Nuestra Comida

Lo siento (sorry) for the long stint in between posts. We've found ourselves swamped in school life...and the World Series just began, so Colin's been glued to the screen (it's in ENGLISH! Yey!).

We've managed to take on a couple challenging colds in that last week. It's an interesting pantomime spectacle to watch when I go to the "farmacia." The nice pharmacists listen to my broken Spanish and watch my expressive motions, and then I walk away with some kind of medicine that's written in Spanish that hopefully addresses my issues. In this process, I discovered that Hondurans consider cough drops candy, so you can find them next to the Snicker bars. In the farmacia, they give you menthol drops called "Medicada." They're strong, sweet, and to the point. But they mostly taste like cheap Certs. I still like my Halls (or those Swiss cough drops that I can't remember the name of right now). So, I'll hopefully find those at the next stop, without the pantomime.

Colin encouraged me to take a sick day today because I haven't been sleeping much since the cold has taken over my body. I was zapped yesterday after school. I'm glad he knows when to help me say "no" to work. It's hard for me not to go. Planning for a sub is a much more work than just going...and I have control issues when it comes to letting someone else guide my classes.  And at this school, instead of subs, they just ask teachers to take care of your classes when they have a free block. It puts everyone out, I think. I don't quite understand the logic, but I'll just throw it into the pile of "It's Latin America!" So, not going to school today helped  me work through both my physical and psychological issues. :) And I got to make a rice pizza...my last one for a while because I'm out of my favorite crust mix: Namaste Pizza Crust.

Speaking of food, I wanted to give you a little glimpse into my new refrigerator wardrobe. I'm trying my hand at cooking "plato tipicos" of Honduras. They make lots of dishes from platanos (plantains) and yucca (which is like a potato, but a little different in taste). I fried up some "tostones" with the plantains the other day, and served them with some salsa. Mmmmm....The yucca I didn't know what to do with, so thank goodness we've got the internet! I cooked the yucca, and then made a delicious garlic/onion/fresh lime sauce. The sauce made the top ten list. However, the yucca? Well, its taste is a bit dry and pasty. We worked through it, appreciated it like "God made it" as Colin said, and then discarded most of it (Ok...confession: I have a hard time throwing away food--even food I don't like. For example, the fish tacos I tried to make within one of the first weeks we got here? Well, they were rough, but I froze the fish mixture thinking I'd use it again later. I just threw it away a few days ago....it was difficult. There's a bit more of "Crazy Frances"--that's my grandma-- in me).

These are "verde" plantains. They make non-sweet fried food. If you buy the "amarillo" plantains, then they'll be sweet. They're not too bad, but I like verde mas.

I chopped the yucca into squares. If you saw it before I peeled it, it was covered in dark, brown, leathery skin, and its shape looked like that of a long, disgusting terd. Maybe that's one reason we had a hard time really liking this new food.

Last, but not least, on today's "Food Features by Elisa" we have the Honduran style eggs. They do not refrigerate their eggs here. They have them wrapped in plastic wrap and then keep them out on the countertops. I haven't become that Honduran yet, so I still put 'em in the 'frig.

more pics

huh?

These pics are actually from our city, Tegucigalpa. Couple Saturdays ago we went out and ambled around downtown on the day of the big USA vs. Honduras debacle. We had our Honduras jerseys on, of course. Didn't want to get scalped.

But this here gentleman was providing some musical entertainments for the passersby.

I love this picture. It's got it all...imperialistic neo-colonial collides with tropical atomic green smashed up against iron gates and homeless folks and cheap plastic Japanese motorcycles and Eurotrash luxury automobiles with tinted windows. This is part of our world now and it don't make no sense. (don't know why the font is all underlined but whatever).

Just a few blocks from our luxurious apartment...and this barrio isn't even one of the bad ones...

And this is Edificio Fama! We're at the top left.

and here's me and...of course...

