By reh on 10/23/2008

Thursday, October 23, 2008

9:00AM After a leisurely breakfast, I decided to get to the airport early, process through and catch up on notes. There was a church group of 20+/- directly in front of me so I settled in for the wait. After about 20 minutes, the group leader turned to me in pleasant conversation and said “I see you have decided to leave early, too.” I said that this is my scheduled flight, why?” He said “A hurricane is headed this way. His group was scheduled to leave on Saturday but was advised to leave this morning if they wanted to get out before the hurricane arrived, that the airport could be closed for several days by later in the afternoon.”

A bit of a problem when one tries to get by with a minimal understanding of the language: Last night and again early this morning, while watching CNN, all TV channels were closed down for 15 minutes except the official Honduras station, while the Honduras Pre ... Read More »

By reh on 10/22/2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

8:30AM Fernando and I picked up my translator and headed for Goascoran for a meeting with Alcaldi Valesquez. He was in his office so we sat in the waiting room with 8 or 10 other people. We were called in first even though we were an hour early for our appointment. I explained that I didn’t want to leave without saying “hi”, that I knew he has been traveling and that next time we will have to have dinner. Some small talk and I asked when he felt he could finish the kitchen at Rincon, I simply wanted to know so I could report to our Board of Directors. He used the weather as an excuse and said it would be finished by the end of next week (Fernando had told me that the kitchen would be finished if I prodded a little). We’ll see.

12:00PM On the road to Teguci

4:00PM Rental car people came by to pick the car up.

5:00PM Raphael stopped by with my 10# o ... Read More »

By reh on 10/21/2008

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

7:00AM All are assembling. It seems that they brought along a support group that stayed in another motel. They brought two drivers, a video/camera man, and a laborer. An entourage of 4 for three managers; no wonder they are amazed at how low our costs are!

7:45AM On our way to Pierdras Blancas (cooks were in the kitchen, preparing lunch). The principal, Ms. Nunec welcome them graciously and explained the L4L program and benefits. Ms. Diez straightens her makeup and hair then walks into the school yard with camera rolling (all day, I will watch in amazement while all support staff as well as the other two managers work in concert to assure that Ms. Diez gets hours of video and hundreds of photo ops. The prop setups (like putting very poor children at each arm while she smiles, way over the top for my taste; a shameless and constant camera hogging episode). I showed them the dilapidated kin ... Read More »

By reh on 10/20/2008

Monday, October 20, 2008

7:00AM Fernando and I are on our way to deliver supplies and see that the three chosen schools (Piedras Blancas, Rincon, El Coyolar) are ready for a visit from PRAF on Tuesday and Dr. Moncada on Wednesday.

Pierda Blanca: delivered lunch food supplies, explained tentative visits for the next two days.

Rincon: delivered lunch food supplies, explained tentative visits for next two days. Inspected kitchen; L4L has paid and built the first half, the mayor’s office has not built the other half. Will talk with him when I see him. Community fathers are replacing the roof of the 4th and 6th grade classes. Reusing every possible used roof tile. Lots of energy, beautiful work (all roof beams are sawmill-cut hard wood and really difficult to work with but will withstand decay much longer). Saw Anabel for just a minute, as always, she asks a ... Read More »

By reh on 10/19/2008

Sunday, October 19, 2008

6:00AM Enjoying a quiet morning on the veranda by the pool working on the basics of some Power Points to refine with Fernando.

11:45AM Fernando and Evelin Quintanilla, my translator, were here in anticipation of Roxana’s arrival for our 12:00 lunch meeting;

1:00PM I went over some charts she had prepared as a special project. We clarified several items so that I can accurately describe them. I asked that one more be generated. She will handle it.

I explained to Roxana, about our possible Tuesday site visit by PRAF and asked if she could assist (she can). I believe PRAF management equates substance with staff size; I want all hands on deck.

4:30PM End of day.

