My First Day

Well hello everyone, or at least everyone who is paying attention, and welcome to my new blog. I have decided to go with a new one considering I had troubled getting into the old one and other assorted issues, so here I am new and hardly improved. But enough about the blog, let me tell you about Honduras and update you on the goings on here.

I arrived yesterday to begin a year of volunteer service with an organization called BECA (you can find out more at www.becaschools.org). Over the course of the next few weeks I will be training to be a 5th grade teacher at a bilingual school here in Cofradía, Honduras. Along with 13 other volunteers, I am an everyday instructor, teaching in English. My services are voluntary, meaning there is no pay, but my housing and food are covered. If you want to know more you can check out the website or email me and I will be happy to explain.

My first impressions are heavily mixed. Unlike my trip to Argentina, I was feeling incredibly more nervous and less excited this time. I am undertaking a huge responsibility and the conditions are not as nice. My attitude has since remained the same. Much of my new experiences are eye-opening and I remain a bit on edge where ever I go. To translate that bit, I am not the normal carefree, sarcastic Josh, there is definitely a hint of fear in my eyes. Not fear for my life or well-being, but for my ability to enjoy my experience here.

The first three weeks I am living in a homestay with a family that seems to have no end; I meet a new member by the minute. The conditions are very basic, though they do have TV and cell phones, but they are very friendly and accommodating. There house is small, 2 bedrooms a kitchen/dining area, and a living room all about 1000 sq. feet, maybe less. They will be hosting 2 of us for the 3 weeks and the other teacher has not yet arrived. So this family is all staying in one room in order to house the two of us.

Last night I officially took my first bucket shower. The water here does not run regularly and I was forced to fill up a bucket and shower the best I could. This will not be like this forever, but I have to master this as I sweat constantly. During the day we have teacher orientation and training which we have jumped straight into, no hesitation whatsoever.

I do not want to make you worry though, I am keeping my spirits up. I recognize that this is all new and I am heavily dependent on the other volunteers and our time together to make the adjustment easier. In the next few days I hope to bring you some photos and some more positive information.

My goal for THIS blog is to be informative and realistic. This experience will not be like Argentina and I will be exposed to many new challenges are hardships. My aim is to keep you all informed about my life as it happens and realistically illustrate the condition in a country like Honduras. So for now I am signing off. I miss home tremendously.