Back in England

Bye bye school...

Well I can definitely say I didnt expect to be blogging from home in England on the 28th of July! Alot earlier than expected! It all happened so fast really, one minute I was settled in Honduras, a bit bored for the curfew but nevertheless enjoying myself, and the next I am back to cold gloomy weather, fillets of meat and smooth road surfaces. Its a very strange feeling. I have two completely different lives now and to think that I can swap between them in just 14 hours is too much for my mind to take in!

I made the decision to come home after a series of conversations between my parents, Carlota and my security dude who works for the same company as my dad but in Honduras. They were all fairly worried about me being out there due to the current political situation. Not because I was in danger at the time, things are still going on more or less as normal - in actual fact normal in Honduras is still dangerous if im honest, but no its because of what might happen and the small possibility of a civil war. Neither side appears to be backing down so something has got to happen right?

I feel quite sad at leaving alot of people I love in Honduras particularly Carlota, and I kind of feel like I let myself down by giving up early. At the end of the day it was me who made the decision I wasn't forced to leave. But I already had flights to go back on the 12th of September after the wedding so I dont lose anything by going back on this date and finishing my year returning late December. So as long as the political situation is more stable and as long as I feel I am emotionally strong enough to go back (after living in England for one and a half months its going to be difficult) that is what I intend to do. ICYE have said that if I return to finish as planned they will still count it as a year because my leaving was only 'temporary' and I had good reason to leave. So im happy with that.

Although the whole situation is very very weird and I still dont know what to do with myself here everything feels wrong, I am very happy to be back with my parents, boyfriend, friends and family. Now I can even go to another wedding, one of best friends too, which I was going to miss so I am really excited this is now possible. As much as I tried to tell myself its more important to be there for the whole marriage rather than the one wedding day, I have to admit I wasn't convinced. Plus Dave is coming too so its even better!

My last few days in Honduras were very action packed so I barely had to time to think about going home. Andres's grandad died, Mary in our house had to go to hospital and Mina downstairs fell over badly hurting her knee. It wasn't the best time to leave really as it meant Carlota had to rush around to help them and take me to places to organise everything for going home. It was really sad to say goodbye to the children at the school and unbelievably easy to my other project. Needless to say when I return in September, it makes sense to work in the school full time until the end. It will be more helpful to them and more fun to me. Its weird because its not the reason I chose to go to Honduras in the first place, however it means I have changed as a person and gained experiences I would never have got from staying in England. The only bad side is that I'm still nowhere closer to figuring out what I want to do when I return for good, in fact I think I now have more options than before! I guess this is actually good because I know graduate jobs are in short supply at the moment :-(

So for now I will continue speaking English and make the most of the time that I have here. I'm sure I will be back in Honduras before I know it and regretting that I didn't do this or do that or eat enough Cadbury's Dairy Milk etc...

My 23rd birthday, 6th month in Honduras, and definitely 1st piñata!

So the last few weeks havn't been very eventful as far as work goes. I am now back working at the school but I've basically forgotten CEM-H exists! I do appreciate however that the team I was working with last, at least ring me up occasionally to let me know whats going on and oh that they still dont have anything for me to do. Its because they are doing things relating to the current political situation and all other things have been put on hold. I am not allowed to go to the place where I teach English as it has been deemed to dangerous at the moment, and some people think its never safe!

Luckily I have been kept busy as Carlota has holiday at the moment and so I have been helping her run errands and havn't been stuck indoors all day! Plus it was my birthday and last Saturday I had a party! Because of the curfew we had to have it in the daytime and with the piñata aswell I was only one party bag away from being a 9 year old again! Despite the fact that my friends and family teased me, even they have to admit that they enjoyed the piñata and it was a great day. I enjoyed it anyway. You can see from the photo above that it was a finding nemo piñata! I did want Spongebob Squarepants but those ones looked really ugly in the store, well I say store but we actually bought it from the street, where we also bought the cheese......? Random I know.

