Sage in Honduras

I have safely arrived in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

I am a grad student at the University of Toronto studying urban planning. I will be in Honduras for the next three months, working on a planning project with the Municipality of San Pedro Sula, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

To be honest, when I first found out that my proposal to work in El Ocotillo, a garbage dump community north east of central San Pedro Sula was accepted by the CIDA/AUCC summer internship program, Students for Development, I was nervous. My spanish skills are very basic and I don't have much experience in planning in general. I didn't want to be a burden to the people in Honduras - a bumbling foreigner who wastes precious resources on simply trying to figure out what is going on.

Upon arrival, I meet with Marisa Mena de Milla who assures me my presence is "heaven sent", there is much work to be done. Marisa is the Direccion Ejecutiva de Concesiones for the Municipality of San Pedro Sula (SPS), which I believe is similar to the responsibilities of the Chief Building Director in the City of Toronto. Marisa is a charismatic woman who briefly studied architecture in the U.S and obtained a civil engineering degree in Barcelona. She believes in the potential of SPS and tells me excitedly that the topography of the city reminds her of Barcelona, the city she loves. She shares with me her vision for the city of SPS:

"San Pedro Sula Ever Green"

It is a plan for sustainable urban development divided into several parts:

1. (re) development of El Ocotillo - the garbage dump community mentioned earlier is located in proximity to botanical garden and a newly discovered archaeological site. She hopes to establish a tourism route based in El Ocotillo.

2. Development of Merendon Hills - is located to the west of city centre at an altitude of 700-1200 meters. Where SPS is about 36 degrees celsius, Merendon is about 22. There is a great view of the city and the north coast from these hills.

3. (re) development Los Bordos - along the Rio Blanco, there are many informal settlements where many of the city's poor live in inhumane conditions.

4. SPS Plan for 2010 - revise and update the old city plan that is now 20 years old.

5. Water treatment plants.

6. Sustainable waste management - with a focus on recycling and "recapturing" the "value of waste"

7. To facilitate development through the revision and provision of guidelines. i.e. Guidelines for roads, pipes, rain water management and services like wifi.

Wow! I will have a lot to do this summer! Marisa would like me to assist her in her in achieving the vision, "SPS Ever Green", although steps 5 and 6 are really only a matter of accessing funds. In fact I will accompany Marisa to a meeting with World Bank regarding funds. Also, tomorrow I will be attending a meeting with a private development company, Acuiferos Sunceri that owns land in the northwestern part of San Pedro Sula.

I still have to meet with a couple of NGOs, International Samaritan and CASM who are both working with the urban poor in San Pedro Sula. International Samaritan works specifically with the community, El Ocotillo and has been working to secure funding to bring water into the community. CASM works with Los Bordos, the informal settlement along the Rio Blanco. I will keep you updated on the progress here in San Pedro Sula!

Mundane travel notes:

If you have a cold on the day of travel, I would highly recommend you take some kind of medicine that would reduce your symptoms, especially some kind of decongestant. I'm one of those non-taking-drugs, let-your-body-get-over-it-naturally-as-you-suffer-through-the-discomfort types and I hate taking tylenol, advil or any other form of acetaminophen/ibuprofen. So, as one of these types, I would highly recommend you get over your indio-syncratic tendencies/hard core beliefs in alternative medicine/natural healing and take some kind of cold medicine that would help drain some of that extra fluid out of your head. Otherwise, the change in air pressure as the plane takes off and touches down will make your head feel like it's going to explode and then you feel pretty awful for the rest of the day. At least that was my experience.

Secondly: always, always, ALWAYS carry toiletries and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on. My luggage got lost/delayed and I'm still in the same sweaty tank-top, jeans and running shoes that I've been wearing on the long plane-ride, first day in 36 degree celsius San Pedro Sula weather, first night in 36 degree celsius San Pedro Sula weather and second day in 36 degree celsius San Pedro Sula weather. Needless to say, I feel disgusting. But apparently my luggage has been found and I will be going back to the airport to fetch it shortly.

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Part of trip: Sharon in Honduras

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