Wedding Bells, In Ohio

Last week I had the opportunity to fly to the States for the wedding of my dear friend Ivy. Some of you know her as Ivy Fisher - she has since changed her name, due to said wedding. It was a blessing to be able to attend this special event. Thank you to all who helped me get there!

Ivy and I have been friends since college. We ran on the cross country team together, and after she graduated in 2005, we shared an apartment for a year. She was the best roommate I ever had. She really wanted me to be a part of her wedding, so after many weeks of ticket-hunting, I was able to commit and travel north to be the second of two bridesmaids.

The wedding was in a small town north of Dayton. Ivy and Nate, being simple people, kept the wedding very simple. They held the event in a small church, which was perfect for the short guest list. They invited their family and close friends, which made for a very special and intimate wedding.

Being friends with Ivy's family, I had a nice weekend altogether. After the bride and groom left, and we made a stab at cleaning up the kitchen, we found time for some eucre, and I had my first geocaching trip. It was a nice trip, but busy! I was so tired by the end of it.

Side note: it took me four planes to get from Teguc to Dayton, and another four on the return trip. And if you ever come to Latin America, you should try out Taca Airlines.

A Little Presentation About...Tigo

Tigo is the name of the very dominant cell phone country...ahem, company here in Honduras. It is literally everywhere. Amy and I say that Tigo owns Honduras (the national colors are blue and white, after all...hmm). Tigo has plastered their name on everything imaginable - storefronts, walls, signs, cars, mountainsides, watertowers. It is so ubiquitious that I just had to share it with you. As you can see from the following slideshow, Tigo really is "with you" in Honduras.

Some random facts about this monopolistic monolith:

- Tigo is a play on the Spanish "contigo", which means "with you".
- Tigo is just one part of a larger cellular giant - the parent company has phone companies in Central and South America and in Africa.

Besides what is displayed below, I have seen Tigo in other unique places. I have yet to capture them on digital film, but when I do, I will share them with you. Among the missing are:

- Traffic cones with Tigo screenprinted on the side.
- Bright orange safety vests, worn by the police at traffic checks, with Tigo emblazoned on the back.
- The national soccer stadium has Tigo all over the walls.
- A Tigo beach towell
- Tigo t-shirts (I haven't figured out what you have to do to actually aquire one)

Today's High Score

Getting ready to head to the classroom. If it doesn't feel like 106 outside, it will certainly feel like 106 inside. Yippee-do-da.

It's hot

Today's weather.

Class Project: Planting Trees

If you didn't know, or had forgotten, the name "Escuela El Sembrador" means "School of the Sower". This is intended to have a spiritual meaning, but a couple weeks ago, it took on a literal meaning, too, when the kids of II Bachillerato (the senior class) went to Catacamas for their service project. They had to "sow" two hundred trees as part of the city's beautification plan.

While it wasn't as much fun as, say, a trip to the beach, I think they enjoyed themselves well enough. After all, they were working with friends, and they got to go out for lunch to the Chinese restaurant when it was all over, so I'd say it was a good day.

I was impressed with their work ethic. They jumped out of the bus and got straight to work. With over twenty kids in the class, it didn't take very long, especially since they didn't loaf around. Their teacher, who also teaches in another private school, was also impressed. She said that she has to do this same project with the students in her other school, and she knows that it won't go nearly as quickly. She praised the El Sembrador kids for their work ethic and good attitudes. I guess they have learned something at this school after all. I was very proud of them. And they all looked so nice in their uniforms!

Honduras is making an effort at reforesting their country. Many school participate in tree projects like this one, and Catacamas has a city greenhouse, to provide the volunteers with the tress needed. At the end of the project, the neighborhood councilman thanked the boys for their work, and spoke about how, in twenty years, they hope that all of Honduras will be green with the trees that are being planted now. He specifically addressed Amy and me, saying that if we come back in Honduras, we will find a country even more beautiful than it is now.

At the city greenhouse. Note the pistol in the manager's belt...

Elvin, clearing the grass with his machete.

Victor and Alexander, digging holes for the plants. We planted tress at two public schools.

Yasmin, planting the little plant.

The "sowers" of II Bach, ready for lunch.

More on Bananas

Last week, we were driving up to the North Coast (banana country), and passed this roadside attraction - a lot of bananas. Dozens of little stands, back to back, like this, line one stretch of the highway. Hundred of bananas, all lined up. It's a rather interesting sight.

The banana vendors seem to be out every time we drive by.

Also, it's watermelon season (I think), and so the watermelons are also out, stacked along the highway for anyone who wants one.

So, the picture is a bit blurry. But we were in transit. You get the general idea, right?

A Little Randomness

I was out in Catacamas a few weeks ago and saw this cute little family walking down the road. It amused me, so I took a picture.