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Letters from Honduras: Part five of six

Elly Johnson,
Special to Grand Central Magazine

The author poses with some of her students. Photograph by Elly Johnson
(Click here for more images.)

My third month here has been a month of changes and adjustments.

In just a short amount of time that I have been here, many things have happened that were unexpected, have changed from what they were supposed to be or have come to light in a new perspective that I had not anticipated.

I have found this inconsistency and uncertainty to be a huge frustration, a gift and also a good challenge for me to stay flexible and be able to problem solve when things go array or simply change with the blink of an eye.

One of the biggest changes has been the addition of my new roommate. About three weeks ago Scott, the new environmental instructor, moved in with me in El Pital. He is originally from Oregon, but has been somewhat of a wanderer for the last 10 years.

Before coming to Guaruma he was a raft guide on the Rio Cangrejal, working for a tour company just a couple miles down river from Las Mangas. He has lived in Honduras for just over two years and also taught in a high school in a small town called Olanchito.

Scott has an incredible energy to him and maintains a very interactive and open view on education. He has several degrees, one being in environmental and wilderness education and generally speaking, all his approaches fall outside the box. I have loved picking his brain about theories and ideas in the education realm and I feel this has really helped me to wrap my mind around what it means to be an educator.

In just a short time we have melded our ideas and formed an energetic and successful team. After lengthy conversations about both of our visions for the program and goals that we have for the kids, we found that team-teaching seems to be the best option to really emphasize what the kids are learning. I have found it to be really amazing to work with someone again, especially someone who is completely invested and has the desire to take the extra step.

But having a roommate again means my space and privacy has been somewhat compromised. Don't get me wrong, I love living with someone again, but nonetheless it has been an adjustment.

I will be the first to admit that I actually became quite comfortable living alone, especially when the house is the size of a bedroom or even that of a walk-in closet. I never thought I would be one to say that, but in hindsight I think it was healthy for me.

Elly Johnson says she became quite comfortable living in a house that is the size of a bedroom or even that of a walk-in closet. Photograph by Elly Johnson
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Of course with the move-in, I had to stake my territory and lay a few ground rules for a newcomer in "my" house, such as "morning chat does not start until at least 10 minutes after I have gotten up...please." (He can be really energetic in the morning and sometimes I am just not ready for that until I have at least one cup of coffee.) In all, we are extremely compatible as roommates and colleagues and have a lot of fun together. He also has a penchant for good eats so we are always cooking up something yummy.

These are the times when I realize how fun it is to live with someone. Around dinner time we'll put on some good tunes, crank up the speakers, sharpen the chopping knives and go crazy with cooking. We share the same love of veggies and the healthier food of the world, so deciding what is for dinner is quite simple and without conflict. And we also share the same sweet tooth, so chocolate or cookies are never lacking on our shelves.

In the evenings after the last kid wanders home, closing the chicken wire gate behind them, a peaceful quietness settles in. I have learned to cherish these few hours and soak them in to the fullest when they exist.

Music has also become a huge part of our relaxation process at the end of the day. Scott is a musician at heart and has collected several instruments during his time in Honduras. including two guitars, a mandolin and a pan flute. One day, several weeks into knowing each other and after learning that eventually we would be roommates, he handed me one of his guitars and told me to start practicing so that by the time he moves in we can play songs together.

Talk about motivation.

A month later and I can proudly say that I almost have all of the Dueling Banjos song down (still working on my speed) and am slowly piecing a few other songs together. What better place in the world to play guitar than swinging in a hammock on your front porch listening to the purr of the river?

Maybe I will send word in several months that plans have changed and I am now part of a traveling band that is touring the countryside in Honduras. A far cry? Who knows? That's the beauty of life.