As far as the politcal situation goes the country seems to be almost running as normal, definitely outside of Tegucigalpa anyway. Here in Tegus we still sometimes get caught up in marches and have to be diverted. The graffiti which currently lines the streets is due to be cleaned up this weekend by a group of volunteers. Most of the shops and restaurants have replaced thier broken windows and look shiny and new again. We are making progress I feel. However the situation cannot get completely back to normal until something is resolved with the ex president. Whether thats for him to be in prison or reinstated as president i'm not sure but something has to happen before we can move on. While I have to admit I do feel quite excited and privilaged to be able to be here and witness it I am now truly bored of it all and just to get on with things. Thankfully with the curfew lifted I will be able to go out dancing again! yey!

As July is going by I am starting to think about my trip home at the end of August and all the things I need and want to do before then. For example if I bring back the hammock now then i'l have more room for other stuff in December. I have yet to buy a hammock but its on my list - IN PEN. hehe.

I've also been thinking more and more of the possibility of working in the school full time as of September when I return back after my trip. Everyday I spend there is alot of fun, laughing and smiling and then when I think of sitting in the office in CEM-H, bored and sad. Theres really no contest is there?

¡VIVA LA PAZ!

(First of all sorry to confuse you all by the date above - this is actually when I started to write this blog entry and for some reason I cant change it!)

So this whole story has been so up and down, everytime I think things are returning to normality something else happens. I hope you've all been following it and know about the President being forcefully removed from power and from the country - thats the most objective way of saying it I think. We now have a new acting President, although the rest of the world refuses to acknowledge him. The media are reporting what they want to report, which im not surprised about but really the BBC? I expected better! There have been a few protests in the city by supporters of the ex president but thats really only a small group of people, the vast majority of Hondurans DO NOT want him back, including Carlota who works at the supreme court so no surprise there. I understand what they're all saying about him having to be reinstated because of the precident that it would set otherwise but I fear that that would then lead to more protests and unrest in the city, this time by the large majority of people. I know I dont want to be around when that happens! So really no-one knows whats going to happen. At the moment there is a strange calm in the city, I guess everyone is anxiously waiting. Supposedly the ex president is back on saturday. Hmmm. We have also had a night-time curfew which is a really weird experience, I mean when would that ever happen in a normal lifetime?

So needless to say I havn't been working this week but fortunately I managed to get out last Saturday. We went to the mall to see the new Transformers, which was good but loooooooooooooooooooooong. In the evening we hit Ruby Tuesdays for cocktails and then a disco called Jaguar, was the last time I will see alot of the volunteers :-( some people got VERY drunk but I've been very good ever since that horrible horrible tequila hangover a few weeks back.

Sunday morning I was awoken by fighter planes screaming over the city the day that the President was taken. I dont know what was more of a surprise, that the President got taken or that I actually woke up, normally I sleep through these things!

Monday and Tuesday have blurred together as I was stuck at home, I might have been able to go to work but CEMH were protesting or something and its actually illegal for foreigners to partake in this kind of activity, so I couldn't join them. This makes me wonder if what I did a few weeks back marching through the streets saying 'Yes to the emergency contraceptive pill!' was actually illegal too? If it was then oooops! ;-)

Yesterday I sneaked out to go to Santa Lucia, without telling ICYE! hehe. But outside of Tegus everywhere is normal so it was peaceful Santa Lucia as usual. It was Marie's leaving do, shes another volunteer here who works at the blind educational centre. Was really sweet as everyone was saying how much they'd miss her and how she'd always be welcome back whenever. Then some of the blind teachers, who also teach at my school, played keyboard and sang, very well I have to say. Unfortunately Taunya from Canada got news that a family member had died so she's leaving today or tomorrow, :-( I am sad today as it seems everyone is leaving, leaving, leaving and I'm not! Its also worse because I am at home and have time to sit and think about this fact over and over.

There are some benefits to being at home though, I have been studying Spanish and yey because it helps to improve, I have been helping Sandra make tortillas and can now make them with my hands as opposed to the machine that makes perfect round flat ones, which is actually really difficult! I have been keeping up to date with the news and also generally relaxing. And I get to do all that without feeling guilty or like a bum because its really not my fault! There is a political crisis and we have to deal with it, so I am. Now, where have all the biscuits gone?

