Beginning of the End.... (year one)

I had to say my first goodbyes today. At 4:45 this morning. Rachel, Tad and I visited La Union this weekend, which where the other Vida Abudante school of our municipal is. We have some friends that are teachers there and we've spent some time with them over the year. There's Jake, who recruited me, Renske from the Netherlands, and Laura from Scotland. I've blogged about them before and I'm pretty sure I always talk about what a great time I have with them. This weekend was no exception! (Thank goodness!:))
We got permission to leave school early on Friday so we left on the noon bus and drove for about three and a half hours on windy, rocky roads.... I never get car sick, but this trip... I was pretty close. I even had to stop reading my book! (never happens haha)But, we made it safe and sound just as the girls were finishing teaching. We headed to their home and got settled in. The girls took us around to meet some of the families that they've gotten close to and then we had supper at the home of one of their families. After supper the kids wanted us to play marbles so we did that for probably an hour... or more :) I won ten marbles!! (I didn't really, the kids gave them to me, I think because my ridiculously poor playing ability made them feel sorry for me :)) We visited Jake's house and made some choco-bananos (this one's pretty easy- bananas dipped in chocolate :)) We were all pretty tired so we went to bed around 9:30 but it was a great first day!

On Saturday morning, I was woken up by several things. First (at 5 am of course) the bus went by and woke me up. Then, people started singing at the Catholic church right next door. Into microphones. That seemed to have speakers pointed right at our house. Third, people started setting off firecrackers. At 6 in the morning! It was a little ridiculous. But, I forced myself back to sleep until about 8 when I was good and ready to get out of bed. The four of us girls (rach, renske, laura, me) went on a tour of La Union. It is a beautiful little town. It is much smaller than Gracias and is very agriculturally based (everyone grows coffee) so there are LOTS and lots of men in cowboy hats and boots walking around town. :) We hiked part of the mountain and ended up at a spot that the girls visit all the time called La Campa de Serro (Hillside Field)- and that is what it is. It's a big open field in the middle of the mountain and it is beautiful. There were some horses grazing there when we got there and we just sat under a tree and talked and watched all the butterflies flying... oh it was lovely. :)

We came home and chilled for the rest of the afternoon and then Saturday night we celebrated Tad's birthday. We ate another home of a family and then had everyone over to the girls' home for cake and games. The boys (Tad stayed with some of his friends that actually live in La Union working for a microfinancing business)left but we girls stayed up and talked until about 2:30. And then. We had to say goodbye.

Now, these girls haven't been with us the whole time. But, we have spent a decent amount of time with them and have always really enjoyed their company. (PS Renske is 18/19 and Laura is 17- isn't that crazy??)So. To say goodbye was hard. I kind of forget that just because I'm coming back next year doesn't mean I'm not going to have to say goodbye to people cuz... like everyone else is leaving :) Since these girls live in Europe, the chances of me seeing them are quite a bit slimmer than most of the other teachers. (although I do have free places to stay in both countries should I ever choose to visit :)) We talked about it a little bit yesterday how we probably won't ever see each other again and how we can't just be sad and depressed about that, but that we can be really happy about a year of great friendships. coooooool. Makes me REALLY happy :) but, I think that's what happens when you go to other countries. You build relationships that you won't be able to keep up. But, it doesn't mean you shouldn't form those relationships. I have learned so much about the world and other people and life working here- obviously the Honduran life, but these great girls have been able to share with me a little bit of their view of the world. So, I'm a little sad. But I'm happy that I had such a beautiful year with those girls!