Things have just been plodding on here really. The rains are phenominal as ever - the road by my house flooded so badly smaller cars couldn't pass. I drove down it and as I did a small 'normal' car virtually floated past me as the water was over the level of his tyres! He made it though. Friends of mine get 'streams' of water flowing through their houses as everything is on a hill. My laundry room/store room continues to flood, I now have mushrooms growing on the floor and opening my back door is nearly impossible as the wood has swollen so much. Every Honduran is confused as noone has seen it like this in Siguatepeque - especially not before November - the heavy rain season!! My landlord is sending someone to fix my roof this week so hopefully I won't be sweeping water out every time it rains!!
I have finally found an Internet provider that can install broadband into my house. They were meant to come on Friday, but because of the rain...never made it. I am hoping they will come tomorrow so I will be able to Skype again etc.
Friday night I got a phone call to go and visit a friend in hospital. So Lorena, Jaime and I got in my car and went over to the hospital. Libi lives in Santa Barbara and is a very close friend of Fredi and Belquis. Her family were in a car crash just over a year ago and her husband and son were killled and she was left seriously ill - and has had to wear/use a collostomy bag. She was finally in hospital to have her intestines 'fixed' so she wouldn't need the bags anymore. I'm not sure why Fredi called us really, she was still in the operating theatre and they had been waiting for 4 hours and I think were just bored and wanted company!! So we sat and chatted in the hospital until we knew it had been successful and she was in intensive care - then went home. Slightly random, but I'm glad she is doing well. She is such a sweet girl.
Yesterday I was meant to go with the Youth Group up to 2 communities in the mountains to build desks for some schools and some cabin type/shelter things for the schools. I decided that as much as it would have been fun, I needed a quieter day at home. So, I pottered around here in the morning and then in the afternoon Lorena and I took little Benjamin into town and pottered around getting things done there. In the evening I got bored so went to her house, only her mum was there and so chatted to her. She has the craziest, old fashioned ideas, but was good fun and nice to relax and laugh.
Today - I've done absolutely nothing! I may live to regret it, but for now it's been v pleasant!
Sunday 29 August 2010
Monday 23 August 2010
Flooding
This is the view from the front windscreen of my car today as I was driving down the road from Providence! The road had become a river after just 2 hours of tropical rain!! It was actually quite deep as well.
Honduras is really suffering at the moment from severe rain and severe flooding. In Sigua alone rivers are bursting and flooding houses and roads. As I drove into town today I passed cars parked along by the bridge watching the raging torrent of water rising steadily, flooding the lower level houses built on the rivers edge. It was an impressive sight to see -- yet the destruction is devastating. The river by my house luckily has high river banks, thankfully.
Pray for Tegucigalpa in particular. The flooding is at it's worst and has destroyed countless homes, roads and businesses. The rain is relentless.
Praise God for my wellies and 4x4 car at the moment!! There are tropical storms and hurricanes out in the Caribbean - but none near Honduras. Yet we still suffer their effects.
As I write this the rain has started again. Lovely to be tucked up in bed when it is like this outside, but not when you think of the destruction it is causing...and not when you have to get up early for work and it's still dark and raining. A killer!!
Sunday 22 August 2010
Yay...Football!!
Finally...football on Sunday again. This was just a friendly game and it wa so wonderful to be back on the cancha watching football with my friends again. Life felt normal...I don't really know what to do with my Sundays without football!! I arrived after the start of the game and am sorry to say I missed the fight on the pitch the other side of the fence - the posh expensive pitch we've never played on! Apparently neither team agreed with the ref, so all piled on top of him beating the watsit out of him!!! Our team was hilarious, most of the normal team couldn't make it and so it was like the B team playing, actually more like the Y team! They were so bad it was wonderful to watch, and the fact that the pitch was fooded from all the rain added to the fun (to watch), then the added bonus of 2 dogs who wouldn't go away. Normally the dogs and cows wander across in the middle of the game, but these 2 dogs were having way to much fun running round in the middle of it all. All in all, a most amusing game. I love Sundays!
A highlight of the day was one of the parents from school calling me - the fact they have my number is NOT a highlight, but the fact we chatted away before she realised I wasn't Profe Luz - the Honduran teacher! Shows my Spanish is improving!! I've been told many times this weekend that I am now truly bilingual with my Spanish, and my accent is Honduran (will be more so after more time away from England). I've heard my friends say so many things about other foreigners' Spanish and accents that to hear them being positive about mine means a lot. Don't get me wrong - it's still not great and I have a very long way to go yet, but it's an encouragement to hear people being positive about it! There is hope! If only my high school German and French teachers could see me now!!
