Hola
It’s raining again today...and we mean rain...just pouring! The surf is wild and the ocean looks really dirty because all the sand is flying around.
We were going to go to the PT center and help dig and make rebar but we are in a holding pattern at the moment waiting for the weather to get a little better. They say it will be better tomorrow. So right now we are sitting on the veranda and just hanging...
Scott is playing jacks with a couple kids who are hanging out. Collin, Jane and the new high school students from Barre area are also playing with them.
Collin got a machete yesterday and learned how to split open a coconut with it. Scott just asked me if he could use the machete to open one himself..... am still thinking about that. And of course Scott is dying to have his own! Apparently you buy them dull and then the guy sharpens them for you. If I give in...it will definitely remain DULL...forever!
Kim (who is Mrs. Herrick’s sister-in-law (can you believe how small the world is?)) went today to a clinic here in Tela with Michelle. They brought a huge duffle back of medical supplies to give the doctors there. Kim went there by herself yesterday and told us all about it last night. It was so interesting! The Dr. she was with sees 40 patients a day. She had a desk with one metal chair on one site for and 2 metal chairs on the other for the patients. She writes everything down with lots of carbon copies and a fan that oscillates blows the papers all over the place. Most of the people had colds, a couple had asthma & a couple infections. She had to speak Spanish all day. She said that was really hard to dealing in Spanish all day. In the afternoon she got to go the hospital. Kim said it was really clean and there were not that many people there.
We’ve learned so much about all the other volunteers and hear about their lives throughout the day. And then in the evenings we hear stories of everyone’s days. It’s really amazing.
The Physical Therapists working at the PT center have some of the most amazing stories. They are all working with Sam (Cher´s Dad) and are working really hard. Someone from Vermont hand made a set of parallel bars that they brought down and are using when they see patients. Yesterday Mary told us a story of an 11 year old girl with has cerebral palsy who walked for the FIRST TIME using the bars. It brought tears to all our eyes. Can you imagine how rewarding for Mary and the other PT´s to change someone’s life so dramatically.
We can’t wait to spend a day there.Well.
We’re waiting to see what’s on the agenda for today.
Will write again!
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7 comments:
Hi Louisa and Scott,
So what's the motivation for stealing gallons worth of green paint. I wouldn't possibly think there would be a market to move it other than to sell it back to you guys. How frustrating...it's not like you can just do it later, especially when it's raining.
Has the language barrier been an issue for you guys, or is there a good network of translators so that you can be more effective in such a short period of time? We have lots and lots of questions about the social strata, ....is there one, or is it all pretty much impoverished? And are you both still healthy and strong?
Too bad the internet is so slow, Jack will write again this afternoon after school. Bitter cold and 0 degrees at noon with lots of wind....what did you say about those beaches.
Thanks for all of the great details... we're gobbling them up!
XOX, Paige
oh so many questions!!!
ok I'll try my best.
They stole the paint to sell....that´s what they do with everything. We had to buy new paint and today a group went back adn finished up...so it´s completed and we heard it loos great!
Yes yes yes...not being able to speak Spanish has been frustrating for me - but enough of the other volunteers speak enough so it hasn't really been a problem in terms of communicating. And the easy things you can usually figure a way to get your point across.
We are not sick (yet) we've been very careful - no ice, no salad, no nothing washed, we even brush our teeth with bottled water and when taking a shower are very careful not to swallow any water.
I´'s been raining the past 2 days so we haven´t been able to really enjoy those beaches....fingers crossed for tomorrow and especially Sunday (it´s our day off).
We love your comments!!!! Keep writing!
xo
L & S
Dear Scott,
It's been really cold up here since U left today it was 0 degees for most of the day and more snow is on the way from NY. I was really suprised to find out some one stole paint! It sounds to me like theres are alot of comotion down there. The trird graders got to go to the Bio Dome on Thursday and they went on premier bus and watched a movie all the way there!
Your best friend,
Jack Reynolds
What an experience...perhaps the PB could share their "talents" there next year!!!
I'm curious....how do people receive health care down there? Is it first come, first served, or only those who can afford to pay? Or is the PT clinic that you all are involved in based on need?
Enjoy the sun and thanks for sharing!
Lynne
Hello again.
I can't believe the connections that you are making in Honduras! Truly amazing at how small the world is .... and on your rene note ... I will forward her the blog address.
I am invisioning Scott's eyes while his eyes gaze upon the machete. Oh boy .... I can only see his moves ... esp after we watched crouching tiger/hidden dragon last night. All I could think about was Scott!
All is going great here -- except for the cold temps. They delayed training this morning (Sat) for an hour ... I stayed home and sewed a curtain... and cleaned out a closet or two ... purged my entire PTO binder ....just dumped into the trash .... pretty sure I don't need to refer to those notes anymore ...
Miss you ... hope the sun comes out for you. The photos in the paper were from Jay Peak race and last weekend's Sugarbush ....
Cheers! elle
hi louisa and scott,
wow! it sounds like you guys are having an amazing trip! also, what a great experience to have together... i'm sure it's nice to have your own special trip with just the two of you (out of the family i mean...)
louisa, i don't know if you remember from the letter that my mom sent, but my restaurant here in san francisco is central american. all of my employees are from honduras, el salvador, southern mexico, etc. although i've never been too honduras (i would LOVE to go!) i feel like i am very familiar with the food. i can't believe you guys are eating chinese food and pizza... oh my gosh! you absolutely have to have some honduran TAMALES before you go... they are sooo good! promise me you will try to find some. they are much moister than mexican tamales and they are cooked in banana leaves (hoja de platano) instead of corn husks. usually they have chicken or pork with small white beans, olives and potatoes inside. YUM!! also you need to have TOSTONES (green plantains that are fried twice so they are crispy) and PLATANOS MADUROS CON CREMA, which are ripe plantains with delicious farm-made sour cream. the ripe plantains are really sweet and taste like bananas, while the green plantains don't have high sugar content yet and taste more like potatoes. last thing... if you can find SOPA MARINERA or SOPA DE PESCADO EN LECHE DE COCO - you must have it too! hondurans cook lots of stews and soups with coconut milk, and this is a delicious fish soup with coconut milk.
so have scott and the other kids been able to play soccer or anything with any of the local kids? i know that hondurans are crazy for soccer! i'm sure it is hard for everyone with the language barrier. i had to learn spanish when i got out here to california because there are so many people who don't speak english. it can be frustrating.
ok, i think my comment is too long. i hope the sun comes back out ... though maybe not so hot!
love, lisa
Dear Louisa and Scott,
Are you finishing up down there! We are missing the updates and dying to hear more details. I assume you are coming home soon and finishing up your projects. Did you accomplish all that you wanted to? I hope the experience was a positive one and we all look forward to welcoming you back to the land of plenty...to a fault of course! We hope to hear from you soon... XOX, Paige
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