After a busy month and half at work, I finally carved out a couple of days to get up to the capital. The trip was fueled by a need to renew my visa and a doctor`s appointment to check out some ¨sun-kissed¨ spots (ie moles) on my back, but I also ended up running lots of errands for work, shopping, and visiting friends which made for a great whirlwind two days! (Without a camera!!)
The majority of my trips to Teguc have been pretty superficial. I hang out at the preppy mall, watch a movie, go straight to the hotel and in the morning, back to the bus... super comfortable but unnoteworthy. Little by little, my trips have moved away from the ¨gringo zone,¨ and have become more interesting for it...
My trip got off to a ¨fuerte¨ start, when I found myself getting ride from the very team member who has caused uncalculable turmoil in the Association and has made me consider packing my bags countless times. While I was hesitant, I decided to bite the bullet and enter the lion`s den. The 3 1/2 hours we spent together in the car was ¨charged,¨ however, it allowed us to find areas of agreement and create an informal work plan for the following months. It also allowed me to practice a different, more assertive and persuasive form of Spanish... and perhaaaps gain a little respect in the process. CHEQUE!
(photo I took of the inside of the Central Park church at Christmas)
After parting ways, I needed to decompress and made my way to the Central Park church. I spent a few moments reflecting and observing the people. I realized that many of them were doing the exact same thing I was, escaping for a moment to find solace and center themselves before returning to the noisy world awaiting outside. In Central America, there is less religious diversity, and it is almost expected that you are either Catholic or Evangelical, regardless of if you practice. The churches are open all day, everyday for whoever feels the urge to enter. I found myself wondering if we have anything similar in the US where most of our faith institutions are locked up except during structured services. From church, I decided to take a moment and people watch in Central Park.... something I have yet to do in my many trips to Teguc. After finding one of the very last spots of shade, I realized two things:
1. There are very few women who sit in the park
2. The lone woman I had sat down next to was a prostitute
I sat watching people come and go, watching people watch me, and listening to clients approach my new bench neighbor. She was a woman in her early forties, poor, and missing various teeth, but her similarly outfitted clients didn`t seem to mind. She lightly bantered with them about their recent where abouts and lack of visits as one would with an old friend. After my phone card ran out unexpectedly while talking to my mom... it was time to go. Aware that she had been observing me, possibly just as intently, my neighbor and I chatted briefly and wished one another well.
My doctor`s appointment was not quite as positive as I had hoped and resulted in some unexpected lab work... USE SUNSCREEN PEOPLE!! In comparison to the states, where everything is done in house, in Honduras, you actually have to take your ¨samples¨ elsewhere to be tested and then bring the results back to the clinic. I comically wandered the streets of Teguc with my brown paper bag until a kind man walked me to the lab I was looking for. At the lab a woman offerred me a ride to a friends´ house (!) Thank you Hondurans!
My night was spent catching up with friends and playing robots with their kids :) The next day it was on to the immigration office to drop off my passport and then one more work errand on my way to the bus stop. While sitting in traffic, a swarm of students filled the street. They stood directly in front of my taxi and stopped traffic, waving banners to support the ¨Resistencia¨ and the plight of teachers who have been on strike for nearly two months. Donning hankerchiefs as masks, they yelled how they were not afriad and I had to laugh. The sun was shining, the cars were patient, and there quite possibly just as many cameramen as protesters to document the occassion. Recent protests around teachers`rights have resulted in numerous injuries and at least 3 deaths here in the capital, but this did not appear to be more than a few kids wanting to be a part of history. We slowly edged along, involuntary participants, until the next turn off. I can officially say I have partaken in Teguc protests! 
http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/04/02/magisterio-protesta-en-las-calles-sin-presencia-policial/ Apparently my protest experience made the news as one of the few protests not to evoke tear gas! Double cheque!
The ride home was uneventful in my airconditioned bus back to Cholu. While I was happy to be home... I am almost looking forward to going back to Teguc on Tuesday. It is sure to be interesting!
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