But today I washed my dishes. I finished unpacking. I finished downloading pictures. I debriefed online with friends. I actually had a good nights sleep without tossing and turning. I stopped feeling like I'm gonna cry. And I washed my dishes.
Fresh start.
Now I'm ready to tell my stories.....
Day 1: Hurry up and wait.
Long long day of flying and airports and lineups and feeling like cattle. But we made it safely to Tegucigalpa. Sadly our luggage did not. From a team of 20 with 40 pieces of luggage, we lost 14. All time record - go Team 3!!!! And the security people stole some of the vitamins from my bag...grr....if only I'd learned to say - those are for the children, not you! But it was lots of laughs. Especially when I got stopped at security in Toronto while they searched my bag to figure out what the weird metal stuff was (stethoscope and BP cuff) and then to ask me about their personal ailments and whether they should go to their family doctor or not. I kid you not. She actually discussed how much she vomits with me.
By far the best part of the day was meeting my foster child :) Her name is Maite (pronounced My-teh) and she is just about the most loveliest thing I have ever met. And her sister Sharon (pronounced more like Charon) is foster child to my mom and grandma. So we had about an hour of hanging out, not understanding each other, but taking lots of pictures and hugging a millions times. They also have a younger brother at the orphanage, so if anyone is looking for an incredibly worthwhile way to spend a dollar a day - give me a call. At the end she asked me if I was ever coming back....and the interpreter told me I had to say no so that she wouldn't get her hopes up. I think I died a little.
We had our usual trip to the grocery store for "juice" and then drank some "juice" in the parking lot. jajaja (spanish for hahahaha). Classy. We got stopped by the police on many occasions and spent a good hour at the side of the road while they decided what to do with us. Again - we drank "juice". And after a long day it was up to the Ranch for a nice quiet supper and then catching up with old friends.
It's funny how this feels so comfortable. Not quite like home, but like somewhere that I belong, and that makes me happy. I love looking out over the mountains, smelling the sugar cane burning and the wood fires, and feeling the night breeze. It's all very real there.
Day 2: Valentine's!
We spent the day touring "the projects" (ie. the different missions and micro enterprises all within Sister Maria Rosa's non-profit organization). Mostly places I had been last year - Paraiso Nuevo (orphanages), Flor Azul (a farm school for boys), the clinic, and then some new spots - the brick factory and the plaintain chip shop! It was a long day, but an afternoon nap in the hammock fixed me right up. And we got long stemmed red roses at dinner! No idea where they got them, cause we were living in the middle of the hills and the sugar cane fields, but our lovely guides came around at dinner with one for each of us!!!
Next stop....our first clinic.....stay tuned.
Lots of love
Pamela
Currently reading: Fabulous Easter Brunches
Currently listening to: the weird sound the wind makes through my sliding door....my cable went out :(
p.s. Check out Sister Maria Rosa and the projects here
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