Roatan

Last week we visited the airport in Teguc and talked with an organization that works with Hondurans after they get deported back to the Honduras from the US. There are about 140 Hondurans that get sent back to Honduras every day from the US. Many of the guys had been living in the US for 5 years or more. When they get "caught" or whatever they get sent to a detention center thing for a month or two, while they figure out all of the paper work. Then they get sent back to Honduras. They are only allowed to take a small plastic grocery bag of their belongings. They usually leave lots of their stuff in the States, because if they've been living there for 5 years, they most likely have a few posessions, and not much fits in a small grocery bag. Heard more of how they get to the US through Mexico. And then once they get deported back to Honduras, they have to find their families or whatever else. A number of them will try to return to the US.

We also visited a jail. Learned a little about gangs, drugs and violence. The jails are super laid back. Not much supervision by the jailers. They only get rice and beans for meals, so most of them have to work in the jail if they ever want to eat meat. They also have to buy their bedrooms and sheets and pay for their laundry and pretty much anything else they want. So most of them have a job making hammocks or making things out of wood. So its good that they stay busy and aren't sitting around all day. Only 10% of all the guys in jail actually had their case go to trial. They usually get arrested for something, like stealing or whatever, and then go to jail without a sentencing. So there are some innocent guys in jail. There's also lots of gang activity that goes on in the jail. They can have friends visit them and bring them drugs or whatever, and it's actually usually easier for the gang leaders to plan things in jail, because they are safer in jail than out of jail. And since they have lots of money or friends who have money, their living conditions are really nice.

Organized crime is a pretty big problem in Honduras, with the drug trafficking. Honduras is right in the middle between Colombia and the US, so its a good place to transfer the drugs. The eastern part of Honduras is the Mosquita, which is jungle and has no roads leading to it. Lots of drugs go through there.

Friday, we left for Roatan, an island on the north of Honduras. It's the best place in Central America to snorkel. The water on West End was crystal clear! It was exactly like the perfect snorkeling you think of when you see people snorkeling on TV or whatever. It was maybe 30 feet deep and super clear to the bottom! And I wasn't even scared (after a little practice)! Some people saw turtles and squid, but I just saw tons of beautifuly bright colored fish and coral! The beach was also beautiful white sand and blue water. It was kinda chilly and rainy on Saturday and Sunday, but Monday was perfect!! We just swam and snorkeled all weekend and came home on Tuesday.

Thursday, we went to Choluteca, a city in the south on the beach to visit a shrimp farm. It was HUGE! and the shrimp look pretty gross when they're alive! and the south is super hot and humid! Glad we live in Teguc in the mountains where it's nice weather! Came home from Choluteca last night. Today we went to Agua Splash, a water park, with our companeros from Nueva Suyapa. Thursday we are leaving for Guatemala for spring break.

ferry we took from La Ceiba to Roatan


clear blue turquoise water!


more beach

Sarah and I all ready to snorkel!

San Pedro & Copan

On Wednesday afternoon, we went to San Pedro Sula, a big city 4 hours to the north. Thursday morning we visited a cigar making factory. They had quite a few benefits and it seemed pretty nice. We toured the factory and saw them make the boxes and roll the cigars. The people seemed like they had a decent job.

Later, we visited a maquila (clothing factory). Actually we saw a cloth making factory. First, some supervisors talked to us and told us all of the good things about the factory. They work 60 hours a week, but they can go to school for 2 hours each day to continue their education, while they are paid to work. Seeing the cloth get made was pretty interesting! Just something I've never really thought of before.

The maquila didn't seem as nice as working at the cigar factory, but ok. Then we went to an organization that is working to unionize maquilas. We heard some stories of not the best things that happen in maquilas. The biggest problems are needing to meet their quotas, and sometimes having to work longer to meet the quotas; and not getting paid enough. Everyone always says that working at a maquila is better than working at other places or not working at all. Yes, thats true, but if they still can't live comfortably on what they are getting paid from working, it is still not good, and something needs to be done to change it. The maquila owners are very against unions. Last week, Fruit of the Loom closed one of their maquilas in San Pedro because they did organize a union in that maquila. In our discussion after visiting, we decided that we, the consumers, have control over the maquilas. The companies making the clothes can't do much, because we want to buy the cheapest clothes. Most of us aren't willing to pay a little more for clothes even if we know they are more expensive because they were made by people who were paid a good wage and all that. The Honduran government can't do much, because Honduras needs the maquilas to stay in the country because they employ lots of people! Kind of confusing, but hopefully it makes a little sense.

Anyway, just something good to think about that we American people who buy the clothes made in these maquilas have the power to change them. An example: there are now laws that the US government has made to make sure the paint that is used to make the toys we buy from China is lead free. The factories in China listened because else they couldn't sell their toys to us. So, maybe we need some laws that only allow companies to sell clothes in the US that were made to certain standards. The Chinese paint laws were made because American parents cared enough about what toys their kids were playing with to do something about the paint. We as Christians need to care about how other people in the world are living, even if it doesn't seem like it affects us directly.

