to something on the weekends, ie. going to Arequipa and this is a perfect way to finish up the trip. Chivay has some incredible views of snow peaked mountain ranges and the weather is usually very sunny and warm during the day and a bit cold at night. Chivay is feeling like my home away from home and it´s always nice to come back to this little town.

Jobe comes to Peru and Colca Canyon!

My best bud Jobe arrived safely to Peru last week. We spent some long and fun nights in Arequipa before going to the Colca Canyon. It was amazing to have Jobe come see me and it gave me a shot in the arm as I finish my trip up. As mentioned, we partied it up in Arequipa and I even danced, multiple times! We woke up at 3 AM on a Thursday to travel to the Colca Canyon with the rest of the GVI group. Jobe and I did the two day trip which entailed descending the canyon in one day and then summitting back up the next day at 5:30AM. This was one of the most unbelievable expierences of my life and having Jobe there to take in the views with me made it even greater! By the way, the Colca Canyon is the world's deepest canyon and is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon! When I first saw the depth of the canyon as we were driving I could not believe what I saw. The depth is astounding and it truly does leave you speechless. I will try and include some pictures with this post so people can see how beautiful this canyon is. We stayed at the base of the canyon Friday night next to the rushing Colca River and then woke up before sunup and begin our climb. We made good time as Jobe and I are machines and finished the trip with breakfast, then the hot springs near Chivay, and then a huge buffet! Unfortunatley, Jobe had to leave Sunday morning but I am so happy he came out. He also brought school supplies that the students and parents from his school donated. The kids in Canacota will adore each of these.

Hola Peru!

Well, after spending eight hours in the Lima Airport, we arrived in Arequipa, Peru at around 6:00 a.m. last Sunday morning. Arequipa is a beautiful city of around one million people nestled ina valley surrounded by snow peaked mountain guardians. We met the country director Carla and headed for our beautiful hostel Casa de Avila to rest up. This entire week we have been taking Spanish classes and taking it easy in Arequipa. The food at the hostel is amazing and is prepared by Felipe, a tiny older man whose kindness is expressed through the food he prepares for us each day. Arequipa has historically been a very wealthy part of Peru and has numerous buildings made of white stone brought from the volcanoes. Further, the cathedral in the plaza is breathtaking and is considered to be one of the most beautiful (on the outside) in South America, pictures to follow. Also, I must mention, there are some incredibly gorgeous women here but no, I have not met any yet :). It has been nice to rejuvenate this week but I am ready to start teaching again. We will be teaching in a community outside of Chivay. The altitude is quite high (3700 meters) as we are at the beginning portions of the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon by the way! We will be teaching in a project that has just started and it is an exciting time! The state has basically passed this school off and given up on funding it, so, that is where GVI comes in. Also, we will have the chance to teach in a school even higher in elevation than the one near Chivay. It is called Ampi and is located 4800 meters above sea level, or around 15,000 feet! Crazy huh? Off to do some biking tomorrow and then we'll head off to Chivay on Sunday. Also, one of my best buddies, Ryan Jobe, is coming to see me starting on Tuesday in Chivay. Can't wait to see him and hike through the Colca Canyon with him next weekend!

Despidida en Ecuador!

My last day at the school in Muenala, Ecuador was amazing. It was one of only two or three days where the skies were clear in the morning and we had a full on view of Volcan Cotacaxi and the surrounding mountains around Otavalo. It was an amazing morning and I took tons of pictures before I left the school. I'm gonna try and post some today and hoping it works. I feel closer to these kids than any of the other kids during my travels. This is not saying I didn't love the other kids from previous countries, only we had the opportunity to spend more time with the kids at Muenala and we were the first volunteers in this school in over two years and it was a special context. On my second to last day of school, the kids made me cards and each child lined up and gave me their card and a hug. It was sad but it was brilliant to see the creativity of these kids and the words they wrote which included phrases like, "please come back again one day," and "thank you for being our friend and a great teacher," and "we will miss you so much." I will miss these little buggers and told them I will be back one day to visit, I plan on making good on this. For my last day, no local teachers were there and my buddy Troy deemed it Fun Friday. Therefore, we went for a hike with the kids (incredible views), made necklaces/bracelets with beads (they love this), and had an extra long lunch to play and visit with the kids. The kids we walk to and from school with everyday each gave me a hug and we each held on a little extra longer given it was my last day. So, as is the norm, I rushed around on the Saturday we left Otavalo: gifts for my host family, saying goodbyes to my local friends (peanut shop guys), checking the Internet, etc. Mission accomplished. I said goodbye to my host Mom and the kids and thanked them for their kindness. Then...we left for Quito and the airport! Sad to leave but also pumped up to visit Peru. Ecuador officially has a special place in my heart. All right, gonna try and post some pics!

