The eagle has landed...

After two long plane rides and a stopover in Texas (just missed the hurricane, thank goodness) I have finally arrived in Honduras...yipee! Truthfully, I was a little bit nervous about meeting up with people I had only communicated with via email/phone in a foreign third world country, but had my fears immediately cast aside upon walking through the arrivals gate. The incredibly friendly i-to-i team were there to greet me with big smiles and open arms. We also befriended two lost Aussies who then joined us for a fabulous lunch of traditional (and tasty!) Honduran eats (aka "plato tipico")- rice, plantain, chorizo, tortilla, beef, choros and beans. Funnily, the dish reminded me of a Latin American version of an English breakfast - lots of random good food, served on one big plate.
After polishing off our generously portioned meals, we dropped off the Aussies and headed to Valle de Angeles. This is where the Honduras i-to-i HQ is. This is also where they drop off the jet-lagged volunteers to shower and rest before undertaking a long and bumpy bus journey into La Esperanza, where my project begins.

Under 23kgs...yeah right.

Tomorrow is the big day and I have to somehow squish all of these fabulous donations into two suitcases...both of which I also have to somehow transport. This is when a big burly boyfriend would come in handy. Instead I will have to use some strategic packing and pray that my mini-cab driver feels sorry for me and offers assistance.

Before I get packing, I feel the need to give a quick shout-out to all the wonderful supporters who are filling these suitcases and donating some much needed moolah for this volunteer experience. They are (in no particular order):

Adaptflex, OSRAM, BASEC, Philips, Legrand, Kew Technik, Leica Geosystems, Cooper Lighting and Safety, Dimplex, NICEIC, Applied energy, Weidmuller, Vent-Axia, Thorn, Edmundson Electrical, SummitSkills, ECA, ECA Education and Training, Draka, Moggs, Margaret, Bruno, Georgia, Mike and Mum.

I also feel the need to send some warm and fuzzy energy to all of my peeps at Voltimum, as they have supported me through my planning (and now have countless emails of itinerary and copies of my ID...I'm like a girlguide when it comes to safety). Plus they have been involved technically with the development of the project's soon-to-be live webpage and even helped me figure out how to set up this blog. Can you believe that this is my first blog?...welcome to the 21st century, Frankie.

With that, I am off to pack and look forward to making contact again...from Honduras! Very exciting!! Hasta luego! :)

Trypanophobia...

Today I learned a new word - Trypanophobia: the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. (Gotta love Wikipedia!)

The reason for my word search is due to the fact I have temporarily become a human pin-cushion. From Typhoid Fever to Hepatitis A & B, I've begun my series of vaccinations for my big trip. Unfortunately, I fear needles. I'm not suggesting I have an extreme irrational fear, but I do really really dislike them...but I guess I would dislike being infected with Typhoid Fever more.

Yesterday I had my second round of the rabies vaccine. It seems that certain parts of Central America are prone to the rabies virus. This includes the part of Honduras I am visiting. Like many (I'm sure), I assumed that the rabies would be transmitted via infected dogs. I was sadly mistaken, however, as the virus is also found in bats. Yes, you heard me correctly - BATS!!! Healthy, sleeping bats don't really bother me - I actually had a family of them camping out in one of my huts while travelling through Thailand - but foaming angry bats?! I'll never complain about the noisy pigeon that hangs out on my terrace again.

It's like Christmas...minus the turkey and eggnog!

Today I was pleasantly surprised by the mailman...finally a delivery that doesn't involve bills and/or junk mail! After trekking up 3 flights of stairs in the summer heat (it's about time!!), the poor mailman handed me over some fabulous donated tools/gear sent to me by the fine fellas at Kew Technik...and of course I had to try some of it on. :)

Look out Arnie...

I am sitting here in pain. Not a terrible life threatening pain, but rather an aching-throbbing-why-did-you-think-you-could-lift-that-much-with-scrawny-arms pain. In attempt to develop better upper body strength (as I am assuming tougher arms and abs means better building) I decided to switch up my gym routine and take on a personal training session. Session 1 was last night and I still can't walk properly, lift my arms (even typing hurts a bit!!) and laugh wholeheartedly. My trainer is pure evil disguised in a tight vest and Adidas trainers. Despite my complaining, it's a good pain for a good cause. Hopefully tomorrow won't be quite as tough on my system and by late September I will have biceps of steel...or perhaps a softer metal, like aluminium. :)

Spanish for Dummies...

Hola! Me llamo Frankie. Fala ingles? Tengo ganas de ir a un bar de karaoke. Donde esta el lavabo?

2 months - This is how long I have to learn the basics of Spanish. Today I took my first step towards mastering Spanish 101...I purchased "Spanish for Dummies". Okay, it might not be the most glamorous of titles, but it looks quite thorough and easy to navigate...plus it comes with a free CD by Berlitz (and they're supposed to be the "international leader in language instruction"). This gives me hope. Despite being somewhat traumatised by my evil Quebequois Grade 12 French teacher, I really think that with a bit of determination (and perhaps a hunky Spanish speaking tutor) I can learn enough of this beautiful language to semi-communicate with the wonderful community that is about to take me in.

Hasta luego! :)