How many times can you say goodbye?

When I left Copan, Honduras before Christmas, I thought it was for the last time, at least for the foreseeable future. After Christmas, my director asked me if I would go back to Copan to cover for a few weeks during a lapse in intern coverage. No problem, so after a week and a half working in Guatemala, I came back to Copan. Three weeks was up last weekend. I had my shuttle booked for 6am Sunday. I said goodbye to many people Friday and Saturday. Then Saturday night, via email, the director and I decided it would be best for me to stay here for one more week for different coverage and logistical reasons. It was my initial suggestion, so I was fine with this change. People were surprised to see me Sunday and then Monday at work and in Spanish school, and joked that I am never leaving. This weekend is now my weekend to leave. My shuttle was booked for 6am today, Sunday. After getting up at 5:15 and waiting until 7, the shuttle never showed up. They were not answering the phone. When the office opened at 9, I went and got myself booked on the noon shuttle without having to pay again. He was very apologetic and said it was partly his personal fault. I know this apology is nothing by American standards, and I would have most likely gotten a refund or a discount at home, but it is more than you usually get around here.

So I had another day of saying goodbye yesterday. I've run into friends this moring and the Spanish school director, and people now don't believe I'm actually going to leave this place. 4 times saying goodbye for the "last" time is a bit much. You could drive yourself crazy getting frustrated over times, schedules, and logistics here... like we were saying yesterday when we met for an activity scheduled for 9am that started at 11. For your own sanity, you kind of learn to just go with it. As long as I make it Friday for Marty's visit:)

What can you do?

So I've definitely been slacking on the blogs. I was happy to get home from work today and not have afternoon classes or much GVI work, which has been busy lately. I headed out to run my only errand, mailing a letter, before coming to the cafe to catch up on blogs and computer stuff. I've mailed enough letters to know they only cost 25 lempiras. I had 28 in my wallet, but for some reason grabbed another 100, the smallest bill I had. On the way to the post office, I ran into some of the family we have been visiting in a town outside of Copan (featured in the blog below). Last Thursday they lost their grandmother (or the grandmother figure of the house). We knew this and made it up to visit that afternoon (pushing our tuk-tuk taxis up the extremely muddy road in the rain... another story!). So I saw them in town today buying some needed items from donations made at the funeral. They were so excited to see me and asked when we could visit again. They said things have been sad at the house. None of them have parents and now they unexpectedly lost their grandmother. It was hot out today, and I bought them ice cream from the local shop. With the 100 lempira bill that I for some reason grabbed before I left. It was good to see them smiling, but I'm left feeling so limited in what I can do. A gringo spending a few dollars and going about my day. Lots of people are going through really tough times. And you never really know what to say in any language. I guess a smile and a hug has to be enough sometimes.