...BamBam. He says that when was a kid he wanted to play futbol americano but he wasn't big enough (dooowhutt?). And so his two choices were drugs or boxing. He chose boxing. Now his dream is to open a home for streets kids. But obviously the guy has no charm as you can see and is clearly a poor physical specimen...and we really feel sorry for him and are pretty sure that he has little chance to influence anyone.

So there's a bit more of our neck of the woods and these are some of our peeps.

stroking the soft underbelly...

I have a good friend by the name of Brandon Story. The sort of friend who says the sort of things that stick in your head. Well, we used to drive around Bristol, TN at all hours of the night raising hell. And as we cruised through the backstreets and forgotten alleys of town, Brandon would often quip that we were stroking the soft underbelly of Bristol. What does it mean? Well, it means something, doesn't it?

This weekend, Elisa and I hit the road again with our hardened travel companions, Mike and Mavis. We rented a tough little European car and set out on a journey to connect in some small way with our new homeland (and get the heck out of our troubled city). Now, it wasn't hard travelin' in the Woody Guthrie sense...but it was somethin'. After 400 hardbitten kms, we topped the mtn looking down on Tegucigalpa on our return, and felt like we had stroked the soft underbelly of Honduras.

Here's a few pictures. I'm sure Elisa will fill in the gaps.

If you look close, you can see that the rim was hung upside down. Yep, that's about right for Honduras. Why make something easier when you can make it harder?

Alright, it's my (Elisa) turn to write--Colin's spent a good hour uploading these selections. We have so many to choose from.

There were so many amazing flowers along the way--these kind of looked like skinny morning glories.

This is a snake skin! No...not really. But it is a tree. Can you believe that?

This flower was called something in Spanish that meant "blueberry lips." I'm definitely a fan.

The falls were beautiful, and muy refresco! We got a snack and just listened to the roaring water as we caught our breath.

Some parts of the hike were almost dark because of the jungleness (a new word for a solid description).

Mike has a way of making Mavis smile--wrapping her hand around his sweaty waist is one of them. They're great fun to hang with.

Not many road signs in Honduras, but we were grateful for these. We found the road to the national forest (which was a mixture of pavement, rocks, dirt, and a combo of the three at times) happily with these signs.

This massive "cataratas" was overwhelmingly beautiful! And the picture only captures one side of it--there was another waterfall to the left of this picture. People went down near the bottom to enjoy being sprayed by its waters. We also swam above it in the rapids--felt a bit like the Y in the Smokies (sigh...).

We stopped for lunch in a town about an hour and a half from Tegus--Comayagua. This church was the center of the town, and we sipped some wonderful granitas at the local coffee shop. And I bought three huge bags of limes from a sweet, old man for 30 lemps (a little over a dollar).

Colin was an excellent driver. We saw some some pretty crazy driving as we drove back to the city. This bus was passing the 18-wheeler just as the car (you can see it at the top left) was coming around the corner--thus the lights. The custom here is to flash your lights when you want to warn someone to get back on the other side of the road. Honking is mostly used to say "hello" or "can I get in this lane?" Whoever scores the middle of the road first gets the passing lane (regardless of the side of the road).

Home sweet home. This is a picture from outside of Tegus...we spent about an hour in traffic due to a construction worksight/car accident (side-swiper)/taxis hogging the outside lane and finding their way in. My bulging bladder made me one cranky lady. But we made it home. :) Or at least to the nearest grocery store.

Speaking of home, when we dropped Mike and Mavis off, we just had to snap a shot of their neighborhood wiring. This is typical Honduran fashion. And new lines are popping and being put up everyday--and this is in the good neighborhood. Speaking of which, we just lost our power a few minutes ago, so I'd better publish this before it goes out again. The wind tonight is CRAZY. It's almost like being at home during the fall.

Viva Estados Unidos!

Elisa is a little brown person on the inside...actually, I guess Elisa is a little brown person on the outside, too. But I am a red-blooded gringo and never have I been more proud to be so than today. When I got to school this morning I was greeted by a procession of students wrapped in Honduran flags. One by one they came by my room to shake hands with me and say, 'Gracias, Senior. Viva Estados Unidos.'

