It had to happen sometime...

So, I was feeling a little wonky this morning and took a Cipro. I wasn't able to get any breakfast down and ended up throwing up shortly after. So I spent some time resting this morning. I felt well enough to run the Play-Doh station at the baby house this afternoon and to go to the restaurant nearby with the NPH volunteers. Tomorrow, I go to Talanga with Laura to meet her family from when she lived here. Yesterday, I discovered a new talent. I am a master egg collector. Just call me the Chicken Whisperer. I'm so glad I don't get freaked out about that kind of stuff anymore. More later...

Wednesday

Laura got the wireless connection to work in our room, so I can access the Internet more easily now, at least until she leaves on the 2nd. Today, I ended up hauling donations down to the school and then observing the English classes. Boy, are those kiddos wild! I talked with the teacher quite a bit and am hoping to get back in there more! Our lunch of cowhide stew didn't sit too well with me, so I just rested this afternoon. Brooke and I ate dinner with our boys at their hogar. Axel is very excited to be my godson! I might sponsor an older boy named Jeffrey as well. He calls me "Teacher" and wants to study law in the U.S. Tomorrow I'm hoping to go shopping with some of the kids (they go once a year) in Tegus! I'll let you know how it goes.

Bienvenidos de Honduras

Phew! Okay, so I´m here safe and sound, but the actual travel portion was a complete fiasco. When I got to SeaTac, it took half an hour to check in because the computers were down. We couldn´t fly into Tegucigalpa because there had been a plane crash there a few weeks ago. So it was San Pedro Sula for us. When we arrived, the power was out! Imagine trying to find black suitcases in the dark. Instead of a bus coming for us, the orphange sent a van and a truck. The luggage went into the truck, and 17 of us in the van...for a six hour trip!! When we got to El Rancho, the truck got a flat tire! Good thing it didn´t happen on the freeway. Anyway, we essentially went straight to bed!

Yesterday, we took a tour of the ranch which is sprawling at 2,000 acres. I know some of you predicted that I would fall in love in Honduras. Well, it´s happened. Her name is Genesis, and she is four years old. ;) I also had a good time in the grandparents´ home, Casa Eva. I have found that the older people and the very young are most patient with my Spanish. Donna´s niece and I had dinner in the boys´ home, and I think I found the child I want to sponsor. His name is Axel, and he is so sweet and very good at explaining when I don´t understand. He´s just precious! We all crashed pretty early. I lucked out by rooming with Laura who works for Friends of the Orphans. We´re realizing how compatible we are as roommates, which is great. We also got the only room with consistently warm water for the shower!

Today, we started chores. I helped some of the other Americans on the trip to paint the walls of an excersize room for the older girls. It looked like a whole lot of Pepto Bismol by the time we were done. In the next few days, I get to work on the farm and in the kitchen. I´m not going to start working in the classroom until the rest of the group leaves on July 2nd. So, that´s about all I know so far. The food is doable...lots of rice and chicken (the ranch is quite self-sustaining). I miss you all and send lots of love!

Honduras, here I come!

Today is the big day! I am finishing up packing, cleaning the house, and preparing the kitties for a long three weeks. Could seem even longer if that third dog comes to live with Mom and Dad! I have a whole suitcase full of donations for the orphanage from the kindness and generosity of Zeiger families and staff. We've had a few glitches in the plans. My trip leader had a family emergency and won't be able to come down until Thursday. Hopefully, my Spanish will come back pretty quickly. I'm getting nervous, but I'm very much excited!