I don’t like writing novels on here, and I think the feeling of obligation that came when I needed to finish this story has had an effect on my blog writing. This entry concludes this adventure. Hopefully, the smaller blog entries will continue after this entry.
-Hollie
When I left you last we had departed our fun-loving, beach-living friends, and had begun our adventure to the dock to go home. Upon arriving at the dock, we saw one small, motorized boat leave just as the rain began to fall. It was almost dust, and we were due for a thunderstorm. Two men, around our age, seemed to be waiting for the next boat as well. No schedules are laid; you wait and assume someone will come. We waited, the 5 of us and the 2 of them… Silence… Eventually small talk was made. Christina practiced her Spanish more. We discussing each other’s work and why we were each on the island.
Finally, after about 20 minutes, the next boat came. A small metal boat approached the dock. Lightening flickered off in the distance. The storm was far off in the distance, as we could not hear thunder, and the rain was not heavy at this point. Cautiously we stepped into the small, rocking, motorized chunk of metal. We laughed a lot, a little out of nerves, but mostly because this was the STUPIDEST, and yet most exciting thing, we had done yet. We soared through the water for a little more than fifteen minutes - fifteen minutes of cold water splashing, rainfall increasing, laughing, screaming, madness. The lightening flashes began to increase, and as we approached the dock the rain was heavy. Not a single square inch of clothing was dry and not a single strand of hair was without dripping rainwater. It was a moment when everything happening around you was so ridiculous you could not help but laugh.
On the main land we looked to find a bus. It was obvious we had missed it. The next one was not until around 5 AM the next day. We took shelter under some awning. Our new friends were there too. They were about to take off on their small, motorized bike. Apparently there was another bus station just up the road. We thanked them for the information and set off threw the curtains of water ahead of us. Complete nightfall was less than an hour away, and we were walking toward some unknown destination.
Well… Better start walking…
About ten minutes up the road we passed a small house with a van. We talked to the owners, attempting to bargain a ride to the bus station. Three hundred lempira?? No way. At that price rate we wouldn’t have enough money for the bus ride home. Next..
We continued walking, passing some more houses. Wet and tired, we knew we looked ridiculous walking in our flip-flops and clinging to our ratty backpacks – The perfect image of unprepared tourists. However, we much preferred the title of carefree adventurers. The road, with its incline and sharp corners, was dangerous, but our only other option was to sleep under the awning next to the dock. About a half mile into our walk, turning a sharp corner revealed a long stretch of road.. There was no bus station in sight. Finally, we decided to turn back.
We trotted down the road. A bright light flashed at us from the distance. It was now completely dark. As the vehicle approached we recognized our friends from the boat! They told us it was very dangerous to be walking around like this. One of them kindly offered to call his friend in the area, asking if we could crash at his place. Christina offered to let him use her blackberry . It didn’t work. I could not believe the generosity of attempting to help some random strangers. I really feel like this would not happen in the U.S., or at least, it is not as common. The second boy began to call his father, who lived 50 minutes away, to come pick us up. Their kindness was out of this world. It worked!!
As we talked, a man in a nearby house invited us to take shelter at his home. So, the seven of us (us girls and our rescuers), sat on the porch of a kind stranger. We all talked with the house owner, as his young children slept just inside. Another amazing act of kindness. *Man, I love this country* He mentioned he lived in Texas for two years. Small world.
As we waited for our friend’s father to come, he explained to us that he had lied to his father. He told his dad, the bike had broken down, and they needed a lift. His father didn’t even know we were there. He explained his father would absolutely give us a lift, but he knew the lie was necessary to get him out to where we were with his truck. Our friend was young, around eighteen, and we couldn’t bare that thought of getting him in trouble. However, he thought nothing of it. In fact, he wanted to ask his dad if we could sleep at their home for the night as well. We were humbled. He said the only requirement was none of us could smoke because they lived in a Christian home. No problem!! That wouldn’t be a problem for me seeing as I don't smoke. Christina, my comic relief, took out a cigarette to get in one more for the night.
Minutes later, his father arrived, and we waited quietly and sheepishly as he went to talk with his father about the random stranded gringas he met. He came back. The moment of truth.. It was this or sleeping in the rain. We couldn’t believe our luck! He said yes. Suddenly we went from stranded and wet, to having a home to sleep in! We must be the luckiest gringas in all of Honduras.
The five of us somehow crammed into the truck.. His father was sweet and soft-spoken. We were completely taken back and at a loss for words at this family’s unspeakable kindness. To this day, it moves me.
We drove off with about an hour of car ride ahead of us. The father turned and asked if we were hungry. The generosity continued. We said no, but we’d LOVE to make them dinner. The father wasn’t hungry, but we could cook for our new friends. We scraped together some cash, stopping at a small market to picked up a few supplies for a spaghetti dinner.
A question lingered in my mind, wondering how they could house us. My question was quickly answered as we pulled up to a mansion. SAY WHAT?!!!!!!! They have these in Honduras?Confirmation: We are the luckiest gringas in all of Honduras.
We walked in. In Honduran style, the room looked like the Easter bunny had vomited on the walls, with every surface taking on a different pastel color. We didn’t care. This was awesome, and we couldn’t believe our fortune. The entire bottom floor was ours for the night! It was unfurnished, as they were hoping to move soon, but the family brought in mattresses for all of us, even asking friends to loan them mattresses for the night. How could we ever repay their generosity?
We made dinner for our rescuers and ourselves. Later we played Banana Grams (a scrabble-like game). Each person could play in his or her own language. We made time for a group photo, to never forget them.
(Our new friends! We stayed at the house of the boy on the far left)
Just after, I accidently broke one of their glasses. I felt terrible! Of course, I did this right in front of the mother… I’m such a jerk! She laughed and shrugged it off, but I still felt terrible.
(Oh, me...)
People slowly began to go to bed. Emily played a soccer game with our new friend on his computer. Later she went to bed, and I took over her position. We were the last ones up. I may not be amazing at Spanish, but I’m fluent in talking smack. We played for at least an hour. He heartlessly slaughtered me every round. He gave me a pity point, but I told him I’d accept no pity. ;) Later we played “Fret Fire,” which was the exact same as guitar hero, but we played using the keys on his computer. We chose classic rock songs, and I translated the lyrics to him. We had a lot of fun and laughed a lot.
It was getting really late, and I had to get up early to catch our 6am bus. I wished him goodnight, and thanked him again. His generosity was something I knew I’d never be able to repay. Without his help, we’d be out somewhere sleeping in the rain…
The next morning we woke up at 5 a.m. and gathered our stuff. We wrote a note expressing our undying gratitude, and left them the little spare change we had between the five of us. It came to about 100 lempira (just over $5). We knew it was nothing, but we wanted to leave something. We left just enough for ourselves to ensure we could cover our bus rides home. Every other penny we had went to them. We also left them a phone number to reach us, asking them to contact us the next time they were in Tegucigalpa. We would like to treat them out to dinner.
We headed out as the sun rose. We felt refreshed, and in awe of our circumstances. The bus approached perfectly as we walked toward the bus stop. We arrived in Tegucigalpa about 2 hours later, walked into our home, ducking sheepishly past the office, as to not have our travel-worn faces be the talk of our coworkers. We made it back with 6 minutes to spare before work. AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING.
Yes, we were in dangerous situations. Yes, we were very fortunate and blessed to make it back in such great conditions. Most importantly, yes, that was the best weekend EVER.
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