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!