Filters - Up and Running

The water filters are nearing completion. Two were given a test drive this afternoon and are working fairly well. It will take a few days for the last of the small particles to settle and things to get functioning. Then it will take a couple of weeks for the population of good bacterial levels to get started growing.

Since talking to you last.

a. The championship happened. A small village team beat the city team so great celebration. The lights were dimmed before the game for an encouraging display of fireworks. The switch to do the dimming was a young man on a tall ladder with insulated gloves who just disconnected the power. Then, after the fireworks were done, he reconnected everything and all was well.

b. Carlin made the return trip without incident. Now she is an old hand at public transport. This week she will prepare English lessons for presenting to students next week. Lots of activities with friends have made the evenings fly by. A trip to the ocean on Sunday gave the 'winter-white' Albertan some super glow.

c. We met with people in the Education office in San Pedro Sula on Friday. Things are much more positive after that meeting and tomorrow we have a meeting to get the needed paperwork to form a separate school which will be under the local Principal rather than an office in Tegucigulpa. It means less paperwork for us, an opportunity to enhance our program even more and a better certificate for our students. As always, I am very cautiously optimistic. Two weeks will tell.

Inside of the filters - More photos later this week

Tela Beach Bums - 2 Latinas and 1 Wannabe

d. Manuel has been using the 'hay basket' technology faithfully in his home. It has made a noticeable difference in gas consumption. A tank which usually lasted for four weeks has lasted for more than six. That is exciting.

e. Still more students coming in to register. A couple of church and community centres are getting organized to start as well so that is encouraging.

f. It is so nice to be on the receiving end of seeds and seedlings. A friend of Manuel's has been bringing different seeds and plants. Last week he brought in the leaves of one plant (a shrub from the Chaya family) and made a wonderful drink. It did not last very long in the office. We have one of the plants now growing in the school grounds. It is only about 15 cm tall right now but is putting out new leaves so that is a good sign. Today he brought two tiny, tiny hot pepper seedlings (my house help's daughters thought the seeds I was drying looked too much like garbage and so threw them out - gnash) and another new plant. He went away with Malabar spinach and mint. So - we both won. We shall see how the seedlings take root in their seed bags.

On a visit to the orphanage, we got some branches of a curry leaf tree. Carlin and I planted the cuttings in bags and, two weeks later, we have over twelve which are pushing out buds. Will see if a few more of the smaller cuttings follow suit.

Thanks for following along.

TTYL

BB

Following "Santa"

This morning I feel a little like it is Christmas Eve again. When my children were little, we used to track Santa on the radar and internet. Today I am tracking Carlin as she heads to visit an orphanage on the other side of El Progresso.

The trip is only about sixty kilometres but it involves four different buses. We went over the trip carefully and, thanks to cell phone technology, she can phone at each stage. As I write, the third stage is underway. So far, the connections have been quick and straight forward. The next one is the tricky one.

Beginning stages of the tournament - Uniforms optional

A home and party hall made from scrap metal and buses - The truly eccentric welder at work.

 Fortunately, people in the transport industry are generally just as interested in getting you there as you are. And, it is in their best interests to keep travellers safe as well. Because each bus or rapidito has a very specific route, the conductor, driver and regular passengers get to know each other. Happily, there is almost always someone who is able to give assistance in one way or another - especially when you ask for help ahead of time.

The last two weeks has seen a steady stream of new students coming in to register. That is encouraging. Yesterday, a vice-principal from a primary school came in to see if we would be able to use the computers in his school for some of the children who have graduated and need to continue studying. Of course we were delighted with the opportunity. It is so good to see community leaders taking initiative.

January brings with it the usual 'almost-back-to-work-from-December-holidays' scenarios in Government offices. So, we begin the process of getting our names back on 'new' agendas and arranging meetings to renew the different projects we had in the works in early December. Manuel is busy each day writing and phoning people to arrange meetings. Chepe has visited a number of offices in Tegucigulpa and will revisit them again this week to move things along. There is a constant struggle to be persistent but not rude - to be knocking without disturbing unduly.

Pulhanpanzak Water Falls - say it three times after a spoonful of peanut butter

The street in front of my house.

 The local Catholic school built a new cement court in their playground. To inaugurate the court, the priest organized an area wide soccer tournament. Teams from every parish around are competing for a cash prize. The tournament is stretching out over a number of weeks but is providing some lovely evening entertainment. The teams play with a small ball and with five a side. The action is lightning fast on the small court and the intensity level is often rather high (don't you love polite euphemisms?).

Tonight may actually be the final. The final was supposed to be two Fridays ago so ... who knows. Will have to phone later to find out if it is still on. Fortunately, I have a soup already cooked so supper won't take long to prepare.

Yeni, one of our staff, just had a baby. Her maternity leave is over and she is back to work. As with so many young women in Honduras, her case is becoming very typical. Once she was pregnant, the young man began looking elsewhere. So, she is left with a baby and no partner. There are, of course, many more twists to the tale and we do our best to be supportive. It is so difficult to have to watch from the sidelines so to speak.

I won't close this until "Santa arrives". On the bus for the last stage. So ... to get off at the right spot is the last hurdle. Phew - last phone call - adventure is over. Will hear the play by play on Thursday.

As I mentioned last time, having a visitor allows me to see Honduras through their 'lens'. So, a few more photos from Carlin's camera (she is graciously allowing me to get a copy of all her shots - I am hopeless with a camera).

TTYL

BB

Happy New Year

On Thursday, Carlin, a young High School graduate, arrived for a six week visit. She is going to help out with a variety of things and, hopefully, learn some Spanish and enjoy a little of Honduras as well.

Nativity Scene - many homes set up these elaborate villages with a nativity scene.

Putting the final firecrackers inside the head.

Final good by to 2011

Our New Year’s Eve was spent with friends and their extended family. During the day, Carlin and I had bought a bag of firecrackers to bring in the New Year. Of course, they are illegal ... supposedly but are available on every corner and along the highway. For a neophyte to firecrackers, Carlin caught on quickly and by midnight was throwing out firecrackers with gusto.

The family we were visiting had made a stuffed figure to represent the old year. With the help of our additional fireworks, this figure was well stuffed with explosives before midnight came. Then, at midnight, the poor scarecrow man was set afire and amid many bangs, the old was forgotten and the new welcomed.

Each time a new person comes to visit, I get to see familiar surroundings with a new set of eyes. That is always refreshing.

CPI begins the year with hopes for an expanded student body and for many other communities to be involved. Representatives from two new communities have contacted me in the last two days. So, there is hope in that area.

Hike in a nearby rain forest on New Year's Day

Google translate - it is still funny - sign in a restaurant (not sure what you do in restaurants)

Soy cheese - a trial run - will see what people think of the idea

I would like to thank all of you who have followed along with our program in the past two years. It has been rewarding in many ways. The challenges are, as they are for everyone, often daunting.

Happy New Year to all of you.

TTYL

BB