A Normal Day

Monday afternoon, I arrived back in Honduras after three weeks in Canada. With a minimum of fuss, I was able to collect my bags and pass through customs ... unscathed again. A short taxi ride to Manuel's house where I collected my truck and I was on my way.

While in Canada, a friend asked me what a typical day was like for me in Honduras. It was really hard to explain. Each day is quite different and something new or challenging is always just around the corner.  My friend commutes ninety minutes to work in an office where his caseload awaits. Each day is different but not too adventuresome. Of course, there is the small matter of remuneration difference which needs to be taken into consideration. I'll let you do that.

Yesterday morning I arrived at the office in time to get most of the accounting done before the electricity went off. Intermittent power is not a surprise but, generally, not too common. It is, for a computer based school, a bit annoying. Yesterday, the power went off for the whole day.

Manuel and I then took a tour of all the plants and so forth which had grown considerably in three weeks. Have to work on getting the leaves harvested, dried and distributed.

Time for a new toy demonstration. My wife gave me a gadget that cuts a pineapple into slices, cores and peels  it all in one operation. I had some misgivings as to how well it would work but we tried it on two pineapples and it was marvelous. All the staff enjoyed watching the performance and eating the results.

With no computer work to do, Manuel and I went to replace a phone chip in the office phone. A power surge had ruined the first chip ... and the phone. We got to the phone kiosk (located in a large hardware store) only to find that we needed a photocopy of a piece of ID. No power in town ... no photocopy ... no new chip. We detoured to look for a small fan for my house. Found a new ironing board at the same time.

When we arrived back at the school we had a few minutes to teach the staff how to play dominos. We learned one way to play. Will try some other ways when there is another bout of darkness. Trying to make a long line of dominos to topple using a shaky plastic table and miniscule dominos is another challenge.

A board member of CPI Honduras is dying of cancer at the age of forty. We phoned our Board chairman to see if he wanted to travel with us to visit her. He told us to wait as he would be right there. Two hours later, he arrived. By then, dinner had been ordered so everyone had something to eat.

Carlos working on new exams

Finally, we left to go visit Gloria. We paused for a moment so that Edel and Chepe could help split a reluctant stump which was resisting the efforts of Gloria's father.

We found Gloria in a hammock at the back of the house being attended by family. The hammock is such a wonderful invention. She was being gently rocked and surrounded by the familiar sounds of life, family and the yard's many singers. Although she did open her eyes briefly, we spent the time talking with the family. Gloria has been such an energetic force in her family, community and as part of the CPI Honduras board. It was difficult to say good-bye.

The rest of the afternoon sped by helping some of our interns settle in. We have, for the next six weeks, six young students doing a practicum. In order to graduate from Grade 12 equivalent, they must find a place to do six weeks of work in their field. There is a desperate search for placements. Since we had a few last year, the word is out. We had hoped to stay at two but, in the end, allowed six to be part of the program. Without power, there isn't a great deal to do. Instead, we set them to reading "Where There is No Doctor" and some exciting booklets on development ideas. I am sure they were delighted. Manuel and I had seen some other students in various stores and they were doing absolutely nothing. We will try to keep ours busy.

Yulissa sorting files - her school regulations say
 that she must keep her jacket on at all times ... + 34 today.

In the evening, I went for a longish walk and then a 'typical' supper of beans, cheese, fried ripe plantains with cream, sausage, avocado and a tortilla along with passion fruit juice.

Today has been almost as varied. We have electricity, so I can spend more time at my desk.

TTYL

BB

K....

K... is a fourteen year old girl who is in Grade 9. We noticed that she has been gaining weight and becoming much more reserved. We finally talked with her Friday. She says she was raped by a bus driver in December and has not had her period since then. There is also a step father involved in the picture so it may be something like that as well. She has been unable to talk to her mother so has been shouldering this burden all alone for the past months.

We tried to get a pregnancy test done yesterday but the power was out for the morning and most of the afternoon. This morning, Yeni took her and had the blood test done. The result was positive (although, in this case, I rather think it is very negative).

Manuel, Yeni and I talked to her today and gave her the results. We tried to reassure her that this was not her fault and that she should not ever think it was. We also arranged to visit her home tomorrow and talk with the mother.

The results were, in a way, a bit of a relief for K... Now she can address the situation and work with it ... as much as any 14 year old child can do so.

