Changes

I have always thought that relationships that survive multiple transitions and changes are the strongest . I guess that goes for experiences as well. Change is happening all around. I don’t feel apprehensive about this change, like I felt about the last change I endured (moving to a new country, starting a new job, etc.) but instead quite brave and a little sophomoric.

Julie left this morning. I adore my relationship with that women. It was not hard to see her go because she has not been her best here. Her mind and heart was elsewhere and when that happens you best go to where your mind and heart is. It also was not hard to see her go because I know our relationship will most certainly endure this change. We have been through so much together this experience is but a drop in a hat. I will see her in the summer and will exchange letters in the meantime. I know she will be happier because she is with the one she loves and I love her most when she is happy. I wish her love. I wish her all the best.

Quinton and Olivia are also gone. Quinton is in the states visiting his padres and Olivia is touring her father around Honduras. Charles is here and sometimes he is so ghostlike its almost as if he wasn’t around (though I just had a great conversation with him). There are 4 of the construction guys in my yard building the house for Julie’s replacement. His name is Dan. We found him through the Peace Corps job posting newsletter. He served in Tonga about the same time I was in Jamaica. It will be cool to hear about his experiences, and I know he will be able to handle the chaos that the school can be. I am sure he will be an instant friend. So here I am…with two weeks to do whatever I want. It feels nicer than I could have imagined. Plans could take me to Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Gracia, Lempira. It’s not urgent to make plans and I will see where the winds blow me after Christmas.

The past few days have been a bit chaotic. Early in the week I pulled together packets of homework for my students so they don’t forget everything in the next 2 weeks. I graded about a foot tall stack of papers, got those back to the kids and even managed to throw together a little class party (brownies, pop, and a secreto amigo exchange). Thursday we had a Christmas Concert at school, which was a much bigger deal than any of the US teachers thought. Just a little miscommunication. Being the music teacher it was my responsibility to teach Christmas carols in English. Not thinking it was too big of a deal (I sort of treat these music classes like a joke…..) I only taught a few songs that we didn’t practice all that much. The Honduran teachers, on the other hand, had full dance performances with costumes, a play and tons of Spanish carols. Next year I will be better prepared. The concert was a success in the end and my classes did fine singing their songs. All the parents were there and we served up 200 plates of a fancy lunch: pork, vegetable rice, potato salad, some sort of salad of beets and mantaquilla, 1000 island dressing , slices of white bread and coca cola classic. There was also tres leche cake, which is soggy cake…the texture is terrible though the taste has something to offer. The Teacher’s Christmas party we had the weekend before was way more fun and much less stressful (rum punch, fancy clothes, secreto amigo presents, pollo asado con salsa de barbacoa, Mr. Reynaldo’s backyard full of hammock…I am sure you’d agree.)

Yesterday I went running all over the town getting presents to send home with Julie. I’d tell you the cool things I found - but that would spoil the surprise. I spent the day with Oscar and Luigi. Of course they played about a billion jokes before the sun set. I hadn’t seen Oscar in awhile and of course it was great to see him. He told Julie and I some pretty gruesome stories about violence he’s encountered in his life. The late 1990’s was pretty rough in San Pedro Sula, and on two separate occasion was caught in crossfire. I sparks my interest and I want to read some books about these Central American gangs. Rest assured padres y abuelos. Siguatepeque and Comayagua are not places like San Pedro or Teguc. Quinton and I passed out Christmas cookies to the key community members in our life. This includes Oscar and Luigi, Claudia at the post office, Tina at the laundry place, Cesar the owner of the internet place downtown, the girls that work at the internet place downtown and the guys at the internet place near to our house. It was fun.

This brings us to today. I’m alone in my newly arranged room. No one around but Charles the ghost and the construction men. It feels good to have this bit of uninterrupted alone time.

likklemore still mis amigos.