Returning to Honduras!

"Hittin' somersaults without the net But this'll be the year that we won't forget" - B.O.B. - Outkast

I returned to Honduras May 8th, 2008. I recall the flurry of emotions running through me at that time; I didn’t know what to expect not having visited the motherland in decades. When I boarded the plane in LAX, I saw my life flashing in front of me, Rosa snapped me out of it with a gentle squeeze of my hand and a smile as if she was reassuring me that everything would be fine. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening, nor could I believe that Rosa was coming along for the ride. We flew over Los Angeles and I took a page out of the Governator’s book and said to myself “I’ll be back”. When I exited Ramon Villeda Morales Int’l Airport, I was met by a curtain of humidity so thick it was almost palpable. It felt like a hundred blow dryers blasting heat at me. I immediately fell to my knees and kissed the ground like an immigrant arriving in the United States. I don’t know why, but I wanted to cry.

We were met at the airport by a cousin, I didn’t recognize this guy and for a moment feared we may be kidnapped. He escorted us to El Porvenir, not to be confused with the other thirteen El Porvenir’s in Honduras. This little town is in nestled in between hills and sugar cane fields of San Manuel, Cortes. Being the city slicker that I am, I immediately took note of how isolated this town is and said to myself “DAMN!” I knew my family is from a little village, but DAMN!!!The house I was to occupy was fairly big in comparison to the other houses and shacks in the village. Yes, shacks, as in cardboard and palm trees. I met my family there; some were quick to tell stories about me being curious and creative as a child, some weren’t so welcoming. Even the neighbors came at the sight of a stranger arriving with luggage. A few of them immediately recognized me, calling out “Carlitos! Is that you?” I looked at everyone with confusion, I kept wondering if I should recognize these people. By this time, the heat and jet lag had taken a toll on Rosa and I. We were EXTREMELY happy to find an A/C unit in our bedroom and crashed for the next 12-14 hours.