Life abroad: As Robert sees it

T’was the week before Christmas and all through the land, not a Honduran was stirring, not even lifting a hand.

It was a very busy week for us trying to finish everything before we leave for New York. On Monday and Tuesday we were out at the taller teaching them how to balance their account and submit an expense sheet in order to get their next check. We also hired our new site manager on Tuesday and it turns out she has been friends with some of the Rotary members since childhood so she will fit in nicely. We left for the airport that night and left for the States on Wednesday morning. I hate flying to the States now with all their ridiculous rules, like not being able to bring water or toothpaste into the plane. Well, being the rebel I am, I thought how can I get around this? Simple, tuck the bottles in the back of my pants and walk through the metal detector. Thursday we went out shopping for our Christmas tree and found a nice little tree for only $10 (marked down from $40!). The next day I went to start my computer and got the dreaded blue screen of death. I have not been able to get our computer to work properly since, and I am absolutely lost without it! (I’m writing this at Carolyn’s house today.) Saturday I spent ripping the thing apart and rebuilding it. Still no luck. :-(

Getting on the school bus for our daily trip out to San Juan
(This is also a special picture for my nephew Ty)

Gustavo and Enelida are longtime childhood friends

My smuggled contraband on the plane

Now all we need is some snow

The dreaded blue screen of death, and a $1500 paperweight

Searching for the problem among the pieces

This is the last week before Christmas, and what a week it has been considering the whole country started it’s month long vacation on Monday. We spent Monday morning collecting money people owed us, and the afternoon standing in line at the bank. Tuesday, we were stood up for another meeting by MAMUCA but they had a good excuse; it was raining, hard. Wednesday we were back out at the taller inspecting the first batch of 50 filters. Then Thursday we were on the road again out to Trujillo to meet Maria, another candidate for country director. Who would have ever thought we would be doing interviews and rejecting people??? The next day it was a 7 hour bus ride to our next meeting in Tela about a new project starting next year. We also met an acting troop that was interested in putting together an education production about water health. On the way home the next day we stopped at the taller again to give them another check, which completes the first phase of our grant for 100 filters!

Notice the express sign in the window, and the line of 7 people waiting. What you can’t see are the 8 people inside just standing around.

Helping the kids clean the health center while we waited an hour for MAMUCA to show up.

100 completed filters!!!

Relaxing after an interview with Susan, Maria and Brent a PCV from Trujillo

The Tela Rotary group, who are all doctors and one French-Canadian

But the French-Canadian’s husband runs an acting troop that makes some amazing props.

Money, just in time to buy some Christmas tamales and apples. It always makes you feel good knowing that you have helped someone.

Robert J Kent Jr- robjkentjr@gmail.com
Wat/San/Health Consultant
www.PureWaterForTheWorld.blogspot.com
www.RobJKentJr.blogspot.com
Cell: +504 871-5318
Work/Home: +1 (631) 458-1119