The Challenges

September 28, 2012 Now that I have really settled in and begun to gain my bearings I can discover the real challenges of living here. Some of these things are applicable when living anywhere abroad and some refer mostly to life here in La Union. The lack of connectivity: it is a challenge just to talk to people at home and communication is very difficult. I miss being able to pick up my phone and connect with a friend or family member basically instantaneously. Instead I have to walk 25 min to school and hope (with my fingers crossed) that it will be working that day or that there is still enough download allowance at the end of the day. In the states I was never one who enjoyed talking on the phone, but here I would jump on opportunity to do just that! The spotty Internet: I can tell that most of the other teachers in different cities have Internet that not only works well but they can even have it in their apartments or houses! It is ridiculously expensive for us to have Internet in our house and probably would be similar to what is at the school. The Internet there is nothing special. Basically we have a limited download allowance and if you use it all in a day the Internet will stay bad for 24hrs before you are allowed back on. This makes skyping and staying in contact with people very difficult. Softness: I have a few things that have not gone through the laundry here and I plan on holding out as long as possible for most of them. Since our laundry is done on a pila it is not easy on or nice to our clothes. They are then hung to dry and there is no fabric softener so basically we get them back very stiff and crunchy. I still have my blanket a sweatshirt and couple of fleeces though to fulfill my need for softness. Availability of goods: It is very difficult to get many things here in La Union. So, while many of the teachers in the big cities...Tegucigalpa especially, are living lifestyles more similar to US we have been thrown right into the Honduran rural mountain lifestyle. I can get pasta and crackers at the store but no common dips or pasta sauces (they have to be homemade) and chips and cookies are common. The only type of cereal in La Union is corn flakes and while I was hoping for plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, it is apparently not as common as one would have thought. I do survive though because I can usually get both snickers and cookies and cream bars... A girl always needs her chocolate :) Showers: I have mentioned it before but it is worth saying again...I miss the US showers. Here it is impossible to get both hot water and high pressure, so you have to pick just one. The water is also not always guaranteed to be clean, see the pictures, and lastly the water might not even be on. Often times they turn it off to conserve. So for those of you back in the states enjoying these things take a moment of gratitude and thankfulness that they have been awarded to you. And also remember me here the next time you enjoy them...and pray I haven't gone crazy from not having them :)