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Published: August 15th 2009
So I've got just about 2 weeks under my belt here in Talanga, south of Tegucigalpa but in the same department of Francisco Morazan. Classes are still going well, we switch language teachers every 2 weeks so now my class will have a new style to learn from a new teacher which has its pros and cons, but so far so good!
With the trash project, my group has started working with a Scout group here in Talanga. It's a boy/girl scout group with kids from around 8 years old to around 16 or so. They do a really great job of getting motivated and wanting to do projects so it's good to have an already organized group of kids wanting to help out. There's a HUGE tree in the town that is absolutely beautiful (i keep on forgetting to take pictures but they are coming i promise!) but unfortunately there's a lot of trash around it. SO we're going to "adopt" that area around the tree and put a sign up that says that scout group 37 has taken the responsibility of keeping that area clean. For our project though we need to have some money to buy plastic bags, gloves, water and a snack, and the sign. Luckily we got all that money given to us by the mayor here in the city after we went to his office and did a little pitch for environmentalism. We're also doing a movie night on Wednesday to raise some extra funds because we're thinking about also doing a mural, but that idea is still in the works.
There's another project that I'm working on with one of the schools in the area. I met with them Thursday night and again on Friday to discuss what were some of the needs of the school and students but the teachers were really mentioning more infrastructure issues they have. For example they're hoping to really fix up their bathrooms and basketball courts which would cost a LOT of money that I can't possible raise in 4 weeks so instead we agreed that myself and two other volunteers with me would do some charlas (workshops) with the kids on proper communication, health, the environment, and some different themes. They also really want me to give some english classes, but it's almost not worth it to start an english class since I really don't have enough time to do a good job with it.
That's been about it. We watched Honduras beat Costa Rica 4 - 1 the other night which was CRAZY here. People were really going nuts in the streets and there were hundreds of fireworks that were going off. I went to a soccer game in Xela, Guatemala which was even crazier but since this is World Cup qualifying matches people were REALLY getting into it. We've had one birthday celebration already in our group of gringos which was really fun and we've got another one tonight.
The political situation is a little crazy in Tegucigalpa (where I am nowhere near). The demonstrations have gotten a little more violent lately. They burned a bus and have destroyed a couple of different stores and fast food restaurants in the capital. It's more or less if you aren't with us, you're against us on both sides. So the side that wants Mel Zelaya to come back thinks that everybody on the other side is a golpista who is in favor of the coup and the other side sees those supporting Mel as being Chavistas who support Hugo Chavez. There doesn't seem to be any real end in sight until they have the elections.
Also no stories of any health issues yet which continues to amaze me. On kind of a sad note though, we lost another volunteer who decided to go back to the states. That's 4 in total that have left since D.R. which is a bummer, but the sooner we get done with training the sooner we can get started with our service. I'm still really excited about the work I could be doing and have high spirits. I've already had one placement interview that went well and I've got another one coming up on Monday, so I'm getting closer to figuring out where I'll be for the next two years!
Hope everybody else is doing well and for sure I'll get going on those pictures!!
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Katie Burke
non-member comment
Congrats!
Joe, congrats on a beautifully-written blog and what sounds like an amazing trip to date. I look forward to hearing more about your adventures-I now have your blog bookmarked so I can check it out more often. Hope you get a great placement that you are excited about! Sincerely, Katie Burke (Martha's friend from high school who still thinks of you as being in seventh grade...sorry about that)