This first post from Honduras contains some good news and some not-so-good news. The good news is that I am finally here in Honduras, my home for the next two years and some number of months. I love it here so far, and I have a lot to say about my new homes, families, and training. This brings me to the bad news. Although I have a lot to say, and a lot to show with pictures, I am lacking resources that enable me to share all that I have.

One of the problems is the internet here in our FBT site, or better said, the lack of it. Opening the page to write this quick update took over 5 minutes, and I could be here all day waiting for it to be uploaded. According to the man at the counter, there are days in which the internet is super fast, and days like today when we are limited to a dial up modem simulation when using the internet. When I am able to travel to the nearest city I will be have a whole host of entries for your reading pleasure, and some pictures and videos for your viewing and listening pleasure.

The most important resource that I am lacking is time. I am learing that FBT may be more about time management than about techincal training. The Calender of Training Events (shortened to COTE, prounced coh-teh, in true government fashion) has our activities planned down to the minute for the next seven weeks. In order to write and post pictures, I need time. To travel to the nearest city to upload everything, I need time. So far, time has been exactly what I haven´t had much of. I am thinking that the Peace Corps might have an hour and a half session on how to manage our time wisely, due to the lack of time we posess from all of the hour and a half sessions we have every day.

I may be jumping the gun on this, but from my experience so far, Honduras feels like perfect fit for my Peace Corps experience. I will have more on this in the upcoming posts, but for now, anyone can contact me on my Honduran cell phone. In order to do so, you will first have to use the contact page to write me an e-mail and ask for my number. You can then go to www.tigo.com.hn and send me free text messages, or if you are feeling very generous, add saldo* to my phone. I hope to be hearing from you in the next couple of weeks. You will be hearing from me as soon as I find a better internet connection. But of course, as always here in Latin America, everything is dependent on si dios quiere.

*Saldo is the word used here for credit on your phone. Since phones are prepaid, you have to buy minutes before you can talk, and the balance on your phone is your saldo

This video, made by my fellow PCT Jessie, gives you a peak at some of the activities we have done in training so far.

The dancing scene actually comes from a car wash, where you can get your car washed and drink some beer and dance while you wait to drive your clean and shiny car back home. The dominoes scene is a common sight in my barrio*. The scenes with the girl laughing and the skit were filmed at our training sight. We have to spice up the long hot afternoons somehow, and laughter is usuall the best way. Thanks to Jessie for putting this video together.

*In Spanish, barrio means neighborhood, but here in the DR, it is used to distinguish between the lower class neighborhoods (barrios) and the upper class neighborhoods (residenciales).

In some ways, it already feels like months have passed since we all arrived in Miami together and started our Peace Corps adventure. We have already become close as a group and formed deep friendships. Spending up to 17 hours a day together for two weeks allows for deep conversations. Our lack of amenities also forces us to bond and talk about things that usually aren’t very interesting or appropriate. In other ways, my time here feels like one big blur. Constantly being challenged in every day affairs that are mindless in the states gives no room for the mind to wander. Having to compartir* with my host family allows little, if any time for self reflection or down time. In reality, it’s only been fifteen days since I officially became a Peace Corps Trainee, and I don’t know whether or not it feels like more or less time than that.

Before I comment on how things are going, I think it is important that I lay out what exactly I am doing with my days, where I am living, and where I think we are going. After arriving in the DR, all 51 of us moved into different neighborhoods in Pantoja, a municipality on the northern edge of Santo Domingo. Most of us live within walking distance to the training center, and we all live with host families. Some of us live with other trainees in the same house, some live in the same buildings but not the same house, usually with members of their extended host families. Most of the trainees live alone, but in the same neighborhood as many others. We are training at a beautifully maintained center called Entrena, where the grass is vibrantly green and extremely short, tropical fruit trees abound, and the majority of our days are passed. A typical training day consists of four hours of Spanish class in the morning, an hour lunch break, and then Peace Corps related sessions in the afternoon. These sessions touch on topics such as health, development philosophy, Honduran history, Honduran culture, safety and security, as well as cross cultural issues. A lot of coffee is consumed at Entrena, usually from the hours of one to three.

A common saying here in Santo Domingo is that there are only two seasons: verano y infierno (summer and hell). As you might have guessed, right now we are in hell, and you don’t have to be here for long to realize that. In reality, the temperature is not much higher than that of the south right now. The average high is around 96, and the humidity usually hovers around 80%-90%. There is the occasional rain shower that usually does a nice job of cooling things down, but most of the time it does more harm than good as the city turns into one big steam room after a nice soaking. Back in the states, even though it’s hot, we don’t feel it as much since we live in nice air conditioned houses, drive in our air conditioned cars to nice air conditioned offices or stores, and sleep under blankets at night in our cool rooms. Here, the only air conditioning that I have felt was in the museum at the botanical garden. Some of us talked about setting up camp there to escape the heat. I have gotten accustomed to sweating all day, drinking more water than I can possibly fit in my stomach, scrambling for the seats in front of the fans at Entrena, trying to stay completely still whenever sitting/laying down, taking three bucket baths a day, and sleeping without a blanket and with the fan as close to my mosquito net as possible so I don’t drench my pillow in sweat every night. But don’t let what might sound like complaining fool you. I love the heat, and actually I am going to do all that I can to be in a hot climate in Honduras.