A highlight of the day was one of the parents from school calling me - the fact they have my number is NOT a highlight, but the fact we chatted away before she realised I wasn't Profe Luz - the Honduran teacher! Shows my Spanish is improving!! I've been told many times this weekend that I am now truly bilingual with my Spanish, and my accent is Honduran (will be more so after more time away from England). I've heard my friends say so many things about other foreigners' Spanish and accents that to hear them being positive about mine means a lot. Don't get me wrong - it's still not great and I have a very long way to go yet, but it's an encouragement to hear people being positive about it! There is hope! If only my high school German and French teachers could see me now!!
Saturday 21 August 2010
All calm!
For once a calm, quiet Saturday!! Most unusual - and needed. Since the funeral, this week has been long and tiring, but today I was able to catch up with some sleep and rest. I was also able to meet up with my friend Melodie that I've not seen in months and months! She is French Canadian and runs the children's home just out of Sigua. She is French Canadian, raised in Spain and her first language is French, 2nd Spanish and 3 rd English - yet is Canadian and you wouldn't realise English wasn't her first language! I've known her my whole time here but we barely get time to meet up. It was good to catch up properly, with someone who understands cultural differences and is vv down to earth!
After church tonight I gave Delmy's son, Ricky (14), a ride home as always and we stopped off so I could buy him something to eat for dinner. He seems to be coping really well with everything and accepting it. Seems his friends are a great help, which is good news. He's very funny so we just had a laugh really!!
All remarkably peaceful, thankfully.
Yesterday I went to a baby shower for some friends in the church, a relly great group of women there that I really get on with. Considering most of my friends are guys it's good to get to know some of this women too. One funny thing is that the Pastors wife came to tell me that someone from church had been trying to get hold of me and had asked her for my number, he had asked for 'KaTHarine' pronouncing the 'th'. She told him she didn't know anyone of that name!! Then she realised it was me - no-one here pronounces my name with a 'th'. I'm Katarin or Misska or Gringa. The th thing threw her totally!! Amused me somewhat.
In 2 weeks time I should be connected with fully working broadband internet - finally. The company who kept promising me it would be in my neighbourhood soon, finally admitted it would never be. At the same time the telephone company have started broadband via the telephone wire. So I shall at last have broadband wireless in my house and be able to upload photos on here again and use Skype! About time too.
After church tonight I gave Delmy's son, Ricky (14), a ride home as always and we stopped off so I could buy him something to eat for dinner. He seems to be coping really well with everything and accepting it. Seems his friends are a great help, which is good news. He's very funny so we just had a laugh really!!
All remarkably peaceful, thankfully.
Yesterday I went to a baby shower for some friends in the church, a relly great group of women there that I really get on with. Considering most of my friends are guys it's good to get to know some of this women too. One funny thing is that the Pastors wife came to tell me that someone from church had been trying to get hold of me and had asked her for my number, he had asked for 'KaTHarine' pronouncing the 'th'. She told him she didn't know anyone of that name!! Then she realised it was me - no-one here pronounces my name with a 'th'. I'm Katarin or Misska or Gringa. The th thing threw her totally!! Amused me somewhat.
In 2 weeks time I should be connected with fully working broadband internet - finally. The company who kept promising me it would be in my neighbourhood soon, finally admitted it would never be. At the same time the telephone company have started broadband via the telephone wire. So I shall at last have broadband wireless in my house and be able to upload photos on here again and use Skype! About time too.
Tuesday 17 August 2010
1 more thing...
Did I mention that one of my friends was brought a big plate of food at 1am in the church last night? We all helped outselves off his plate obviously. I was enjoying my tortilla and beans when I was offered some 'meat' to try. It wasn't too bad, but not my favourite but any means.
I had just eaten 'huevos de torro'.
Bulls testicals.
That is how random the night was.
I had just eaten 'huevos de torro'.
Bulls testicals.
That is how random the night was.
The End.
