Things I like the least about Honduras
Grease - why oh why does everything need to be fried or oozing with mantequilla (butter)
Bugs - I met my first (and hopefully last) scorpian and what appeared to be a tarantula (it was furry like and big!) at Bencaleth. And it seems like all the insects bite here. My ankles are routinely swollen and my legs are all scarred (ok, that's my fault for scratching)
Pollution - Do not walk too close to the road with white clothing. Emission tests are unheard of here.
Pace - Everything is done in a more relaxed manner. We were supposed to go grocery shopping for Bencaleth one day. They told me to go to the truck at 12:30. We ended up leaving at 3. Coming from a place where everything is scheduled and deadlined, this is something I have some trouble getting used to.
Poverty - It's really obvious in some of the markets and on the outskirts of town. The stories you hear (and when you see it for yourself) of things like kids sniffing glue to ease the feeling of hunger breaks your heart. One of the things I've noticed though is the disparity. Some of the people here live similarly to what I live like in Canada. Others live in the houses on the sides of the mountain which are the first to flood or get destroyed in the earthquakes. It's pretty extreme because the two groups live so close to each other.
Things I like most about Honduras:
People - My host mom here is wonderful. She's funny and treats me like her own daughter. I really enjoy hanging out with her and watching our favourite novela (Spanish soap opera) together. The friends I've made are totally awesome too.
Bencaleth - I have fallen in love with the kids here. Each of them have their own personalities and cute things about them. Even when I get so frustrated that they pull my shirt, take my stuff, drool on me, can't understand my Spanish, I can't help but look forward to the next day with them.
Closeness - Everything is so close. The church, the pulperias (there's one of these neighborhood conveience stores attached to homes every 10 houses or so), and family are all walking distance from home.
Beauty - I still am amazed by the beauty of this place. One of my favourite things is the nightly lightning show. It's rainy season and I guess a lot of static so then you can watch flashes of lightning from storms in the distance all night.
Spanish - Although I am still learning I think the experience of being the outsider and needing to depend on others has really helped me to appreciate the people here.
Could you please tell me more about the poverty there.
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