Finding Inspiration

Highest Highs, Lowest Lows
I enjoy reading the comments from friends and family about how proud they are of the work we do here with the Peace Corps. In fact, it's these notes that encourage me through the mundane and sometimes depressing times. However, there are several times when it feels completely undeserved. Yes, I am giving up two years of my life to live in Honduras and maybe that alone is worth acknowledging, but simply surviving rural Honduras doesn't accomplish what I, nor Peace Corps, set out to.

Giving Thanks

This week I'll be reuniting with several volunteers to celebrate Thanksgiving. A great American tradition that doesn't exist here in Honduras (they have a different feeling about the pilgrims). One short 6-hour bus ride away to La Paz where I will be giving thanks with several other volunteers at an orphanage (complete with orphans) marking this as my largest Thanksgiving gathering. We'll all be cooking and sharing some American tradition as well as some of the many things for which we are thankful.

You'd think when so many things are removed from your life that you might not spend very much time being thankful, but I like to think it highlights the things you're really thankful for in life.

Meanwhile...

I'm Sick  =(
So it's my first bout of sickness in Honduras. Seriously, I'm very fortunate to have warded off all the bugs, germs, parasites, viruses, and general nastiness for this long. But now's my time. It's only a cold, but it still takes a toll. I'm blaming it on the 5 dirty buses I took on my 10-hour return trip Sunday.

Training
The business group had a training this last week in Valle de Angeles (outside of Teguz) about Project Design Management. The basics are this: get a good idea, get a plan, make sure it's a good one with measurable outcomes, then execute. We were asked to bring a counterpart or someone with whom we work closely from our community. Despite multiple advance notices, I received a last minute confirmation that I would be accompanied by the Plan D person - the English teacher from the high school. Which is fine because we get a long and well, she speaks English. Together we outlined the vision, goals, and objectives of our recycling project.

Vision
To create a recycling center and waste management system to make Subirana a pretty and prosperous place.

Goals
1. To generate income that will improve the Institute
   > By the end of 2012, the students will gain 50% of the necessary funds to construct one new classroom
   > Establish collection areas in 5 of the aldeas by the end of 2015.

This is still a rough draft of the plan and we will soon be talking with the principal, other teachers, and the students to further refine this project as well as incorporate their ideas to personalize and internalize it.

What's your name again?

You know when you run into someone you recognize, but you can't recall where or how exactly you know them? You're making small talk with them about the weather or how unexpected it is to see them, but what you're really thinking is, "Where do I know this person from and what is their name?" Now imagine this happening with 75% of the people you talk to.

Welcome to my life.

It's not that I'm completely horrible with names. Though, I admit I'm not the greatest either. I've realized I'm a visual learner and if I see the person's name written out I have a better chance of remembering it. At least, that was in English. Names have always been important; they are how we define ourselves. And I would say they're even more important in the Latino culture. Let me explain. Usually when you ask someone for their name, you're expecting to hear one name, or two if it's more formal.


The name's Bond. James Bond.


Because so much of the identity in Honduran culture is tied to the family, last names are very important. Both of them. It says where your mother comes from and where your father comes from. And most of the time, the first son is named after the father and the first daughter, after the mother. That would be their second name, though followed by something more original (grandma's name maybe?).

Hola, mi nombre es Juan Ramón Castillo Martinez.


It's a little bit of auditory overload the first several times, until you start to expect it. Then you just try to pick out the second name to call them by, or Señor (lastname). However, here's the trick. Most of the time they don't use any of these names! Many people have either a nickname or a shortened version of their name. For example, Ramón is Moncho. This is a common shortened version of Ramón (even though it's not any shorter). Yeah, I don't get it either. Or, the other trick is maybe they just call him Chino, or Gordito, or Negrito depending on how he compares to the rest of the litter. Furthermore, depending on how well you know the person or how you know them, you might call them by a different name than someone else.

So as you might imagine, it's very difficult to keep track of everyone's names. Throw in the fact everyone is new, with Spanish names, and they don't like to pronounce them clearly. I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of my own names. I've been keeping a mental log of what people have called me so far:
Don, Loco, Profe, Amigo, Maestro, Hermano, Licensiado, Tío, Técnico, Papito, Entrenador, Amor, Gringo, Guapo, Chele, Voluntario, Ditemore, Compite, Adán...

Ode to Electroducha

God bless electroduchas and God bless Brazil for making them.

'Tis true, absence makes the heart grow fonder

I set my eyes on your exposed cable

As I stand here in the warmth and ponder

If the circuit and wire are stable

Suicide shower, short bursts of power

Dangerous you may be, I will not leave

Your heated copper, my only escape

From the cold and rainy nights that devour

You are my companion, my sole reprieve

My friend, my mate, I will never forsake