The Three Month Hurdle...

So I have been back from Honduras for just over three months - and I am still adjusting. I have a hard time knowing when to share my experiences (or not) because I do not want to be someone that become an old-record player..."in Honduras it was..." However, this fear has made me realize that I have NOT talked about it enough. So here are some of my thoughts on being back - and some things that I have noticed has changed.

I LOVE how clean Canada is - and the whole movement against plastic bag usage is AMAZING. The only problem is that in the back of my mind I see Honduras littered with garbage - and most of them little plastic bags that have been used to hold drinking water. It seems to be all or nothing. Either there is no garbage litter (here) or it is everywhere (there). Oh, and we use way too much water from the tap - I mean sometimes I didn't even have water. Here we get HOT water out of the tap. (This still gives me thrills:)

I can still walk into a room and be the minority - and one of the taller people. THIS blows my mind - BUT I LOVE the cultural diversity of Canada. It is exciting to learn to live among other cultures. And to eat there food. (Though I really do miss a baleada. If you don't know what that is click here.)

I love being able to worship in English - but I find myself unable to express certain songs in English because they have more meaning in Spanish. I miss my church's worship team.

I love being able to walk, AT NIGHT, with an umbrella, in the rain. This is a four part thanks. 1) I can walk at night and not worry about theft, my safety, etc. 2) I can walk - on a sidewalk. No ditches or drains to worry about twisting my ankle in. 3) I can use an umbrella without worry about it blocking my view from being aware of who is around me. 4) When it rains here, you can still walk in it. It is not like a waterfall from heaven - which floods the street.

Bittersweet: the weather. I love fall, and feel that I appreciate it more. However, I also miss the heat and the fact that soon it will take twice as long to get anywhere because we all seem to forget how to drive in the snow.

I miss the community. When you walk and bike everywhere in Honduras, you know who lives near you and on your way to work. We all go in our cars, by ourselves, listen to our radios, and generally exist in our boxes. Walking and biking everywhere makes you feel like you belong.

Driving: a lot more rules but a lot more safe. It is not a free-for-all - though I do wish some drivers were more agressive ;p)

I miss the SIMPLICITY. I felt that because I had to make such a delibrate choice to be there - to be away from the familiar, away from family, friends, and a culture I "understand" that my calling to be there was really firm. Here, there is so much 'noise' in the way of pulling - I have to learn how to listen and to learn how to choose to BE WHERE I AM.