Homestretch!!

I have officially been gone for over four months now! Wow! I am so happy I chose to do this as it is hard to even begin to reflect and think back on my time in Central and South America. I think I will begin to do this when I get back to the States in mid May. I have seen incredible beauty, met remarkable people, made strides speaking a second language, met lifelong friends from all over the world whom I have volunteered with, been a part of something much bigger than myself, have been rejuvenated and inspired by children who should be leading our world because of their innocence, ability to percieve, itelligence, and positive outlook. On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen poverty, pain, frustration, repression, and negative views about my country. These moments have been heartfelt and have struck me at the core. I know I want to do more each day to help people and I feel like this journey and my job back home have granted me the ability to do that. Also, one cannot expierence all of these things and not run face first into a new perspective and outlook. I hope that I can carry this special perspective unique to me each day from here on out. The journey has been everything I thought it would be and more. It has given me the perspective I have looked for I think and helped me to live in the moment, something I have wanted for a long time. Also, it has helped me to get in touch with Aaron...something I haven´t done in years, if ever. So, here I am with only three days left in Ecuador. I am dreading my goodbye to the kids on Friday and I think I will be worse for the wear than I was in Guatemala the day I left. I may need to return here someday but we´ll see. The future will play itself out and I´m not worried about it for once. Thanks to all of you back home who keep up with my blog and stay in touch. It means so much right now. Take care and until next time, buenas noches!

Shannon comes to Ecuador!

Shannon, my sister, arrived in Quito without any problems and it was amazing to have her here. She used her Spring Break holiday to travel to Ecuador to see me. This presented many challenges for her: being away from her 11 month old daughter, purchasing an expensive airline ticket, being away from Jay, and not being able to speak any Spanish outside of a few words! But, being the sister she is, she still came to visit me! We toured a local water fall, a condor park with many types of birds, and we had a great time in Quito the night before she left. I think Shannon would agree with me though that the highlight for her was coming to school with me for one day. Despite the language barrier, the kids adored her, espcially one of the special ed kids, Brian. He could read in her the patience she has and the love she shares with kids back home each day when she teaches. We had a great time with the kids that day and Shan was taken aback by the kids: their beauty, kindness, and energy! I was so happy she could share a small piece of my journey with me. Further, her fourth grade class donated materials to the kids here at Muenala: stickers, markers, colored pencils, crayons, construction paper, decoration/crafts, books, etc. The kids have since made kites that they decorated with the feathers, fuzzy colorful decor, foamy stickers, and all the other awesome supplies she brought. Further, the kids have used the glue sticks, markers, and colored pencils extensively. Thank you to the kids and to Shan for these things, they will never know how much it means to these kids who never get to have anything outside of the essentials! Shannon left on a Friday morning and it was tough to see her go. She has given me more energy though to finish off my trip. Always great to have a family member come see you let alone your best friend!

