.: ¡Bienvenidos a Honduras!

So, this is the first update for the 2007 spring development class.  We have been in Honduras now for almost two weeks and I think we are all starting to get the hang of things down here.  For those of you reading this from the Great North (almost everything is north of here, even California) we have been experiencing daily highs of 83 degrees and nightly lows of around 60.  While some of us have been suffering the effects of sunburns, none of us miss the snow you are all experiencing.

an overview of Tegucigalpa:

There have been plenty of new experiences to enjoy such as living with a Honduran family, trying all sorts of food, celebrating birthdays Honduran style, taking a trip to the mountains, meeting our tutors, and getting to know our fellow students in the group.  Our first few days were spent getting to know each other, our families, and our new city, Tegucigalpa.  Our first weekend here we went to La Tigre--a National Park in Honduras located in the mountains.  After getting out to push the van up the last few hills, we made it to the retreat center where we spent the better part of two days talking, eating good food, going for a hike, and singing around a campfire.

our group in La Tigre:

La Tigre es muy bonita!

Last week was our first full week of class.  We all have Spanish class in the morning for three hours and then development class in the afternoon. Most of us are struggling along with Spanish class although every day it gets easier.  Last Wednesday was our first visit to Nueva Suyapa, the neighborhood where Kurt and Joanne live.  Our tutors also live in this neighborhood. 

This past weekend we went to Agafam with our tutors.  Agafam is a fair-carnival that runs for a week every year near the neighborhood our tutors live in.  NOt only did we get to learn the Spanish names for all the animals, we also got to know our tutors a bit more.  In the afternoon we went to Picacho, a giant statue of Jesus which overlooks the city of Tegucigalpa.  The view from there was amazing!

some of our students and tutors at AGAFAM:

Picacho:

Although some of us have been struggling with colds, adjusting to Honduran food, hearing Spanish all the time, waking up early (sometimes to roosters, babies, or dogs) we are having a lot of fun and learning many many things.  This coming weekend is open for us to travel or hang around the city.  Many of us are planning on traveling to places in the area and looking forward to exploring!