First Impressions of Honduras
Breathtaking waterfalls, wild macaws, stunning coral reefs, and a teaching job tucked next to a beautiful mountain range. Those are what I visualize when I think of my life in Honduras, different from my preconceptions before moving here. Since living in Honduras, I've received compliments from Catrachos (Hondurans) on representing the beauty of their 'Tierra' when world media displays it as a land of violence and poverty. Entering my seventh month living and working in Honduras, I see that it follows the national motto of Libre, Soberana e Independiente.
Hondurans convey a free (Libre) spirit, as their generosity shows in my daily life. The kind culture contradicts the violent stereotypes imagined before my arrival. It is common to be called 'mi amor' (my love) by strangers or have Honduran coworkers treat you like a family member they have known for decades.
The sovereign (Soberana) pride Hondurans display also caught me off guard. Many Hondurans live in the USA, but their culture's voice is sometimes underrepresented in a broad immigrant narrative. Nevertheless, living, working and celebrating local holidays in Honduras gave me an appreciation for the nation's sovereignty. The pride showed in a conversation with a taxi driver when I asked what parts of Honduras I should visit. With glee, excitement, and little English, he exclaimed, "mountains, mountains. Vamos to the mountains." Our Spanglish conversation lasted 45 minutes on our drive in thick traffic to the airport due to protests on the streets as he described his country's islands, hills, forests, churches, and people. He proudly said, "We poor country, pero, we have love for our country.”
Lastly, the country's independent (Independiente) character exhibits in its diverse culture. I live in San Pedro Sula, which has a robust Arab heritage that differs from the Mayan influence in Copan, the Garifuna in La Ceiba, and the Creole in the Bay Islands. The nation is an excellent example of a multicultural tapestry that brings unique perspectives and cultures together.
In closing my reflection on my first impressions of Honduras, I encourage anyone to visit this beautiful Tierra. Do not just visit Roaton (though I hear it is lovely), where cruise ships port. Visit the mainland where many foreigners fear to step. Walk among Mayan Ruins filled with scarlet macaws in Copan. Climb Pico Bonita and touch the clouds. Eat Pollo Chuco in Tegucigalpa. Take a ferry to Utila and learn to free-dive. Or, talk to a taxi driver in San Pedro Sula about mountains. Explore the wonderful country of Honduras, and you will experience more than the violent headlines in international news. Instead, you will find people whose spirits resemble a free, sovereign, and independent nation.
By: Rainier Lee
Pulhapanzak, Cortes
Neptune Beach, Utila
Wild Macaws, Copan
El Merendon Mountains, San Pedro Sula