Friday we went to a banana plantation. Also cool to see how bananas grow! There is a union for banana workers, so they get paid better and have better benefits than maquilas. Then Friday we took a bus to Copan, 4 hours to the west, right on the Guatemalan border. Saturday we went to the Copan ruins. Our tour was 3 hours long! The guide was a little to thorough! But it was neat to see all the ruins and hear the history of it all. There were lots of South American hippies who make jewelry and sell it in Copan and lots of other touristy things. Sunday morning half of us rode in the back of a pick up through beautiful green trees and mountains to some hot springs. There were 2 pools from the hot water, so just like huge hot tubs! And then we could go in the river and walk to the other side where the hot water was coming out. The water was HOT! Then we took a bus back to Teguc on Sunday afternoon, after a few problems because some of us didn't have any identification, but it all worked out in the end!

Today, we went to Nueva Suyapa again and talked to a couple about immigration. The husband went illegally to the US for 2 years to work because they really needed the money. He returned after two years and bought their house and a car so he could start his own business. The wife talked about how hard it was for them to be seperated for two years and not knowing if he would return, because many immigrants end up staying in the US if they don't get deported. The husband told us about how difficult the journey was through Guatemala and Mexico to get to the US. Also talked to a woman whose husband is living in the US now, he's been there for five years. Interresting to see and hear the other side of the situation, the journey to the US, and what it's like for the family members who are left behind.

Tomorrow we're visiting a jail and learning about gangs, violence and drugs. And Thursday visiting the airport to see the process that the immigrants that get deported back to Honduras have to go through. There are about 150 immigrants that get deported back to Honduras every day! And Friday, we leave for Roatan!!!!

pool at the hot springs place

stream at hot springs

elise jess and sarah at the ruins

the hot spring. there was lots more steam than you can see here. but it was also like 85 degrees prolly, so they are HOT to have that much steam when it's that warm outside. I think they were like 150 degrees or something. but then it mixed with cold stream water to form a nice little natural hot tub.

some ruins

more ruins

more ruins

TELA!

So, these are pictures of Tela. It was TONS of fun!! Only Sarah, Richard and I went, but it was great! The waves were big, and it was nice and hot and sunny! We didn't do much besides sit on the beach and play in the waves and enjoy the sun!


Today, for Development class, we went to the World Bank and talked to some guy there. It was pretty interresting actually, but a little confusing because I'm not super knowledgeable about economics. Tomorrow we are taking a class trip to San Pedro Sula, in the north, to visit 4 maquilas (clothing factories) on Thursday and a banana plantation on Friday. Should be very interresting!! Then we students are going on to Copan to visit the Copan ruins over the weekend.
And the next weekend is ROATAN and the beach and snorkeling!!!!


palm trees and the beach
everyone told us we had to try coconut bread, the first stuff was pretty gross, but later Richard and I found the good stuff!!

the town of Tela

palm trees beach ocean clouds

we got a coconut to drink the milk! it tastes pretty gross actually, but looks fun!

sarah and i with our licuados, they are milk shakes with fruit and very yummy!

cute little girl selling pan de coco (coconut bread) EVERYONE was trying to sell us something!

more pretty beach

last picture of the beach!

random...

I'm once again at Dunkin Donuts using their internet. Some people have been asking me what I'm actually doing here so...


Every day at 8:30, we have Spanish class for 2 hours. We are in three different classes, according to our Spanish speaking skills. I'm with three other girls, the teacher is super nice! We then have a 1/2 hour break when many of us get some oranges or bananas or snacks from the cafeteria. At 11:00, we have our development class with all the Calvin students. Kurt and JoAnn take turns teaching. This week we have gone on a visit every day for this class. Monday we went to the Honduran Congress to talk to a congresswoman. Tuesday we went to Flor del Campo (a poorer neighborhood) and learned about Genesis, a Honduran organization that helps with legal issues and counseling and such, and also visited a public library that was really nice! Wednesday we went to a public hospital and today we went to the US Embassy and heard of the work the US is doing in Honduras.


After development class at 1:00, we eat lunch at the cafeteria or get food from a grocery store. Most of us students go to the library for homework or internet or just sit around school somewhere til 5 or 6ish. Then we go home. I have a mom and dad, who are both like 60, and a sister who is 34, married and lives right behind my house. They have a daughter, Genesis, who is 3, and is usually with the grandparents. My parents lives aren't as exciting as some other students, so I usually sit and watch TV with them and do homework and talk, which usually takes a while because of the miscommunication which happens frequently! Sometimes at night the students will go out to eat or do other stuff together, but else I don't do much at home with my family, which is fine.


Tomorrow we start our new classes for development (I dont remember what they're called) and we now only have Spanish class for one hour on Tues and Thurs. I have a Spanish companero, Geser, who I practice Spanish/English with twice a week, we mostly just talk. Every Wednesday we all go up to Nueva Suyapa, another poor neighborhood, where Kurt and JoAnn live. We all have Spanish friends there too. We just talk with them to learn Spanish or play futbolito or other random games. Then just the Calvin students have a book discussion on Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster (a good book for everybody to read!). And then we have supper together. Wednesdays are lots of fun!


Tomorrow, a couple other kids and I are going to Tela, a city in the north on the beach!!!! We're leaving right after class and riding the bus for a couple hours and then spending the weekend in Tela on the beach!!!!!

I haven't taken any new pics on my camera this week, so these are ones from before. I can't figure out how to turn the picture, but this is just another picture of the beach (at amapala) to show you all where I'll be this weekend!!!

some cool trees

the street to my neighborhood

the market in the centro