The Depths

Greetings all,

It is now the second official week of training. I’m still adjusting to life here in Honduras but things are starting to fall into place. Familiarity is increasing. However, I am sad to report that as much as I enjoy Honduras, my stomach unfortunately does not. I hope that one day my stomach and Honduras can be good friends but as of right now they are bitter enemies. I don’t know what the problem is but I am consulting with the medicos down here so hopefully my gastrointestinal status will improve soon.

Training is going well. I am very excited about all the things we get to do in the Protected Areas Management program. In a few weeks we get to build latrines. I’m not sure why this seems so thrilling to me, but it does. Maybe it has been my recent bout with stomach problems that has made me appreciate a solid latrine. Whatever the reason, I am excited to be building one. We have a lot of other really cool projects coming up as well. For example, we are going to build biodigesters, which are basically big compost pile sacks that break organic material down into methane gas which is then pumped into homes to light stoves. It’s a really cool concept. You should invest in one yourself. What I am most excited about however, is environmental education. We had interviews with our project leaders the other day and I told them that is what inerests me the most, so hopefully that is what I will spend the majority of my time on during my two years down here in the big H.O.N.D.U.

I know there isn’t too much new info here, this isn’t too big of an update, but it will have to do for now. I still miss everyone a great deal however. Especially you.

Greetings Friends,

I have now spent five days in this land they call Honduras. We arrived Wednesday, the 9th of July in the city of San Pedro Sula. From the air the countryside looked gorgeous. From the ground it was even more beautiful. After getting our luggage we took a five hour bus ride to get to our training site. It was a great opportunity to see much of the country, which in fact is about the same size as North Carolina. It is difficult to describe how fantastically magnificent the landscape is. Miles and miles of lush green mountains topped with an ever present mist. Valleys filled with pine, banana, and mango trees. Words cannot do it justice and I am very sorry that I do not have an accompanying picture. You will simply have to trust me that Honduras is truly awe-inspiring.

Wednesday night we spent at an excellent hotel, but the next day we were met by our host families and taken into their homes. I will not lie, I was extremely apprehensive about living with a Honduran family. I simply never had such an experience. Four days with them has showed me that my fears were unfounded. They are wonderful people. I have ben treated with nothing but kindness and respect. They accomodate me, but not in any way that makes me feel like a burden. Last night I watched a soccer match with them, Honduras vs. Guatemala. During the match they told me I was no longer a gringo, but instead a “catracho” like them. There’s nothing like sweet, sweet acceptance. Delicious.

Speaking of delicious, the food thus far has been awesome. If ever offered one, you should accept a “baleada”, for they are truly tasty. Rice, beans, and tortillas flow generously here and for that I am grateful. Futhermore, avocados grow everywhere around here, something I have always dreamt of. And if someone tells you you can’t be a vegetarian in Honduras you call them a liar because I had some gluten for lunch today and let me tell you, it was rico buddy.

Also, if you think the climate is nothing but hot, steamy tropics down here then you are mistaken. The climate is wonderful. So far it has been in the 70s or 80s every day (I think, they use Celsius here..) with little humidity. It is far, far more comfortable than North Carolina. Of course, this may change when I get to my for the next two years, but for now I am enjoying it thoroughly and chuckling at those less fortunate in the United States.

That is all for now. I am sure I will have much more in future updates. Everyoen should know that i am safe, I am having fun, but I still miss all of my family and friends back home. Especially you.

-Patrick

Hi Everyone,

James here, just in case you didn’t know what the deal was, Patrick is now in Honduras and will be updating here through me.  That said, if anyone has anything that they think should go up here I’d be happy to post it for you.

Patrick has also sent along his address, and should be sending his first update soon.  In the mean time if anyone wants to send a package or letter to The Depths you can do so via:

Patrick Simmons
Voluntario de Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal #3158
Tegucigalpa, Honduras

I’ll also aim to be corresponding fairly regularly to keep this up to date, so if anyone wants to send me anything to pass along feel free to mail it to me and I’ll try to get it down there as soon as possible:

James Turk
1750 Kenyon St NW
Washington, DC 20010

That’s all for now, thanks for reading thedepths.org.

-James

Greetings all,

I have not yet left the States. On Monday, July 7th, I will travel to our nation’s capital for some pre-training training. On Wednesday, I will make my way down to my new home, Honduras. I hope to have an update up here within the first week.

More to come,

Patrick