ColorRun in San Pedro Sula!

This morning we did a 5km color run.  It was the race either of us had ever done, and definitely the first color run.  It was supposed to start at 7 am, but given that nothing in Honduras starts on time, we had our doubts that we would be running right at 7.  We walked over... The start was only half a km away, with some other girls doing the run too. We all started out at the giant Gatorade arch listening to reggetone music and watching some dancers on the stage.  The entire section of the city was blocked off, and we estimated there were about 10,000 people there.  At 7:10 we started out, which was pretty impressive punctuality for Honduras.  It was so packed we had to walk for about 5 minutes, but then it thinned put and we got to run.  At each km they pelted us with a different color.  TJ and I both ran the whole thing, which was my goal.  By the end of the race we were totally covered in colors from head to toe.

When we got home we had to scrub for quite a while to get everything off.  I still have some blue and orange lingering around my legs and T has a bit of a red beard still.  

We were both really amazed about how organized this was and how smoothly everything went.  Typically, there are not many outdoor events in San Pedro because of the security factor. During this run though, we saw so many people out, supporting their city and raising money for the local hospital. We are very proud of our city today and how everyone came together.

Congratulations San Pedro Sula on a great event!

Into the Dwarf Forest.....

This weekend we took our second trip into Cusuco National Park.  This time, we had a long weekend, so we were able to hike further I to the park and up the mountain.  Our hike was set to lead us I to the dwarf forest- a special type of forest at high altitudes in the tropics where all the tress are smaller.

We set out on Saturday to La Hamaca hostel where the guides work out of.  In true Honduran fashion, we waited around for a while before we set out.  We finally set out. A truck up the mountain, hitching a ride from a coffee farmer who was bringing his product down the mountain that morning. It was aboout an hour up to a village called Naranjito (I think this translates roughly to "little orange") Then we walked to the last village, Buenos Aires.  It was dark by the time we got there.  We stopped here for a delicious traditional meal.  After dinner, in one of the oddest guiding decisions I have whitnessed, we started to hike into the nationaal park (it was 11:00PM at this point).  We were all pretty tired when we arrived at our campsite at 1:00AM, but it was worth it.  We were staying at  an international research station, that was carved out on the jungle, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  Apparently it was built to study the wildlife of the park, and was frequented a few times a year by the scientists.  We camped there that night.  We were originally set to go further into the park, but there were too many poisonous snakes. (Also, I think we would have mutinied).  

We slept in late the next morning and had a questionably thought out breakfast of roasted onions and coffee.  It was pretty good, but not much sustenance.... Luckily we all brought lots of snacks.  We hiked for about three hours up into the Jungle.  It was a good hike, pretty solid uphill, but not too bad.  When we hit the dwarf forest, the vegetation became really dense and nearly impossible to even stick your hand away from the trail: not that you would want to... because of the snakes.   

It didn't look like we were imagining it originally.  We all had though it would be a bunch of tiny knee high trees on the top of a mountain.  Pretty much a forest of bonsai trees.  The trees were smaller, but still about a foot or two over our heads.  A few of us climbed a tree to get a nice view out over the mountains. 

We headed back down, and the trip was a lot shorter.  We are all pretty hungry at this point as we had only eaten onions so far that day... Almost back at camp, we came across a tiny house in the middle of the national park.  There was an elderly man living there, who had been forgotten about when all the other families were told they had to leave the park.  It was such a picturesque cabin, covered with flowers at the edge of a stream.  We bought some pataste from him which he was growing on a tree beside his house.  Pataste is kind of like a legume that tastes like broccoli stems... It's actually pretty good.

We got back to camp just as it was getting dark.  We relaxed for a bit and then had our second meal of onions (seriously, planning for these trips need to improve).  Luckily, we also had pataste this time.  We might have been a bit more irritated had we all not brought at least one box of wine, which we drank about 12 of collectively.

We had another great sleep outside, and got up early-ish the next morning.  We did a hike to a waterfall, and then went back to Buenos Aires for a real breakfast.  As it was the first real meal we'd eaten in two days, we were pretty psyched.  It was delicious as usual.  

We grabbed another truck ride down the mountain and ended our awesome adventure.  All in all, it was a beautiful and amazing trip.  Although I don't think that any of us will eat an onion for a while.

Utila in September 2013

Well, we went back to Utila again.......  No matter where else we go, Utila just seems to have a hold on us. This was the 5th time we went and it was still great to go.  It was a huge group of teachers that went this time.... I think almost 30.  We all stayed at different places, so it wasn't too crazy.  We stayed at underwater vision again.  It is nice there with a big sandy spot out front and a dock for jumping off. The staff is nice fort he most part and the rooms are pretty nice.  We do miss diving at Alton's, where we got our first certification, but since the owner sold (a Canadian!), we don't feel bad trying other places.  It was a pretty typical trip.  A day at the private beach at the end of the island, drinks at the dock.  Of course we came home with a few new t-shirts....(4 shots at a bar means you get a free t-shirt... I think TJ has 9 now......).  One highlight was a friend of ours losing her sandal under the dock of one bar and wading around under there to find it. (This was also after she earned one of her t-shirts....)

