We are still here

Blogging from Honduras has gotten much more difficult in the past two weeks. For one thing, so much has happened that we do not know where to start. Making it more difficult is the fact that the entire world seems hell bent on imposing a solution that will all but destroy democracy in Honduras.

First an update. On Monday of last week we were at school and people started getting worried because there were rumors that Mel was in the country. Soon the rumors were confirmed and then we were informed that there would be a country wide curfew or "toque de queda" as it is called in Spanish. We all rushed home, many people were stuck in traffic and it was very hectic getting home. Later that afternoon we all learned that Mel was in the Brazilian embassy. Several thousand of his followers (many are paid by him using money from Hugo Castro) surrounded the embassy and listened to him essentially encourage lawlessness and destruction. The area around the embassy pretty much being destroyed by the Zelayists they began sacking grocery stores, home electronics stores, and even a few personal residences.

Meanwhile, Tuesday we didn't even leave our apartment. We did art projects, we played games, listened to music, and watched the news. We were a bit worried but our apartment is in a safe part of town far from the Brazillian embassy where most of the trouble is. By Tuesday evening were were starting to wonder how long we might be stuck in our apartment. More importantly we were starting to wonder how long a city of more than 2 million people can stand to be shut off. The loss of economic activity is so hard on so many of the people here who live day-to-day.

By Wednesday morning people were starting to run out of essentials so the toque de queda was lifted for about seven hours. We have friends who waited more than 5 hours in the grocery store, it was impossible to get gas for your cars. I had to go out to get our car from the mechanic. I called a taxi who we have used in the past and trust. He just happened to be close and was able to get me. On the way we saw burning tires in the road, long lines for water and food, and traffic that you wouldn't believe. We finally made it, I got my car... but now what I might be stuck in traffic for hours driving ten minutes across the city. The taxi driver offered to show me a short cut through the city, this would of course cost more. No problem I said this is an emergency. "Do you need beans?" I ask him, "You have beans?" he repeats with a smile. "Of course I have beans." So we negotiate for a bit and quickly arrive at the going rate for taxis when paying in frijoles! Yes I paid for my shortcut escort in Frijoles.

We all spent the rest of the day hanging out with other teachers at the school. We played frisbee, ran around at the school and talked about the political situation. As the clouds started gathering we all decided that Honduras could really use a good rainstorm to "clean the air" so to speak. Well, it poured and poured! Several of us took shelter in our apartment and invented a new cocktail called, of course: Toque de Queda (Rum, coconut milk, mandarin, lime, lychee, and grape juice). It was what we had in the apartment and it was actually quite good! I like creating cocktails in times of crisis. I don't know if it was the rain or the drinks but things started to seem less grim...

Only in Honduras could one day be like Wednesday were it feels like all hell is breaking loose and then Thursday arrives and is "normal". The toque de queda was lifted early Thursday morning and good news school would also be in session. So we all go to work and school. Our students were all happy to be in school, everyone was comforted by the normalcy of our routines that however new have become our lives. We were able to go to the grocery store and get gas. "Only in Honduras" is becoming a saying with meaning for us, it is teaching us how things are rarely as bad as we think, and that the saying "this too shall pass" is true.

Please check out our friends blog losdosrobertos.blogspot.com they have some great articles on living here and a link to a video by Newt Gingrich about Honduras.