Our school, Muenala

Wow! It has been awhile since I have posted anything and given I am in Quito currently awaiting the arrival of Shannon, my sister, I have an opportunity to finally access a wireless connection. Don't know if I will be able to post pics as the connection is slow but I'll try. I didn't think my journey could get any better and then I came to Ecuador! My host family is great: Pilar is the mother and is a very nice woman and great cook. Alfredo is the father and he is a manager for the Ecuadorian beer Pilsener! Jorge Luis and Mave are the two kids and it is nice to have them in the home as well. The school that I am teaching at is amazing. The name of the indeginous community we teach in is Muenala. I am teaching with Troy, a firefighter from Canada, Zoe, a human resource worker from London, and Kathryn a recent graduate from Chicago. The dynamic our group has is incredible and I feel we truly are a wonderful combination of people working with some truly remarkable kids each day. We drive forty minutes to Muenala from Octavalo each day and then we have an uphill hike that takes around twenty five to thirty minutes. The views are brilliant and one can see rolling green hills dotted with cows and horses as well as a wonderful view of a local volcano, Cotacaxi (it is snow peaked and high in the sky). The best part about school is the kids. The girls where single braids with beads around them and the boys have long ponytails that are braided in a very beautiful way. At first, it was very hard for me to tell the boys from the girls but all is clear now. Our group is actually blazing a path as we are the first group of volunteers in Muenala since GVI withdrew from the community almost two years ago. This presents challenges but our group has worked so hard and the energy from the kids transfers to the adults in our group each day. I am working with "the trouble makers" and "special ed" kids as well as Cesar who is the only fourth grader in the school. Another local teacher works in the class as well and he is a very nice man. He has been in and out of school as of late for teacher trainings and I have had the opportunity to lesson plan for individual kids. It is challenging but I have had days when the plans have worked out flawlessly and each kiddo is excited to learn more and eating up any positive feedback I give him/her. I must say, it will be so hard to leave this group of kids. We have kids ages 3-14 at the school and it makes for a very fun time. You'll have to look at the pictures to see the radiance and beauty that emanates from these faces I see each day. Hopefully it won't take me long to post the pics! Until later, buenas noches!

The EQUATOR

Before we left Quito, we made our way to the museum at the middle of the earth. I felt like a kid again as we witnessed some things that were truly amazing at the museum. First off, we were introduced to an indigenous tribe and their customs and the structures they lived in. Tracey informed us that the homes our families live in consist of much the same. Further, we saw an actual shrunken head from the days when this tribe decapitated important people after they were dead or the heads of their enemies. The members of the tribe would wear the heads around their necks as mementos! No thanks! Further, we saw some guinea pigs in the hut and we were told that if they made a lot of noise this was an indicator of a bad omen or spirit among the group. Fortunately, they made no obscene noises and it made me feel good that our group does not consist of any serial killers or madmen! Last, our tour guide had us walk to a red line that is literally the line that separates the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern Hemisphere. She poured water down a sink in the middle and the water rushed straight down into a bucket. Then, she took the sink to the Northern Hemisphere side and the water ran down the sink counterclockwise! And, as expected, the water ran clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Last, we each had a chance to balance an actual egg on a small nail in the middle of the world. The egg should be able to balance as the gravitational pull of the earth is much less at this special place. Some people were unsuccessful in balancing the egg but I luckily got the egg to balance. I must mention that it did not take me much time either! Those of us who successfully balanced the egg were awarded with stamped diplomas recognizing this great feat. My friend Kathryn and I joked that we should have received honors given the length of time it took us as well as accounting for the fact that our nail was the hardest to balance the egg on. Overall, a great little side trip and it was amazing to see how another example of our mysterious world. After the museum we made our way to Otavalo to meet our host families and start our six week tour of duty!

I'm in South America

We arrived in Quito, Ecuador on Friday the 13th! No bad luck with the planes, in fact TACA, the airlines we flew in on, was more than impressive in getting our bags to arrive with us and work out some other minor issues! Back home I feel that our bags would have been left behind and the airlines would have made it our problem to worry about. Flying into Quito was amazing! To see a large city nestled between the sierras of the Andes Mountains was incredible. It rained the entire weekend we were in Quito but our hostel was very nice and it was nice to relax, read, and get caught up on emails and to use the internet again. We met some new volunteers whom we will spend the next four to five weeks with in Octavalo. They all seem very interesting and nice and it seems we will have a great group. Food was a highlight of Quito and we spend most of our time in what the locals call “Gringo Land.” I ate Pad Thai and sushi and steak, etc! It was wonderful. Also, Tracey, our program director, briefed us on our assignments and what we could expect for the next six weeks. I will be teaching in a new school and helping to integrate the new students into the school experience. Also, we will be teaching English to the older children as well. It will definitely be a challenge but I think my group is up for it. Susan, Aviv, and Maya will all be teaching at different schools so we will have drastically different experiences to share. On Sunday, we made our way form Quito to Octavalo. The drive was amazing and the views through the Andes were brilliant. The views reminded me of Colorado with a lot more green! To begin this week, I will have Spanish classes on Monday and Tuesday and then we will begin school on Wednesday…can’t wait!

Esteli, Nicarauga and Stove building!