Well, at 2,30am Lorena and I went to sleep in my car!! All the corners of the church were filled with others sleeping! I was in favour of going home to sleep in my bed, but it apparently was not an option! So whilst Lorena lay and snored I lay awake! At 5.30am everyone seemed to be waking up and so I managed to convince Lorena this was a good time to go home and shower and change. I also sneaked in a quick hours sleep in bed. Then it was time for me to do a couple of church runs in my car to get people to the next service. This time it was the official funeral service. As I entered, Delmy's usually very shy older brother, gave me a huge hug and thanked me for being there to support the family, he was so sincere. I truly am a part of the community here. Thankfully the song were slightly more of a celebrationary fashion. Her sister got up to speak and left the entire congregation in tears. Delmy has many many brother and sisters, all of whom are Christian and it was only in April that Delmy herself accepted Christ. Thankfully! Blanca spoke from the heart about her sister. Then 20 cars and the church bus made it's very slow procession up to San Isidro - the MOST beautiful mountain village where all my friends grew up.
The strangest thing about the night was seeing Delmy's identical twin sister - I had to do a double take each time I saw her. When we got to the cemetary, we parked the cars in the road and walked up the long path to the cemetary her twin could not go near the actualy grave or the coffin. Heartbreaking. I couldn't look at the coffin today, knowing what she looked like as they lowered her into the ground was too much for me. Especially without sleep. So I stood and comforted my friend Patty as her husband lowered his cousin into the ground. Yet again I watched as the very same friends carried the coffin...the same friends who carried Don Tony back in November. That was what nearly broke my heart. The burial takes a while here, because you have to take your own cement and once the coffin is lowered in, everyone stands and watches as cement is poured into the hole and it is all bricked up and secured. So Marlon was there again mixing concrete. It was so hard.
So that is it. Delmy is now buried. I don't think I will forget her 2 young sons crying and hugging her coffin as they looked at her for the final time.
I found out today that Delmy had wanted to come home yesterday. I had always offered the family that I would do anything to help. Apparently they had called at 6am to ask if I would go to San Pedro to collect Delmy and her mum and sister to bring her home. I would have done con gusto. Ten minutes later she called to say she'd died. Incredible. Her death was more to do with a respiritary problem than the leaukemia. I think her organs had just had enough!
I got home at lunch time, changed and had to go out to give my English class to a little boy I tutor. I'm' not convinced it was my best class ever, but his mum knew where I had been and so made me some enchiladas and a drink!! Bless her. David has an exam tomorrow and so I couldn't cancel the class. It's now nearly 6pm, I am so desperate to sleep, but I am going to wait til bedtime now! If I can.
Lorena is going to find it so hard that Delmy has gone. It was her best friend. This could be a tough few weeks ahead.
Back to work tomorrow
The strangest thing about the night was seeing Delmy's identical twin sister - I had to do a double take each time I saw her. When we got to the cemetary, we parked the cars in the road and walked up the long path to the cemetary her twin could not go near the actualy grave or the coffin. Heartbreaking. I couldn't look at the coffin today, knowing what she looked like as they lowered her into the ground was too much for me. Especially without sleep. So I stood and comforted my friend Patty as her husband lowered his cousin into the ground. Yet again I watched as the very same friends carried the coffin...the same friends who carried Don Tony back in November. That was what nearly broke my heart. The burial takes a while here, because you have to take your own cement and once the coffin is lowered in, everyone stands and watches as cement is poured into the hole and it is all bricked up and secured. So Marlon was there again mixing concrete. It was so hard.
So that is it. Delmy is now buried. I don't think I will forget her 2 young sons crying and hugging her coffin as they looked at her for the final time.
I found out today that Delmy had wanted to come home yesterday. I had always offered the family that I would do anything to help. Apparently they had called at 6am to ask if I would go to San Pedro to collect Delmy and her mum and sister to bring her home. I would have done con gusto. Ten minutes later she called to say she'd died. Incredible. Her death was more to do with a respiritary problem than the leaukemia. I think her organs had just had enough!
I got home at lunch time, changed and had to go out to give my English class to a little boy I tutor. I'm' not convinced it was my best class ever, but his mum knew where I had been and so made me some enchiladas and a drink!! Bless her. David has an exam tomorrow and so I couldn't cancel the class. It's now nearly 6pm, I am so desperate to sleep, but I am going to wait til bedtime now! If I can.
Lorena is going to find it so hard that Delmy has gone. It was her best friend. This could be a tough few weeks ahead.
Back to work tomorrow
Funeral
It's 1am and I came prepared this time! I'm sat in church and I bought my computer with me!! Oh so tired, coffee flowing! The guys are playing poker in Fredi's car and I'm sat here watching 27 Dresses and on the internet! Others are snoozing.