Special Announcement

The President of Honduras: Manuel Zelaya Rosales

I must say the Katie Clarke inside of me really does not want to post this blog today because of the inconsistency in unevenly spaced postings - not very asthetically pleasing! But it is a special day so I think we can make acceptions?

Just after I posted my blog yesterday about having a mundane week, I find out some news to completely change that! Ok so im all packed and ready for the camp, I go to sleep and am woken up at about 11.30pm by my phone ringing, in my usual half asleep state I just keep cancelling the call because all I can think about is that I want to sleep and its annoying! A bit later Carlota comes into my room and wakes me up properly to speak to Elly on the phone from ICYE. She was cancelling the ICYE camp and advising me to stay in the house for the next few days as its potentially too dangerous to go outside!!! Umm what?? So I dont fully understand this because A)I was half asleep, B) its about politics and C) I cant find any news about it in English. However what I understand is this... there has been alot of tension in Honduras the last few days because the president wants to do something with the military, that has something to do with Venezuela, but the courts are saying its actually illegal! Exactly what I have yet to understand! There is going to be a vote or something on Sunday but last night the big people in power of the military resigned, thats the heads of army, navy and airforce! I also want to say that it might have something to do with socialism? Dont know, anyway this has caused even more chaos, confusion and arguments and no-one knows what the outcome is going to be. So thats why I have to stay at home until further notice! I think ICYE are being a bit overprotective because Carlota has still gone to work as usual and the nurses are still coming to do thier shifts!

Oh well I shall just study some spanish and eat lots of biscuits no doubt! Well I did go to the gym last night!

a mundane week

Photo: This is where I teach my English classes - yes the whiteboard has still not been attached to the wall but hey, least I have one! And there were more students in the beginning but there are now only about 5 or 6 regular students on both mondays and tuesdays. Maybe one day i'l get a photo of my teaching too!

So after alot of talking and weighing up pros and cons I still dont know what Im going to do when my english classes finish in August in terms of what project. However things are perhaps looking up a little in CEM-H because I've now moved to another department -political women as opposed to -young women. Me and politics do not mix well but the ladies who work there are soooo much more friendly and they actually look for things for me to do. Im only working with them when im in the office which only equates to 2 days a week but its already much better than before. I've been busy :-O

In the school its been more of the same but its good fun. The other day the older students had a class on hygiene, I felt bad because the proffessor kept asking what I do or how many times I do stuff and I kept replying with the wrong thing! For example I said I shampoo my hair twice but she then told the kids its better to do it 3 times! Haha Im clearly not a good example! In my defence we never had classes at school to teach us stuff like that! My mum didnt tell me how many times either! :-(

Last weekend I went with two other volunteers for a trip to Valle de Angeles but this time we stayed over in a hotel! They dont speak much Spanish so we were speaking English the whole time, but I refuse to feel guilty! I dont feel so much pressure to speak spanish now that I already pretty much can. I did find out some interesting things though. One of the girls says that the anti-malarial drugs give her night terrors, I was a bit sceptical at first because im on the same thing and im fine. I sleep pleasantly even through earthquakes apparently. But the saturday night I woke up to find her crying her eyes out after experiencing yet another nightmare! I really feel sorry for her, they must be pretty strong drugs, oh and im on them for a whole year woo!

And I dont think theres much else interesting to talk about this week, seems to have gone past pretty quickly. Have been to the gym and few more times and went to extend my visa today - had to do all my fingerprints and everything! Oh and the lady taylor made me a little top, love it!

I have the ICYE mid-term evaluation camp tomorrow for 3 days....in spanish too, so better go pack....

Volunteer [vol-uhn-teer] - noun: a person who performs a service willingly and without pay

Photo: Baby in a hammock

Thursday and Friday last week there was no school so I just stayed at home and studied Spanish. It was actually really useful because without studying you can only learn bit by bit, by studying grammar you can learn a whole lot in a short space of time. Speaking in the past tense is now alot easier as I can say what I really want to say rather than saying something incorrectly and hoping they understand what I mean.

