¡Hola de Copån!

We’ve been learning really hard, and you’ve been waiting really hard, so here it is: Our first blog entry! Our adventure begins in the Nordic climate of Rutland Massachusetts, where the crew spent a mystical few days at Heifer International’s Overlook Farms. The days were spent getting to know each other through conversation and games, taking in inspirational stories and videos, and devouring platefuls of delicious food grown right outside our windows (Happy Birthday Courtney whoot whoot 22!).

     After an early morning breakfast and 15 hours of travel, we arrived to the scenic pueblo of Copán, Honduras, a whirl of cobblestone hills and noisy mototaxis and children and dogs and un poco of trash.  We were graciously welcomed into the homes of our host families, and after the initial realization that we’re not in Kansas anymore, we found that it was easy to make an instant connection.  We spent the first two days getting to know the town and the Spanish language via lessons at Ixbalanque Spanish School.  If you were Tomás, the first days were spent being pensive and throwing up, while Willow enjoyed cataloguing a host of new fruits and explaining the term “gluten-free” to her host family. En español. Courtney, Leeann, and Zach are having a great time despite only being able to respond with “sí” and “gracias” (Hac helps), and Juliette is quickly becoming best friends with her mama Mimi.

    This weekend we explored the Mayan ruins, once the most powerful community in all of Mesoamerica.  Our spunky guide Saúl told us all about the mysteries of la Ceiba tree, the ancient equivalent of the Super Bowl, and the first congress build North of the Rio Grande. Katie and Tommy took multiple wrong turns during their walk in the rainforest, and Sammy enjoyed some extra time soaking in the atmosphere of the ruins. Lia watched her host sisters fly this way and that on their really, really, quiet ATV, and Remi got to chat it up with some Brits and discuss the intricacies of revolution.

   After a dip in the hot springs, looking up a few more palabras in our Spanish/ English dictionaries, a crash course in empanada cooking, and a tour of a local coffee farm, we’re off to Sustainable Harvest International.   ¡Hasta luego compadres!

Spanish lesson of the week: Repite por favor (repeat please);

¿Qué hondas muchacho? Neal es muy guapo esta noche, ¿no?