It's been a while. I just wanted to let you know that I have a new post office box. I just opened it yesterday. I tried to open it last weekend, but they said, "Sorry, you can't open a post office box today. It's Saturday!"
Beth Mayberry
Apartado Postal 344
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
America Central
Also, I finally bought a camera. The first time I tried to do this (last weekend) Bank of America froze my bank account for "suspicious activity" and I was unable to buy the camera. Good thing my debit card worked for my "birthday dinner" of amazing italian food, because I definitely didn't have $20 (10 days wages) in local currency on hand (or in the Honduran bank). I was quite angry with Bank of America as I had both called them and gone to the bank in person to tell them that I would be in Honduras for 2 years, before I left. But, that was evidently not enough. I was angry because it's 4 days wages to get to and from the city of San Pedro Sula, about 2 days wages for each taxi trip and it cost me 4 days wages to buy phone calls to call Bank of America unsuccessfully. So, Bank of America (and the Honduran postal system), you cost me 14 days of wages.
But now I have a top secret 24-hour collect call ATM help number for when they freeze my account. So this San Pedro Trip went smoothly.
Everything has been very busy here (= why I haven't had time to write). Next week is winter vacation for school kids (until February), so I am helping the high school start summer enrichment programs. I am helping them start a basketball team, a volleyball team, a theatre group, english classes, latin dance classes and possibly a choir. It's all very fun and all of the students are very excited, because there is nothing for them to do during the summer (there is no such thing as a "summer job" here, as there aren't that many regular jobs!) In many parts of Honduras (Morazan, included) there is a serious lack of extracurricular activities. Sports, clubs and organizations are almost non-existent. So, Mom and Dad, all of those years of extracurricular activities are being put to good use here in Honduras.
My birthday (Friday) went well! I had a pancake (pancake? I forgot they existed)breakfast at one of the high school teacher's house and then I had lunch at my host family's house and a party at my work with cake and tajaditas (plantain chips) and Mexican salsa and then a surprise party (with cake, a banner and dancing) at my future house. My future landlord is also giving me two adorable kittens and gave me a nice warm fleece blanket as a present. What more could I ask for? Pancakes, cake (twice), tajaditas and Mexican salsa, warm blanket, dancing, 2 adorable kittens...what more could I ask for? Oh, and my parents are probably coming in January, so that's exciting! Oh, and one of the high school teachers has adorable puppies and she might give me one!
Tomorrow, I am going to La Ceiba (on the beach!) for a regional Peace Corps meeting! I'll update my blog when I get back.
Thanks for all of you who wrote me birthday notes on my Facebook!
And thanks Grandma for the birthday card!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Photo of the Day
Since my digital camera is still broken and in the only "legal" camera-fixing place in San Pedro Sula they want to fix it without a guarantee for $150 (I'm still debating this one...), my friend who is the owner of the only film developing place in town took pity on me and let me borrow one of his cameras.
At my house, there are 12 hens and roosters running around making lots of noise all day and all night. Lately, they've all been fattening up and my family has started to eat them.
This is a picture of 2 of them being proactive and trying to guard their lives by climbing to the top of our lime tree. It was a pretty funny picture, as the chickens climbed up to the very top of the tree (about 15 feet.) Poor chicken.
The photo of the day:
At my house, there are 12 hens and roosters running around making lots of noise all day and all night. Lately, they've all been fattening up and my family has started to eat them.
This is a picture of 2 of them being proactive and trying to guard their lives by climbing to the top of our lime tree. It was a pretty funny picture, as the chickens climbed up to the very top of the tree (about 15 feet.) Poor chicken.
The photo of the day:
The Immense Capacity of the Honduran Motorcyle
Before I came to Honduras, I thought that motorcycles were basically efficient transportation for one or two people. Honduran motorcycles--you have proved me wrong. You have stretched the word efficiency to the max. You see, Honduran motorcycles can carry any quantity of people and unlimited cargo--it seems. Four people can ride on Honduran motorcycles. Two-year-old children can ride on motorcycles--just sandwich them in the middle or hold them in your lap with one hand and drive with the other.
