Chauffer

Tuesday January 26th 2010 9:15am

Almost immediately following my post yesterday, I was asked if I would help Elmer go and pick up our 15 passenger van from Monte Carmelo. I agreed, and was soon traveling across the city with Elmer in our red truck. We made a couple of random stops, and due to my lack of perfection in Spanish, and Elmer´s incessant mumbling, I had no idea what we did at the Discovery School or right outside the new Mini Golf Course. Maybe we just stopped to chat with people. The important thing is, we did not play putt-putt, but I now know where the putt-putt course is for future mini golfing needs.

Monte Carmelo is one of our facilities literally across the city from our offices. The drive took about 45 minutes, and on our way, we couldn´t help but to notice an incredibly long line of traffic piling up on the opposite side of the road, which would have been our route back to the office.

When we picked up the car, I was in charge of driving the red truck back, and asked Elmer if there was a way to the office that didn´t involve the immense amount of traffic that we had witnessed. He gave a goofy smile and said, "follow me!"

I should have stuck with the traffic.

10 minutes later, we were barreling down dirt roads, hurtling over rocks, gravel, and tons of sand that got everywhere. Not knowing the way back, I was forced to keep up with Elmer at his incredulous speed for the type of road we were on. I felt as though I was in some sort of a truck commercial, where apparently a man has gotten so far off the road, that the only way back is up through a forest, over a creek, and off the edge of a cliff.

We emerged on another road that led towards downtown, by way of Comayagua, which is the less than reputable part of town. Hurrying through the streets, I was frequently stopped by hitchikers, who would jump out infront of the car, hoping for a ride.

Driving out of Comayagua, we entered the downtown area which appeared almost like a video game with all of its hills, twists, turns, curves, one way roads, and countless pedestrians. Don´t worry. If it were a video game, I would have lost, because I went slowly, and didn´t hit any pedestrians.

The people back at the office were waiting for our arrival, because they needed the van to go out to lunch. Yesterday was the Day of the Honduran Women, which means "After you clean up this morning, you don´t have to cook lunch. We can go out to lunch." The office was treating for the meal, and I was excited for good free food.

Before we could leave, however, Marisela pulled me aside, and told me that I had to drive her to the airport to pick up someone from the US who was coming to visit our facilities. So, rather than finding my stomach full of delicious Honduran foods, I found it growling at the airport waiting for someone named Greg. He had visited before and knew Marisela well, but I had never seen him before. After 10 minutes of waiting, I had to point out the flaw in Mariselas plan when she suggested that she head over to the food court and grab some drinks while I keep an eye out for Greg.

Finally, Greg arrived, and we sped off to the restaurant to enjoy the end of everyone´s lunch. From there, I drove back to the office, but didn´t get back until close to 4. As soon as I got settled at my computer again, it was time to go, and we headed back out to Plaza.

In Plaza, I picked out some ingredients for banana bread. I´ve been trying to think of good things to cook for myself lately, and banana bread kept popping up. Today, I´ll have to get a pan to cook it in, and maybe I´ll try to make it tonight. Any other suggestions for good things I can cook for myself?