So our host parents went on a day trip today to the department of Choluteca (nicknamed CholuTexas) to visit a sick uncle of our host dad. They felt terrible about leaving us so they put their son in charge of our meals and entertainment. He woke up early to fix our breakfast and while we were at class he prepared us a delicious lunch of chicken tacos with chismol (like pico de gallo) and guacamole and a giant 3 liter of Pepsi (called Pecsi here). Can you imagine an 18 year old in the States doing this?!
Here are some other random observations on Honduras:
As PCTs we are given Walk Around money that equals 54 Lempiras per day.
$1 = 19 Lempiras; 1 hour in the internet costs 20 Lempiras; Depending on the cell company a call to the US costs 2 Lemps/min; 1 stamp to the US costs 25 lemps
Tortillas do not always mean tacos. As you read before we have tortillas at least twice a day. David and I usually take whatever food is on our plate and make a taco with the tortilla, the rest of the family simple eats them on the side like a piece of bread. One of our first nights our parents said we ate like Mexicans…always making tacos. However, sometimes they actually are tacos! We´ve had some delicious tacos of turkey, chicken, and refried beans.
Eating with utensils is optional. Most foods can be eaten with your hands or with the help of a tortilla.
As noted in the title, Pepsi is called Pecsi here. Our teachers said it´s difficult for Hondurans (or perhaps all Spanish speakers) to pronounce a P in the middle of the word. Therefore, Pecsi. You may also say ¨¿Que Pecsi?¨as in, ¨What´s up?¨ I think I will call it Pecsi from now on (even when we´re back in the US).
If it is below 70 degrees you should probably wear a toboggan or a scarf wrapped around your head/face, regardless if you are male or female.
It is polite to greet everyone you encounter.
And finally, watch where you step. There could be anything from a sleeping dog to horse poop.
We are having a great time getting to know more about Honduran culture and our host family. We feel really lucky to have gotten such a great family that really loves to teach us (through long explanations and at times grand role plays)!
Tomorrow a family friend is coming over to teach us how to make Pupusas. David first had these in El Salvador and really loved them! As best I can tell they are basically a masa ravioli with meat, beans, cheese, or other things inside. We´ll let you know after tomorrow!
Also on Monday we are headed to the market in Tegucigalpa. After an intimidating role play this week about bus safety, we are off on our own to find the market! We were given instructions (in Spanish) on how to get to the bus station where we will find our teachers. Lucky for me I´m going with some of the Advanced speakers! David will be going on Tuesday or Wednesday so hopefully I can give him some tips!
That´s all for now….Nos vemos!
It is so cool to imagine what you guys are doing. Love the blog and all of the descriptions. Miss you and love you both.
Yum pecsi and tacos, me and dad used to eat that every friday night when we first got married. It sounds like you’re being well taken care of…be sure to tell your host family how happy we are about that. Let me know how the field trip goes. Love you two and miss you lots!!
Just found the website and caught up with all the blogs.#1 on what Momma Lee says , You guys are really doing it.We will be following your adventures. Love ya’ll and God Bless!
haha sounds yummy.. im sure youre loving all the tacos and such, i know id get sick of it after a while with my limited interests: plain tacos and cheese crisps haha. love hearing from you.. miss and love you too!
Yeah you wouldn´t survive! At least once a day we have to eat something a lil weird….like corn flakes in chocolate milk haha! That was totally yum though.
Burrito a la Roqueta y un pecsi por favor.
Ask DLee if he misses that kind old Mexican chip man.
the food here has a very similar effect as the food at La Cocina…