Day Fifty One

I just got back from Copan and am exhausted!! But aside from that had the best time ever, and got two items of my bucket list crossed off, horseback riding and zip lining! So we took a rapidito bus to get there oh man what an experience, for one it isn't that fast so why they call it a rapidito I'm not sure, oh and you literally are in a sardine can, a mini van type car that is supposed to seat 12 got crammed with like 22! So anyway after finally getting there we had no idea where our hotel was so we were kind of going all over town when we ended up at this really nice hotel "San Lucas" that looked amazing unfortunately cost an arm and a leg so we decided not to stay there but we were blessed to meet this awesome taxi guy named Cesar. He was our saviour, thanks to him and the fact that he knew practically everyone in town we did everything we wanted to do. He had friends at "El Sapo" where they give canopy tours, they have the longest zip line in Central America, so of course we had to go. It was so beautiful, I love zip lining!! Ok so after we did that Cesar also knew the guy that did the horseback riding tours, so we got to travel on a horse!! My horse was named "Princesa" and I officially want a horse now! I loved her I know it sounds cheesy and what not but I totally felt at one with the horse. Anyway we went riding for about two hours up to "Los Sapos" site. A mayan rock carved in the form of a frog with a woman giving birth beneath it. We were told Mayan women believed the frog gave them fertility. Oh and above the frog was a bed and a circle were they would sacrifice the last baby born in December, crazy stuff! We finally finished the day off by going to the main archaeological park of the Mayan Ruins and the Sepulturas after. It was a beautiful site to see, there was so much nature all around us and the sculptures had so much detail and history it was quite impressive. Copan itself is the most adorable little town, everyone we met was super friendly and very helpful. Definitely wouldn't mind going back there someday. 

Day Forty Seven

I think I'm really starting to grow a liking to this whole teaching experience. I officially started my english class this past Monday and although I had heard some scary things about the year I was teaching "segundo bachillerato" girls, which is the pretty much the equivalent to junior year girls in high school, they are really good. They pay attention, participate in class, and know a lot more english than I thought. Plus, I really like the fact that we are in total control of how we want to run the class, it really gives me a chance to be creative in my lesson planning. Lesson planning me and Nicole like to try and do at the plaza/park in front of the cathedral, where locals go have coffee at and just sit and people watch, so we kind of go and do the same. Oh on another completely different note, so the rooster that would wake me up every day is no longer with us...that's right they killed and ate him!! Safe to say that was not one of the foods I was eager to eat. However I did make a new discovery, there's this fruit called sapote and although it doesn't really look too appetizing it is one of the most delicious fruits I've ever tried! If you by chance see it at the grocery store please do try.

Yesterday and today a bunch of psychologist came from out of town they will be staying here with us a couple of days, so me and Nicole had to pack all of our things and move to a college dorm size room minus the bathroom and closet space. So we're basically living out of our suitcases, I like it though it feels cozier than the other huge room we had, plus showers are nice and hot in the new bathroom :) I had a long chat with Sor Che during lunch today. She has literally traveled all over the world, and has lived many years in Italy and Argentina, hence the nickname Che. I love talking to her and Sor Virma, they both grew up in the 60's/70's so although they are older than the other sister's they are much more liberal. They are very feminist and passionate about one standing up for ones rights, true revolutionists in spirit. Very inspiring women who I try to gain a little wisdom from everyday. 

Day Thirty Seven

Today was a very productive day for me and Nicole. We had an all out cleaning session all morning, started lesson planning for our english classes coming up and bought essential toiletries. We didn't get to go to the ruins today though, our tour guide had to work, but watched "Eat, Pray, Love" instead and enjoyed the sweetness of doing nothing in the evening. The ruins will have to wait for this coming weekend.
This week seemed to go by slower than past, not sure what the difference was. Maybe the fact that we didn't have running water for four days could've had something to do with it...it was interesting though. I washed my hair in the sink for the first time, thanks Nicole for helping me out on that one! It really beats doing it by yourself, standing while pouring water down with a bucket can get awfully cold. Anyway something interesting I noticed about the "internas" this past week, is that they have many ambitions but one most of them have in common is to travel or live in the states. One of them told me she wanted to volunteer in the U.S. she wants to have a good career and all but told me that she really had a desire to give back, because a life without philanthropy just seemed empty and meaningless. I learn from these girls each and every single day, they are so full of dreams and life, it is truly inspiring to me. As I am learning about myself and my relationship with God I feel at peace with myself and my surroundings. I want my family and parents to know that I love and miss them very much and to not worry about me so much, to just trust and pray for me please. Tomorrow is our adult class' first exam, hopefully we have taught them well. Well that is all for now, peace and love to all goodnight.

