Feb 20

Written by: reh
2/20/2008

February 20, 2008 (Wednesday)

8:00AM Fernando met Jessica and me at the motel. Still no word from the Mayor Antonio Valosquez. We decided to ride out to the Mayer’s office in Goascoran. If we cannot find the Mayor, at least he will know we are serious about seeing him. He was not at his office so decided to check on Elsa Lazo so Fernando could show her to the cafeteria cook. Pictures of the high school and cafeteria to follow. We met Ms. Canas who explained that Elsa and her mother arrived as scheduled. Elsa was assigned to a class but she was very uncomfortable because she thought the class was all rich kids (actually, none of the kids were from El Amatillo so she knew nobody) so she was reassigned to the class where Helda is assigned and all is well. When Fernando summonsed Elsa to meet the cafeteria cook, both girls came and they both looked very comfortable in their new environment.
9:30AM Decided to drive to the Mayor’s house to see if we could find him. He was driving toward his office as we approached the house so we followed him back to the office. He said he did not get our email (actually, the computer is operated by a secretary who probably didn’t give him the email) so didn’t realize the registration project had slowed down. He called Dr. Nelson Avila, Ministro Asesor Económico del Presidente, an old friend of his, and explained the situation. Dr. Avila told Mr. Valosquez to bring me to Tegucigalpa and we would see what we could do. A meeting was set up for 2:00PM. We went directly to the motel and checked out.
11:15AM Jessica and I were on the road to Teguci. We would drive directly to the Hotel Maya where I would get a room and change. Fernando and Mayor Valesquez would follow after they changed and pick us up at the Maya. This whole plan is cutting time a little short, but if it will help I’m in.
1:45PM At the Maya; some convention in town, only suites available at $200 per night. Had to take one to stay on schedule. L4L is not being treated right at the Maya; will try to find another hotel. All back together and heading for government buildings.
2:15 PM Met up with Dr. Avila, a very outgoing, talkative personable man with collar length curly hair. It seems that he ran as a presidential candidate against the present president and lost. Previously, he spent years in Paris as a professor of finance, then worked for the UN in N.Y. then for an international bank in Washington DC. In 2002 he decided to return to his home-country to see if he could help. He was glad to help us. Soon we were in the office of Abogado Carlos Berganza, Secretario General de Gobernacion. We talked as things happened behind the scene. After about 25 minutes all documents were presented and signed. Fernando snapped pictures as the Secretary handed me the signed documents.
3:45PM Mayor Velasquez took me and Dr. Avila for coffee. A very delightful and high energy meeting; Dr. Avila is a friend of L4L, and we are his friend. While my immediate conclusion is that I should have spent a lot more time meeting these people over the last 4 years; on second thought, the reason we received so much attention is because we could say that we are not promising what we will do if registered but could point to what we are doing while asking for registration.
Side note: Kristi, I am really glad I took your advice and brought a tie and jacket so I could dress to those around me. Once we hit the Director’s office, everyone was wearing a coat and tie and I fit right in. Nothing would have changed if I had dressed down but I do believe many appreciated that I didn’t come into their work area in a too casual manner. Thanks.
4:30PM Ever the consuming politician, Fernando took us to stop by three offices to thank clerks at various levels for their assistance.
5:30PM Mayor Valesquez wants to stop at TGI Fridays for dinner before heading back to Goascoran.
7:45PM In the Maya Hotel for the night.

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