By reh on 10/18/2008

Saturday, October 18, 2008

9:00AM After a late breakfast and checkout, I’m on the road to Nacaomi to set up for meeting with Roxana and, hopefully, tours for PRAF and Dr Moncada. Had to stop at the area where the highway is sliding down the mountain. Was held up for 15 minutes.

12:30PM In motel compound for the day.

While meeting with PRAF on Friday, Ms. Diaz asked what criteria we used to select schools for the L4L program. We explained that we have a long list of petitions from very poor schools, that our staff is local and knows the poorest among the applicants. We choose schools where 60%+ come to school hungry each day. What I didn’t say is that you can close your eyes and point; in Valle District, whatever school you are pointing at will meet the 60% criteria (at each meeting, our host points out that Valley is one of the poorest districts so everyone already knows). Mr. Diaz explained th ... Read More »

By reh on 10/17/2008

Friday, Oct 17, 2008

5:30AM On the road to Teguci for my meeting with PRAF officials.

6:00AM Held up at the area where the road is subsiding for an hour while fallen rocks are removed and the road is made passable. At Hotel Guijarros at 9:00AM

10:30PM Jessica and I are at the offices of PRFA. We are lead through a hallway/meeting room with a TV discussion in session (very awkward) and into the Director’s office. We wait in a very comfortable sitting room. Soon we are joined by Abog. (lawyer, it is common for a person to be introduced with their professional title) Sidia Velasquez who is the private secretary (office manager) for the Director and Aboq. Roberto Lanza, General Council robertolanzab@yahoo.es They explained that the Director is involved with the meeting we came through to get to her office. I said that we appreciate t ... Read More »

By reh on 10/16/2008

Thursday, Oct 16, 2008

5:30PM Frenando and I are on our way to Teguci. Jessica will meet us. Fernando will purchase powder milk and head back while Jessica and I go to the World Bank meeting. I will take King Autobus back this afternoon.

9:00AM Met with Dante Mossi, PhD, Official de Operaciones de Pais (Operations Officer for Honduras). He listened with great interest in the L4L program. He explained that, in exchange for certain loan dept forgiveness, the Honduras government agreed to raise certain moneys through normal taxation procedures and use it for certain very specific social programs; several have to do with supporting elementary schools lunch programs. The government channels these funds through an education council that we should contact. These funds are considerable and are committed many years into the future. Dr. Mossi believes that these primary school programs are run with relative efficiency and w ... Read More »

By reh on 10/15/2008

Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008

8:00AM Fernando and I went to the school at Pierdras Blancas. Got GPS coordinates. I had forgotten just how poor and un-kept the children are at the poorer schools. Our project for the day is to get pictures for the school page on our web site. We asked the principal, Mr. Nunec (who acts like a little Napoleon but actually has a heart of gold) if we could take a picture of some of the kids in front of the class (this is a two-classroom school and we didn’t want to disrupt both classes). She started culling out the kids with uniforms since we said “some”. When I realized what she was doing, I said that we want all the kids from that class. The kids came pouring out of the class (they just don’t realize how un-kept they look). Several pictures available; a good time was had by all. Walked around the neighborhood taking pictures; now I have to put the Power Point together.

12:00PM At motel for ... Read More »

By reh on 10/14/2008

Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008

8:00AM Went to the airport with Elise.

11:45AM Elise processed in and didn’t even pay an airport surtax!

2:00PM On King Autobus headed for Nacaomi

6:45PM Processed back into Honduras in 10 minutes with only a $3.00 fee! What is this world coming to!

7:30PM Late beer with Fernando. End of day.

By reh on 10/13/2008

Monday, Oct 13, 2008

Vacation, see Elise’s notes.

By reh on 10/12/2008

Sunday, Oct 12, 2009

Vacation, see Elise’s notes.

By reh on 10/11/2008

Saturday, Oct 11, 2008

4:00AM Heard water running so went to tighten a faucet. Water was pouring through the bathroom ceiling. Called desk. In another room by 4:45. Too late to sleep so got ready for the day and studied some Spanish.

