Well, today was to be my last official day of work at the Embassy. I decided to take the next week and a half off to do some local travel and just chill. But as I should have guessed, they've already asked me to come back on Monday and Tuesday for a few things!
I actually just got back yesterday afternoon after traveling with the Ambassador on a trip to the department of Choluteca. I had been there once before for the de-mining project, but this time around was a trip sponsored by Peace Corps and USAID. We visited several Peace Corps volunteers and learned about their projects and we ate a LOT of food as usual. We went to the inaguaration of a library in a small pueblo. It was a really big deal for them. It was only the 3rd computer in the town and one of the first
television sets and VCRs. They had about 200 books, nothing by American standards, but like I said--a huge deal for this very small town. The mayor made some remarks and the children did some traditional folkloric dances.
On Wed. night we had dinner with all 25 of the Peace Corps volunteers serving in Choluteca. It was great to talk to them on an individual basis, especially b/c I had considered doing Peace Corps had I not gotten into grad school.
On Thursday we visited a relocation settlement, a typical poor town with no services. The mayor showed us their water tank that doesn't work and said that no one in the town had direct access to water. We also saw a vocational center they had there which taught sewing to the girls and machine work to the boys. It was actually a very nice center. We then went out to a USAID water pumping station that was properly working and learned
about how they were trying to connect wells so that more people had access to water. It's amazing how we take for granted that we have clean water as soon as we turn on our faucets and that our sewage is taken away properly. A lot of people have these ditches in front of their houses and that's where their sewage and sometimes water runs.
We had lunch in San Lorenzo, which is a port city. Of course I was the odd ball and ordered a chicken sandwich while everyone else ate fresh shrimp, soup, and fried fish. It was really fun to watch all of the shrimping boats coming in and unloading. It made me think of Forrest Gump....We then went next door to the shrimp packing plant. It was just like on tv, we were up in the closed office on the 2nd floor looking down onto an assembly line. The workers are 75% women and they are dressed from head to toe in white
suits--this plant has the reputation of being the cleanest factory in the country. Basically they shell the shrimp and cook them for 25 seconds in 175 degrees and then package them for shipment. 100% of their product is exported with abot 60% to the US and 40% to Europe. After, we stopped by a pulperia (these are the roadside food/drink stands) for a Liquado. They are pretty much like a milkshake/Jamba Juice. This pulperia is famous for their papaya liquado sprinkled with cinammon. It was absolutely to die for.
Overall, it was a great trip and it's so much fun to travel with the Ambassador. It's always a learning experience and you get VIP treatment when traveling with him.
Today is my going away lunch at my favorite chicken joint. Right now I am tentatively scheduled to go to the changing of command ceremony out at Soto Cano on Monday. My boss is pulling strings to get us on the Blackhawk helicopters that are flying everyone out there--so hopefully that'll pan out. Other than that, I plan to relax and travel a bit with Alan. I'm also looking on the internet for housing in the Jersey City area for school. I'm trying not to stress myself out with all of the crap I have to do when
I get back home as I want to enjoy the rest of my time here. As usual, I hope everyone is well
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