Tegucigalpa, I've Arrived!!

Tegucigalpa, Honduras….The First 3 Days

I went to bed last Wednesday night looking forward to the beginning of the next chapter in my life in the Foreign Service. It’s taken forever for this day to arrive and now it was just hours away. I set my alarm for 4:30 AM (UGH) so I could be downstairs in time to meet my shuttle to the airport at 5:25 AM. I even set my cell phone as a backup! Well, I must have slept like a baby because I slept through both alarms! I rolled over, opened my eyes and looked at the clock. 5:07 AM!!!!!! I flew out of bed and somehow managed to be downstairs at 5:22, beating the driver by about 5 minutes.

My flight was nice. The plane was half empty so there was no one next to me in either of the 2 seats. About 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot came over the intercom and began to explain about the landing in Tegucigalpa. To paraphrase him, he said…DO NOT PANIC. I will not hit the houses that seem to be inches from the bottom of the plane. Just don’t look out the window! I swear I will never fly again!!! Well…not too soon anyway. What a landing! I know I gasped many times, as did a few other people. Some just laughed at our pain!

I was met by 3 embassy people and we left the airport in a really nice big black suburban with diplomatic plates. For the first night I was to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel. Very nice place. However, the guard outside the door caused me a bit of worry as he had an AK-47 slung over his shoulder as he stood guard very near the front door of the hotel. I was told later that there must have been a dignitary staying there. I felt so safe. NOT!

The next day I was picked up and taken to the embassy. After lunch, my sponsor and I went back to the hotel to check out and head to my temporary housing since the house I will live in won’t be ready until sometime in August. However, I can only stay here until June 8th or 9th and at that time, I’ll go to yet another temporary house until my official house is ready. Such is life as an employee of the government! The pictures below are of the kitchen and living room and dining room of where I am now. This is an odd set up. My bedroom is upstairs and is about 10’x10’. My sponsor felt this was not a good setup so someone at the embassy agreed to the rental of this ‘Living Area’ to be part of my room. So, I can spend time in my room or downstairs. Both lock and are for my use only. Kind of like a bed and breakfast setup. Both are clean and comfortable but a bit of an inconvenient setup.

Here's the view from one of the windows in the living area.

As you can see, houses are built just everywhere

Today I went with 2 of my co-workers to Valle, about 45 minutes south of Tegucigalpa. Or north. Actually, I have no idea which direction! It’s a quaint place with lots of tourist shops selling all the local things. I bought some wonderful baskets, a pottery wine glass and a wooden trivet. Ahhh…my first purchases! I’ve been warned to be careful about buying a bunch of things from every country I visit. It’s easy to accumulate lots and lots of ‘stuff’ from around the world as you travel from post to post. Here’s what I bought!!

With just 2 ½ days under my belt riding around this city as a passenger, I don’t know how in the world I’ll be able to do it behind the wheel. I guess somehow I’ll manage. I’ve been told that in about 6 months I’ll reach the point where I can venture out and not be scared to death. Wish me well!!

Mother's Day 2008

It's Mother's Day 2008 and I sit here, in my little temporary apartment in Washington DC, thinking of my 2 grown children. My children are my life, whether they know it or not. Many of my important decisions are only made after thinking about them. Many of the things I do preparing for my future are definitely decided after thinking about them.

My son is 33 and my daughter will be 35 tomorrow. (Jeez...that makes me...er...umm...old!) I love them so much. Those words are spoken often but the depth of the message may be missed because I say it so often to them. All the time, you hear people say that their children are their lives. I feel the same about mine. They have encouraged me in whatever I've chosen to do and have become my personal support system.

One time my son sent me a dozen red roses on HIS birthday. The card read, "Mom, thanks for the best 25 years of my life." I've always wanted to send them both flowers on Mother's Day, thanking them for making me a mother.

Ann and Bobby...consider this my bouquet to you both. It is sent with an abundance of love and an appreciation for all you have done for me. You make me proud to be your Mother.

