Friday Tie Day

September 4th 2009 9:05pm

For those of you previously unaware, Friday Tie Day is a phenomenon invented by one Timothy James Palo and myself. It began as an attempt to appease Dr. Rob'n? Cole, who frequentlly commented on how nice young men (specifically basketball players and coaches) looked in ties. To try and prove her point, Tim and I began wearing ties to class every Friday. The days became known as Friday Tie Day, and the phenomenon has most recently made its way into the office of one CCD in Honduras.

The day began as most days here have, with me waking up before my alarm, still trying to adjust to the early sunlight. After a brief breakfast, I suited up with my tie and headed off to work. During the morning commute, Freddy and I discussed local eateries, such as "this street corner" or "that one over there" and the plot lines of some of our favorite movies, which included Role Models and the Hangover. When he began quoting both, I was happy to find a kindred spirit.

Once at work, I began translating my lesson plans for the class on Values and Faith. It was a little bit easier than I thought it would be, which was nice. By around 9:00, I looked around and noticed that the office was almost entirely empty except for Patty and I. Patty brought it to my attention that most everyone was in a meeting for the morning and that the office belonged to the two of us.

We talked for about an hour completely in Spanish, easily the longest conversation I've ever had in Spanish. We began by talking about music, which then transfered over to her daughter, who she gave up for adoption and now lives in Montana. From there we talked about family and how it is not uncommon for young girls to get pregnant here around age 15 or 16. We then discussed how one of the girls in the office had 2 children. I presumed that Haiti was younger than me, but when I heard that she had to children, I asked, and found out that she is in fact 24. Apparently everyone in the office is at least 4 or 5 years older than I had presumed.

At lunch, we discussed the meaning behind Friday Tie Day, and I was informed that in Honduras, most people dress down for Fridays. I explained that this was also customary in the United States, with the exceptions being Tim and I, who enjoy looking good. We then went around and varified everyone's ages, because I couldn't believe how old they all were.

Edgardo informed me that he is 28 (and I thought he was 21-22ish), and when I asked him for the secret to his youth, I was told that it was beans. He then went into a very long and involved story about how and why beans were the magic behind Honduran youth. In an attempt to translate his story into English, he accidentally called himself Beaner, which I believe to be a name that will stick. I believe this because I will make it so.

After lunch, I was treated to a Honduran dessert made out of milk and corn. It was creamy and very sweet. I don't remember what it was called, but it was very delicious.

When I got back to my desk, I decided that in an effort to learn more Spanish, and also to learn more about my co workers, I would begin a "Palabra del Dia" or word of the day excercise with them. Each day I am going to ask everyone in the office to give me one word each that they think I should know.

Today, I got:

Patty - Pisto, which means dinero

Betsabe - Caramba, which is something like "good grief" and also, Cheque, which is Honduran for "OK" if you are really cool, you say cheque layque, no pankeke. It rhymes.

Nancy - Puchica vos, which you say when something is surprising and you don't believe it and also, Fregues, which means scoured. I'm not sure if that was the meaning she would hope I would find, but it was the only one that I did find.

Maricela - comprension, which means understanding.

Christian - Baleadas, which is a type of Honduran burrito

Haiti - Bonito, which means handsome

By the time I got around to the guys, most of them had left.

When we finally packed up for the day to leave, we took a different van owned by the CCD, which was very old and without seatbelts, which borderline terrified me. I sat next to Besta and read over her shoulder a brochure on Mel Zelaya. It was very interesting, and I learned that there were protesters only a couple of blocks from my apartment just last night!

Upon arriving at Plaza Mira Flores, we all went our separate ways, and Maricela and I stopped for a drink. Ellen, if you ever read this, I know you will like it: We stopped in a pie shop and had coffee and blueberry pie. It was absolutely delicious. Just as we were about ready to go, she asked if I needed help with any of my lesson plans for the class tomorrow. I proudly displayed my printed sheets of Spanish translation, which Maricela and I then promptly edited for the next hour. I have so much to learn.

I walked into the hot Tegucigalpa night with Maricela to help get her a taxi. She cautioned me about my walk home, knowing that it was my first time exposed to the night here in Honduras. My apartment is not very far from the Plaza, and the walk was fine. Every once in a while, I would be graced by a balmy breeze, which drifted down the street to greet me.

As soon as I got into my apartment and shut the door, someone was knocking on it. It turned out to be Roberto, the landlord, and we spoke briefly and arranged a time for me to be able to sign the contract and pay the rent. The number that he presented to me was a little higher than what I was planning on, and then I saw that it was for the deposit on the apartment, which made sense. I wasn't sure if I would have time tomorrow to withdraw money from the ATM, so I resolved to return to Plaza Mira Flores and retrieve the funds then.

After walking back to the Plaza, I realized that I hadn't eaten anything for dinner, and marched over to the store that sold the pupusas from the day before. The same worker was there today, and as I waited for my order, we made small talk. Very small talk.

"So these pupusas sure are good, huh?"

"Yes, they are good" *Correct conjugation of "they are"

Shortly after picking up my pupusas, I got my money and plunged myself back into the muggy Honduran night. As I looked up, I saw the moon was blurred by the clouds that glossed over it. Now and then, a flash appeared, and then waited for a few seconds before returning. The way the lightning bounced off of the city made it look as though God were taking pictures...then repositioning...and taking more.