There are so many children who get pregnant here in Honduras. It is one of the very sad realities. I know of more than one 32 - 35 year old grandmother. When you factor in the damage that will be done to the child/mother as well as the chances that her child will become learning disabled because of malnutrition and inadequate mothering the future for both is very dim.

One small blessing. We have Where There is No Doctor and Where There is No Doctor for Women in digital form. We also have several recently written and translated booklets on the nutritional benefits of green leaves. So, Yeni will work with K... to make sure she reads these materials. She is almost finished Grade 9 and has already achieved a passing grade should she have to drop out.

So, a heavy week so far.

On the brighter side ... and cute picture time. Yeni asked about a school "uniform" for her daughter, Ady. When I went to order the uniforms, there were, of course, none in that size. Manuel and I rushed to a baby store, found a suitable shirt and had it done up with the "uniform" logo. Yesterday, Ady came to school to show it off. I am wearing mine but Ady is blocking the logo. :))

I will be in Canada for 3 weeks so will be off the blog.

TTYL
BB

School Shirts

Students and staff wanted some sort of school 'uniform'. We have been taking orders for students who wanted them. It was surprising to me how many were interested. Late last week we received the first batch. People are quite proud of them.

A young girl, 18 years old, did her practicum with us last year. During that time, she became pregnant. This week, her story came to our attention again. The struggles for a young mother are very difficult. Her mother is also single and, so, each additional mouth to feed is a real burden. 

José Isaia Lara

How does one react to such news? What are the options? Manuel and I talked at length about how to react to this situation. Can one become involved without creating a permanent dependency or situation? Is there a true moral response that isn't long term? When I prefer the quick, one time only answer am I missing the point?

We talked about the possibility of her coming for one meal a day to my house. It would be good Spanish practice for me. But, what are the proprieties of such an arrangement? Manuel gave an interesting perspective. He said that the local pulperia (a small, in-the-home convenience store) is also the local news source. So, the secret to ensuring cultural correctness is to let the local pulperia know what is happening. They, in turn, let everyone else know. A secondary lesson ensues. Make sure you shop at your local pulperia and keep them within your circle of friends. Phew. Have done that already.

In  the end, we found out from a second source (this time a close neighbour) that the young girl actually had found work and was doing okay. But, we are ready for the next situation.

Maricella, Kenia, Christian, Ariel, Maira, Diana

On Tuesday, I was reminded again how plants protect themselves. We cut some bamboo for planting. The lower sheath leaves (don't know how else to say them without some technical term that I don't know) have a myriad of tiny hairs that can leap tall buildings in a single bound and with the slightest of contacts stick to arms, clothes and hands. They become itchy very quickly as well. Fortunately, a river was nearby so we got most of them off. Soap and water took care of the rest later. This morning, I was giving a new type of Chaya plant to a visitor and was reminded how even a slight touch can bite.

TTYL

BB

Football - Viva Honduras

Today was the third day of football at the Olympics. Honduras played Japan. A surprise victory over Spain on Sunday gave Honduras a golden opportunity to advance to the quarter-finals ... something no one expected.

I have a TV in my house (left over from the last World Cup) and so I brought it to the school so that we could watch the game at 10.00 a.m. Some switching of internet connections and so forth and we were able to see the game. Most of the boys chose to forgo studying for ninety minutes so that they could watch. A tense time but, fortunately, Japan was already through so they did not field their best squad nor play with any degree of intensity. A 0 - 0 tie was the result. Honduras is through. All the other men's games are today as well so lots of national interest. Honduras will meet Brazil, evidently.

Pre - Harvest - 280 plants

Yesterday we cut a small bed of Moringa. This intensive method of growing Moringa has the trees planted 10 cm apart. They are then cut back to 16 cm (Santiago measured carefully). This method is supposed to yield up to 9 harvests a year. These trees are now 7 weeks old (from seed) so, as you can see in the pictures, the growth rate is phenomenal. The leaves were stripped from the stems and are now drying to make leaf powder ... a super nutritional supplement. There is a great deal of interest in Moringa right now as it is being talked about on TV and in the newspapers. We are a year or two into growing the plant so that is a great benefit. We are the current experts in the area.

Violence is so close to the surface here in Honduras. Yesterday there was a serious staff meeting as we received news that one of our 13 year old girls had been raped. Fortunately for her, it was her mother who had been raped early in the morning as she was going to have her maize ground. But, nevertheless, we will have to see what we can do to ease the pain of our student. (Note:  She was back in school today - 2 days later. I had her come to the office to offer my sympathies. How hard for a tiny little girl to walk each morning in fear. What a helpless feeling ... and what can one say?)