The service went well, obviously cried! Haven't seen the body too many times thankfully. It's going to be a long night. There is another service tomorrow morning followed by burial up in the mountains.
The nicest part of a horrible evening is that I realise how much a part of things I am here now! I know everyone so well. The family are all pleased to see me, welcome me etc. I am no longer a visitor, but I belong! It's a good feeling. I am a part of these 2 families here and that is priceless. It's only on occassions like this that it becomes obvious sadly.
The service went well, obviously cried! Haven't seen the body too many times thankfully. It's going to be a long night. There is another service tomorrow morning followed by burial up in the mountains.
The nicest part of a horrible evening is that I realise how much a part of things I am here now! I know everyone so well. The family are all pleased to see me, welcome me etc. I am no longer a visitor, but I belong! It's a good feeling. I am a part of these 2 families here and that is priceless. It's only on occassions like this that it becomes obvious sadly.
Monday 16 August 2010
Delmy
Now last I wrote about Delmy I had just come from giving blood at the hospital, where everyone was expecting the worst. It was amazing because the next day her levels shot up completely to normal and she was sent home!! When I left for England she was in a delicate condition - but at home.
When I returned from England - I think - she was still at home but I didn't see her. Then she was rushed to the hospital in San Pedro again. It is at this point they realised that they had diagnosed her incorrectly. She didn't have Lupus - she had leaukemia. And the way they had been treating her had made her worse - killed off all the things she needed (to put it bluntly). So she started Chemo last week and survived many side effects. She was super weak but everyone was hopeful.
Today there was a phone call to Lorena in the morning and Delmy had died. Delmy and Lorena were really close. Delmy died at 6.10am today. Somehow Lorena came to school - half an hour later I drove her home again! Delmy is a friend and neighbour to me too and as I went into Lorena's house this morning delmy's 2 boys were in there - Ricky, 14(ish) and Diego, 10. They were waiting for a phone call. It was sooo sad to see them. I left for work again as Delmy's brothers and uncles drove to SPS to collect her body. As I got back from school at 2.30pm I saw the coffin being taken to church (it all happens VVV quickly here).
This is the same family of the man who drowned in November. It is truly heartbreaking. That was Carina's dad - this is her cousin. I went to Delmy's house to collect members of her very large family to drive them to church. I saw the coffin at the same time as many of them...and wished I hadn't. So painful to see them. Her mum came in crying out 'My daughter, my daughter'. When she had sat down I went over to say hi and she just grabbed my hand, thanking me for my blood I gave and saying " Misska (my name here) she's gone, my daughter has gone". All I could do was sit there and hold her hand, whilst she and Blanca - Delmy's sister told me all about this morning and how she died etc. But everyone is doubly sad as all the memories of Don Tony's funeral are flooding back to everyone. You can cut the atmosphere and pain with a knife. I have since come back to change and have a shower to get myself together. The service is tonight and then I will stay at the church the entire night (drinking lots of coffee) to be with the family in the vigil. Then tomorrow morning I will go to the burial - I am driving some of her family. At least I can help with my car. Lorena is taking it badly, they were very close and she doesn't handle things like this well - who does? I am trying to be there for her too, but seeing her hug the coffin crying was too much for me. I stood there looking in at Delmy's body - which after long bouts of treatment was not pleasurable to see. No doubt tonight I will be shown the body many more times too. I am bracing myself!!
It's sad. For her sake I am glad she is no longer suffering, she knew she was dying. For her 2 sons, her twin sister and all her other brothers, sisters and family it is awful. What more can happen to this family I care so much about?!!
Please pray for them!!
Right, am back off to the church now!! I'll try and keep this updated!
When I returned from England - I think - she was still at home but I didn't see her. Then she was rushed to the hospital in San Pedro again. It is at this point they realised that they had diagnosed her incorrectly. She didn't have Lupus - she had leaukemia. And the way they had been treating her had made her worse - killed off all the things she needed (to put it bluntly). So she started Chemo last week and survived many side effects. She was super weak but everyone was hopeful.
Today there was a phone call to Lorena in the morning and Delmy had died. Delmy and Lorena were really close. Delmy died at 6.10am today. Somehow Lorena came to school - half an hour later I drove her home again! Delmy is a friend and neighbour to me too and as I went into Lorena's house this morning delmy's 2 boys were in there - Ricky, 14(ish) and Diego, 10. They were waiting for a phone call. It was sooo sad to see them. I left for work again as Delmy's brothers and uncles drove to SPS to collect her body. As I got back from school at 2.30pm I saw the coffin being taken to church (it all happens VVV quickly here).
