KellieSue: September 2008

Where do I start?! I made it to sunny/rainy Honduras safely and so far coming here has been an excellent decision. Not only am I with my best friend again, but fresh fruit and vegetables are on every corner; I already overdosed on grilled corn with lime and salt. I’m surrounded by sounds and colors I’ve never experienced before and it’s thrilling. For once in my life I feel tall too which is pretty strange, especially after living in Holland for a year. Other differences include taxis hailing you, water in plastic bags, gorgeous mountains, men telling you they will love you forever multiple times a day, ginormous spiders, and reggaeton. I have also learned how multi-functional a machete really is; you can cut your grass with it and later on peel your fruit. I definitely plan to buy one before I leave. I even got stung by a jelly fish already which is a first. Although Honduras is very different than home, to say the least, there are some shocking similarities, for example, occasional wireless, cable television, occasional air-conditioning, Burger king, Baskin Robins, Popeyes, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Dominos. All in all, it’s pretty trippy here and I’m loving every minute of it.

Life with my best friend could not be better. After more than a year apart, we are back to our old ways. I had the chance to help Jen out with a Habitat for Humanity project. I worked with her and a group from North Carolina building a house for a local family. It was a pretty moving experience for all involved and I’m officially hooked. Intensive Spanish is also going really well. I have a private tutor who rocks named Leslie. Yesterday I found out who my English students will be...the police! In a little over a week I will begin teaching English to the police in La Ceiba. I will definitely have to write more about that when the time comes, but for now all I can say is that I’m pretty pumped.