Erin Miller

Dan arrived May 30th. He came to Honduras to bring me home. He arrived in San Pedro Sula and before he could even set his bags down, we grabbed a bus to La Esperanza so that the good-bye parties could begin. We stopped by one party the evening Dan got in. The rainy season began just days before Dan’s arrival so going out meant darting between puddles and arriving always soaked at your destination. Hay dos estaciones en La Esperanza, un del polvo y un del lodo. (There are two seasons in La Esperanza, one of dust, and one of mud.) I prefer the dust to the mud, even though the rains did bring city water and mean that we could stop using the trickle of water from the mountain behind my host family’s house. When it is dry in La Esperanza, there is unreliable electricity because a hydro-electric plant provides the power to the town and sometimes the dam runs dry or there is a small amount of water and the lights dim and microwaves won’t work for days on end. However, during the rainy season, power is also unreliable because the above-ground lines will fall. Dan says that the power cut several times, “always to my amusement.” And the truth is, that even after four months, I was always amused as well when the power went out. There is something mysterious and innately hilarious about not having power.
We began Dan’s second day in town with a trip to the market, one of the most beautiful sights in La Esperanza, to pick up some last food donations for the women in the albergue. Then we went to the hospital in time for the diabetes club meeting (which was scheduled for 9 and began punctually around 10). The club members had organized a surprise going away party for me. The president of the club, head nurse from the operating room, and even the director of the hospital gave speeches thanking me and the other volunteers for our work. The club members had promised to teach me la punta (a traditional dance of Honduras) but everyone got too shy, so instead the volunteers demonstrated the electric slide. (The idea was to demonstrate that dancing can be good exercise.) The celebration was complete with sugar-free cake (quite the accomplishment in La Esperanza) and diet pepsi. After the diabetics party, Dan helped me bring in some final food donations and give my last “charla” at the Albergue. The nutrition program at the albergue is continuing. A new peace corps volunteer in town has agreed to continue the project at least until a new albergue is constructed, which should be complete within the next year (or so). I have secured funding to bring food in every other week for the next year and for now the volunteers in town are pooling their own personal money to bring food in on the off week. I am working on getting a system set up through an official NGO to accept more donations and will post about it when it is up and running.

market in La Esperanza

last diabetes club charla

the president of the diabetes club presenting a diploma de agradecimiento

me with the club members
Dan and I took Friday morning off to relax, visit the market, drink coffee, and play scrabble and dance (alone, together) on the roof of our hotel. It was an amazing day. Friday night my host family through me a small going away party. The food — including tropical fruit shish kabobs and a going-away cake made by the other two volunteers living at the house — was terrific. And, of course, we played the balloon game. Dan and I left La Esperanza on Saturday. I nearly cried as the bus pulled out of town and was glad to have Dan by my side. Everyone in town kept asking me when I would return, and I genuinely hope to go back soon.

ADIOS ERIN

Dan and I at my good-bye party

balloon game begins

balloon game championships

last shot of La Esperanza