A friend of mine shared an article today that I thought did a far better job of explaining some of the dangers and issues around international aid or mission trips.
I thought I would share it with you all, just in case you were interested:
The White Savior Industrial Complex
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
100 Days of Rancho Santa Fe
Last week I read a blog post about a family that committed to eating real food for 100 days. Meaning, no preservatives, no chemicals, no pre-packaged food. You get the idea.
It was interesting reading that from this perspective. Having too many choices is not an issue here on the Ranch. Food is pretty simple in general. Usually some combination of rice and beans for breakfast and dinner. Lunch is usually some type of meat, with rice and tortillas.
Things on the Ranch have been financially tight recently, so one of the things that is being cut back is food. We are still getting three meals a day, but they are more limited.We are cutting meat out for most days, and milk with bread has been making an appearance as a meal more and more often. Last week my tias sat the girls down and we talked about what all of this means. We talked about how important it is to make sure when we get plenty of food to not waste it, and when we get less to appreciate what we have. It was very different from any family meeting I ever had growing up.
Coming from the states, it has been incredibly eye opening watching my girls respond to the limited food lately. Most of them know what it is to be hungry, and the potential to experience that again clearly has them wound up.
All of that being said, I can't say the Volunteer House has really felt the change in food. Obviously we notice it, but we have access to grocery stores every weekend, and plenty of cash to purchase supplemental food. Last night, I ate cheez-its and a few mini chocolate bars. We always have plenty to eat, but how much does that change how we experience the Ranch versus what the kids are really living? If we are here, trying to catch a glimpse of what it means to grow up in a country like Honduras, how much farther away can we be if we don't even eat what our kids are eating?
So folks, I introduce my own personal challenge:
It was interesting reading that from this perspective. Having too many choices is not an issue here on the Ranch. Food is pretty simple in general. Usually some combination of rice and beans for breakfast and dinner. Lunch is usually some type of meat, with rice and tortillas.
Things on the Ranch have been financially tight recently, so one of the things that is being cut back is food. We are still getting three meals a day, but they are more limited.We are cutting meat out for most days, and milk with bread has been making an appearance as a meal more and more often. Last week my tias sat the girls down and we talked about what all of this means. We talked about how important it is to make sure when we get plenty of food to not waste it, and when we get less to appreciate what we have. It was very different from any family meeting I ever had growing up.
Coming from the states, it has been incredibly eye opening watching my girls respond to the limited food lately. Most of them know what it is to be hungry, and the potential to experience that again clearly has them wound up.
All of that being said, I can't say the Volunteer House has really felt the change in food. Obviously we notice it, but we have access to grocery stores every weekend, and plenty of cash to purchase supplemental food. Last night, I ate cheez-its and a few mini chocolate bars. We always have plenty to eat, but how much does that change how we experience the Ranch versus what the kids are really living? If we are here, trying to catch a glimpse of what it means to grow up in a country like Honduras, how much farther away can we be if we don't even eat what our kids are eating?
So folks, I introduce my own personal challenge:
100 Days of Rancho Santa Fe
Here are the rules:
1. Eat what the kids eat.
That's it. Very simple.
I promise to keep you posted.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Mission Trip Adendum
So, about an hour after writing my Mission Trip post I went to the airport. The first shirt I saw said this:
Wow? In a week? Now that is impressive. And modest.
(Insert organization/ trip name) 2012
Saving the perishing
Wow? In a week? Now that is impressive. And modest.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Mission Season
Well folks, mission season is officially upon us. That's right, the time of year in which planes into Honduras suddenly fill with gringos in matching t-shirts.
Since I spend a lot of time at the airport I have a front row seat to the comings and goings of the mission groups. I sometimes really struggle with the conversations I overhear, and the t-shirt slogans I see, about all the good they are coming to do for the "poor Hondurans." The amount of pity people seem to bring with them for this country and these people.
I also really wonder about the long term impacts of this type of do-gooder tourism. I know lots of good projects and things are done, but what is the impact on communities that have an influx of gringos here to help them whether they want it or not. Frequently, on projects that they themselves haven't identified as being priorities. What happens to these projects when a group doesn't come back?
Now, don't get me wrong, I can see the irony too. Here I am. In Honduras.Judging Thinking about mission trips and the ethics of it all. I don't separate myself, by any means. Regardless of the length of time I am here, I am still an outsider, coming into another country to "do good work." And, one day, I will leave here and go back to my cushy life in the US. I recognize this completely and openly. One of my goals here has always been to consistently check my motivations. To make sure I'm not here to just make myself feel better or because I feel pity for the people I'm working with.
I'm not trying to say mission trips in themselves are bad, or that people who do mission trips to poor countries are evil. I just hope people are checking their egos at the gate. Recognizing that our country is to blame for a great deal of the current situation. That many of the luxuries we get to enjoy, come at the expense of poorer countries. The best current example: drug trafficking here is not out of control because Hondurans have a 1,000 dollar a day drug habit. That one is on us. Need further proof? Google US involvement in United Fruit Company. We have a lot to make up for.