This is the same family of the man who drowned in November. It is truly heartbreaking. That was Carina's dad - this is her cousin. I went to Delmy's house to collect members of her very large family to drive them to church. I saw the coffin at the same time as many of them...and wished I hadn't. So painful to see them. Her mum came in crying out 'My daughter, my daughter'. When she had sat down I went over to say hi and she just grabbed my hand, thanking me for my blood I gave and saying " Misska (my name here) she's gone, my daughter has gone". All I could do was sit there and hold her hand, whilst she and Blanca - Delmy's sister told me all about this morning and how she died etc. But everyone is doubly sad as all the memories of Don Tony's funeral are flooding back to everyone. You can cut the atmosphere and pain with a knife. I have since come back to change and have a shower to get myself together. The service is tonight and then I will stay at the church the entire night (drinking lots of coffee) to be with the family in the vigil. Then tomorrow morning I will go to the burial - I am driving some of her family. At least I can help with my car. Lorena is taking it badly, they were very close and she doesn't handle things like this well - who does? I am trying to be there for her too, but seeing her hug the coffin crying was too much for me. I stood there looking in at Delmy's body - which after long bouts of treatment was not pleasurable to see. No doubt tonight I will be shown the body many more times too. I am bracing myself!!
It's sad. For her sake I am glad she is no longer suffering, she knew she was dying. For her 2 sons, her twin sister and all her other brothers, sisters and family it is awful. What more can happen to this family I care so much about?!!
Please pray for them!!
Right, am back off to the church now!! I'll try and keep this updated!
Oh goodness, how I wish I had been keeping this updated. Brief over view ...
Went to England for 2 weeks for Pete's wedding. Wedding was great and was lovely to see everyone again.
On arriving back in Honduras, I sat in the plane at San Pedro Sula airport but we couldn't get off because the power had gone in the airport and so there was no way of getting the electrical lift thingy to the door. So we sat in the plane an extra 30 minutes!! I knew I was back!
Adony met me, and apparently his sister - who lives in San Pedro - was in labour!! So at 8pm instead of going home off I went to the clinic - having spent the last 24 hours traavelling!!! I arrived and was rushed in to see Eunice...who was having full blown contractions and I'm sure not wanting to see me!! I said hi and left her in peace! Then had to wait 2 hours in the waiting room until the baby was finally born and then with the entire family I got to meet the baby etc. Hilarious!! Apparently part of that family too now! By 11pm I just wanted to be in my own bed - I had been travelling waaaaaaaay too long. Adony was very understanding and at 11pm we set off for Sigua....arriving at 12.30am. We sang Christmas songs (his choice) to keep us awake. There, Jaime was waiting for me in my house...which he had cleaned impecibally! He had also changed all my furniture around which to be honest was a lot better and so I have left it. Apparently he feels very comfortable in my house!!
Being back was great. I have spent so much time with my friends and am loving it. I am a lot more relaxed. Obviously work is still stressful but I'm not thinking about that! I do love my oh so random life here!
Went to England for 2 weeks for Pete's wedding. Wedding was great and was lovely to see everyone again.
On arriving back in Honduras, I sat in the plane at San Pedro Sula airport but we couldn't get off because the power had gone in the airport and so there was no way of getting the electrical lift thingy to the door. So we sat in the plane an extra 30 minutes!! I knew I was back!
Adony met me, and apparently his sister - who lives in San Pedro - was in labour!! So at 8pm instead of going home off I went to the clinic - having spent the last 24 hours traavelling!!! I arrived and was rushed in to see Eunice...who was having full blown contractions and I'm sure not wanting to see me!! I said hi and left her in peace! Then had to wait 2 hours in the waiting room until the baby was finally born and then with the entire family I got to meet the baby etc. Hilarious!! Apparently part of that family too now! By 11pm I just wanted to be in my own bed - I had been travelling waaaaaaaay too long. Adony was very understanding and at 11pm we set off for Sigua....arriving at 12.30am. We sang Christmas songs (his choice) to keep us awake. There, Jaime was waiting for me in my house...which he had cleaned impecibally! He had also changed all my furniture around which to be honest was a lot better and so I have left it. Apparently he feels very comfortable in my house!!
Being back was great. I have spent so much time with my friends and am loving it. I am a lot more relaxed. Obviously work is still stressful but I'm not thinking about that! I do love my oh so random life here!
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