15 August 2007

Laboratory News and My Friend Alba


Saludos!

What’s shakin’ stateside? Shoot me an email if you haven’t recently! egetter@gmail.com I miss you all very much!

Aqui en Honduras todo esta cheque, osea... todo macanudo. (Here in Honduras everything is fine, or like… everthing’s cool). Gringo has gotten pretty big and is shaping up to be a pretty nice companion. I read an article about happiness in “Newsweek” and it said that the joy of having a kid doesn’t pay off until they’re out of the house and in college. And I tried to relate that to having a dog, but you can’t really do that I suppose. Gringo has been such a pain in the butt I often wonder whether he’s worth all the headache, but I’m starting to think, yeah, he’s worth it. He can be pretty cool, and I can’t imagine what life around this house would be without the little fella (cleaner? haha).

So, we have planned to do our first “experiment” in the new science laboratory. We are going to make pineapple jelly! I’m working on a “Peace Corps Partnership” form to try and see if I can bring some money to town to make the laboratory something really nice for the kids. I’ve been chasing down local electricians, welders, and construction workers to give me estimates for all the fixing up we’d like to do. I’d like to bring in enough money for a secure roof (the current roof is easy to break into and theives have already broken in and stole all the electrical wires and lightbulbs), electricity (to replace what the theives took), to make one room a little larger (it’s currently a degree away from tiny), new chairs and tables (currently not enough), and finally I’d like to get some good science laboratory equipment (test tubes, balances, bunsen burners, goggles, lab coats, etc). But meanwhile, as I dream and prepare the grant proposal, we’re going to make pineapple jelly with the few materials that we already have. “Peace Corps Partners” is a way in which Volunteers can solicit funds for projects over the internet. Donors can donate from the Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov) with their credit cards. But with any grant proposal or any government project, I got lots of paperwork. Don’t worry though, I’m not losing my easy going country livin’ lifestyle here, just got a few hours here and there during the week of sorting out paperwork.

Yesterday my friend Alba called me up and invited me to dinner with her family and I had a blast! Alba is a good friend who’s the manager of the cabins and educational center in the park I work in (45 minute walk from my house). We drove to her hometown, a little less than an hour away, ate clam soup (wow, it was soooo good), danced a bit, and hung out. I’ve known Alba pretty much since I got here to Santa Elena almost a year ago, and I’ve always heard so much about her legendary family. Especially her Dad, who certainly is one of a kind. When I met the guy he was stepping out of the shower and was only wearing a towel. The 60ish year old man wasn’t bashful in the least bit. He said “Hey you, get over here” and put his hand out to shake. Then asked me, and it’s hard to translate to english, but something along the lines of “Uh huh, and you… who you think you are?” For those of you who know Spanish, here’s his famous line, “Uh huh, y vos, quien sos?” Alba’s mother was the complete opposite, very humble and quiet. Then her sisters were a riot, very loud and noisy, always laughing or telling a story with lots of emotion in their faces and tones of voice. Definitely a very happy and healthy latin family. Really a lot of fun to spend time with. The next morning, Alba, who’s learning English and preparing for a trip to Vermont in September, told me in English, “It’s a pleasure to have you in my life.” “What a nice thing to say,” I thought. Alba has definitely become a really close friend. I told her “It’s a pleasure to have you in my life as well Alba.”

Alright, I suppose that’s all for now. Brazos y besos a todos!

Cuidenses,
David