Okay, that was a bit deep for a Saturday morning. Not exactly sure why I chose now to write about this topic. Maybe, I just spent too long at the airport yesterday. Still, I bet this isn't the last of this topic
Since I spend a lot of time at the airport I have a front row seat to the comings and goings of the mission groups. I sometimes really struggle with the conversations I overhear, and the t-shirt slogans I see, about all the good they are coming to do for the "poor Hondurans." The amount of pity people seem to bring with them for this country and these people.
I also really wonder about the long term impacts of this type of do-gooder tourism. I know lots of good projects and things are done, but what is the impact on communities that have an influx of gringos here to help them whether they want it or not. Frequently, on projects that they themselves haven't identified as being priorities. What happens to these projects when a group doesn't come back?
Now, don't get me wrong, I can see the irony too. Here I am. In Honduras.
I'm not trying to say mission trips in themselves are bad, or that people who do mission trips to poor countries are evil. I just hope people are checking their egos at the gate. Recognizing that our country is to blame for a great deal of the current situation. That many of the luxuries we get to enjoy, come at the expense of poorer countries. The best current example: drug trafficking here is not out of control because Hondurans have a 1,000 dollar a day drug habit. That one is on us. Need further proof? Google US involvement in United Fruit Company. We have a lot to make up for.
Okay, that was a bit deep for a Saturday morning. Not exactly sure why I chose now to write about this topic. Maybe, I just spent too long at the airport yesterday. Still, I bet this isn't the last of this topic
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Lesson #110
Since this blog is titled "lessons learned in Honduras," I would like to share two of the many lessons I have learned lately.
Lesson: Children and babies should NEVER sit in the front seat.
Lesson: Children and babies are perfectly fine roaming around in the backseat while the car is in motion.
Lesson: Children and babies should NEVER sit in the front seat.
Lesson: Children and babies are perfectly fine roaming around in the backseat while the car is in motion.
The little things
Sometimes, it is the little things that make your day. Yesterday, it was these two things:
- Vanilla flavored coffee beans from Starbucks. A visitor brought a bag along and my morning coffee was incredible.
- The tias (caretakers) in my hogar purposely schedule their meeting/check-in during a time when I could attend. That way, I was a part of the discussion about taking care of the girls, figuring out how to get their grades up, and other little planning details. Getting "in" with your tias can sometimes be a struggle for volunteers, but my tias have done nothing but welcome me with open arms.
Yep, just the little things.
- Vanilla flavored coffee beans from Starbucks. A visitor brought a bag along and my morning coffee was incredible.
- The tias (caretakers) in my hogar purposely schedule their meeting/check-in during a time when I could attend. That way, I was a part of the discussion about taking care of the girls, figuring out how to get their grades up, and other little planning details. Getting "in" with your tias can sometimes be a struggle for volunteers, but my tias have done nothing but welcome me with open arms.
Yep, just the little things.
Wahoo
I got excellent news last night!
Yesterday, both my computer and the box of books arrived safe and sound in California! In exactly one week both of these little goodies will be arriving in Tegus.
This is better than Christmas. Seriously. I don't know if I am going to be able to sleep the night before.
Yesterday, both my computer and the box of books arrived safe and sound in California! In exactly one week both of these little goodies will be arriving in Tegus.
This is better than Christmas. Seriously. I don't know if I am going to be able to sleep the night before.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Fun facts
A few quick facts about my life the past few days:
- We are currently hosting a medical brigade from Spain here at the Ranch. I have learned that Spain Spanish is a whole new ballgame. It has taken me two full days to get to the point were I understand them.
- I spent six hours in Tegus last night waiting for two buses. One of which never arrived, and the other arrived two hours late.
- I have gotten over my fear of talking on the phone in Spanish. Why? Because, I have to do it ALL the time. This morning my phone went off at 6:30am (I had gotten back from Tegus at 12:30am), and I pulled of an entire conversation in Spanish, while only half awake. That is progress my friends.
- I am sort of sick of my phone ringing.
- I have officially been here at the Ranch for two months. TWO MONTHS! Wow. I'm not sure where time went.
- I have awesome parents (and an awesome Mollie) who are sending a box of books, that a visitor will bring down here in a week or so. My girls are going to freak out when I bring new books to hogar.
- Money is a bit tight here at the Ranch. Today, I realized I was super excited when they served rice with the beans. I hadn't seen rice in a while, and it was a real treat.
- And finally, life is crazy busy. We have a bunch of groups coming and going over the next few weeks. I will do my best to keep up my blogging. Also, this computer continues to make me turn into a raving lunatic when I have to write very much.