For the most part, I am really enjoying my unexpected stay here in the DR. Unlike my stay in Mexico, I was lucky with my host family placement. I’m living with an older Dominican couple and their 25 year old daughter. Our downstairs is where my host mom’s other daughter lives, along with her husband and two sons, ages 3 and 2, and another trainee. The rest of the extended family lives on the block and is extremely friendly. We usually pass every night sitting in our narrow street, talking and watching people go by. The whole family is extremely sweet and everyone has a good heart. I’ve been fed a healthy diet of mangú*, plátanos fritos, spaghetti with cheeze-wiz sauce, salami, eggs, chicken, tostones, and potatoes. The other trainee and I usually make a big deal out of a dinner with vegetables, in the hopes that we will see more of them. Our efforts have been fruitless (or vegetableless) as of yet, and I doubt this will change before we leave on the 22nd.

As I said before, a large portion of our days are spent at Entrena. Spanish class has been decent so far, but because I placed into the advanced group we have had very little instruction and have only been conversing in class. The people in my group are what make the class worth it, and our language class has become close during our time here.

Apart from my language group, I feel that I have already made friendships that are going to last for a while. It has been pretty difficult to get to know everyone, and over the past couple of days I have made a conscious effort to talk to people that I haven’t gotten to know that well. We have definitely formed smaller groups within the larger one, which is to be expected with this many people. Usually these groups are made up of people living in the same barrios. Most of the people in H15* are extremely amicable, easygoing, intelligent, exciting and interesting people. There are very few that I feel like I can’t start up a good conversation with without much trouble.

As of early this week, we are finally certain about our future in Honduras. The plans that were set for our departure on the 22nd have held up, and that looks to be the date in which we will finally enter Honduras, si dios quiere*. After our entry, we will start field based training on the 26th and finally become officially volunteers on September 26th. The state department has signed off on this so we are ready to go, rain or shine.

Hopefully I will be able to post more frequently over the next couple of weeks. I don’t know what FBT living conditions will be like, but it seems that we will have some sort of internet access. I have yet to find a computer at an internet café around here that will run Skype. Hopefully I will be able to figure out something soon. Todo está bien por aquí en la República Dominica, así que no se preocupen por mi. Hasta la próxima.

P.S. - I can’t believe I wrote this whole post and forgot to mention dominoes. Everyone here plays dominoes at all hours, and a good portion of every night is spent playing. On the way home from Entrena, a 15 minute walk, you can count more than 20 games of dominoes being played.

*In Spanish, compartir literally means to share. Its usage here in the DR is much more important than sharing something with someone. It is more about sharing yourself than your possessions. Spending time with others without any particular purpose and playing dominoes is a good way to compartir. .
*Mangú is a typical Dominican dish that is made up of boiled-mashed plátanos. .
*H15 is Honduras 15, the name of our training group.
*Si dios quiere, if God wants, is a common saying here when commenting on events that will happen in the future.

If you haven't already heard, on Sunday morning, the president of Honduras was arrested by the Honduran Military, taken from the presidential palace in his pajamas and deported to Costa Rica. Since I'm not in Honduras yet, I can't comment on the situation on the ground. For that, you can check out BBC News' Americas section.

However, I am able to comment on the current status of Honduras 15, the Peace Corps group with which I will be serving in Honduras. Staging will still be held tomorrow in Miami, as scheduled. The big change of plans is where we will be going after staging. Instead of heading straight to Honduras to begin the first part of training, we will be heading off to the Dominican Republic in order to start our language training. While we are there, the Peace Corps will monitor and asses the political situation in Honduras. There is not a date in which we will leave for Honduras, but the Peace Corps office estimates that we will spend around three weeks in the DR at a location that has not been announced as of Monday afternoon. As of this time, the Peace Corps office has stated that they fully expect Honduras 15 to serve in Honduras.

I will be sure to let everyone know as much as I can after staging tomorrow, when I am given more information. For now I will be looking over some information on the DR and making final preparations to leave the country for over two years. I hope that the situation in Honduras works itself out peacefully. While I am extremely excited to be able to see another country and spend a good amount of time there, I am anxious to get to Honduras and learn about my new home. I suppose this is one of the reasons why the Peace Corps states that volunteers should be as flexible as possible, because you never know when a coup d'état on Sunday will send you to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

What follows is my aspiration statement that was sent to the Peace Corps Honduras desk. The Peace Corps asks that we write these statements for the host country due to the fact that they do not receive much of the information the Peace Corps has already collected on each volunteer. These statements allow for some sort of familiarity with the motivations, abilities, and aspirations of the volunteer before they arrive in the host country. Also, be sure to check out my tips on writing your own aspiration statement 5 Tips on Writing Your Peace Corps Aspiration Statement.