In case you didn't know, last night in the final minute of overtime, the U.S. scored on Costa Rica...and it sent Honduras to the World Cup for the first time in almost thirty years. Seeing people weep with joy is a beautiful thing. If you're not a sports fan, you might think it's silly. But soccer is the modern battlefield for many countries. It is where warriors are born and honor is defended.

This morning Honduras has dignity...and they love the United States once again.

p.s. So, now we can drop the sports angle for awhile. We promise. Viva Estados Unidos!

VIVA HONDURAS!

WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!! They DID it!! WE WON! Honduras defeated El Salvador 1-0 and the United States pulled together in the LAST second and tied with Costa Rica. Entonces, WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP!!! And what a night! The party just began about 30 minutes ago....the city is CRAZED with excitement and happiness. Four months of tension, despair, and unknowns are now spilling out in tears of joy as the pride of Honduras returns. And with it came the news that the UN legal council has acknowledged that Honduras'  decision to oust Mel Zelaya was constitutional! What a day! Fireworks are going off everywhere. Cheers of "Honduras, Honduras, Honduras" and "Gracias Estados Unidos!" can be heard from right outside of our window. Cars are honking up and down the streets. Screams of joy and delight are INCREASING--No one is going to sleep tonight! I thought I was a sports fan until now. Honduras is a WHOLE new level! I think my blood will not only run orange, but also blue and white before we're finished here. As odd as it sounds, this night is the beginning of hope for this small nation. !Dios benenice Honduras!

Little things

You know, I'm having a good day. I had 5 parent conferences (most were in English, however one was totally in Spanish and I got pretty much everything she said....however, most parents say similar things about their 6th grade sons regardless of the language factor--"distracted, doesn't like reading, disorganized") which went wonderfully smooth. I got a zillion papers graded, and only have a billion left. I'm currently eating rice crackers with hummus (all gluten-free products found at the nearby supermarcado--they even have my favorite! Blue Diamond Almond Rice Crackers...I bought about 10 boxes). And best of all, I'm enjoying our new little home. I really like where we live. It's a stone's throw away from the school. And we sit on the front porch every night and feel the Tegus breeze.

Tonight's the big game for Honduras (and the States need to win their game as well). I'm looking forward to hearing the whole city. We've no big plans. Just hanging. Before the game, though, I'm learning a bit more Spanish from our tutor, Elsa.

This weekend we're heading to a nearby lake for some R&R. We are SO looking forward to being outside in the fresh air where we can hike and hang out with our buds, Mike and Mavis.

Well, this little post proved that I'm a bit like my grandma in that I jumped from one subject to the next with not much contemplation, but I just thought I'd let you know I'm out of the pit I was in last week. I'm actually humming at school--singing again! :) Thank you for praying for me, friends. Now, to get my itchy finger under wraps again. It was doing great after I tried most of your suggestions, but it's back to keeping me up at night. No pictures this time. That about grossed me out.

When You Can't Catch A Break...

...you can't catch a break.

Boy, what a tough loss. You could hear a pin drop in Tegucigalpa on the way home from the match Saturday night. As we drove through the narrow calles of our adopted city, the headlights of our truck shone on some of the most dejected human faces I have ever seen. Sunday morning was as quiet as death.

What a soccer match. An epic battle to be sure. Honduras thoroughly dominated possession of the ball through the first half. Over and over again penetrating deep into the U.S. defense, furiously attempting to impose their will on the tempo of the match.But the U.S. waited, patiently, almost dismissively, swatting away the Honduran attack. O-O at the half.

Early in the second half, Honduras struck first. Elisa and I were watching the match outside on a friend's veranda above much of the city and after the goal, the roar of cheering, fireworks and gunshots (?) thundered through the valley.

The jubilation didn't last long. The U.S. broke back almost immediately; and then again; and then again. Three straight goals. Everyone was packing up to leave. And on TV, even the stadium crowd looked like it was thinning out. Then the Catrachos (Honduras) put another ball in the back of the net. And all of a sudden, we've got a ball game again.

