August 25, 2007

On Monday (August 27, 2007) I’ll begin my seventh week as a Peace Corps Trainee in Honduras. Time passes slowly throughout each training day. The seconds are beginning to seem like minutes; minutes like hours; and hours like days. Each afternoon the Honduran sun strikes our training site with a vengeance. Trainees are left baking in the afternoon heat. We try desperately to remain attentive each afternoon. However, listening to long lectures beneath the blazing heat remains difficult. We are anxious to complete training, determine our final site placement, and begin work as official Peace Corps Volunteers.

On August 11, 2007 the Youth Development group relocated from Santa Lucia to the town of Cantarranas, Francisco Morazan for Field Based Training. FBT lasts six weeks and allows trainees to gain practical work experience before volunteer life begins. Cantarranas is much different when compared to our training site in Santa Lucia. For example, Santa Lucia housed Internet, coffee cafes, restaurants, a mild climate, easy access to Tegucigalpa, and a patient group of locals willing to listen to broken Spanish. Cantarranas, on the other hand, does not provide easy access to Internet (at least an hour away by bus), lacks social settings for enjoying the afternoon cup of coffee, blisters with sweltering heat, and is home to a deadly strain of Dengue Fever. In addition, locals appear confused at the sight of Gringos walking through cobblestone streets attempting to speak broken Spanish… After a few days in Cantarranas I am beginning to understand that life in this community resembles what life is like in many places throughout rural Honduras: time moves slowly, resources remain scarce, and the afternoon sun bakes the Honduran earth.

Living within different communities in Honduras continues to enrich my perspective regarding the differences that exist between life in Central America and life in the United States. I’ve done my best to view each difference with respect, empathy, and understanding. However, at times it is difficult adjusting to certain facets of life here. In many ways, my personal ideologies have been constructed over the last 25 years according to norms existing within the United States. As a result, emerging contrasts between life in Honduras and life the United States arise daily. These contrasts provide deeper insight into Honduran culture, society, and way of life. At the same time, however, insights into the Honduran way of life have led to a deeper appreciation for certain aspects of life in the United States as well. Perhaps the most distinct differences between the United States and Honduras revolve around the concepts of time and progress. Many of my personal struggles thus far center upon these two issues. More on this later…

I’ve had little time to write throughout the last two weeks. As mentioned above, Internet services do not exist in my town. If I’m lucky I’m able to escape during the weekends in order to find a nearby Internet café. In addition, I spend most evenings hunched over Spanish grammar texts, dictionaries, and verb books. Before closing I’d like to post my contact information. Don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email at any time. I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible. I hope all is well in the United States and look forward to hearing from you.

All the Best,
Dan

Phone Number – (504) 9765-4638
danakenhead@yahoo.com