Day Thirty One

So today I met El Salvador, it was beautiful I love it, wished I could've stayed longer. I almost didn't get to get in though. Apparently the people at the San Pedro airport stamped my passport but didn't fill out the time I had to stay in the country, they did on my customs form though. So I went back and forth through Honduras immigration and El Salvador immigration for about an hour trying to get that settled, luckily I did without having to pay the $114 fee El Salvador immigration was trying to make me pay, plus I got another 90 day extension to be able to stay in Honduras if it is I wanted to, yayy for me!! Ok so once we finally made it into El Salvador we stopped at this pupuseria that had the most AMAZING pupusas, official new favorite central american food besides the bananas :) we then went to go pick up Sor Mirna at the Maria Auxiliadora School in San Salvador, there are about 20 sisters that live there and were all incredibly nice. However since she wasn't there yet, me and Sor Xiomara went to the market, grocery store, and the Don Bosco church which was huge compared to all the other churches I've seen in Honduras so far. El Salvador differs from Honduras in 3 major ways that I noticed at least; one, there are political banners and posters literally every which way you turn, two, the roads are significantly better no holes or bumps at all, and three, it is very busy and Americanized, kind of reminded me of a cross between Houston and Honduras. Anyway Sor Xiomara is so awesome she is always happy and loves to laugh, she made the trip that much more fun for me. After our little venture of getting to know El Salvador we went to go pick up Sor Mirna at the cemetery and then went to her home and met her mom, her sister and niece, they were all so welcoming and sweet. My condolences go out to them for I know they're being incredibly strong through these tough times.

Maria Auxiliadora School in San Salvador

Don Bosco Church

As we were driving back I looked out the window and saw the the trees, the flowers, and mountains it hit me, I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to get to see all these beautiful countries. God is truly good and I am truly thankful to him to have blessed me with this experience.

Day Thirty

Tomorrow I will have been here a month...and a great month it has been. I've eaten so many type of bananas, regular bananas, little bananas, fried plantains, steamed plantains, baked plantains and my favorite chocolate covered bananas. No lack of potassium in my diet. I've also been reading this book called "Aprende a ser positivo" which translates to learn how to be positive, it's basically filled with all these exercises one can do to maintain a positive attitude at all times. The author also reminds the reader that one has power to make of their life a great one and should take on challenges with confidence and enthusiasm. That and the girls that take classes and work here have been a great inspiration to me. They come from rough backgrounds and have to work everyday all day from 4:00 am, but still strive for a better future so take Sunday classes in order to continue their education. They have reminded me that one must always follow ones dreams and want to learn and grow. I've decided when I get back to the U.S. I want to dedicate myself more to the Sickle Cell Association, but I also want to start an internship at an event planning agency; it's an art and career I really aspire to learn and grow in.

This past weekend was really fun, professor Tulio, one of the professors that teaches here is in a band and invited us out to hear him play rock en espanol at this really cool restaurant. He also offered to take us to the ruins next weekend, I'm super pumped to go! Today me and Nicole went shopping I bought a super cute retro dress and the movie Hugo, afterwards we went with the interns to the day of prayer for peace reunion the local youth group held, its an event the pope started for all youth to pray for world peace. We then took the girls that work here to this really popular restaurant among the girls called "El Bunny" in order to get them out and take a much deserved break. Since I'm not eating chicken I couldn't join, kinda had to roll them out of there with the food babies they developed lol. Tomorrow I get to go El Salvador with Sor Xiomara, can't wait :) Love and miss everyone back home xoxo!