Nothing is as complicated as it is perceived to be. This thought has gradually developed into one of my core beliefs over time. Because of this, the foundation of my being is a collection of attributes that do not leave any room for the contemplation of impossibilities. Unfortunately, I realize that I may not always strive for excellence in everything that I do. But when I believe that what I am doing is important, there is nothing that discourages me from its realization. My determination is not quelled by belittling voices. My attention to detail is not disturbed by an overwhelming amount of information. My exhaustiveness does not dry up, no matter how many dead end roads, and my perseverance is not blocked by even the largest of mountains.

I am looking forward utilizing these life lessons during my time in the Peace Corps. I understand that the art of preparing oneself for the Peace Corps is toeing the fine line between expectations and realities. There is much to be done in Honduras, and one more able body for two years will not be enough to quench the people’s thirst for a better collected life. Solving every problem in the country, or my community, is not my goal. Instead, my goal is simply to sustain the determination to help in every possible way. Whether it is by building a latrine, facilitating cooperation between two opposing groups, or by simply putting a face to Americans during a time in which stereotypes abound, I plan on doing all that I can to assist my community during my two years of service, without thinking about my limits.

Success depends on the strength of personal relationships, and personal relationships are built on trust. Because of this, my primary goal during the first stages of my service will be to build the relationships that will facilitate cooperation throughout my two years. One of the ways in which this will be accomplished is by committing myself to the indefinite improvement of the community. I will also build trust by immersing myself in their culture and demonstrating that I am willing to work within those parameters. Building meaningful and trustful relationships, above all else, is my strategy for working effectively with my colleagues in Honduras.

My ability to adapt to new cultures is rooted in my essence. My father’s family is entirely Italian American. All four sets of my great grandparents came over from Italy around the turn of the century, and because of that they lived in a world that looked just as Italian as American. To add to this, my paternal grandfather’s job moved the family around the world, spending significant amounts of time in Germany, France, Brazil, and the Congo. Their stories live in my imagination, and because of them, I have never let my physical surroundings bound my mind to its geographical location. On the other hand, my mother’s family is almost entirely from the American South. While they did their share of moving as well, due to the military, their hearts and minds remained in the south no matter where they were, and that is where they mostly remain. These varied tributaries of my background join to make a sea of diversity in my mind and in my essence. Because of this, I have always been interested in that which all cultures have in common, in spite of their differences. That is what drove me to study Latin American Politics, Latin American History, and Spanish at the University of North Carolina. That is why I studied abroad in Mexico during the spring of 2008. It is also why I am interested in the history of my own country and state, and at the same time it is the reason why I have traveled to countries such as Colombia, France, and Italy. Most importantly, it is one of the forces that pushed me to join the Peace Corps.

As my life continues, I realize that I will always have more questions than answers. I know I have much to learn about everything, and the skills needed to fulfill the duties of a Peace Corps volunteer are no different. From my Peace Corps training, I hope to gain the technical skills needed to be an effective member of an agriculturally rooted society. In order to carry out my duties as a Protected Areas Management Advisor, I will need to further my knowledge of Honduran ecosystems, and learn how they function, their current statuses of preservation and/or degradation, and their importance to Hondurans and the regional environment. To work with local governments, NGOs and local businesses, I will need to delve into the nuances of the political and gubernatorial systems of Hondurans and how they interact to effect the protection of the environment and the well being of Hondurans.

The only thing I am certain about with respect to how the Peace Corps experience will affect me is that, without a doubt, it will be a life changing experience in many ways. I know that one career path that interests me is the field of environmental protection. I also know that, no matter what the field I end up working in, I will want to be making a positive impact on the world. My experience will give me a head start in learning how to cope with obstacles, how to circumvent barriers, and how to overcome what may be considered impossible. It will also be very humbling in sorts, as it will teach me the amount of work that is necessary to accomplish a seemingly small feat. However, I am sure that in the end the results will far surpass the prices. The hardships, victories, and relationships will help me to develop myself as a person as well. In the same way I am unsure of the future of my life’s work, I also know there are things about myself that I am currently unaware of. Some of these are certain to be revealed during my time in Honduras. I know that Peace Corps service not only affords me the opportunities to give to the community with which I am living, but also to get to know myself. By both of these tasks I am entirely humbled- and exceptionally excited.

This page is a list of the books that I feel are worth sharing, and a selection of the ones I am currently reading and have currently read.

Currently Reading

Stephen Miller, Conversation: A History of a Declining Art

Miller presents a well written history of an activity that is rarely thought about. In the 18th Century, conversation was viewed as an art form. According to James Boswell, "conversation is the traffick of the mind; for by exchanging ideas, we enrich one another".

Kevin J. Hayes, The Road to Monticello: The Life and Mind of Thomas Jefferson

This book chronicles, above all, the intellectual development of Thomas Jefferson. While most think of Jefferson as our third president, this achievement was not important enough for him to engrave it on his epithet. Above all, Jefferson was a gardener, a scientist, a philosopher, and like the rest of us, a human being. The good that Jefferson represents should be emulated by all of us. Any study of him is merited by that which we can take away and apply to our own lives, and this biography certainly provides ample examples.

Recently Read

Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Eduardo Galeano, The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent

John C. Chasteen, Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence