Day 302 June 5
I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. It'd been a pretty restless night and all I really wanted was silence, so I put in my earplugs and read for a while. Around 9:45, I called Megan to see if she still wanted to get our clothes from the seamstress and we agreed to meet in the park shortly, which we did. We went down and got our clothes. She then went to a kinder graduation party and I went to give Cid back his phone, which he'd forgotten at my house, again.
I stayed for a late breakfast, spent some time on the internet, and then had lunch. Shortly after, I went home and tore my room apart. I spent hours dusting, sweeping, cleaning everything out, and organizing. I set up a suite case in the hallway to leave at Megan's and a suite case to bring home. I cleared everything out from under my bed, the other side of my bed, my table-side drawer, beside the bed, and under the “dresser.”
I then ate in Picame and while I was there Jessica returned from her two week trip to Panama. Jesse, the older man, was watching the store and we had a brief chat in which in informed me that I, as a Mayatan teacher, can never find community in Copan and he can't understand why I would want to stay. I didn't respond much, just listened and didn't feel much of a need to justify why I want to stay.
Cid came by and we talked for a long time.
Day 303 June 6
I stayed in med for a long time and read. I also mosquito hunted, using my legs as bait. I killed a couple and then got tired of waiting for them to come to me and covered my legs back up. Caroline called me and said that Jesse had called her and Sierra was locked out of the house and was at Villamil if I would go get her because she doesn't have her phone. I snuck on the internet from Picame and stole internet for long enough to let her know I was home and would be home for a while.
Since I was actually out of bed, I started cleaning up some of the dust that had settled since yesterday and organized some more. I made coffee and started on laundry. Sierra got home and we went out souvenir shopping. While we were out, Cid called wanted to know if I wanted to go to the pool. I went home and did some more laundry before Cid came by.
We walked on toward the ruins, past the ruins, past Los Sepuluras, and all the way to the pool. We were unable to get a ride, but we got there and relaxed for a while. As the only people at the pool, we took advantage and had a good time. The water was cold and refreshing. When we were ready to go back, we got a taxi back. I was a little burnt from the walk there.
Shortly after I got back it was time to go to church. It was our last Sunday all together, so those of us taking off were put in the middle and they prayed over us at the end of our time together.
I went back and met Cid at Picame and we talked for a while. I had more laundry to finish up and I got to that too.
Day 304 June 7
I started out the day with more, you guessed it, laundry. I want to have it all done and dry before I leave Thursday morning and it's the making sure it's dry that's making this a laundry crunch time. After I was done, I walked up to school, but got a ride up with one of Allan's kids in a taxi. He said the ride was free. Awesome.
Juan came in shortly after I did and he informed me that he had studied. He was obviously excited, and also excited when he realized there was a back to his test. That's why it was so heartbreaking to grade it. He obviously had studied. He obviously knew and understood more, but it was not enough. Not at all. He asked me to go talk to his father, which I did. I wish I knew how to help him better.
I spent the rest of the day bagging the classroom supplies and organizing papers for my class next year. I got a ride back with Cathy and hit the laundry again. I then went to the bank and then to Guacamaya to pay my long time outstanding bill. When I got back to Picame, Alex and Chris were there and I ate a burger with them.
Tammi wanted to pick up some professional clothes that weren't all worn out for her job this summer so I met her and Vanessa in the park. While we were out, I picked up some Honduran flip flops to represent the country while in the US and some capris with a lot of pockets.
Tammi and I went running around the nature trail at the ruins and then I showered to get ready to go to Nash's place to have pizza with Megan, Theo, Nash, Tammi, Julia and her husband. I didn't stay long and did eat much. Cid was late getting off work so I met him over at Picame and we ate together. We then hung out talking until bedtime.
Day 305 June 8
I walked up to school with Sierra, but part way up we got a ride with Kayla. I finished bagging my books and supplies and filled out the questionairs. Megan met with me for my exit interview. I went to a meeting on school finances.
The meeting was enlightening and interesting. We tried to give suggestions about what priorities they could have with money, but the big priority right now is putting a cover over the basketball court. We suggested adding more funds to the scholarship fund or paying more to second year teachers so encourage them to stay. They seemed to take to the paying more the second year idea, so we'll see what happens.
After the meeting, I finished moving my supplies into Allan's room and got various administrators to sign off on my to-do list. I turned in my classroom key and went home.
After I packed, I got a taxi over to the Casa de Cafe to store some things for the next two months. While I was over there, I got online and mom called on Skype. We chatted for a while and mom got to meet Cid through Skype. After we got off the phone, I called Megan and found out that I got her house for next year. I was pumped!
I went home and met Abby for our cleaning party. We cleaned for several hours, taking out trash, sweeping up, figuring out what belonged to who and cleaning out the fridge. We took out some of the bottles we had been saving all year—just in case—and left the rest for Sierra, as well as the stove top and her bathroom. The rest of the house we did ourselves.
I then got a couple of things together to take to Megan's on my way to a pot luck at Michael and Eileen's. She wasn't feeling well, and I stayed to chat a while. Cid came up and I got to show him the whole house before we went to the pot luck.
It rained on us on the way there, so Eileen lent me her red skirt since I was soaked. Cid and I made tea, which was really good and folks seemed to enjoy. The pot luck was great. There was good food and good company. When Cid and I left we talked for a while about ideas for next year.
Day 306 June 9
I woke up plenty early and got to the dished. I finished packing everything that I wouldn't need for the next day, cleaned and read. Judy came by to see if she could bake a cake because as soon as she put it in at home, the power went out. I told her she was welcome.
I snagged a taxi to Megan's and brought up the rest of my things. My taxi driver was very nice ans asked me how to say “a block and a half” in English, so I told him. He knew Megan's house when we got to it and offered to haul my things up the stairs. I paid him more than double, but he had hauled my things over his head up the stairs. His name is Carlos. When Megan got there, I asked her what “her taxi driver” was named, and she said Carlos. Ah-ha.
Once I dropped by things off, Megan and I got another taxi up to the school. I walked around inviting people to ViaVia for the night and saying goodbye to the Honduran staff I won't be seeing for the next 2 months. I tried to get to as many groups as I could before I left. Before I went, Megan and I picked an A-Z book for Juan to take as his final recup in August. I then walked home.
At home, I grabbed the last of my things that won't go back with me and took it to Cid's. He was busy painting chairs and tables out in the yard, so I didn't stay long. I swung by Yat B'alam for lunch, coffee and internet since the power is out and they have a generator. Francisco was there and I sat with him until he left and then sat with Hsuan. He'll be leaving Copan in about a week.
When I got home, Beth, Jesse, Caroline, and Sierra were eating in Picame. Caroline came to read since she had given me her staff shirts and still needed her green one for the graduation ceremony. We talked for a while and when she left I tried to talk to Sierra, but she had something else to take care of. I waited for a while, but then went out to take care of things.
I went to buy saldo, ran into my student Fernando, and went to the Casa de Cafe. We left so Cid could return a shirt and then left to go meet Luis for coffee. Luis and I talked for about 2 hours. I then went home and ate a giant burrito at Picame. I then headed to ViaVia to meet folks. As the first one there, I just sat at the bar and chatted with a tourist from Australia. He wasn't very chatted agter Cid came and 20 minutes later, Theo came. He thought he was being fashionably late.
As people trickled in, conversations grew. We talked and Alex's mom took pictures. I said my goodbyes, which were surreal. After living with this people for a year I was saying goodbye to most of them for life. I had some very good talks, though.
I went home and talked with Cid. We said our goodbyes.
Day 307 June 10
As there was no power on my last day in town, I got to go with a bucket shower. I got my things together and then walked to Billy and Mary's. I was there early, so I sat and chatted. We chatted and joked the whole way. I got a goodbye text from Judy.
We took a pit stop at the gas station between Copan and San Pedro. As I walked in one side of the convenience store, Denny and old man Jesse walked in the other side. It was just a crazy happenstance, but they were on their way to San Pedro as well. It was a little Gringo reunion in the middle of Honduras.
When we got to San Pedro we picked up Jimmy, from the bed and breakfast where James and I almost stayed, so that Jimmy could drive the car back to his place and keep it until Audrey and Steve return on Monday to go watch Mary and Billy's house for a couple months.
At the airport things went much smoother than last time. The woman behind the counter had to double check with someone about my dates, but I was on the safe side of my 90 day visa. I paid my exit fee and got a burger. The 5 of us went up and waited. I met a couple from a medical team that was working with the missionaries and they happened to be sitting next to me on the plane.
You know I don't have much experience flying because I'm always in awe of the clouds from above. I wanted to see the oil to help make it real for me, and I had a false spotting early on, but when we hit the USA coast, there were waves of black that were clinging to the coast. I've never seen a coast like that and there was no doubt that I did indeed spot the oil.
When we landed in Atlanta, I had an hour and a half, so I zoomed to get through customs and security. I took the stairs, not the escalator, which had a line, and I walking briskly along the moving sidewalks. Even though I was coming from the back of the plane, I beat most of the other folks on the flight. By the time I rechecked my bag and got through security, I had 20 minutes left. I got to where I could find my gate, since it wasn't on my ticket. It informed me that my flight had departed. I was a bit panicked, so I rushed to the gate and discovered that it wasn't even boarding yet. I rushed to wait.
Once we started boarding, a woman came up to the man collecting the boarding passes and handed him someone else's pass and told him that the man didn't speak any English and she was just there to help him feel comfortable. She turned to him and said, in Spanish, This man can help you. On the way down the hall, I decided to let him know that I know some Spanish. Feeling awkward about it I spoke quickly, Where are you from? Either because of my accent, him not expecting anyone to speak to him, the noise, or the tu form, he didn't understand me and responded, Washington, which is where we were going. I dropped it, but it opened to door for him. He ended up being in the row right in front of me, so I was able to show him where the plane bathrooms are. When he got back, he started telling his seatmates that he needed to sit on the outside of the row, not at the window because he'd have to go more often. They didn't understand Spanish, so I stepped in and told them and they had no problem scooting over for him.
I spent the rest of the flight talking to the inquisitive man next to me. He has had his fair share of travels and was curious about my experiences. I was happy to answer his questions and get his take on things. He's a Virginia man with a son who graduated from Tech, another from Longwood, and a daughter at CNU. He used to have a winery outside of Smith Mountain Lake. He once went to Nigeria to help with a faith based program there. By the end of the conversation he wanted to exchange information and I had told him about Urban Promise, as it seems up his alley, in case he ever wanted to help support them.
When we landed I just waited. I was in the back of the plane anyway and I knew several people on the flight had tight connections, plus I wanted to ask the older Hispanic man if he needed anything else. He said he needed water and the bathroom again, which I knew he could handle on his own. I asked him if he had someone meeting him and he said that they were waiting. I felt relieved and walked off at a brisk pace, knowing mom would be watching for me.
As I walked, he appeared back beside me and said You speak Spanish and I don't speak any English...He also informed me about why he had to pee so much. Turns out he was born in Santa Rita but has lived the last 40 years in Ocotepeque. He told me some sad story I didn't understand the bulk of. I'm glad I didn't because I don't think I could have helped him with it and he got the therapy of telling me after a day of not being able to talk to anyone and I'm not saddened by it. I learned that he had bags to claim, so I knew where to take him. Once I saw how big the airport was, I was glad he had caught back up to me. We had to go down the stairs, get on the train, get off the train in the right place, go up the stairs, turn, turn, and find the Delta baggage claim. It was easy for me because I read English, but he would have been in trouble.
Shortly after we got to baggage, mom arrived. Luckily, she had not been waiting wondering why I hadn't come. Much like the info on my flight in Atlanta, the information in Dullas never updated to tell her we'd arrived, or taken off, or anything. I introduced her to my new friend and he threw his arms around her, kissed her on the cheek and said, Praise Jesus, Glory to Jesus, Thank you for this girl! None of which did mom understand, but she got that he was happy.
His family came and he introduced me to them telling them all about how I had helped with on the plane, the bathrooms, after the flight, and so on. While he was talking to them, the man I had sat next to on the plane came and told his wife I was the young woman he'd been talking about and told mom I was fascinating to talk to. I was a hit on this flight!
Once I got my bag, I said goodbye and left him in the hands of his family. Mom and I went off to find a shuttle and the whole time I was talking a mile a minute as I tend to do when I'm coming back from something. We got the shuttle to the hotel, got a small dinner, and went upstairs. All the while I can't stop talking until finally we fell asleep.
Day 308 June 11
This morning, I woke up in the United States. It was strange. The cleaning lady came and knocked on the door at 8:30 and then I was up. Mom and I got dressed enough to go eat breakfast and then came back up and got ready really slowly, mostly because I couldn't stop talking. We finally headed out around 11:20. It was a nice trip and we arrived in Blacksburg around 4. I got situated and Nana, Mom, and I went shopping for birthday things. We went to Old Navy and made a pretty quick trip of it. We got back and ate dinner.
I went to a grocery store with Mom, which was more overwhelming than I expected. I was glad to get back to the house where we all just chatted and caught up.
I was thrilled to get an e-mail from Diane, my future teaching partner. She sounds awesome. I responded and went to bed.