Esteli, Nicaragua is situated north of Managua and is larger than the previous two base towns we have been situated in. Esteli seems to be a major thoroughfare between Honduras, Managua, and Costa Rica. In fact we cross the Pan American Highway everyday .The actual town does not have the character that Antigua and Copan posses but the community we are building stoves in, Thompson, is a stark reminder of the poverty that can exist in Central America. Thompson is basically a shanty town and the homes consist of scrap wood, corrugated metal roofs, plastic and any other item one can find to help close out weather elements. Other volunteers and GVI staff have started a small school here and the kids are just as cute and bright faced as any of the kids we have seen in the past. Right now, the school consists of two walls with the other three sides left exposed to the elements. But, it seems that the volunteers and staff are doing a wonderful job and it’s very exciting that the community is embracing the new school. Yesterday, we split into teams to build the first two stoves. Rufus, Susan, and Maya formed one team and Aviv, Don Juan, Domingo and me made up the second team. Don Juan and Domingo are locals and the stove we are building will be used by Domingo and his family. I guess he is around 15 or 16 and Don Juan is in his forties or fifties. Immediately, Aviv and I noticed the kind face of Don Juan and he and Domingo have been a thrill to work with. They are very lighthearted and patient. I had trouble understanding them the first day as the Nicaraguan accent is very different, especially given our rural location. But, today was easier and I joked a little with Domingo and understood Don Juan’s directions for the most part. It was fun to listen to the radio and hear Domingo sing and hear Don Juan’s laughter. Aviv did a great job today and we have nearly constructed our first stove. The stoves are made of cinder block, cement, ribarb, soil, tiles, etc. The stoves are much more energy efficient thereby allowing the family to use less wood; less work for the family and obviously better for the outlying environment. Also, the stoves are equipped with chimneys and this will allow for zero smoke inhalation by the family as well as a safer cooking area for the mother. She will not be faced with the prospect of burning herself anymore and there will be no risk of an open fire spreading throughout the house. Overall, just a wonderful project that GVI has started and each of us donated a stove through the money we paid to join this program (we each bought the materials for one stove). Domingo and his family are very happy with the stove thus far and his mother offers us coke, coffee, popcorn she makes, or crackers each day. The weather is very, very warm and it will be a huge change to go to Ecuador this weekend. All of us wish we could stay longer as we feel a connection to this desolate and poverty stricken pueblo with wonderful inhabitants who are all happy and supportive of our presence here. Rufus, our project leader with the stoves, has built hundreds of them and is a real pro. Fortunately for us, Rufus will be travelling with us to Ecuador as well! Here are some pictures of the stove and the community!

Adios Copan!

Good Bye to Copan. As usual, it was extremely difficult to leave this wonderful and special place. I want to write some random things about this place that make it special and that make it a memory to last forever in my mind. The giant hill Maya and I have to walk up every day. We call it Puta Diabla, not a nice word in Spanish J The sickly and starving dogs that walk the streets of Copan. The pretty girls in the streets and Gabriela or Gaby. Watching Honduras football (the real football). Dona Elena, my Mama of Honduras. I will miss her dearly but will see her again one day soon. She is a woman of strength and endurance who continues to love those around her amidst 10 hours of work each day at her Bed and Breakfast/Restaurant. Nelly, the best Spanish teacher in Central America. My dear friend and a remarkable woman who has had a difficult life but has persevered and who spreads happiness and joy each day. Ellen or Gringita! My Gringa Honduras friend who I will always stay in touch with. I will miss her funny stories and motivating journey. Ixcel, Dona Elena’s dog and I must mention the healthiest dog in Honduras. Tuk Tuk rides, Isiayis, Alexander, Maria, and Mercy; I love them all. The ride in the back of Edgar’s truck each day to school, the smiles and positivity of the children in San Rafael. Holding the hand of a child full of optimism and strength who battles poverty each day and thinking, what does his/her future have in store? Football games with Mario and Pablo, two of the craziest kids in Honduras. Can’t help but love them though. Café VillaMil and the wonderful people that work there. Papa Changos and the crazy nights it brought, Sapo Rojo-drama and good drinks, Balleadas, stepping in a lot of dog crap, Hacienda San Lucas, Wes-a wonderful person and someone with a brilliant mind and future. Katia-a Quebec friend and a wonderful Spanish student and a future pharmacist, Britta-a new friend and someone I hope to hang out with many more times in the future! My local eating buddies who put up with my bad Spanish! A lot of honking in the streets, Tuk Tuk corner, the best Spanish school ever-Julia and the others there! Salva Vida, Uterus shots, and jellyfish shots, our song by Foreigner-this will not leave with Copan, Snickers bars, the food at Dona Elena’s, tamales, climbing the fence with help from Maya, Utila and life under the warm and clear water, Picante’s restaurant in Utila, Sophie and Traci, two new friends and great GVI Interns, Pamela and Erick, new friends and two people I want to stay in touch with. The Christmas Tree in the Park and the song that needs to end, fishing in the river, the amazing Copan Ruins, coffee and more coffee, hanging out at the Spanish school and parties at the Spanish school, bus rides, building the pila, my room at Dona Elena’s, my view at Dona Elena’s, Dona Elena’s family-all remarkable people, walking from school when Edgar was late, working on my Spanish, greeting people in the street, New Years, Skyping m family, hanging out with Dom and eating at Momo’s, long chats with Ellen, seeing the pain and suffering that is life for some humans, feeling guilty about eating so much, days that last forever, no stress, siestas, saying really stupid things in Spanish, watching the sunrise one morning, roosters and more roosters sounding off way before sunup, the kindness and friendliness in Copan, riding horses, pushing a Tuk Tuk in mud, meeting so many cool people, vowing to come back someday. And, of course my compatriots and my family during this journey: Susan, Aviv, and Maya! I’m sure there’s more, but this is a start.