Friday night I went out with Gustavo and some of his friends to a new club in Tegus. Was good fun, they were trying to teach me merengue and I kind of got it if I looked at my feet but as soon as I looked up the feet would rebel and do their own thing. Feet will be feet I guess.

On Sunday I went to Valle de Angeles and Santa Lucia with Oscar. We met up with two other volunteers there, including the Canadian who still can't speak Spanish and I kind of get the feeling shes given up a bit. Only being here for 3 months really isn't enough to grasp the language. So we walked and ate and chatted, nice relaxing Sunday.

Monday morning was a bit different. Mario was going down to the South of Honduras (Langue) to pick up his brother, who is blind, to bring him back to Santa Lucia where he's studying. He asked if I wanted to go along and as I didnt have classes until 2pm I thought why not? His brother was staying at thier fathers farm, its actually right on the border of El Salvador. I saw El Salvador! Looks just like more of Honduras to me but what do i know? We didnt have time to stay there long but it was really pretty and I enjoyed the heat and absense of rain! I had walked past this hammock a number of times before I realised that it wasnt empty and there was a baby inside! See photo above! Not exactly sure who's it was but it was obviously content to swing in the wind...

Monday afternoon I got back in time to teach my English class. Only two students turned up but that meant they recieved some intensive teaching and it meant we could play naughts and crosses with a twist, they loved it! I thought of the game on the spot as well, well proud of myself.

Last night I went to the gym for the first time in about 6 months! Wow! It was quite a pleasant gym actually, really nice people and relatively cheap. First time I've been to a gym and got attacked by mosquitos though! Although I'm probably unbelievably unfit I didnt really notice much difference apart from how much my bum cheeks hurt bouncing up and down on the running machine! I hadn't even realised i'd put weight on there! :-( I think i will have to sign up and start to go regularly if I want to fit back into that bridesmaid dress in September!

Get that- Im volunteering in Honduras and I go to the gym? In fact it is because of things like this that I have become a joke amoung the volunteers...

* Ok so firstly I bought a HUGE suitcase with me to Honduras, most of the others bought backpacks, I have no idea how they managed that!

* Another thing is because I live in the city, I get to do normal things that I would do at home like go to the cinema, go shopping at the mall, go clubbing etc

* I am extremely lucky in the fact that I live in a house where I dont really need to do anything. For example I dont need to clean, wash my clothes, drive or cook. There is help to do that. Although in my defence I do cook when I am home alone or fancy eating something at a non-meal time. I have actually been called a doll by some people at work because thats what they call people who dont do anything. As an aside I AM actually a doll because Carlota's cousin's daughter has named her barbie 'Kat' because it has blonde hair and pale skin like me. I am quite flattered because lets face it Barbie is HOT! Wasn't quite so flattered when she was being waved around out the car window the other day! :-S

* I coped without a hairdryer and straightners for the first few months but I may have got my boyfriend to bring them out to me when he visited in May. So now I have hair products. yey!

* I tend to 'do coffee' with my friends on a regular basis, i'm now going to a gym and finally the fact that I occasionally go with Carlota to get a manicure and pedicure really does not help break the stereotype.

So perhaps I am not your typical volunteer, but whos to say what typical is? There is no guide as to what a volunteer does or does not do in thier free time and so can anyone really point and laugh? I think not! I would also like to point out here that besides all of the above I am still volunteering, still working to help the people and only receive enough money to cover the travel costs! So you did not pay to send me on holiday!!!

Today I am a bit frustrated because I couldn't teach my classes because there was no-one to take me. And I didnt find out until I'd been waiting for ages! CEM-H and their lack of communication really annoys me, plus its worse because if theres no classes it means working in the office and its sooo boring! Never mind I am going to talk to Elly at ICYE this afternoon to discuss the situation. I'm still hoping to change projects when my english classes finish and I also hope to swap wednesdays at cem-h for wednesdays at the school. Vamos a ver...

Two little monkey shaped mistakes

(Manuel, Anna and Carlota on Sunday with our lunch of pupusas and champagne!)

