Something about Politics

      Even though this was a four day week, it seemed to drag on and on. This week was evaluation of quarter 1 material for the students, which meant a lot of important worksheets, individual assessments, and imputing piles of grades into the computer. Unfortunately, we had also scheduled to complete an authentic assessment with the students for this week. The students took it all really well though and we survived. This means...we are finished with first quarter!!! My assistant says "Thank God!" And so do I!
      Saturday I took Frances to the market for her first time and I didn't get lost at all this time! In the afternoon, a group of us teachers went to el centro (downtown) to visit some of the secondhand stores. It was such a different experience than the first time, when we went with the embassy surrounded by security guards. I didn't feel at all threatened and we went to several stores on the calle peatonal (pedestrian street). On the square, there was demonstration after demonstration from different political parties as we are just over a month from the presidential election.


National Party

Liberal Party

      The election process should be quite an experience down here, or so I am told. The embassy has been making plans for how to validate the election and provide security for it. Some main streets are closed most weekends for political rallies and vehicles drive down the road with megaphones to advertise their political party. The two main parties that are running are National Party of Honduras (liberal/blue) against Liberal Party of Honduras (even more liberal/red). We haven't been affected too much except for a 30% tax on electricity. As we get closer to the election in late November, traffic is expected to get even worse than it is and more widespread rallies take place. It will be the first presidential election since the violent (but not full-out war) political coup that took place in 2009, so everyone seems a little on edge.
      On Saturday evening, Keiko and I went to Frances' house for dinner. She introduced us to a friend from the embassy who works in the Economic Department. So, of course, I started a persuasive discussion (argument) about how American agricultural policy is detrimental to the natural resources of a country and should not be pursued in Honduras.
      Sunday Frances, Max, Megan (outdoor school/leadership), and I went on a strenuous hike up to some cascades at Parque National La Tigra. It was an amazing hike through cool-temperature cloud forest. It was only about 5 miles, but there was also a couple kilometers difference in altitude. Wasn't entirely sure that I was going to make it...but I kept huffing and puffing along until I caught up with them on the flat sections.
      So grateful to have internet to Skype home to my family and friends! On to 2nd Quarter!



Nathan turned 17!!!