Honduras

So I realized I've really only talked about the places we've been, not how Honduras is in general. The culture and pace of life here is so different. Everyone is very laid back and so friendly. If you're looking for something in a store and they don't have it, they'll direct you to another store that does. Some people will even walk with you or send their kids to take you! Kids are always out on the street playing, but many are working, also. There are always kids helping out at the roadside stands. When we were at the beach on Sunday, I talked to a boy named Hector who was walking up and down the beach selling pan de coco (coconut bread). He walks three hours every morning and night to the beach to sell his bread. That or he wanted to make he feel bad so I would buy more. But I believe it. I can't remember what we learned the average income of Honduras is, but it's extremely low, and most of the money actually comes from the United States. People go there, whether legally or illegally, to work and send money home to their families. So if you don't have someone in your family doing that, you really don't have much at all.
There are some cars, but a lot of people ride bikes, both in the city and in the countryside. They have such creative ways of getting around! Often, we've seen a man biking with a woman or a child sitting sort of sidesaddle on his lap. Or boys will ride around with another child standing on the back of the bike. I think the most creative way is when two men ride a single bike, one steering and the other pedaling. They really make the most of what little they have. Traffic laws are virtually nonexistant. I think we've seen two stoplights in all of Tela, a handful of stop signs, and there are tons of pedestrians and bikers. Considering how crazy it gets at home when the traffic lights go out, I can't even imagine what a disaster a system like that would be! Yet somehow everyone is so respectful. Cars never come even close to hitting anyone and you hardly ever hear anyone honking at you to get out of the way. When they do, it's a polite tap.
I love the way they live here. I think I was meant to live in a Honduran house. Many people live in really tiny shacks made of wood or sheet metal, but some live in real houses painted in bold reds, oranges, and blues. As some of you know, I love houses that, in the United States, look disgustinly colorful. Here, that's the norm. Plus, they have chickens running around the yard, and that's just awesome.
Tomorrow is another busy, and early, day. I'm acting as the team leader, which is going to mean that I'm in charge of communicating with the school about classes and timing and such. Usually they have one of the coordinators that speaks Spanish fluently do that, but tomorrow they'll all be busy, so I was elected! Hope you all are doing well!