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.
3 comments:
Using this as an outlet is fine. I enjoy the blog a lot. But I came in late and do not know how yall came to the decision to go to Honduras to teach.
Maybe we are fulfilling our purpose in coming should be #1 on your "list." And I would love to learn how you came to be there.
Dianne Fielder
Hi Diane! I'm so glad you enjoy reading our blog. Well, our decision to come here came about after a couple of years contemplating teaching overseas. As Colin finished grad school, we heard about this job fair in Atlanta servicing schools in South and Central America. I've spent a little time in Mexico and LOVED the culture. And in St. Louis, Colin and I made friends with a wonderful Mexican couple who spoke broken English. So, last December, we went to the job fair, searched through the schools, and found one in Tegucigalpa, Honduras that needed both of our teaching skill sets. We were offered the job the first night of the fair, and with our parents' affirmation, we signed wholeheartedly to teach at the American School. We signed the contract for two years. So, here we are! And it's been quite an experience, as you've read. We're working through the "hump," as experienced international teachers tell us. I guess it hits early October through November. Holidays this year will be hard, but we've found some wonderful people to be with and call family.
We are definitely fulfilling our purpose, I think. But we had different ideas of what that purpose would look like. For one, we really miss teaching in the Christian school setting. It's been another world to work in a general private school. We're learning the ropes.
Thanks for asking! I don't think we've ever shared this with our blog readers (i.e. friends!). We enjoy hearing from you, Diane. I look at Amy's new pictures as she updates her Facebook. It's wonderful to see where the Lord takes each of us on our journeys. And your grandson is so cute!!
Thanks for the info. We will be seeing Cooper 10/22. 3 months:the longest without seeing him. Amy is expecting again in March. She has not told a lot of folks yet, outside our family. Everytime yall mention ultimate frisbee, I think of taking Cooper to a match when he was only a few days old. And Amy met her French guy friends at the beach via a frisbee. They took her to a major soccer match in Marseilles.
You are so outgoing, I know you will bring sparkle to lots of Hondurans during the holidays. And you get to teach them about American Thanksgiving. Amy's French missionaries (from the USA) hosted Thanksgiving in Montpelier; we mailed them marshmellows and yams, not available in France.
Love you and pray for you all the time.
Dianne Fielder
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