9:00AM Took taxi to meet Elise.

11:35AM Elise arrived without incident. Headed to resort (see Elise’s notes).

By reh on 10/10/2008

Friday, Oct 10. 2008

Classes all Morning

11:45AM Departed hotel for King Autobus. Stopped for lunch along the way.

2:00PM Departed King Autobus for El Salvador.

4:00PM Crossing the border at El Amatillo. What a difference a few years and some rule changes make! Bus stopped at the border, two guards went thru checking papers, within 10 minutes they were done and we were on our way! Didn’t even interrupt the movie that was in progress!

8:15PM At bus station in San Salvador. Taxi to Holiday Inn. Reservations were in place. Late light dinner and to bed.

By reh on 10/9/2008

Thursday, Oct 9, 2008

Classes all Morning

11:45 Deposited money in my personal account.

By reh on 10/8/2008

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2008

Classes all morning

By reh on 10/7/2008

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Class all morning

11:00AM Took a taxi to King Autobus and purchased a ticket to San Salvador. Will leave Teguci at 2:00PM Friday and arrive at San Salvador at 8:00PM.

By reh on 10/6/2008

Monday, Oct 6, 2008

Holiday, no classes.

9:30AM called Cynthia Rodriguez with City Bank at 290-0112. No answer, left a message

9:45AM called Rosabel Ramirez at 2 395 5328. No answer, left a message

11:00AM Went to Santa Lucia. Ate at a really good restaurant El Piano.
Stopped at store on the way back.

3:00PM in the hotel.

By reh on 10/5/2008

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

No classes.

11:00AM Jorge and Leslie took me to lunch then their place. I believe Jorge’s business is relatively recession proof (la gente have to move within the city and Jorge supplies the busses). He is his own financer so the credit crunch doesn’t affect him. He has spent a lot of time and money fixing his house/office and I believe he and his family are comfortable.
Jorge spoke much more about his concern for Central America as the drug trade grows way out of control. It seems that traffickers pay local foot soldiers with drugs that they must sell locally, creating a local market that wouldn’t exist if the lower echelon were paid in cash. First the city and now the country is being divided up among the various drug groups exactly the same as the government does for local representation. Jorge says the common people are too busy making a living, meanwhile it is becoming quest ... Read More »

By reh on 10/4/2008

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008

Classes all morning. Maybe it’s my age and possibly it’s just life, but I am finding it difficult to accomplish much beyond Spanish classes and studying. Haven’t really had time to follow up on L4L stuff nearly an actively as I had anticipated. Worse case is that I don’t get much done during these two weeks of Spanish and I simply have to move at double time during my stay with Fernando.

These two weeks of emersion are going much better than my first time 2 years ago. Primarily because:

• I set my expectations much lower (more realistic)
• I have more background Spanish to add to the mix
• I know more specifically what I want to work on
• I don’t hesitate to speak my very poor Spanish with anyone

The hotel I am staying at is one of the 5 recomme ... Read More »

By reh on 10/3/2008

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008

Classes all morning

11:30AM met Nelson Avila and his friend Armando Moncada, MD, (678) 523-0058, amoncada@pcglabs.com at the Hotel International. Joined them for lunch. Dr. Moncada owns a cancer clinic in Atlanta and is very interested in L4L.

2:00 till 3:30 Classes

By reh on 10/2/2008

Thursday, Oct 2, 2008

Classes all morning.

11:30AM Fernando and Jessica came by for lunch. Talked about Roxana and her pay arrangement for next year. Talked about Parasite program. Talked about finishing last kitchen. Talked about website Power Points for other schools (map not opening). Very pleasant afternoon. Jessica may be able to go with me to El Amatillo late next week.

4:30 PM Fernando & Jessica left.

By reh on 10/1/2008

Wednesday, Oct 1, 2008

Classes all morning.