July 21, 2007

While friends and family in the United States enjoy hot showers, wireless Internet, cable television, and the ease of communicating in English, I am doing my best to understand a new and challenging world in Central America. Life in Honduras appears unfamiliar to the weary American traveler. Yet, however different Honduras remains when compared to the United States, I am content knowing that opportunities exist to comprehend an alternative way of life, learn the Spanish language, and immerse myself in Honduran culture and society.
I currently live in a modest home near Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Situated near the top of a hill overlooking the capital city, the house is equipped with four simple rooms. The kitchen, dining room, and living room are combined into one general living area located at the center of the house. Three small bedrooms splinter off from opposite ends of the general living area to provide shelter for five separate people: four family members and myself. My room is average size (11x11) and provides enough space to house a medium sized bed, a small dresser, and an external closet. In addition, I have a small desk in the corner of my room. The desk is currently covered with maps, books, notebooks, and Spanish language materials (a pocket-sized Oxford Spanish Language Dictionary, Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs, and Essential English Grammar). In the opposite corner of my room, a wooden door opens to reveal the front patio. When sitting on the patio at night, under bright colored clothes hanging beneath the Honduran stars, the city lights of Tegucigalpa shine between dense green mountains surrounding the capital.
The shower and bathroom facilities are located outside of the main house. The bathroom consists of three concrete walls, a wooden door, and a toilet positioned in the center of the small space. The concrete walls were once painted with light yellow paint. However, the original paint has deteriorated to reveal large patches of grey concrete. When using the restroom it’s common to see small insects, spiders, and other creatures scattered across the bathroom walls.
The shower facility is similar to the restroom. At first glance it may appear dirty or unclean. However, the family does a great job of cleaning the inside portion of the shower. Each morning my host mother heats one large bucket of water on an electric stove. After waking up and using the restroom, I take the heated water from the kitchen outside to the shower. At the bottom of the shower rests a large red bucket. I pour the heated water into the bucket and reenter the house to slip on my shower shoes (Chaco Sandals). In order to have enough water to bathe each morning, I combine heated water with cold water taken from a small PVC pipe located inside the shower facility. Once inside the concrete space, I use a large bowl to gather water from the red bucket. I then use the large bowl to cover my body with water.
Many differences exist when comparing life in Honduras to life in the United States. At times I long for aspects of the life I left in the United States – both in San Francisco and in New Mexico. Nonetheless, I realize that attitude shapes reality. I am fortunate to have extraordinary opportunities in front of me. I am learning Spanish, building new relationships, seeing new places, growing professionally, and challenging myself to become a better person.
I will do my best to write at least twice a month. It is often difficult to find reliable services in Honduras (depending on what town I am in). Please write often and keep me updated with life in the United States.

All the Best,
Dan