Bienvenidos a Copan

Welcome to Copan.....I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that sign which greets all visitors as they drive in to Copan past the Mayan Ruins. It's good to be back. As the bus pulled in to the terminal I heard shouts of "Debbie" and saw Leo and Rudy waving at me and making faces as only a 6 and a 10 year old can do. Yep, it's great to be back.

I left San Pedro Sula earlier that morning on the Hedman Alas bus (a popular bus line here in Honduras). I was amused to see that as you enter the section of the bus terminal dedicated to this bus line a security man wands you to make sure you aren't carrying a gun. But I assume you only get wanded if you look like you may be carrying a gun (so I didn't get wanded), you also only get wanded around your belt line and your luggage doesn't get checked. Alright. The drive to Copan was uneventful. I didn't notice much difference in the roads. It is still a bumpy affair, but no worse than I remember it from two years ago.

That brings me to pulling in to the bus terminal. Along with Leo and Rudy was my teacher Dunia and her husband, also Rudy, along with Ellen Finn of Project School Supplies (soon to be renamed Buenos Vecinos). It was so good to see everyone. Back at the house, I was again given daughter Keren's bedroom. A quick unpack and we were off to thier church for a cook out. In the past year and a half since I have been here, some of the families have planted gardens which provides fruit and vegetables, not just for them but for other familes and sometimes for sale in the market. I was greeted warmly by brothers, sisters, aunts, nieces and nephwes, all of whom I met last year.

The church, grounds and vegetable garden;

This is the Flor de Jamiaca (pronounced ha-my-ca, used to make a local drink);

Leo with some papaya;

Mazapan fruit;

Digging for Yuca (a common root vegetable here);

Supper was Yuca, con patas y repollo (Yuca, pigs feet and cabbage). I passed on the cabbage. This was my first time trying Yuca and I was pleasantly surprised....potatoe like in texture but a little sweeter. It can be served as a savoury dish, as it was tonight, or as a dessert with honey.

One of Dunia's sister, Enelda;

After dinner, it was home and a pretty early night. This morning I met up with Ellen Finn. If you are reading this blog for the first time you may not know her. She is a transplanted American woman who now calls Copan home. She runs a small organization here that does great things presently called Project School Supplies or PSS for short). They provide school supplies to the rural communties, builds schools, repairs them, provides feeding and vitamin programs, high school grants, emergency medical aid...the list goes on and is endless. As the name is changing (anticpated that her web site will be out in the next couple of days) I will post her new site as soon as it is up and running. This morning Ellen, another volunteer who is living here (Amy) and I walked up to a local church to see their Sunday feeding program. The food collected by local donation and assisted when needed by PSS, is used to feed often 80 plus children from the surrounding areas that would otherwise not have a meal. And they can often go days without food. As we approached, many of the children ran to Ellen. She is obviously a much loved figure. A brave few cautiously hugged Amy and I and then they went back to thier tables, listening to a story that was being read for them. It is common to see young children about 6 years old with a younger sibling on thier hip. As we stood back and watched the group, Ellen relayed some background about a few of the children all of whom come from incredibly impoverished families. Many families can't afford to keep or feed all the children. One little boy she introduced me to lives predominantly on the street. She told me he is super smart and they tried to get him to stay in school with the offer of a high school grant from PSS. Unfortunately his family couldn't afford him, hence he dropped out of school. Others live in abusive situations or simply have needs that can't be met by thier families. This is a guaranteed lunch for them.

I am presently sitting in Cafe San Rafael, a favourite hang out for me when I am here. Great coffee, cold beer and internet. I need to get in a little studying. First day of school tomorrow and it starts with a placement test. I argued my point with Dunia that I shouldn't have to write it as she has now been my teacher for two years and knows exactly where my Spanish is. She disagreed so I shall be forced to write the test.

Hasta Luego....