Finally, in the 86th minute a Honduran striker was fouled inside the box. A PENALTY KICK! MANO Y MANO! Surely, he'll find the corner. Surely, God in heaven will smile on this poor little country and give it something to live for during these difficult times.

Nope. The forward got too much of it and pushed the ball high. The entire country was watching as it floated away and off the pitch for good. (I think there's a metaphor there but I'm not a good enough writer to find it).

Anyways, when you can't catch a break...you can't catch a break.

All hope isn't lost completely. Wednesday night is another match night. But there is a contingency and Honduras' fate is no longer in her own hands. Honduras must beat El Salvador but won't get in unless...the U.S. beats Costa Rica.

To be sure, all blame is squarely on them. The Catrachos had their chance and they blew it. We do make our own luck to some degree. But after striving so hard to keep destiny tightly within hand, it is hard to see it wither and float away.

And so now, on Wednesday, the country will find itself in a familiar position, and all Honduras will be begging God for mercy...

and waiting around to see if the United States will finally lend a hand.

Mercenaries

(CNN) -- A group of independent U.N. experts expressed concern Friday over the increased use of mercenaries in Honduras, where a de facto president has been in power since a military-led coup in June.

The List

These days I'm attempting to compile a list of reasons that I am glad I'm in Honduras. It's a fun pastime. You should try it some time when you're trapped inside a developing country that's on the verge of a revolution. It's not as easy as you might think.

However, I am grateful that, after several days of searching and deliberating, this week has yielded one solid reason...

Those of you who know me, are perhaps vaguely aware that I am something of a casual sports fan. You perhaps know that my calendar year is more closely oriented around major sporting events than, say, something as arbitrary as the Julian calendar or as insignificant as a school year. Take October, for example. October is a halcyon month, a glorious benchmark in my sporting calendar...football shifts into full swing and the Fall Classic shines its brilliant light through the cool autumn air (plus my sisters were born in October).

Anyway, what I am getting at is that I sorta like sports and this weekend, there is a big sporting event that YOU will not be enjoying...and I will. The U.S. vs. Honduras soccer match.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking...soccer...really? Soccer?

Well, we like soccer down here. And also, they enjoy soccer in Europe...oh, and all across Africa...um, as well as throughout South America...and in Asia...also...too, as well.

So, most of the world is honed in on World Cup qualifying for the 2010 Cup next summer in South Africa (which, incidentally, is on the short list of world's most dangerous places).

That pretty much brings us up to speed. So, Saturday night the U.S. and Honduras are playing in a high-stakes rubber match. The loser may not go to the World Cup. The winner probably will. It's being played down here in San Pedro Sula, Honduras (although the U.S. threatened not come).

It's a pretty big deal...and YOU won't be able to watch it. Unbelievably, it's only going to be on closed-circuit TV (not even pay-per-view) in the U.S.

Will I be able to watch it? You betcha. On about fourteen channels. And if I go to the bathroom and someone scores a goal, the trembling and roaring of the city will enlighten me.

So, Saturday night, from 8 until about 10:30 (while you're slogging through that boring Florida/LSU ground game, or that laborious Michigan vs. undefeated Iowa cornfield grind), I'm going to be very glad to be in Honduras...unless the U.S. wins. In which case, I might start searching for my passport and practicing the old Canadian accent.

Lately, I've noticed that maybe Elisa and I have begun using the blog as something of a catharsis, almost as if we needed some kind of outlet. Well, forgive me for gloating on this one. But I'm trying really hard these days and I'm working on my list.

Stand by me

This video made my day--and thus made my blog (thanks Lindsey Schubert and Mike McBride!). Enjoy!

more about "Stand by me", posted with vodpod

Highs and Lows...

I've been weepy today. I'm not sure as to the reason why. At church this morning I was sharing with some folks about my walk with God (which on my end of things has been weak) and I just broke down. I'm not a huge fan of crying in front of people because I'm an all or nothing kind of gal. So, when I cry (and try to talk during the crying) it's somewhat of a dramatic event. Anyhow, the sweet people at this church are so eager to encourage, and from what we've already seen, they want to really understand you and be a part of your world--even if it's messy or confusing or you're feeling low. I'm rather fond of this little church. They are intentional with relationships, and they believe in the power of prayer, which is something I've been struggling with of late. So, if you're of the praying sort, will you remember me as you pray?

