I am originally from Florida, USA. At the age of 12 I moved with my family to Honduras, Central America.
I am not a "sheltered" "underprivileged" "deprived" girl that "hasn't really lived" or any of the etc. I get told that a lot by other Americans and I'd like to state that it is not true. But I HAVE learned a lot about the true meaning of life and living.
Here in Cortes, unless you live a pampered life, running water is a blessing you don't always have, likewise electricity and one doesn't always have hot water to bathe with.
Electricity is another blessing not always available, as is owning a vehicle, a driver's license, electric fans.. Having a door on your bathroom, a lid on your toilet or a curtain in your shower.. Having doctors, clinics, a lab or a hospital in your area...
AC is an almost unknown extravagance as is central heating...
And in real life, real people live under these circumstances and don't consider themselves "deprived" or "underprivileged." I am occasionally reminded that many of my friends back in the USA think that life without these things would be misery -- I have to remind myself that there are people who actually think that way....
Here near Lake Yojoa, the people are friendly, the air is fresh and cool; fresh fruit, fresh fish, quality coffee and hospitality is available year-round.
My family and I live minutes away from the most beautiful and only lake in the country, the Santa Barbara Cloud-Forest National Park isn't but a drive up the mountain and Pulhapanzak (130 ft. waterfall) is just down the hill...
But Honduras also has the second highest homicide rate in a region that is known to be one of the most dangerous areas in the world. One day, here in our aldea, "El Eden", bullets whizzed past our heads from the drive-by shooting at the corner and one evening we couldn't enter our house until after the machete-duel taking place in-front of our front-door had ended...
So, it's a paradise or a hell-hole, depending on one's perspective!!
And I love it here. :)
