Missing home on Thanksgiving

Yesterday Javi and I were in a bit of a depressed mood. We started blaming work and living in Honduras in general, but later in the day we figured it out - we just missed home. Holidays we knew would be tough and this is the first real family holiday that we have passed away from home. (And at least we have each other! We were thinking of all those single volunteers in rural Honduras, passing the holiday on a lonely mountain top somewhere.)

To combat this feeling, volunteers generally join up and celebrate Thanksgiving together. Javi and I joined one such gathering (volunteers were meeting up all over the country). We met up with about 30 others in a nearby town called La Paz (The Peace, apropriately). Everyone brought something and we had a full on, traditional meal. Even cranberry! And the turkey was delicious.

Below is a picture of the spread......

And the devestation that followed.......

Some of the attendees.........................

And Javi with his plate.......

Being that the gathering consisted of mostly 20 somethings, the atmosphere wasn't that of the traditional family get together. Later that evening, there were several non-traditional Thanksgiving activities.

Instead of Thanksgiving day football, we had a feats of strength competition, followed by acrobatics.....

Marachis stopped by and played a few favorites, and then, for reasons unbeknowst to me, the guys started taking their shirts off........

All in all it was a fun evening, but it didn't take the place of being with family and friends from home. We missed you all!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope your Thanksgiving was nice and that you appreciated the people you were gathered with.

Suegro activities

Javi and I took the suegros to Lake Yojoa this weekend. (Oh rather, I guess they took us since they paid.) We stayed at a beautiful lake side hotel where we were treated to beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding cloud covered mountains that surround the waters. They needed a break from Comayagua and our house as we were busy most of last week with work. It was actually rainy and cold this weekend (in the tropics!) but we enjoyed ourselves immensely!

The hotel where we stayed is the nicest on the lake but we chose the cheapest method to get there......the bus! Deb and Jesus got the whole Honduran public transport experience. We took a bus from Comayagua to a town called La Guama, where we needed to catch another bus to the lake. On the bus to Comayagua, the bus drivers packed as many people on as possible (which is completely normal here) and people were crammed into our bus, standing in the aisles on top of each other, carrying bags and buckets of this and that. Javi and I made sure that we all had seats at least! When our stop came, they had to fight their way through the aisles to the exit.

Once in La Guama, we caught a yellow school bus (public buses in rural parts) to the entrance to the hotel. Deb and Jesus grimmaced as the bus flew around blind curves into on coming traffic to pass other cars and buses. The bus dropped us off at the entrance to the hotel, but it was still a mile walk to the hotel. We only walked a few minutes before the hotel owner drove by in her truck and offered us a ride. Deb grabbed the front seat and Javi, Jesus and I took the back with a few other Hondurans. This hilarious picture is Jesus holding on for dear life in the back of the pickup as the driver picked up speed.

Most people who can afford to stay at the hotel have cars, so I think they thought it amusing that the gringos were walking.

It was a very nice weekend.

The next pictures are from the World Map project that I finally finished last week. TWO MONTHS of work!! Deb came with me to help finish up, and seeing as how she was both a teacher for 30 (?) years and completely fluent in Spanish, I'd say she knew what she was doing.

It was really satisfying to finish the job and I think we did great! We still need to label the map (a whole other project) but because their "summer" break starts next week until February, we will have to wait til then. They will be in 8th grade when I come back.

We drew the map by hand (with a grid system) and I tried my best to make sure it was proportionate.

Here is the class:

Painting:

Deb helping direct the painters:

Deb and Jesus want to go to Tela next weekend before they leave. I'll post a few pictures when we get back.