2 more nights in Las Canadas

I went to Marcala for 3days from Sunday through Wednesday and had the best time. I dont have much time to write now but we went to a waterfall, drive around the mountains till we hit El Salvador and we installed a chlorine system in a rural water tank. We had a great time and now im about to leave for La paz on Sunday. Gotta go but will write when i can!

New Happennings

All is well here in Zarabanda and Las Cañandas. I love everything about this place and have been waking up with purpose and energy. Im really enjoying my host family and have learned a few new card games. I found out that next wekend I leave with another trainee to a town in the department (like a state) of La Paz to visit a volunteer at her site for three days. I cant wait. Ive been exploring the new food of Honduras and have found it to be AMAZING. I get three large meals everyday but for some reason Ive been losing weight... not a lot but all i know is I feel very healthy and ALIVE! Mostly I eat beans, rice, chicken, carne asada and a lot of tortillas. Eggs are an everyday occurance and veggies and fruit are few and far between but lately ive been getting a banana shake of sorts every morning. My host mom blends bananas, sugar, milk and vanilla in a blender and I drink it with delight. Everyday there is something new and everynight I look forward to the next day. HIV/AIDS is an epademic here in Honduras and it seriously needs to addressed. Im proud to be working as a health promoter here because the chance I have to make a big difference is very high. People need help here and Im glad ive been given the opportunity to do something about this serious situation. Today I got a cell phone and I unfortunately wont be using it very much as calls are expensive on a Peace Corps salary but for those that would like to call every once and again it is free for me to except incoming calls. You can simply buy an international phone card (at any grocery store) and give me a call and I can say hi and keep in touch. To call me follow the directions on your international phone card and then you should dial : 011-504-95763387 . That should work. if not try it without the 011 as that might be something that is automatic through a phone card. Remeber that i am two hours ahead and go to sleep everynight at nine since I have to be up by 5:45. I love and miss you all and would love to read comments and emails from you. Much love from the mountains of Honduras, Lindsay

BUCKET BATHS AT 6AM

So the journey has begun and are we busy or what! I start my day at 5:45am and get up and take a bucket bath with cold water every morning which either gets hte heart going or stops it completly...i havent found out which one. Either way it sure clears out all of the spiderwebs and gets you ready for the day. A school bus picks up the volunteers (we are scattered all around) in my town (Las cañadas) at 7:05. I start training at 7:30 Mon-Fri and go through 4:30 and arrive home at around 5pm. Its a long day to say the least but im enjoying every minute of it. I live in small house with no running water but it is starting to grow on me and im enjoying my time there more and more. We even have a turtle and a cute puppy named Duke. Zarabanda (the town the training center is in) is in the mountains and the weather is perfect. It has rained very hard numerous times and caused the power to go out but i enjoy the sound form the safety and comfort of my sleeping bag under my mosquito net. I have met some incredible people here so far and cant wait to get to know more Hondureños and get to know the 49 other volunteers in my group. There are around 14 (out of the 49) who are in the health program here and im sure i will get to know them very well. In my family there is a madre y padre and also 1 hopst sister (15) and two host brothers (10 and 20). I have the most beautiful verandha that use to be a church and then a restraunt but is now wide open and HUGGGGEEE. At the end of the very large verahnda the hill drops off into a valley and so I have the most incredible 180 degree view of the breathtaking Honduran mountain side. Its just lovely here. I live about a 30 min walk away from this very neat town called Valle de Angeles and here there are many restaraunts, internet cafes and even an America Coffee place that offers WiFi. Stay posted for updates and hopefully some pictures soon once i figure everything out. I miss you all and I cant wait to here how everyone is doing. My email is lindsdewing@gmail.com . Adios for now but I will post again in a week or so when I have time to make it into town. I hope ñife is well for everyone in the cold pacific northwest...im sending the good weather your way. Love you all and thanks for the great sendoff. With love and excitement for the journey ahead, Lindsay

2.5 days left in WA

Well here we go. Tomorrow is my final going away party and the one on Monday (President's day) was a blast. Thanks to all those that were able to come and for those that coming to the party tomorrow night Im looking forward to seeing you! I have 2.5 days left and I did my last final pack yesterday. Its going to be tight but I think I was able to meet the 80 pound restriction. Im very excited to begin this adventure and I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the support you have given me. I am a very fortunate person to have such wonderful friends and family. Grandma and Grandpa I love you very much and cant wait to see you when I get back. I love you. Chelsie thanks in advance for hosting the party tomorrow and Mom and Dad (and Chels too!) thanks for all your hard work on Monday. I dont think that I am going to be able to use the computer for the first 3 weeks or so while in Honduras but Ill try and update my blog as often as I can. I love you all and THANKS!

12 days until d-day (departure day)

I just started this website that I will hopefully be able to update frequently to keep family and friends informed about my Peace Corps experience in Honduras. I leave in 12 days and can't believe how quickly the past two months have flown by. After so much anticipation and planning the reality of the situation is hitting home. I am excited beyond belief, nervous, and anxious to begin my 27 months abroad but still have so much to do. I have already started the process of saying goodbye to some friends and family members and I'm sure the next 12 days will be filled with farewells and hugs and kisses. Beyond that I am ready to get the wheels inside the wells and takeoff for DC and then on to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to begin 11 weeks of training. I have two parties planned and can't wait to see everyone and have a great time! This is the first of many posts to come so stay updated and stay in touch!