Not only can Honduran motorcycles carry a number of passengers, but it has a broad cargo capacity. Here is just a small sampling of what I have seen motorcycles carry:
-Big Boxes. As in, boxes that might contain a TV or a microwave.
-Chairs. 3 to be exact. Just strap them down to the back and sides of the motorcycle with rope.
-Wooden table. Just balance it on your head.
I'll update you periodically on my motorcycle sightings. The moral of the story: As Americans, we are undeniably undermining the immense potential of motorcycles.
Not only can Honduran motorcycles carry a number of passengers, but it has a broad cargo capacity. Here is just a small sampling of what I have seen motorcycles carry:
-Big Boxes. As in, boxes that might contain a TV or a microwave.
-Chairs. 3 to be exact. Just strap them down to the back and sides of the motorcycle with rope.
-Wooden table. Just balance it on your head.
I'll update you periodically on my motorcycle sightings. The moral of the story: As Americans, we are undeniably undermining the immense potential of motorcycles.
Other Mailing Address Option
So, my parents have informed me that it is very expensive to send stuff to me at my new address through UPS. So, I'm going to open up a post office box in the city of San Pedro Sula this weekend. Then you can send letters of packages by regular mail. But remember, you can always send things to me at my first address (I just might now get it for a while):
Beth Mayberry, PCV
Voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 3158
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
America Central
But, for those of you who want to send stuff to the expensive UPS address, you still can.
Beth Mayberry, PCV
Voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 3158
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
America Central
But, for those of you who want to send stuff to the expensive UPS address, you still can.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
My new mailing address
WARNING: Make sure you read the blog entry above. This address might be expensive to send to and you can only use UPS. You can use my old address for packages and letters while I am trying to open up a cheaper post office box in San Pedro Sula.
I have a new mailing address! After weeks of searching for a way to get mail in my town, I finally found a way! (There is a Honducor, the National Post Office, in my town, but it is just a little house and it is not very secure. Packages can be sent through Urgente Express and Gigante Express (sort of like Honduran FedEx and UPS), but there are none in the Kansas City area).
But, if you have recently sent a package, don't worry, my address in Tegucigalpa will be open for 2 years, it's just that I might not get the package immediately because I would have to go to Tegucigalpa (6 hours away) or someone passing through would have to bring it to me.
Here is my new mailing address. Packages and letters HAVE to be sent through UPS.
Urgente Express
Morazan, Yoro
Honduras, America Central
Tel. 691-0262
Rdo. a Ana Mayberry y Gloria Paz
That's right. Ana. That is my Honduran name. Beth is too hard to pronounce for many people because of the "th" sound. And "Bet" is just not very pretty. My middle name is Ann, so I decided to make my Honduran name Ana. (I used Ana in Mexico and it worked out much better than when I used Beth in Peru). Because, if people can't pronounce your name, they usually can't remember it and if they can't remember it, they're embarrassed to talk to you because they can't use your name.
I'd like to thank Juliane Shaw for her awesome package! I love the skirt! It is so cute and great for the weather here! Thanks for the Chicken Tikka Masala (my favorite food) mix! And the Reese's, of course.
Thanks Mom and Dad for all of the cool stuff! I really needed pens and sunscreen and I can always use playing cards and anti-bacterial hand gel! Also, it's nice to have some US news! And of course, thanks for the ton of Reese's!
I have a new mailing address! After weeks of searching for a way to get mail in my town, I finally found a way! (There is a Honducor, the National Post Office, in my town, but it is just a little house and it is not very secure. Packages can be sent through Urgente Express and Gigante Express (sort of like Honduran FedEx and UPS), but there are none in the Kansas City area).
But, if you have recently sent a package, don't worry, my address in Tegucigalpa will be open for 2 years, it's just that I might not get the package immediately because I would have to go to Tegucigalpa (6 hours away) or someone passing through would have to bring it to me.