I had another fun weekend this week although it was a bit less action packed than the one before so I had some time to rest and to .....think.

I have been thinking about my blog recently after starting to follow a number of other blogs more religously. Including the one by American Jess which is always an inspiration, not just because of what she does but because of the way she writes, well she is a writer after all so i guess it comes naturally.
I've also started following the Wimbledon 2009 blog in my attempt to feel more connected with England and the rest of the world, plus ever since I lived in Putney for a year and went to see some of Wimbledon 2007 it became alot more interesting!
Anyway its made me realise that blogging only once a week means I only have time to describe the events of the week and not add many thoughts or musings of my own. Which is really what blogging is all about! So I am going to try to blog more frequently, although I make no promises.

Friday night as you know I went out with Gorkiana and her friends to celebrate her birthday. We went to Ruby Tuesdays for cocktails and then on to a club called Kabbalah for ALOT of dancing! I had a great time and apart from the fact that I was trying to dance like a latino and talking Spanish, I almost forgot I was in Honduras. Its because there are some places here so smart and modern looking that you just dont expect them to be in a developing country!
I stayed over a Gorkiana's house that night and in the morning we got up early to go visit Chiminike, a science museum for kids. Usually you are not allowed in without a child but we went with a huge group of college students because Gorkiana's father is a professor at the college. I really enjoyed the museum it was alot of fun, there was even a section where you could learn about and SMELL different body odours! haha! However I did have trouble understanding alot of it, as you can imagine the vocab was quite advanced or at least wasn't the kind of stuff you'd use everyday!

Saturday afternoon/night was well a bit of a disaster, it was just one thing after another. I laugh now looking back on it, it was quite funny.
* It all started when the weather turned for the worse with torrential rain and thunderstorms at about 3pm...
* ...this meant that when Carlota got back from the shops she was so busy rushing in not to get wet that she forgot to turn the lights off on the car...
* ...this meant that when we went to try to take Carlos back to his house the car wouldn't start because the battery was dead...
* ...this meant waiting around while a man came to fix it, he then left the engine on so as to charge the battery...
* ...but then of course that meant using up fuel so when it was done we had to pray we would make it to the gas station on virtually no fuel. Anyway we managed it and all was right again with the world as we took various people home. Then we stopped at Manuel and Anna's house as it was thier daughter's birthday. But we didnt stay long as it was getting late and we needed to take Mina home too, (the old lady who lives with us). So its still raining as we get back in the car and head off home, but we dont get far before something happens. At the time i didnt know what all I knew was that I was heading for the roof of the car! Quite scary! Felt like we'd hit something. Carlota pulled over and we realised we'd exploded a tyre. Dont know how though as there was nothing obvious on the road that could have prompted it. So we had to wait on the side of the road until Manuel came to rescue us. We all got drenched changing cars before realising this car too had a flat tyre! Oh my goodness! I wont bore you with the rest of the night but we eventually got home and the next day the car was fixed too. Phew.

Sunday we didnt do much apart from 'do lunch' at Manuel and Anna's house. Champagne and Pupusas. Pupusas are a typical Honduran food, its kind of like tortillas with cheese but its not really, i'm just the best at explaining things I know! ;-) Anyway they are the kind of thing you hate the first time then after 5 months of eating them you start to love them! Why is that?

I had both my English classes this week so I am very pleased. Things are getting a bit more complicated as we are starting on verbs! Still keeping my fingers crossed that no-one asks me to list the irregular english present tense verbs! :-S

Monday after work we went again to the lady taylor who had finished my skirt! Yey! I love it! Its too nice really to wear in Tegus becuase of all the dust and dirt. Maybe for my birthday party, we'll see.

Yesterday was Carlota's birthday so after work Gorkiana and I treated her to dinner and the cinema. We went to see A Night in the Museum 2, which afterwards we realised wasnt the best choice because Carlota hates monkeys and there are two in this film!! Ooops! But I enjoyed it, it was a laugh anyway.

It's wednesday today and I really dont know what I'm going to do tomorrow and friday as the school is closed this week! I might study some spanish, yes its still necessary!