Raining in a New Year

Yesterday officially marked one year of living in Central America. It is amazing to think that I have been here a year already! In many ways, it feels like I just got here: there are so many things I have yet to see and people I have yet to really get to know. On the other hand, I finally feel like I have Honduran friends, people I can go to if I feel down or lonely, or just need some dinner, and that is something that takes time. One of the families I am getting to know better these days is a neighor family just down the street. I met Neto, Alejandrina, Alejandrita (yes, I confuse them all the time), and Maria Jose when I first got to town through their thriving roadside dinner stand outside their house. Any night I didn´t feel like cooking, I´d stop in for a fried treat of enchiladas, tacos, or platano cips drenched in hamburger meat mixed with sliced potatoes and carrots- delicious! The other day I was able to return the favor of many free meals and teach them how to make pizza. With pepperoni, black olives (totally imported but so good), tomatoes and onions, it was quite possibly the best pizza I have ever made, and it seemed to go over well as both pizzas were gone in less than an hour. The rest of the afternoon was spent playing doctor and getting yet another beautiful pedicure- who would have thought my feet would look better here than in the states!

If you are interested in making Italian/American/soon to be Honduran pizza, all you need is:

• 1 tablespoon active rising yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon olive (or vegetable) oil
• a pinch of salt

Check out the recipe at: www.annamariavolpi.com/pizza_recipe.html

In addition to making pizza and getting pedicures, the major past time of late has been discussing and watching the weather. After 6 straight days of rain, it is hard to think about anything else. While we have been lucky to avoid power outtages and high winds, the massive amounts of water have created flooding to the point of nearly taking out local bridges. It is both awesome and scary to see the strength of so much water. All Orocuinans say that this is the most rain they have seen in 30 years. (Except for maybe hurrican Mitch which flooded and practically carried away the towns in ´98) The forecast calls for clear skies this week; however, others say there is another tropical storm coming in from Panama. For the sake of all Hondurans, here´s hoping for clear skies!

(Picture of a nearby bridge that has been flooded by Rio Choluteca and a closed up down town. Even the cantinas have been quiet these days.)