Ellen Finn!

Ellen Finn…one of the most remarkable people I will ever meet. She is a former social worker and is also a professional jazz musician. She feeds all the amazingly unhealthy and sad dogs that live in the streets of Copan and works tirelessly each day to help the adults, children, and animals and everything else she comes in contact with in and around Copan. To add, she is comical, witty, and a smart aleck! Sounds too good to be true, it is not. This lady is for real and I had the absolute privilege of getting to live next to her and spend some time with her. Ellen moved to Copan almost one year ago with a mission. She wanted to help the kids and families in the poverty stricken outlying communities near Copan. She has raised money through donations to improve schools, bring joy to families, improve upon structures, raise awareness and help to improve dental hygiene, health, etc, etc in these small pueblos. Most importantly, she has shared so much love with these people and they not only love her, but respect her and her work. She calls herself Gringita (little gringo women) but she is so much more than that to the people here. Her Spanish is wonderful and it has come through hard work and because Ellen talks to anyone and everyone in Copan and outside of Copan. I loved to see Ellen sitting with four of five local men during lunch. She would have those men laughing and would embarrass them and she was the center of attention in this macho laden culture. Ellen is not here for herself or because she is running away from problems back home. She is here to help and she has dedication like I have never seen. Also, she does not just provide handouts. She collaborates with the communities and it is understood that they need to work also to earn the things Ellen can help them with. We will all miss our Gringita. It warms my heart to think what a wonderful ambassador we have out there. She is a remarkable human being and I will miss her dearly and will need to return to Copan one day or wherever Ellen is to meet up again. She has connected us with a remarkable family in Llanatios and has helped me connect with locals whom I would not have known because of my poor Spanish. You can learn so much from people and Ellen Finn has been a blessing in my life. She has given me advice and wisdom that I hope I can understand more and more and follow each day. If you are interested in helping this amazing person in her mission please email her at: Ellenlfinn@hotmail.com. She is a woman full of passion, compassion, and purpose. She feels these people’s joys and sorrows every day and is probably working on improving someone’s life as you read this!

