The northern coast

This last week was semana de los estudiantes, which meant our second vacation. After almost eleven hours of travel, we reached the northern coast. MaryAnne from Stonehill´s Campus Ministry was kind enough to connect us with Andrea, a friend living in La Ceiba. There we were graciously welcomed by her and her family. She is a director of Finca del Niño, an orphanage three hours outside of La Ceiba. The next morning we headed there to see what the mission was like.

We stayed in the house which homes about twenty volunteers, all with different roles around the Farm. Some were teachers, others psychologists or social workers, and some managed the food supply. They all agreed to a two and a half year commitment, living in community, and supporting the mission. It was really great to see how a larger community functions (coming from one of just three people). The experience also bettered my ability to see the strengths and weaknesses of our community.

The Finca had beautiful grounds, and was right on the ocean (which I certainly enjoyed)! It´s an all-in-one deal with a school and a clinic right within their walls. The children from the surrounding aldeas also attended the school, along with the thirty or so orphans. It had a neat living arrangement, with parental figures and a houseful of kids organized by age and gender.

Before leaving, we decided to check out a zip lining place. We found out that one of the owners and one of our guides was a Congressman, that this was his side project while he wasn´t working. The place hadn´t opened to the public yet, but it was recommended so we took our chances. And boy, did we. We went zipping through the woods, past palm trees and mangroves. Each time that we climbed the tower to zip off of, it swayed and some of the zip lines weren´t adjusted correctly… so everyone had to turn around and pull themselves in to the end. By the end of our round, we had the option to continue on a zip line over the water. But only Chris decided to go while Matt and I watched some fishermen on the river. Chris came back a while later, soaked! For starters, one of the adventure bridges was a little wacky. He ended up crawling, with his security cord right by his side instead of safely taut above him. Then when they got to the last zip line, the one that ends on the dock, it was way too loose. Two of them ended up having to crawl backwards along the line, pulling themselves to the end (while being pelted with waves coming in!). The Congressman stopped midway and had some of his friends on the beach bring over a ladder so that he could get down! I wish I could´ve seen the spectacle, but I´m just glad that I decided not to go.

Fortunately, the Congressman gave us a ride an hour to a midway point to catch our next bus. Unfortunately, however, we missed the bus, then realized that the town we were in wasn´t even mentioned in our guide books. We relied on the kindness of a store owner who drove us to a Hotel California (a couple days after Matt swearing that he would never for the life of him stay in a hotel with such a name).

Before we got to the hotel we were approached by a man at the bus stop. He was really excited to share his story with us, and I was just as willing to listen. He was on his way to the capital to protest and to fight for the rights of his fellow farmers. He told us about his compañeros that were recently killed for protesting. He had some interesting insight to Honduran culture- he was upset with Zelaya that he doesn´t share his wealth like he promises- and it shows their expectations to care for each other, especially their government. In that area there are a good number of larger corporations Dole (who plays a historical role in the development of the city), and a handful of palm oil companies. Apparently the owner of one of the palm oil companies is also a huge drug dealer as well. The land to the east is pretty undeveloped and is known for being home to drug producers. So this man was hoping that we could spread the word, so if you want to check it out, he was part of the Movimiento Unificado Campesino de Honduras.

The next morning we headed back to La Ceiba, to visit the Finca´s apartments for the teenagers once they´re in Bachillerato. It was a neat set-up and they were extremely hospitable. We walked around town, peeked in an art gallery, scoured a bookstore, and spent some time on the beach (with a dead dog and a few sewage pipes being pumped into the ocean…).

The next day we traveled an hour to the Pico Bonito National Park for a hike to a waterfall. We stumbled upon a really neat art collective that supports environmental efforts, using recycled materials for their work. It was mostly youth and seemed like a neat hang out for them. I wish that our students had opportunities like this to express themselves and socialize with other youth from town. It´s also refreshing to see youth who are spreading environmental awareness and not just value the earth´s beauty but act to protect it.

Also went to Sambo Creek, a Garifuna village outside of Ceiba. There wasn´t much going on, but there was a beautiful beach (with some nakie boys that were intent on playing with us) good seafood for the guys, and a bit of an insight to the Garifuna culture. Back in Trujillo we had the opportunity to go to a Garifuna mass where they danced, sang and clapped to the drums, and spoke in their native tongue.

It was a very nice trip and we got to see a good part of the northern coast, but as always, it´s lovely coming home. When we met Denis at the bus station, a friendly face from the parish, I was even more excited to head home and continue our life here.

I´m a bit nervous about classes coming up. Aside from not speaking Spanish for the past week, it´s been pretty stressful recently with my new schedule. I have two tutoring sessions (one with Sister Gloribel and the other with Manuel), English for 7^th, 8^th, and 10^th grades, Spanish review for 10^th and 11^th, Study Techniques for 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th, two gym classes, on top of the spiritual activities at night and tutoring sometimes until 9:00. So needless to say, it´s quite a work load.

This week is Tori´s departure, a retreat, a second psychologist visit, a dental group from UCLA at the medical center, and Kris is coming on Saturday…lots going on! And 15 days until Mom, Dad, and Mitch visit!! :)