My Roomate...

So..I am including a picture....FINALLY of my roomate. (Sorry pictures of the school will just have to be viewed in the website ceehonduras.com - I think)

So, this picture was taken last weekend when the newly renovated central park was opened. I even got to take a picture of the President of Honduras, who apparently is a 'real hick' (that is a quote from a Honduran) and who has not gone to university (which seems to bother the more educated here). Whatever. I thought it was cool that I had not even been in Honduras three weeks and I got to see the president. I confess it was a little disconcerting to be surrounded by nineteen year old guys with guns and snipers all over the roofs that surrounded the square...but it was cool to see people get all excited for this new park. There was even this gi-normous parade - like nothing I have ever seen before. Katherine and I stood on a park bench, so we were rather elevated about most the crowd that lined the street. She was so excited a one point by the soldiers and navy marching by that she let out a 'bravo' really loud which caused ALOT of attention to be drawn in our direction. (BAD MISTAKE: we laughed...but like we don't stick out enough - and now half the street is staring....) So school bands here are very competitive and they each marched by the podium and performed. They dance and play at the same time - and it is like NOTHING i have ever seen. I am looking forward to the parade next week (in which I will march with my class) when we will get to here the bands again. Even at the parade last Saturday they tried to outdue each other - getting louder and louder - and with more dancing and playing. It was super sweet. I will see if I can also download my little video that I took....but no promises...

So, I am trying- tried....so here is a picture of traditional Honduran dress...

Anyways...there were many REAL cowboys at this parade and they train their horses to dance to certain types of music. So we got to see all these horses do these different ditties in response to a certain type of music (which i forget the name). We stood on that park bench for at least two hours. A thunderstorm quickly descended on us shortly after we finished. Honestly, the rain that occured within the first thirty seconds flood the entire city - there must have been at least 4-6 inches of water on the street. This is usually in rainy season apparently - and was more traumatic than the rains that we received from the hurricane!

And as I mentioned - next week is the Independance Day Parade (three days of parties) : in which all the schools march and the bands play, and they usually have the military out marching too - but because they marched last Saturday they are not sure if they will march again. That being said - we are expecting it to take at least 3 hours - and apprently the whole town turns up for it. Should be fun. (Even as a write this a school band is practicing a few blocks away.) So next week we will be having two days of practice (for two hours each) of marching. That is just for the high school - the elementary has been marching for two hours every day this week and plans to do it all next week. Then the following Monday is Teacher's Day in which we get the day off - honestly so many holidays in the beginning of the year.

So - this is very long and I am sorry. I struggle with writing so much because it is hard to think that people would care to read what is going on in my life. If you have read this far - I sincerely thank you!