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
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