- We are currently hosting a medical brigade from Spain here at the Ranch. I have learned that Spain Spanish is a whole new ballgame. It has taken me two full days to get to the point were I understand them.
- I spent six hours in Tegus last night waiting for two buses. One of which never arrived, and the other arrived two hours late.
- I have gotten over my fear of talking on the phone in Spanish. Why? Because, I have to do it ALL the time. This morning my phone went off at 6:30am (I had gotten back from Tegus at 12:30am), and I pulled of an entire conversation in Spanish, while only half awake. That is progress my friends.
- I am sort of sick of my phone ringing.
- I have officially been here at the Ranch for two months. TWO MONTHS! Wow. I'm not sure where time went.
- I have awesome parents (and an awesome Mollie) who are sending a box of books, that a visitor will bring down here in a week or so. My girls are going to freak out when I bring new books to hogar.
- Money is a bit tight here at the Ranch. Today, I realized I was super excited when they served rice with the beans. I hadn't seen rice in a while, and it was a real treat.
- And finally, life is crazy busy. We have a bunch of groups coming and going over the next few weeks. I will do my best to keep up my blogging. Also, this computer continues to make me turn into a raving lunatic when I have to write very much.
Where clothes go to die.
Have you ever wondered were Goodwill clothes go when they can't sell them in the states?
Well, they go to Honduras! Duh.
Okay, I'm sure they go other places, but Honduras has a ton of used clothes stores, selling things that still have the Goodwill or Bargain Village tags on them.
Its very odd to go into what appears to be a fairly nice clothing store and look through racks of used clothing. Sometimes the Goodwill price is actually less than what they are trying to sell them for in the store.
Oh, Honduras. You never cease to amaze.
Well, they go to Honduras! Duh.
Okay, I'm sure they go other places, but Honduras has a ton of used clothes stores, selling things that still have the Goodwill or Bargain Village tags on them.
Its very odd to go into what appears to be a fairly nice clothing store and look through racks of used clothing. Sometimes the Goodwill price is actually less than what they are trying to sell them for in the store.
Oh, Honduras. You never cease to amaze.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The week so far..
A very brief update on the highlight of my week:
I have spent the past four morning translating for a US doctor that is visiting . It has been amazing. I love being able to work in the health field AND use my Spanish. I remember listening to people translate when I was first learning Spanish and being so impressed. Now, I am the one doing that. It feels pretty awesome.
The flip side of this is it has made me a bit frustrated with how little I use my Spanish during other parts of my life here. Something to work on changing, I suppose.
TRANSLATING!!
I have spent the past four morning translating for a US doctor that is visiting . It has been amazing. I love being able to work in the health field AND use my Spanish. I remember listening to people translate when I was first learning Spanish and being so impressed. Now, I am the one doing that. It feels pretty awesome.
The flip side of this is it has made me a bit frustrated with how little I use my Spanish during other parts of my life here. Something to work on changing, I suppose.
World's Worst Blogger
I have been a terrible blogger the past two weeks. I promise to do better, and I do have a fairly good excuse. You may remember that my laptop died on me a few weeks ago. Well, it is has been officially declared out of commission. Luckily my old computer is going to be making the international journey down to Honduras with my roomie Michelle's boyfriend (thanks Yill!)
Still, for the time being, that leaves me with only my work computer. I'm fairly certain this thing is older than I am. Using it makes me want to scream.
From time to time, just to torture me, the computer will decide that what I am typing would actually look far better about ten lines up. With zero warning, whatever I am typing will suddenly appear, mid some other sentence, in a new place. The mouse pad also only functions at snail or cheetah pace. No in between.
It has nearly gone out the window three times today.
Combine that with the less than consistent Internet, and I just haven't had the patience to blog. I promise I will try and do better!!
Still, for the time being, that leaves me with only my work computer. I'm fairly certain this thing is older than I am. Using it makes me want to scream.
From time to time, just to torture me, the computer will decide that what I am typing would actually look far better about ten lines up. With zero warning, whatever I am typing will suddenly appear, mid some other sentence, in a new place. The mouse pad also only functions at snail or cheetah pace. No in between.
It has nearly gone out the window three times today.
Combine that with the less than consistent Internet, and I just haven't had the patience to blog. I promise I will try and do better!!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A funny thing happens when you pay the bill..
I apologize for my lack of blogging this week. It has actually not been intentional at all. I have two very legitimate excuses:
1) We have not had internet since Monday. Why? Well, because someone forgot to pay the bill this month.
2) My computer is on the fritz. The IT guy is working on it, so I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be returned to me safe and sound.
Not a good week for technology. The silver lining is that I have gotten a lot of reading done!
1) We have not had internet since Monday. Why? Well, because someone forgot to pay the bill this month.
2) My computer is on the fritz. The IT guy is working on it, so I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be returned to me safe and sound.
Not a good week for technology. The silver lining is that I have gotten a lot of reading done!
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