Living the Simple Life

Life here is simple...and I love every minute of it. Don't get me wrong, I admire elegance and have an appreciation of the finer things in life...but to me, beauty lies in simplicity. I love how the Honduran people are so happy, yet they have so little. Their walls are cement bricks with bed sheets for windows, their houses are the size of my bedroom at home in Philly, they are secluded from the rest of the world, sometimes never getting out of their small town. I come home everyday with red dust from my classroom floor all over my shoes and the bottom of my navy pants, I sweat constantly from the heat in my stuffy classroom and from the 2 mile walk everyday to school and back, my clean socks get dirty from the floors in my house within 10 minutes of wearing them, sometimes the power goes out for hours and we can't shower or cook, sometimes I wish I could go outside my house and not see half my students at the only social place in town, Cafe Zazzo, or go out to eat at a restaurant instead of about 10 commodores that only make Baleadas (white tortilla, mashed re-fried beans, egg, and cheese). Everything is different, yet I don't think I would change one thing about my experience here. Yes, I come home sweaty and with dust all over me, but I am still able to wash my clothes and turn on my fan. Yes, the power can randomly go out for hours at a time but at least I have power, a working shower, stable internet, and an oven to cook in. Yes, I see my students every time I go outside my house and walk down the main street, but it is so refreshing seeing them in a social setting rather than just as my students in my classroom. My life here is so simple, yet it is so great. I am in love with the beauty I am surrounded by everyday. The view from my school is breathtaking and every time I complain about my recess duty spot being in the hot sun on a hill watching kids play soccer, I look at the view and I am in awe.

This is the view of La Union from the top of a hill. My friend and housemate

 took this shot on a hike yesterday after school. So simple, so beautiful.