Solo falta 4 dias hasta mi novio esta aqui! (just 4 days till the boyfriend is here)

Semana santa is over but I definately enjoyed a break from work and the chance to bond more with my family and friends here.

Last thursday we went to the house in the mountains for lunch and a swim in their pool filled with natural water from the mountain (which means its kind of murky and very very fresh - in the cold sense). I enjoyed a nice lunch of spicy tomato sardines but it wasnt long before they fought back at my stomach and digestive system! We had to leave early because of me, cringe!

Friday was of course good friday and that means alot more to the people here than back in England. In all the big towns in Honduras they make carpets of sawdust in the streets of bright colours and artistic designs which are really impressive. Apparently they spend months designing them and how they are going to fit together, two days to make them and one evening to detroy them (in a procession) which symbolises a sacrifice. We saw the procession in Tegus which was really interesting if a little scary! They march figures of Jesus on the cross and other biblical people but the way they carry the statues in a side to side motion and the smell of the burning incense results in a pretty dramatic effect. Apparently the really hardcore religious stay in the cathedral after the procession all night without sleeping and then there is another procession at 5am when they exit the cathedral to celebrate the ressurection. I did not get up in time to witness that though.

I decided it was about time I did some cooking so on Sunday I made a cottage pie, with a Honduran twist because the ingrediants differed a bit. Like its really hard to find peas or fresh mushrooms here and if you do then they're ridiculously expensive. But still it was enjoyed by Carlota and a few other friends of ours. But now I fell obliged to make some for the other people who we see on a regular basis for them to try, I can make other things you know! Bolognaise with Actimel for instance! What? its really tasty and contains good bacteria! What more could you ask for?

At CEM-H this week I have made progress because people are now signing up to my English course, which means that I cant back out of it now! But I'm sure it will be fine, I have to remember they are not paying for it and I am not a qualified teacher but anything I can offer them is more than they have so it has to be beneficial right? I have thought that maybe when the course finishes in July I will look for another project that perhaps will suit me better. I know someone who works at the public university and she thinks I could be really helpful there so we'l see.

And I am a little sad at the moment because unfortunately one of the other volunteers, got assulted and robbed the other day. I wont go into details because frankly the parents dont need to know! It was bad but it could have easily been prevented if he had taken some precautions. Please dont worry about me because I will definately take those precautions and when I go travelling next week Carlota will be ringing every day to check up on me. So anyway the volunteer is going back to his country on friday which is a shame.

On the plus side, I am going on holiday next week and Dave will be here too! Although I have been a bit too laid back about it and really have to get on with booking hotels and making a few purchases for the beach! So that is what im off to do now... :-)

Semana Santa!

Last week at both my work places was pretty easy. Not much to do in the office as per and it was like end of term in the school because of semana santa.

Last wednesday evening I met up with a couple of other volunteers at the mall who I havn't actually seen or spoken to since the spanish classes finished at the beginning of February. The main reason for that being language and how we didnt have a common one. So it was extremely difficult to comminucate. However now we can talk just fine in Spanish which is pretty cool when you think about it. One of them even has a Honduran boyfriend.

Unfortunatly I found out that one of the volunteers from France had to return last week because her Grandad is sick. She has left her things in Honduras though so she obviously plans to come back and finish her project when she can.

Later that night when I got home Carlota asked me 'why have you got spots Kat?', 'You've been eating chocolate havn't you?' then there was a moment of silence where I was like 'oh busted!' then we both burst out laughing! It's true I have now officially finished the chocolate that Dave sent me, a fact which apparently had not gone unoticed! haha classic!

Last thursday I arrived at the school to find out we were going on a trip to the swimming pool, shame that I didnt know in advance but that is Honduran life. Although I did have a really great day with the kids I was a bit annoyed at what happened. Almost everyone pushed off to the swimming pool and it was just me and one other volunteer left to look after 2 blind children, 2 blind teachers and the food (there were dogs). Sometimes it seems that people dont care as much as you might think they should which is a shame.
I had a long rather confusing chat with the bus driver who was in the police. I think he was a bit disappointed to find out I had a boyfriend but everyone knows i am afraid of men in uniform especially when they are armed, so it would never have worked out! However I did get a lift back home in the bus, rather strange being in a huge bus with just three people!

On Sunday I went to Marcala with Gorkiana (who works with Carlota) and her family. We went to this park that had beautiful natural waterfalls and pools to bathe in. i didnt go swimming but I I had a really fun day and took lots of photos.

The last two days I have spent swimming and resting and eating (as you know I am on holiday this week!) and its generally been really relaxing. Carlota only let me swim in the morning and afternoon though because of the sun! Bless! I think my birth mother also appreciates this fact!

I dont really know what the rest of the week holds so I will just wait and see. Hopefully there will be an internet shaped light at the end of the weekly tunnel!