Copan, close to an end

It hit me today that today is my last Monday in Copan and that each c onsecutive day will be my last respective weekday in this wonderful place. Today was the last day of school for our kids in the first and second grades. They have a small break before they begin school again next Monday. I have included some pictures of these wonderful kids and once again, it was very hard to say goodbye to them. So many individuals among them and each so special with a special smile or word for me each day. For the rest of the week we will be cleaning the school and decorating with the other local teachers in prepration for regular school to begin next week. Then…off to Nicarauga to begin building stoves! I look forward to a new experience but I felt an immense sadness today when I realized I would be leaving my host Mama, Elena and my Spanish teacher, Nelly and all the other locals that I really love. Copan has been different than Antigua in that I have met so many locals and eaten dinner or lunch with them, shared laughs, taught a little English, and spoken to them in broken and sometimes incoprehensible Spanish. The people here are so open and beyond nice in the way they converse and include foreigners. Besides the school, I will miss so much my host mother, Elena. She runs a bed and breakfast and people come to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at her home each day. She works around 10 hours per day and has truly been an angel to me. I LOVE her food and eat every last crumb off my plate. Soups, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, oatmeal, pancakes, tortillas, chicken, rice, black beans (of course), wonderful drinks, tamales, eggs, baleadas, etc. etc. I don’t know what I will do without black beans and tortillas. I eat these staples at almost each meal and it’s funny how something becomes a part of you! Elena lost her husband around fifteen years ago but managed to raise four wonderful children. Daysi lives in the house and works on the border. She is a great person and we talk at night sometimes. She is trying to learn more English and I try to help her out sometimes. I have also met one of her sons and her other daughter who lives in San Pedro Sula. Her youngest son Neddy, who is my age, lives in the United States and I know this breaks Elena’s heart as she tears up when she talks about him. I have so much respect for this wonderful woman and each time I tell her that her food is the best in Hondruas or tell her thank you for everything I can see the pride she has! She spoils me rotten and even slips me extra food when there are other guests seated close to me! Also, Elena employs a young women who is from a poor village outside of Copan and teaches her how to cook and provides her a place to live. Further, Elena will give food to a ver y old women when she needs it. I didn’t think I could meet a better family than my family in Antigua, but it seems I have met two top notch sets of people. I am so lucky. Then…there’s my Spanish teacher, Nelly. She has helped me so much with my Spanish and I can’t express her kindness. I go to Nelly’s house at night sometimes for extra help and she is so motivated to help me improve my Spanish. She has four children and a husband and seems to have worked so hard to put her children in a position to go to college and have a good life. The atmosphere at my school is incredible and there is so much laughter and joking! I love to go to school each day and Nelly and Julia give me a lot of grief each day and try to embarrass me on a regular basis. I will miss these people so much as well as the people that stay at Dona Elena’s during the week . They work during the week and are away from their families. It is a great opportunity for me to practice my Spanish and every now and again I meet some very cool people from other countries as well. It’s nice to greet people on the streets and I feel a real sense of community. That is why it will be so hard to leave this wonderful place. I’ll try not to think about it and just enjoy the last few days. One day, I will need to come back here though. Once again, I don’t know how this trip can get any better. Thanks to all of you who have supported me and I am so fortunate. Hope all is well back home. Super Bowl was last night and I actually didn’t watch it. Was hanging out with a local girl I met here. She is very interesting and fun to hang out with. Nice to get a local perspective on things from someone my age. Anywhoo, I will post more blogs soon, so much to talk about!

