Geckos chirp

My group of SALTers and YAMENers were the first to arrive at our destination, mid-afternoon on Thursday. We've had a whirlwind couple of days of in-country orientation after a week of orientation in Akron. Some of my first impressions: yes, it is hot! and humid! The MCC office in San Pedro Sula has air conditioning, so it's been an immense relief to step inside. I've seen and heard some local wildlife, including geckos (which chirp like birds), snail kites (Ellen, I'm watching birds for you!), a black widow spider, and of course, dogs and chickens.

We spent the last two days at the MCC farm for our in-country orientation. It was lovely there! It's the rainy season right now, and rain on a tin roof is just as loud as I remember it!

My major news is that I am no longer going to Azacualpa. Instead, I will be going to La Campa, which is near Gracias. I know you can find Gracias on most maps; La Campa is a bit smaller.... or a lot smaller! I will still be with CASM, just at a different location. I'm excited for this change, especially since the response most people here have is that "La Campa is cold!" I can cope with that very happily.

We're now on our way to Copan Ruinas for language study for the next week and a half. I am understanding more Spanish than I expected, although I need the speaker to speak very slowly. When I try to speak I butcher the grammar and speak with a French accent. I wonder what my French will sound like in a year...!

Love
Alison