Bringing Honduras Home

It has been a week since I left Honduras, and while much of me is here, in the states, a part of me remains in Orocuina. Jumping back and forth between countries and worlds is always a challenge. There is different food to be appreciated, music and movies to catch up on, the use of a car, politics... the list goes on. There is also a change of pace. Aimless hours spent reading or chatting while sharing a hammock are quickly filled with visits to friends and family, catching up on those movies, and 500 other little things you just didn't seem to have to worry about before now. This time I was a bit more prepared, and in order to assist my "transition", I decided to bring a little bit of Honduras home with me.

My first attempts at cooking after coming back to the states

My first trip to the grocery store, my purchases included mangoes, beans, and chili sauce (along with dark beer ofcourse!!). Our house has also blasted lots of Enrique Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, las Chicas Roland along with various reggeaton and bachata groups in the past week. There is something comforting about having these basic Latin American staples on hand in that, for now, they represent small ways in which I am able to integrate my two worlds. It is also wonderful to be able to share these worlds with other people. My mom got a kick out of my punta dancing skills and asked that I bring along my "hip shaking music" to the next family event :) She also surprised me by having corn tortillas and green enchilada sauce on hand!

Apparently music and food were not the only things I managed to bring home with me from Honduras... Lester, the friendly parasite, has been camped out for some time. For better or worse, regular stomach and intestinal visitors are a part of the package when living in a developing area with poor water quality. Stomach pangs are fairly common and often go away/get flushed out on their own. In the rare case they decide to overstay their welcome, a quick visit to the local clinic provides your basic antibiotic and antiparasite meds. (Often they don't even run a culture, they just push on your hyperextended belly and give you both meds, assuming one of the two will do the job.) To quote a Honduran friend, " Everyone has parasites, but at least you're never alone." Awesome!

So, I guess I was a bit lax with Lester, and he decided to make his move and attempt to take over the joint. I started to have the tell tale signs that our "relationship" was headed in the wrong direct

• Shooting pains after eating or drinking, even small quantities


• Inflated belly


• Uncontrollable need to burb... without drinking a six-pack


• Fever and chills


• Lots of extra trips to the bathroom

After losing an entire night's sleep to Lester and his "antics," I decided it was time to show my "guest" the door. One mildly amusing doctor's appointment and 3 ridiculously complex cultures later (whatever happened to just the cup???), I am on my meds and soon to catch up on my beauty rest.

I never would have expected just how much I miss Honduras, but I am glad that there are some things that I am able to bring with me. :)

Hasta Pronto

I can hardly believe that is has been a month since returning from Guatemala (!!), and at the same time, the trip feels like years ago. To say that I have been busy would be an understatement, but then it is not every day you are moving a friend out of town and two new ones in while getting readjusted and, at the same time, preparing to leave again...

That´s right, I am taking my Catracho lifestyle on the road... to Appleton, WI, USA!

The next six weeks I will be based out of Appleton, while spending time with family and friends and possibly even doing some job searching. This trip was not necessarily part of the ¨master plan;¨ however, my time here has helped me to learn, that while having a plan is important, it is even more important to know when and how to break it... and so it is that I found myself walking through downtown Orocuina this afternoon, making the rounds to explain where I am going and to say goodbye.

Planes, trains, and automobiles will all be part of the ride home... along with buses and taxis... and everything short of a bicycle

While six weeks isn`t all that long in the grand scope of things, much can happen in the life of a small town, where everyone knows everything, and common courtesies, like letting people know you are headed out, save lots of explaining (and appologizing) on the way back in. Taking the time to pass by many of the friends I have made has reminded me how many amazing people there are here, and just how easy it is to show up at someone`s doorstep and spend the afternoon. (I should explain, when I say ¨pass by,¨ I mean sit down in the front room or lean against the outside of the building, talking and watching people walk by, for at least half an hour... because that is how things are done here. :)) I wish I would have planned to leave weeks ago just so that I would have made time to get out and talk to people, and am glad to know that I will have more time to aprovechar when I get back!!

Don´t get me wrong, I cannot wait to to go home and take advantage of all the states has to offer: farmers´ markets, yoga classes, unitarian universalist churches, the freedom to go out after 7pm, nice dogs, dark beer!!- and most importantly- family and friends less than 2 days of travel away!!!

I am also thankful for all that I have been given and grown during my time here: friends, a family, hazy mountain views in the afternoon, bird wake up calls, fresh coconut water for breakfast, kisses and hugs hello and goodbye, and an openness that never ceases to catch me off guard.

My work with AMDV and CASEP will continue. I will be researching and developing grant proposals, while spending time with and supporting family- I couldn`t ask for more!! In addition to work and family, I hope to better keep up with the blog, sharing funny and provacative stories that just never made it online, as well as the perspectives of an international traveler ¨coming home.¨

At my last visit to ¨say good bye,¨ I was on my way to the street when the old man of the house shouted, ¨No es adios, es hasta pronto,¨ It`s not good bye, it`s see you soon. The sweet irony rippled through me as I thought of all those in the states I refused to say goodbye to, saying only ¨see you soon.¨ Headed home and looking forward to coming back, he couldn`t have been more right!

Hasta Pronto!