The Family

One of the most powerful experiences in Copan for our group was meeting a small family in an obscure community named Llanatios. Ellen introduced us to this family about three weeks into our stay in Copan. The two boys, Isiayis and Alexander, both orphans, worked each day carrying wood for miles to generate income for their family. Isiayis is 16 and Alexander is 12 years old. Maria, who is 18 years old, makes pottery and accepts donations through a small ceramic operation she runs. The pottery operation was funded in part by the World Bank. Mercy, age 9, lives with the family as well and is Maria’s niece. Maria’s mother had been very sick and she acts as the mother/grandmother to Isayis and Alexander who have no family they can turn to. To enter Llanatios we took a Tuk Tuk. Tuk Tuk’s are omnipresent in Guatemala and Honduras. They are taxis and consist of a small cab with three wheels, one in the front and two in the back. We packed three and four people respectively in each Tuk Tuk and made the way up the steep grade to Llanatios. Meeting the family for the first time was amazing. The family was so excited to meet us and we made pottery with Maria and played simple football and jump rope games with the children. They were so happy and Ellen told us that the laughter bursting from the kids that day was the first she had ever heard. We vowed to come back the next week and each group member was taken aback by the kindness and happiness of this family who has next to nothing but is full of joy and songs (Isiayis has a wonderful singing voice). Further, Isiayis has never gone to school and cannot read or write. Yet, his attitude about life and his love for others is unmatched in my eyes. We returned the next weekend and Wes, a friend we met in Copan, presented Isiayis with a guitar he bought in Copan. Isiayis was overjoyed and I have included a picture taken moments after Isiayis received his gift. The entire family took turns playing the guitar and Wes and Ellen played some tunes as well. It was a beautiful day and we all thought it would be the last time we saw this family before we left. For reasons not so fortunate, we were reunited with the family. Isiayis came to our house very early on the morning of his birthday and informed Ellen that their mother/grandmother had passed away at 1:00 AM that same morning. Ellen was obviously very distraught and came to me early in the morning with the news. She indicated to me that Isiayis had requested we come visit them that day. Some of the group decided to brave the steady rain and mud and we went to visit the family again. We pushed the Tuk Tuk up the hill several times and this consisted of slipping in the mud and holding on for dear life as the Tuk Tuk struggled along. But, we made it to the top and to Llanatios. We were greeted by Isiayis, still staying very strong but we could tell he was hurting. Maria saw Ellen and immediately broke down. Alexander had tears in his eyes. Many friends and neighbors were at the home and many of the children were shoeless and coatless in the steady and cold rain. We talked with the family and in opposition to what we had thought we were a comforting influence on the family. We hugged the family and they of course gave us a wonderful portion of rice and chicken and tortillas along with Maria’s fabulous coffee. We could see in the other room that there was a coffin with their mother lying inside. This was the room they all sleep in and there were no cots, blankets, etc. The poverty they live in the midst of every day is staggering. We all left with mixed emotions and all of us shed some tears that day. It was so very hard to leave them. I know I will be back one day to see these people and I told them this. They are strong and beautiful humans and experience so much pain and suffering on a regular basis, but continue to hold steadfastly to their spiritual beliefs and each other. I hope to God they can make it through this and I know Ellen continues to work on their behalf for donations, etc. She will continue to see them on a regular basis I know. It was a gift for me to get to know them and I will think about them a lot in the days to come. To think, they are only one family in the macrocosm of poverty and struggle in Central America and the world at large. God Bless them.

Amazing Copan Ruinas

Copan Ruinas is ten minutes from Mayan ruins that many people believe are the key link to understanding and studying the Mayan Civilization. The ruins of Copan are the most well preserved Mayan ruins in the world and touring this ancient site was a highlight of my time in Honduras. There were around sixteen Mayan dynasties at this site and each successive king that rose to power built his temples and palaces on top of the previous king’s symbolic edifices. The roots of 300 to 400 year old Ceiba trees have caused some collapsing of rooftops and walls within the Mayan site but previous temples and ceremonial sites remain nearly perfectly intact and ordained as they are protected because of their location underground or under other structures. There are archeologists from around the world here: Mexico, Japan, the United States of America, Europe, and of course Honduras. National Geographic has done extensive research here and has documented much of their findings in the magazine. There were so many impressive facets of our tour and our guide, Cesar, a local we had hung out with a few times, was a wonderful guide. Cesar speaks English but did the entire tour in Spanish and I was able to keep up and understand almost everything! A beautiful part of the Mayan culture was the spiritual connection they had with nature and the respect they showed for the animal spirit. Many of their statues carved from stone depict the Guacamaya bird, the jaguar, snakes, bats, and other creatures they deemed important and which they shared their world with. The structures are made of carved stone and in some places the stones fit perfectly and one wonders how it was possible to accomplish this. Further, the stones were hauled from long distances and the feat is hard to comprehend. My favorite part of the tour was the symbolism that is depicted in every facet of the Mayan city. Everything had an order including where people lived. The Mayans believed that there were leaders who were semi-gods and who existed not only in the physical world but also the celestial world. These individuals were royalty and lived in the palaces near the epicenter of the city. In total, it is estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 Mayans lived on or around this site. We visited the tomb of the last Mayan leader here and witnessed sites where human sacrifices were carried out. The Mayans played a unique sport in which players would attempt to shoot a ball with any part of their body outside of their arms and hands into a goal shaped as the head of a bird. The players would vie for the holy position of “the best player” and this chosen one would gladly accept the King’s invitation of a self sacrifice to the gods. Talk about faith and loyalty! Further, we viewed a huge open area where the city would gather to watch the sport mentioned earlier or where events would take place. We stood where the King and his followers would sit to watch the events. It was an eerie feeling to be where past and powerful souls stood and lived. We also laid witness to the statues that depict different epochs within the city. They are a beautiful mix of symbols with deep meaning of the history, culture, and spiritualism within that certain reign. These are some of the most well preserved ruins in the world. Also, we saw what can be described as a huge staircase of carved stone. At one time, this huge staircase contained the entire history of this Mayan city and it is still possible for archeologists to decipher much of what remains or has not been moved. To this day, archeologists see this place as sacred and tunnels are built under the city for these people to continue to study this amazing culture. Another amazing thing about the Mayans is how advanced they were in terms of math, architecture (blueprints that would compete with modern blueprints today have been discovered), astrology, and their knowledge of the earth. To think that they were wiped out “in the name of God” is rather depressing. Also, the Spanish burned many of the ancient texts and laid waste to evidence of this beautiful culture. I have added pictures to depict how beautiful this place is. There are still colors that show up from picture to picture. One should see this place if ever receiving the opportunity.