Post Harvest

In a personal note, I have been spending the last couple of days dealing with the logistics and memorial service for my mother who passed away Friday night. Although someone disappearing from life's view is always a surprise it was not unexpected. Still, I have been surprised at how much energy the liturgy and eulogy is taking. The staff have been very kind so that has been a lovely gift.

Off to teach English.

TTYL

BB

Ever Ariel

Just a picture today. Ever lives two hours' walk from the bus stop. Then it is about 40 minutes on the rapidito. He studies, generally, on Saturdays. Today he was here to take an exam. It makes me feel pretty honoured to be able to be part of this program. I so hope that it will be able to continue next year.

Two hours walk ... and still smiling ... and, even more amazing ... still with white shoes. I can't even walk two blocks to work without getting dirty shoes.

TTYL
BB

Field Trip

On Thursday afternoon, the staff went with me to see the project I am working on in Santa Rita. As with any field trip, there was a great deal of toing and froing before we left.

We had two hay basket cookers quietly cooking as we drove the 25 km to the farm site. As soon as we got to the house we opened them up and enjoyed coconut flavoured rice with a pork curry. The curry had had a little too much liquid so had leaked a bit. However, that didn't affect the flavour at all.

Lunch finished we went for a tour of the grounds to look at the various plants and ways of planting taking place. It was nice to have Hondurans along as they were able to recognize many of the plants and pick them out from the background of 'forest' that is part of the property. People from Canada are often so overwhelmed by the maze of green that they fail to see the trees for the forest so to speak. Despite having walked and worked for many hours, I still find it impossible to pick out most of the species I am looking at. With over 2,000 tree species (not counting an equal or greater number of shrubs ... then the vines and smaller plants) in our part of Honduras that may not be so unlearned as it sounds.

Sorry - the picture turned sideways. Just turn your head

Santiago, Edel; Yeni, Maricela and Anna on a bed of Arachis

Two or three of the staff were able to see the reality of intercropping and agroforestry potential that is starting to take shape. They could then begin to imagine doing something like that for themselves.

Two hours later, we packed up our things and headed into Santa Rita to visit the hot springs there. For at least two of the staff, it was their first time to be in warm water. It seemed very hot to them at first but they soon got used to it and enjoyed the soak. Hard to believe that something so close (in my mind) is so far away to others.

Santiago soaking smilingly

Maricella and Anna

Today there is a bustle of cleaning as we are expecting someone from the Ministry of Education this week ... maybe ... we hope ... well ... we wait and see. But, regardless, things will be much cleaner by the end of the day.

Saturday afternoon, Gabriel, a worker in Santa Rita, and I drove up to his house. Well ... at least close. After parking the truck where the road disappeared into muddy tracks, we got out and began walking. The walk was along a beautiful stream that sang to us. We crossed the stream two times as we wended our way to his mother's house. Fortunately, I had my trusty planting shovel along to use as a support when crossing the stones and fallen log bridge. I am not nearly as confident about slippery places as I once was. Probably just more aware of what is likely to happen.

At Gabriel's home, we greeted his mother and some nephews and nieces and then headed up the hill behind the house to look for Mora seedlings. Mora is part of the blackberry family. We are going to plant it for fruit and, of equal importance, for deterrent purposes. Once we have the fencelines planted to Mora, invading woodcutters will find it way less inviting. The prickles on Mora are very noticeable and bite well. We found about 20 odd seedlings, put them in a bag and headed home. They soaked overnight and were planted Sunday morning.

I was silly enough on Saturday morning to get some of the sap of the Chaya plant on my shirt and one arm. It really is rather caustic. Seemingly, salty sweat doesn't help. Today the welts are nearly gone. Amazing that such a plant is an incredible source of calcium and other nutrients. I will definitely treat it with even more care in the future. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to bother the hands ... just tender parts of the skin.

Some guys get all the luck

Greysi with little Lydia

One more item of interest ... well to me. One of my workers' wife had a baby girl on Tuesday. She is only 15 years old. That has been a hard situation to know what is best to do with. However, the baby and mother are fine. So many children in Honduras have children of their own. We are hoping that one of the side benefits of our education program is allowing girls to have another one or two years at least of being children.

TTYL

BB