Love always,

Mom

Getting Ready for Tegucigalpa

It is now a little less than a month away from boarding the plane to leave for Tegucigalpa, Honduras, my new home for the next 2 years. I'm sitting here with a very sore left shoulder. This morning I got the last of my shots, a tetanus booster and one to protect me from typhoid. I'm told the worst should hit me Sunday. Jeez...I can barely lift my arm now so I can't imagine how great it will feel by Sunday.

Tomorrow I will do some major shopping. I'm told many of my favorite everyday things are available in Teguc, but are a bit more expensive. I'm trying not to go crazy spending money on my favorite toothpaste or my nice soft kleenex tissues. But I have the opportunity to shop here, getting some great prices, and add the items to what I'm having shipped when I leave. Seems more logical to just buy some extra and be done with it. That way I won't have to worry about it shortly after I get there. Of course, it will probably take 4-6 weeks for my belongings to get to my new home. Until then, I'll just muddle through! I've also decided to wait until I arrive at post to buy a car. There are lots of people leaving for other countries so there should be a few cars available for purchase.

The more I read about Tegucigalpa, the more I look forward to my move. There is an abundance of wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables but you have to soak whatever you can't peel in these pills to get rid of the bacteria that is in the water and thus, still on the outside of the fruit or veggie. I can deal with that. The arts and crafts look wonderful and they don't have to be soaked! Have I mentioned the Mayan ruins??? Or the wonderful scuba diving? I plan on seeing it all, experiencing as much as I can and documenting it all here. I can't wait!

I'm grateful that my training coincided with the gorgeous blooms of the cherry blossom trees here in Washington DC. I took quite a few pictures and one of them is shown here. Everyone should come to DC this time of year...it's just amazing!

An E Ticket Ride

Yesterday, as my plane was approaching Reagan National Airport and I gazed out the window looking at the cherry blossoms, I thought...finally. I'm finally experiencing what I've been waiting months to experience. I'm about to land in DC to begin the next chapter in my life. I found my shuttle and rode to Virginia. After checking into the corporate housing supplied by my new best friend, the Department of State, I was very pleasantly surprised by what will be my home for the next 6-8 weeks. I made contact with another lady here for the same reason and we went to dinner. This morning, there was an informal breakfast/meet and greet and I met several more new government employees. There were 4 that are going to be Diplomatic Security guys...ex marines, ex cop and an ex border patrol officer. The discussion came around to the marine and inevitably, he started talking about how the press never reported the good that was being done in Iraq...the schools that were built, the women who were no longer dressing in burkas, the 7 year old girls who were learning to read for the first time. Confirmation of what I've thought for months. Oh well...I'm getting off the subject.

We discovered we all had so many similar unanswered questions...questions about how long training would be, where we would be sent, just what we would be doing. Hopefully at the end of the day tomorrow, the first day of orientation, some of the questions will be answered. We all knew there will be a ton more unanswered questions to replace them too. Remember, we're dealing with the government here! We all agreed that what we were about to experience was going to be a roller coaster ride...an E Ticket ride at Disneyland. (Who of you know what I'm talking about???) And we all want to enjoy it to the max. After all, not everyone gets an opportunity to live out a dream like this. We all want to succeed so badly, to not disappoint ourselves. At the end of this journey we all want to say What a ride!!!

Life Is About To Get Very Intersting

That's my new motto...and yes, it really is about to get MUCH more interesting! As though suddenly being the grandmother of twins, making it 3 grandchildren, weren't enough, I'm now counting down the days before I leave for Washington DC. I will begin a whole new chapter of my life with a new job, new friends, new challenges and very new home addresses! I only have 3 more days here on Kauai with family and friends and then I head home to Fort Worth. Nine days later, I'm on a plane to DC. It's an odd feeling...I'm living out of 2 suitcases, I no longer have a keychain (think about that one!), no longer own a car and my home of 15 years is up for sale! I feel like I've entered a gypsy phase of my life! But it is sure to be short lived once I get to Washington. I have my apartment arranged and within a couple of weeks of the start of training, I should know where I will be headed for the next 2 years. My biggest hope is that there are no foot long flying bugs!!!

