This Was February

Well I cannot even remember the last time I wrote to all of you which probably means I should have written a long time ago. I apologize to those of you whom I owe emails. My life here in Honduras has gotten really good, but once again really busy, and fast. I know that no one thinks life down here is fast, and it’s not, if you are retired in your private home on the white sandy beach coast. But I am not there yet, so I am going to share with you the life of the renegade volunteer/ photographer who is now living out of a bus more than his room.

After the last time we talked, I had the privilege of being visited by my mother who came down for a week. I think I traveled more with her than anyone. We started in San Pedro, went to Cortes to meet all my friends, Back to San Pedro, to La Guama where I worked (more on that later), to Tegucigalpa, to Siguantepeque, to San Pedro where she departed. All this in 10 days. After she left, I returned to work, then to Cortes, Then San Pedro, Then Tegucigalpa, then San Pedro, and Now Tegucigalpa again. Unfortunately there is no Internet on the long bus rides across the country, but I have finished reading four more books. I am running out mom, you’re going to need to bring more! If anyone’s got a good book for me, send it with mom.

So, Buses. Buses in Honduras are quite the experience. If you are wanting to go anywhere in the city, then you can climb aboard an early 90s reminiscent of your childhood school bus. It is still yellow on the outside, and slightly modified on the inside. The seats never changed, at all. In fact they are the originals, only without the padding and with more bare springs (I found out after sitting in one the other day and ripping the seat of my new pants all the way down before I got home. And No one told me I was flailing to the wind!). There is a boy to take your money as your board through the turn stall they have installed. Windows have curtains they never wash, and the music is the same station in every bus, I believe the same song at any time of the day, and the road is sure to be bumpy. I love it. The people are always quiet on the bus, and stare straight ahead, tired from the hard day. They smile when you smile at them, and they always give seats up to ladies with babies and ladies with age.
Rapidito buses in San Pedro are to go from colony to colony. They are called Rapiditos because they race at high speeds through city traffic, drive on sidewalks, shoulders, yards, and the middle of other lanes, just to make sure you reach your destination in the least amount of time so they can pick up another load. These buses are like mini mini vans with seats they have put in where there should be no seats. Everything is a seat in a Rapidito and you pile in 20 to the 10 person space. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbor.
Cross-country Private buses are huge charter buses. The Hedman Alas Company has buses to Tegus, where the luxury is better than a plane. When you are in the plush first-class style seats, you can relax and watch a movie on the many monitors from the ceiling and bask in the air conditioning. You can enjoy the free snack bar and drink service offered by the steward onboard, and you can use the on-board lavatory if need be. I don’t take this bus, but I hear it’s nice. My cross country is in Rey Del Oro, which probably could have been a Hedman 20 years ago. It now has busted seats, smells of stale food and cookies, and the drivers think it is a sports car when driving around blind curves. They stop at every town and fill up until the standing room is gone and then try to put passengers in your breathing space. I love when I try to get off with my backpack and I start for the front ten minutes before my stop so I have time to squeeze through the thirty bodies in the aisle in front of me. But they get me where I want to go even when they do break down, it’s just hours later. I plan for the worst and always leave early.

On days when I am not traveling, I am recuperating and haven’t had much time in the internet. But, exciting things have been happening here.

For those of you who checked out the documentary and the website, which is getting updated still, we will be having screenings in Down Town San Diego all April. Check it out. We have finished the church in La Esperanza and I have been going to the services to get to know the people again. Many of the kids will eventually be in our school. I am still working with the orphan girls to get them into University. Our first try did not work as they had to move and get jobs during matriculation. I also finally fixed up the old den a bit. I built some pine wood shelves in the kitchen and bathroom on my day off before going to San Pedro to get Adam.

Adam is a friend of Joel and mine from San Diego and has come to spend six months with me and learn Spanish. He just got here and I have already dragged him to Tegucigalpa. He had one night in the Apartment, but said it was nice. He bought a bed the first day here and had it delivered that night. My neighbor bought a bed and has loaned me his old one. It rocks. It is so big and comfy. I am sure after I see the chiropractor I will sleep like a baby! I am in Tegus to see the Chiropractor, The only one in Honduras, and he is Canadian. But I am told he can help.

I really love it down here. I took a job doing photography and Brochure design for a national park down here and got paid a little, which was great! But I had to turn down the contract for their video because they tried to cheat me on it.

I cannot think of anywhere else I would rather be right now except for making a movie with Joel, Lowell, and Daniel. Watched Flagpop.com videos the other night and guys, they are amazing! Or I could be in Gma’s house eating Strawberry short cake. But other than that, Life is fantastic and I wish you all could come down and meet my friends and neighbors. For the next few weeks, I hope not to have much planned, but think I will be going to Siguantepeque to help another Work and Witness group, hanging out in Cortes, shooting video of Cocal Gracias for the website, and taking photos of a new ministry in San Pedro to feed the dump kids there. I hope to hear from all of you… Brian