impact of the coup

I've been really thinking lately how the poverty here in Honduras must color this coup and this routine of curfew and rioting for so many people. A very large percentage of Honduras is poor; this is something that I've known for a very long time. Yet, what does it mean to be curfewed if you're homeless? How do you make your living if you're a taxi driver, barely making enough money, who has to completely stop working for several days and then risk danger driving? We have vendors who walk or ride motorcycles through our neighborhoods selling tortillas and fruit, and they had completely stopped until about yesterday. Not hearing them shout the names of the items they sell made a strange silence for the past few days. They say that for each day that Honduras is under a daytime curfew, (there were two last week), the economy loses US$50 million. That is an extreme hit to such a poor country, especially now that the US has pulled out almost all of its monetary aid. I read somewhere that Micheletti (the interim president) thinks that this country could survive 6 months on the food that it has, but that just isn't realistic at all; one day during the curfew, the stores were completely emptied out by Honduran shoppers. Each time there is a curfew, all of the borders close, not allowing any importation of food.

We have vigilantes who stand guard in our (and in most middle class) neighborhoods. They, like so many people in Honduras, are underpaid. But recently, I have realized just how dangerous their job is. The top story yesterday in one of the Honduran news websites was that people have been donating food to guards, especially those in the military. I can't imagine that they have been able to get home much over the past few days. But even if they had, I love that the people are showing their gratitude in that way.

The rich are suffering, now, as well, but in very different ways. International School has many families who are very well off, and with money comes danger. Many children get threats on their lives from people wanting their parents' money. There are threats of kidnappings; there were several actual kidnappings at the end of last year, one of which ended in the child's death. Talking with my teacher friends, there are a significant number of students preparing to leave the country, some of them due to threats of kidnapping and violence. I cannot imagine this life, either.

It's hard for everyone in Honduras right now, and I'm realizing how extremely good I have it.

Watch this video.

Please continue to pray for Honduras.

mel's back

Today was the first day back to school since the swine flu vacation of 2009. And what do you know?! School tomorrow is cancelled, as well. Great. If given the choice, I'd love to spread my days off out rather than have sooo many in a row. These little first graders need to do some learning.

Today was a significant day for Honduras. During school, we got word that Mel Zelaya had re-entered the country by sneaking into Tegucigalpa. We weren't sure if this was true; there were rumors that it was a rumor. There were some parents that came to pick up their kids from school reportedly due to concerns over busses having trouble passing through later in the day.

When we got home from school, we heard that Mel was indeed back. The Brazilian embassy let Mel in, and he's been there ever since. His whereabouts for the past few months have been very questionable, and no one has ever really seemed to know where he has been. Graffiti around the city shows support for or against Mel, and getting into any political discussion can be risky, as passionate supporters of both sides are everywhere. Within International School, we have been instructed to never talk politics, as many of our students are children of politicos, and their lives are very much influenced by who is--or isn't--in power.

Anyway, when we got home, we headed to the store in order to avoid being out around dark. After a bit of excitement on the way, we ended up back at a friend's house for the evening, where we are right now. We relocated due in part to a curfew that is in place until 6pm tomorrow. We are not allowed to leave, as if in a lockdown. The streets aren't safe due to Mel being downtown, as the police are all down there rather than throughout the city where they should be. Cars could be ticketed just for driving, and being out on the streets is dangerous. We don't have school tomorrow, and from what I've heard, school in the near future is not completely certain anyway, especially until something happens with Zelaya.

I have found that it is so hard to get an unbiased view of what is going on, as it is with any government. I realize as the elections get nearer, there could be more conflict within a couple of months until the new president is sworn in. Hopefully things do not stay this tense; I would love life to get a bit more normal. :)