Dia 1 - Lawrenceville-->Newark-->Atlanta-->San Pedro Sula-->Progreso

---

I have been awake for 36 hours, and as much as I want to sleep, I’ve gotta get in an entry for today. Oh, and it’s unbearably hot!

As we were leaving for the airport at 2am, there was no point in trying to sleep last night. 6am flight means I needed to get there 3 hours in advance, right? So when Robert dropped me off at Newark International around 3:15, I was all set to check my bags and head to the terminal. Right? WRONG!! Check-in doesn’t begin until 4:30am! So I finally finished my book and “patiently” awaited for 4:30 to arrive.

While I was thrilled to have a bag full of donated school supplies to bring to Honduras, I was not too happy about lugging it around and paying the 40$ extra bag fee. But no matter! Off to the terminal!

I was so hungry and dying for coffee, but of course the shops don’t open until 5am. Got myself a large coffee and a breakfast burrito, which I didn’t actually eat until I arrived in Atlanta. Should have rethought the large coffee before a 2 hour plane ride, sitting in my coveted window seat. As soon as that plane landed in Atlanta I tore through the airplane like a bat out of hell to get to that bathroom!

While I am on the subject of running to the bathroom, wouldn’t you know that just as we were ascending from Atlanta I started to get airsick. First time in all of my years of flying domestic and international, and I had to bolt to the bathroom while the Fasten Seatbelts Sign was still lit. As the flight attendant reminded me as I blew past him, “we are still ascending, but when you gotta go you gotta go!” At least the remainder of the flight was uneventful!

Following the suggestion of the trip organizers, I booked the earliest flight possible to maximize my time in Honduras. Little did I know that since I was one of the first to arrive, I had to wait in the airport until ALL OTHER FLIGHTS GOT IN. So three hours later, in a school bus packed with suitcases, volunteers, and some children from Villa Soleada, we were on our way to our “hotel.”

We took a short bus tour of Villa Soleada, a community for Honduran families built entirely by them and the many volunteers that are a part of this amazing organization. As I had experienced in past travels, I saw a community of children, some barefoot, others riding rusted, broken-down bikes, most with arms extended for hugs and piggyback rides. And I remembered why I do this; to volunteer my time in a third-world country and show that I care about someone other than myself.

After a delicious dinner for all of the volunteers (we are close to 50!), some ice-breaker activities to get to know each other, and a very refreshing COLD shower, I am packing it in for the night. I look forward to getting to know the children and families here and spending this next week building the school for the children to attend, albeit the oppressive heat and humidity.

More to come!

---