Here is my new mailing address. Packages and letters HAVE to be sent through UPS.
Urgente Express
Morazan, Yoro
Honduras, America Central
Tel. 691-0262
Rdo. a Ana Mayberry y Gloria Paz
That's right. Ana. That is my Honduran name. Beth is too hard to pronounce for many people because of the "th" sound. And "Bet" is just not very pretty. My middle name is Ann, so I decided to make my Honduran name Ana. (I used Ana in Mexico and it worked out much better than when I used Beth in Peru). Because, if people can't pronounce your name, they usually can't remember it and if they can't remember it, they're embarrassed to talk to you because they can't use your name.
I'd like to thank Juliane Shaw for her awesome package! I love the skirt! It is so cute and great for the weather here! Thanks for the Chicken Tikka Masala (my favorite food) mix! And the Reese's, of course.
Thanks Mom and Dad for all of the cool stuff! I really needed pens and sunscreen and I can always use playing cards and anti-bacterial hand gel! Also, it's nice to have some US news! And of course, thanks for the ton of Reese's!
My picture in the National Newspapers
I'm famous. My picture is in 3 national newspapers (that I know of). Here are the links:
http://www.elpatriotahn.com/v/Cuerpo+de+Paz+en+Honduras/Pictures+058.jpg.html
http://www.latribuna.hn/news/47/ARTICLE/18411/2007-09-28.html
http://www.proceso.hn/2007/09/28/Metrópoli/Embajador.de.EE/1258.html
The funny thing is that the articles talk more about corruption in Honduras than the Peace Corps.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Why do Honduran women wear stiletto heels on eroded dirt roads and cobblestone streets?
This question has puzzled me for months. I wear tennis shoes and flats and I have to say that I’ve had my share of walking wipeouts. The other night I tripped on a rut and did a sideways-type flip. It was pretty hilarious.
Here the definition of professional attire for many women includes stilettos and the shortest skirt you can find. And I was afraid that some of my shirts and Bermuda shorts would be too risqué for Honduras! I thought wrong. I look like one of the most modestly dressed people here most of the time. I feel bad for the girls in high school. The last year they have to do an internship and the students in accounting or computation have to wear a short skirt and high heels everyday. How uncomfortable!
That’s another thing. Everyone dresses up to go shopping or to the airport in Honduras. I went to City Mall with my friend in San Pedro Sula (the mall is an American island, I swear) and everyone came in their best clothes. My sitemate Nicole said that when she was going to the airport to go back to the states for vacation she was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and flipflops and my host family was shocked that she would wear that on an airplane.
Nicole and I have tried to explain to my family that people dress more casually and comfortably in the US (especially when they know that they will be on a plane for hours). I told them how I used to wear pajamas and sweatpants in the university a lot and they just couldn’t believe it. Practicality, comfort and functionality are not valued in clothing here.
Here the definition of professional attire for many women includes stilettos and the shortest skirt you can find. And I was afraid that some of my shirts and Bermuda shorts would be too risqué for Honduras! I thought wrong. I look like one of the most modestly dressed people here most of the time. I feel bad for the girls in high school. The last year they have to do an internship and the students in accounting or computation have to wear a short skirt and high heels everyday. How uncomfortable!
That’s another thing. Everyone dresses up to go shopping or to the airport in Honduras. I went to City Mall with my friend in San Pedro Sula (the mall is an American island, I swear) and everyone came in their best clothes. My sitemate Nicole said that when she was going to the airport to go back to the states for vacation she was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and flipflops and my host family was shocked that she would wear that on an airplane.
Nicole and I have tried to explain to my family that people dress more casually and comfortably in the US (especially when they know that they will be on a plane for hours). I told them how I used to wear pajamas and sweatpants in the university a lot and they just couldn’t believe it. Practicality, comfort and functionality are not valued in clothing here.
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