Spending the time with my son, his wife and my 3 grandchildren is just the 'send off' I needed. I will have a home leave every year and plan on coming here, as well as Fort Worth. I have taken hundreds of pictures of the grandkids, knowing that in about a month, they will be obsolete! My son is very good about sending current pictures as well as an occasional DVD with movies. I'll continue to send pictures of me so that the kids will recognize me when I see them again in a year. Time flies so fast and in no time, I'll be making my flight arrangements to return to Kauai!

When I get to Washington, my daughter will be there to greet me. She lives in Maryland and is also in the Foreign Service. How great is it to see both your kids and grandchildren in the same month when they live so far from you. It's wonderful! My daughter was my driving force to apply for the position in the Foreign Service and I will forever be grateful for her input. It was the best advice I've ever gotten!

Both of my kids are my inspiration...I couldn't ask for better kids. Well, maybe my daughter could email me more often but hey...I know she loves me!! My son calls me often and my daughter-in-law has even called me just so I could hear my grandson babble in the back seat of the car as she drove. It doesn't take much to make a grandma happy!

So, as I prepare to leave Kauai in 3 days, I count my blessings...my children, my grandchildren, my new career, my health, my extended family here on Kauai and the new adventure awaiting me in DC. I'm someone who is never bored and I'm sure that whatever is in store for me in the next 6 years will allow me to be able to continue say the same.

Welcome to the World Micah and Makana!

March 5, 2008 9:58 am and 9:59 am

Micah and Makana entered their new world in Kauai, Hawaii! One was quiet and sedate, the other one very vocal! For twins, they are big...7 lb 3 oz and 7 lb 4 oz.

OK, there are the stats...now, can you see the huge smile on my face??? What beautiful little boys I now call my 2nd and 3rd Grandsons. I will be leaving Texas on 3/10/08 to go to Hawaii and spend 10 days with my son and his beautiful wife Nicole, Grandson #1 Gavin and The Boys. I'm still trying to adjust to having twins in the family since there is no record of twins in either family. My son has begun a dynasty!! However, we are assured that the family has grown all it will so the hard part for Nicole is over. Hmmm...or is it? My son has his golf foresome so I see golf clubs and surfboards in these boy's future!!

Strange Feelings

I'm preparing to begin a new chapter in my life. Movers arrived last week to take away all the possessions I wanted to keep. The rest were dusted off, priced and readied for my very own Estate Sale. Or, as I referred to it, my Leaving The Country Sale. I had some very difficult decisions to make when deciding what to keep and what I could part with. Some of my mother's things, some of my grandmother's things...some things that I've saved since my adult children were babies. But, since I'll be traveling all over the world, I just couldn't allow my possessions to possess me. And honestly, that's what happens to some of us. We just can't bear to part with something because we feel some kind of responsibility to keep it in our lives. I retained so many things that belonged to my mom and grandmother but I just couldn't keep them all. At my sale yesterday, someone set my daughter's stuffed Eyore and Thumper from approximately 1975on the table to pay for them. I looked at them, picked them up and planted a big kiss on each one. I had to look at the person who was buying them and explain that I wasn't a professional estate sale person, but rather the owner of the house and just what Eyore and Thumper meant to me. They totally understood and promised that they were going to a good home.

I also will deliver my wonderful car, a 2002 Toyota Camry, to the new owner this Saturday. And today I signed all the papers the realtor shoved at me to list my house. It was a strange feeling...no more excess belongings, soon no more car or house. I'll be a vagabond!! I guess it's all part of working overseas for the government. Most living accomodations are totally furnished and for the next 6 years I won't have to worry about such things. But it's still a strange feeling to know that soon, I'll be without most of the things I've always had. I'm sure I'll make the transistion just fine...especially if my first assignment is someplace really cool!!

But before I embark on that adventure, I have to fly to Kauai on March 10th to see my newly arrived grandsons #2 and #3...twins!! The Boys will be born Wednesday, March 5th...day after tomorrow!! I can't wait to hold them both in my arms! Leaving them 10 days later will be hard but as long as I keep my eyes to the future, I'll be fine. Six years from now I will retire to Kauai and live near them so they will know who I am for the rest of their lives. I just can't wait!!