Wow - October 1 already?! I´m sorry to report that after four dependable years with my laptop, it finally bit the dust after two months of life here. I put in a good faith effort to search online for an Apple store location, but as suspected, those are not to be found anywhere in Central America. I´ll have to find a new way of uploading photos and videos here at the internet cafe, so for now just word updates.
Hurricane Matthew hit the northeastern coast of Honduras over the weekend, fortunately in Talanga we just got a little extra rain. In other news, I spent another wild morning with my second grade class. I´d forgotten about that age where it´s impossible to stay in your seat for more than five minutes or refrain from punching your neighbor if they´ve stolen your colored pencils. Also, if any of your classmates are screaming, the most sensible response is to chime in and scream with them.
On Wednesday, all of us went to Rincon Grande to start a health education group there. Nothing in my previous educational experience qualifies me to be leading "health seminars," luckily Rosi and Brooke were both undergraduate biology majors and we´ve gotten our hands on two incredible books - you can get copies for free from the Hesperian Foundation - that are a mix of medical encyclopedia and community organizing guide for health care in rural communities (one appropriately titled, Donde no hay doctor (Where there is no doctor)) .
When we´re not using the books to plan the seminars, I use them to self-diagnose. I never knew I had this hypochondriac side to me but I suppose in part it´s justified since I´ve now weathered my way through two unfortunate skin infections and one case of lice. If the comedor kids weren´t so cute, I would probably renounce children altogether. The lice did give me a reason to check out the community health clinic and I was impressed with the overall experience - for 100L (U.S. $5) I got to see the doctor and received antibiotics and de-licing soap - but because it is high season for dengue, I had to stand in line from seven a.m. until one p.m. to be seen. I don´t know if there a way to put a positive spin on that ... oh right ...
Hurricane Matthew hit the northeastern coast of Honduras over the weekend, fortunately in Talanga we just got a little extra rain. In other news, I spent another wild morning with my second grade class. I´d forgotten about that age where it´s impossible to stay in your seat for more than five minutes or refrain from punching your neighbor if they´ve stolen your colored pencils. Also, if any of your classmates are screaming, the most sensible response is to chime in and scream with them.
On Wednesday, all of us went to Rincon Grande to start a health education group there. Nothing in my previous educational experience qualifies me to be leading "health seminars," luckily Rosi and Brooke were both undergraduate biology majors and we´ve gotten our hands on two incredible books - you can get copies for free from the Hesperian Foundation - that are a mix of medical encyclopedia and community organizing guide for health care in rural communities (one appropriately titled, Donde no hay doctor (Where there is no doctor)) .
When we´re not using the books to plan the seminars, I use them to self-diagnose. I never knew I had this hypochondriac side to me but I suppose in part it´s justified since I´ve now weathered my way through two unfortunate skin infections and one case of lice. If the comedor kids weren´t so cute, I would probably renounce children altogether. The lice did give me a reason to check out the community health clinic and I was impressed with the overall experience - for 100L (U.S. $5) I got to see the doctor and received antibiotics and de-licing soap - but because it is high season for dengue, I had to stand in line from seven a.m. until one p.m. to be seen. I don´t know if there a way to put a positive spin on that ... oh right ...