We didn't get out diving this time unfortunately.... The water visibility wasn't great given that it was September ( I guess it's a bad month for diving here).  

Overall, it was another great trip to Utila.  Although we did miss some friends from last year, it turns out this new crew of people is even more wild.... Maybe a little too wild for us. (We are the old ones now....)

A Good First Week Back

We have officially been back for a week.  The students got here yesterday and it was good to see some of the old faces from last year.  TJ is teaching 8th grade science again, so he feels a bit more prepared than this time last year.  His students seem a lot more manageable than last year too.

So far I am really enjoying my job. I have an amazing office this year, and am doing a lot of administration stuff like parent meetings, updating documents and helping teachers make accommodations for students. 

Honduras is still Honduras.... A little bit crazy, with many things that don't make sense to our Canadian brains, but it has been smooth coming back.

It is hard however, wishing we could be with family right now, and not being able to.  Thinking of all of my family right now- I am there in spirit, if not in body. Love you all. Xoxoxo

Welcome back!

Well, after a long and amazing summer, we had to say goodbye to Canada and hello to Honduras.

It was a pretty hard goodbye this time, but luckily we were both so tired from our cottaging at Macmillan's with the Moscos that we were pretty much in a daze until.... Yesterday.

I managed not to cry once (a feat for me you all know!), although it almost happened saying goodbye to our new dog Story. (For everyone shocked by this statement, Story is not actually our dog, she is my parent's dog that they are trying- quite successfully to pawn off onto us.). Saying goodbye to Mom and Dad at the airport was hard too..... Although I think maybe TJ was closer to shedding a tear than I.

Our travels here here smooth, all on time, and only a mere 12 hours and 3 planes! We had both said that we knew how hot I would be here, but it does seem even hotter than we remember.  Although, we have managed to keep the AC on only minimally.

We were also welcomed back by nearly 25 new foreign staff, which is a big group, and a lot of new faces to learn.  The girls next to us seem great, although we miss the Marquardt-Cices a lot.

Although we haven't started school yet, I am really excited for my new job as the head of the resource department, and TJ is looking forward to finally getting to teach the same thing two years in a row.

We are looking forward o the next few weeks, and getting to meet many new faces.  Although we really didn't want to leave Canada, it is good to be back, and it's shaping up to be a great year.

Miss everyone back home, can't wait to see you at Christmas!

Girls weekend in Copan

This trip was the last girls excursion of the year.  There were about 20 of us, including two baby girls!  It seemed like the EIS teachers took over Copan for the weekend.

It was a pretty casual trip..... We left Friday and stayed until Sunday, and didn't do too much except each good food, drinks good drinks and enjoy each other's company.  Most of the girls stayed at the hostel, Iguana Azul, which is one of the nicest I have seen.  However, some of us decided to live in luxury, and go next door to Casa de Cafe. There are beautiful gardens here, a delicious free breakfast, free Internet and the nicest staff of anywhere I have been.  It was a bit pricier, but well worth it.

We at at San Rafeal, Twisted Tania's, and the pizza place, whose name escapes me now.

Of course, we also visited Thomas in the German brewery.  As always his beers were delicious, and he had some trouble fitting us all in an already packed bar!  We also visited a new place called Costes, and went to the always popular Papa Chango's dance club.  

We had lots of time to relax in hammock and get some reading done as well.  The gardens at tho hotel were perfect for this.  We got back to San Pedro Sula refreshed, and feeling a little sad that we would soon have to say goodbye to many of our friends.

Jessica's Wedding Weekend in Canada

The weekend finally arrived that we have been planning for over a year and a half - Jessica and Mark's wedding!  Jessica and I had spent the past 18 months buying dresses, choosing flowers, visiting the hall.  I didn't realize how much work I would have to do the year before the wedding.  I even had my students make 200 white and pink cardboard hearts over the year.

Then ... Everything came together this week!  TJ and I flew home on Tuesday morning.  Four flights and small delay later... We arrived n Ottawa around midnight.  We feel pretty lucky that mom has a house in the city now, so we had a lovely late night pickup waiting for us. (Thanks mom!)  we were surprised how cold it still was! 

We did some errands in Ottawa and then we went home.  The next few days were mostly wedding errands and last minute decisions with Jess.  Luckily my dress still fit me..... I bought it over a year ago!

Friday was more of the same..... Most of my day was occupied with putting flowers together for the tables....