Tome la Posesion o Inauguration of Obama!

Today was a historic day for the United States of America and the world alike. No matter your political persuasion or personal opinion about Barack Obama or the United States of America, there is no doubt that the inauguration of Obama marks a poignant moment. I will always remember what I was doing during his inauguration, teaching in a Honduranean school! What a memory. I feel like I am part of the Obama message regarding volunteering and being an ambassador to domestic and international communities. I am glad and feel very fortunate to be in the position I am in. There is a common sentiment of support and excitement among Honduraneans and they share the hope many of us feel. To celebrate the inauguration, we had a fiesta at our Spanish school, Guacamaya. Our Spanish school is amazing and my teacher has been a huge influence on me here. Her name is Nelly and I have included a picture of us together at the fiesta. We had a BBQ and spoke about the day and it was a great mix of locals and people from around the world. After the party, we watched Obama's speech on YouTube in a local cafe and the owner, who speaks English very well, kept pumping his fist after Obama would say something meaningful to him-it was great. I felt so much pride in my country and the whole experience made me so proud to be a citizen of the USA. I have always been and always will be so proud of my country and I am so happy to represent GVI and my country through this experience.

The Bay Island of Utila

For the weekend Sofie, Maya, Aviv and myself headed to the Bay Islands as we did not have school on Friday. Thus, we got to experience the Honduran bus system and things actually went very smoothly. We rode to San Pedro Sula for around three hours and then from there we caught a bus to Ceiba. This ride took around another three and a half hours. From Ceiba we boarded a ferry that took us to the small island of Utila. As we disembarked we were greeted by local dive guides offering us a myriad of deals and packages. It was a bit overwhelming but it made me feel somewhat important as all the guides converged on our little group. Utila is very different from the rest of Honduras in many ways. First, the first language spoken is English and many of the people have a Caribbean accent when they speak, think Jamaican! There were many tourists and a lot of people who had moved to Utila from other countries and were working as guides or in the local hotels, etc. We stayed in a hotel right on the beach and in the morning Aviv, Sofie, and myself went snorkeling while Maya did two dives. The water was warm and the plant and fish species under the water were brilliant! There were fish with fluorescent colors that appeared as if they were glowing under the water and the diversity of the plants under water was amazing. It was fun to swim with schools of fish and explore the mini canyons under the water. That night, we went to a restaurant called El Picante. It is owned by a man who was born in the Congo in Africa. He greeted us when we arrived and the Mexican food there was delicious. Then, we wound up talking to him for another two hours and met his wife and his father in law and his son. His was such an interesting story. His sister was killed in the war in Rwanda and his mother had recently passed away and this had occurred simultaneous to him opening his restaurant. Because of his new business and because of the cost of a plane ticket, he was unable to attend her funeral. Despite all of the tragedy in his life, he maintains a positive attitude and is so happy to be alive and operating a new business. His wife is from Utila and she had the Jamaican accent and they were quite a pair. Then, her father showed up and we sat and talked while they drank beer. The father in law invited us to go the keys the next morning but sadly, we had to leave the next morning. It was so nice to meet some locals and hear their stories! That night, we went out on the town and went to a bar that took years to create. There are numerous glass bottles, marbles, and other oddities that make up the place. It has many levels and is a work of art. I have posted some pictures of this interesting place. We also met a girl from Tegucigalpa, Karla, who is a university student and is learning English. Her English was a lot better than our Spanish and we talked with her until the wee hours of the morning. She wants to come visit us in Copan if she gets the chance. It was a quick trip but we are all so glad we we're able to visit the Bay Islands and Utila and meet the wonderful people and see one of the world's greatest underwater shows.