My Honduran Adventure Part 1: Acception, Fears, And Expectations

This is my first blog on here, so let's see how it goes.

My most recent development is that I have been accepted to a study abroad program in Marcala, Honduras for 3 weeks (May 10th to May 31st). I was very happy to be accepted in the program, as I felt that I had a 50-50 shot of getting into it. This will be the primary theme of this blog until I get back from the trip.

Marcala is in the southern part of Honduras in the department of La Paz. It isn't directly in the middle, it is slighly to the west, but it is very close to being smack-dab in the middle of the country. From my research, Marcala seems like a typical Central American town. The roads aren't paved and there is a lot of traffic. It also had a Brazilian feel to it, as the homes in the towns go up into the hills (like the slums in Brazil). I also read that there is a famous coffee plantantion there, to which we will be going. I will be staying with a host family, which will be a two-parent household with a sibling or two. The families there typically do not know English, which is what I need to improve my Spanish.

Obviously this is an education trip, but I know very little about the classes I am taking. I know I am taking Spanish 241/242 (Conversational Spanish), which, considering I am currently in Spanish 311, should be cake. The other 2 classes are EDT 221 and LAS 499 (The former about the Latin educational system and the latter about Latin American history). The classes should be fairly easy.

I am a little bit concerned about not being in America for 3 weeks. I feel that my Spanish is strong enough that I will have little difficulty linguistically while I am there, but I am worried about not being able to speak English for 3 weeks. I love to speak Spanish, but there are many times where I just want to speak my native language. I am not very worried about Honduran Spanish as a dialect; the only major difference between it and Mexican Spanish is the use of "Vos" instead of "Tú", which should not be too difficult to learn. Another concern is the lack of technology/lifestyle that I have here. While a lack of this is necessary to experience other parts of the world, it will be a challenge for me. Then again, a phone might not be affordable, considering AT&T's expensive international rates. The food is also a concern, as I like some Latin food, but not very much.

But my biggest concern is my personal safety. First of all, the airport I will be flying to in Tegucigalpa is the 2nd most dangerous in the world due to its weird location and challenges for pilots landing here. Hundreds have been killed at this airport, including a 2008 accident that killed 120+ and one in 2011 that killed 11. After this, crime is a major issue ("Endemic" according to the State Department). 48 Americans have been killed here since 1995. Robbery and pickpocketing is big here too. I haven't seen too much about drugs here; there don't appear to be any Zeta-like gangs here like there are in Mexico. However, MS-13 is here and they killed 20+ in a bus shooting in 2004. The good news is that most of the crime appears to be in the north of the country, closer to Guatemala, whereas I will be in the south.

I am currently looking for my flight. I am hoping to get to go to either El Salvador or Costa Rica (or both!), depending on availability and prices for flights. The unanimous choice from people I know is Costa Rica, but I will take whatever is cheaper/available. I will update some more as soon as I get the flight.

So that is all about my upcoming adventure!