This was a pretty great week, though. The kids (as I've stated before) in 6th grade fill me with great joy. Maybe not their homework habits, but definitely their personalities. They make fun of my Spanish accent, but they quickly discovered that two can play at that game. We finished reading the novel we've been reading together, My Side of the Mountain, outside in the fresh air on Friday, and they thought I was the best teacher ever. Small things matter to these kiddos. And to me. I love the middle school teachers here. One of them (Maurici) teaches step aerobics on Tuesdays and Thursday, so I've been learning her moves. Colin has wrongly assumed that there might be a possibility of me one day being an aerobics instructor myself--you know, "to earn extra income when you're a full-time mom," he said. He hasn't seen my moves. While I sweat, I definitely do a lot of laughing at myself. But I'm good at the "inhale" "exhale" parts. I feel like a ballerina when we take those breathing breaks. Pretty sure I don't look like one, but I can dream.

We hooked up with some Embassy folks today for some ultimate frisbee. Gringos come out of the woodwork when you wave a frisbee around (see www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com). It was great fun--and it wore both of us out! And wouldn't you know, we met two more people from East Tennessee. So, we chatted football (of course!) for a bit. What's up with our quarterback? I be missing me some football 'bout now.

Another high of this weekend was when I was at the hardware store, La Rache, yesterday. Remember those two "sweet gentlemen" that I met on that crazy post-toque de queda (curfew) grocery shopping day? Well, low and behold there they were at the hardware store. After the affectionate greetings (everyone kisses down here--I love it! Colin's still not there yet), they invited me to the opening of their "boutique" on November 7th. Definitely going to check that out. They were excited to tell me about all the products they would be selling, but me, not being your typical girly girl, had no idea about what they were talking about. But I'll probably buy something and then invite them over for dinner. :)

Slowly our house is becoming like home. I'm going to post only one room at a time so that you can join me in the slowness. I'm now embracing the slow pace of things like this. The bedroom needs major work. For one thing, I thought all the lovely quilts I packed would make for a beautiful set up--and we'd use them more. However, they don't quite fit with the decor of the place. So...soon enough we're going to buy something to match the fancy chairs. But Colin's wonderful gift to me for the living room (the fancy dancy rug from the one and only Sears) has made all the difference. And we also realized yesterday that our entertainment cabinet for the TV was upside-down (I guess the movers didn't realize it either). The couch looks better than it feels (it was designed for little brown people). But hey, it works for now!

Thanks for reading our posts! We love reading your comments and knowing you're thinking about us. We think about you, too! A LOT....especially on weepy days. Thankfully I don't have too many of those. :)

I Couldn't Resist...

This is just too perfect. It comes from a terrific article in the Wall Street Journal (thanks Doug) that attempts to plumb the psychological depths of Hillary's bizarre obsession with punishing the bad little democratic country of Honduras. It's big fun.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204518504574423570828980800.html

And here's a question that has come up more than once at the Roberts house. Not to be mean, but why is Hillary's hair always so bad? Seriously, she's got a nice thick mane. It seems to have a glossy sheen and some body and bounce to it. I just don't get it.

Can anyone help me out on that one?

Feliz Octubre!

Ah...October. My favorite month. I'm guessing that the air is beginning to get a bit crisp in the mornings where you are. Perhaps, you've already caught a whiff of chilly decay as it rises up from the ground and drops down from the trees. The sky is bluer, less humidity, than it was a month ago. On Friday nights, you can hear cheering carry through the air as it comes down from the high school football fields of your town. The leaves have a tinge of color. Birds are moving in mass through the air. That old jacket came out of the closet the other day.

Here we have Octubre, instead. It's not the same, I assure you. I miss October. My sisters were born in October.