Coconut Challenge

Jamaican night is coming up with the little group that we get together with once a month. Entonces, Kadian and I needed to do a trial run on dessert called Gizzada. Challenge number 1: Getting the coconuts open. First we borrowed Miss Myla's machete. Kadian tried a couple times, but the machete just "tinged off of the coconut like it was hitting a rock.

Remembering that my dad used to crack open coconuts when I was a kid, I knew it had to be possible. After a few failed attempted,  I finally got a good whack in...

The next thing we knew there was coconut water going everywhere. Thinking fast, Kadian ran for a cup so we managed to save a lot of it. That's my victory smile.

Pretty happy about our success. The second one was a lot easier.

While this was going on, biscuits were in the oven. Sooo many delightful biscuits--nice and fluffy.

This is when we started singing, "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts...". I broke them down smaller. Since we are not experts and lack really strong sharp knives, getting the coconut out of the shell was challenge number 2.

However, NOTHING compares to challenge number 3. Grating the coconut took (we think) over an hour! Ridiculous. Forget the trial run. This is IT. If I ever do this again, we are using pre-graded coconut. I don't care if quality is sacrificed.

Arduous and finger cramping--not the way forward. I completely understand why my mom has alternate better equipment that she uses instead of graders most of the time.

Notice the piece of coconut on her forehead. There were a few more pieces, but the camera missed them. She flicked some at me, so I had to get her back! Don't even remember what we were "arguing" about.

All that work for one nice container full of freshly shredded coconut. Never again.

Teguc with Miss Myla!

Okay, as some of you know, Steven wrote me a little notebook full of little messages for me to read every Sabbath that I am here. This week he gave me five challenges to help me make the most of my time here. Here they are: 1. Hug every one of your students on a certain day this week (could be the most challenging given my number of students!) 2. Go somewhere that you haven't been yet. Anywhere. 3. Learn something new about the culture, history, etc of Honduras. 4. Try a new food item. 5. Have a deep/long conversation with someone. Thus, when we arrived at the first mall in Teguc and I really wanted to get Subway--I decided (with some prompting from Miss Myla and Kadian) to try something new.

As you can see, this place is the Mama of ALL Baleadas.

I went all out and ordered the hipersupermegagrande one.

First they spread beans and plantains inside, along with cheese on my "half" (it kind of ran into Kadian's side too unfortunately). Then the deep fried it (sooo healthy). Next the guy decorated the top with nice chunks of avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, more cheese since I didn't realize they had put cheese on the inside, and some strange pickled carrots that seem to be a "Honduran" thing. He almost smoothered it in mantequilla, but Kadian and I both stopped him with our simultaneous, "Noooo!"

Wow. Ridiculous huh?

We were both excited to dig in.

It was very yummy, kinda messy, and an overall fun experience.

"Oh my goodness-isn't this the cutest little chair you've ever seen?!!-do they even make little people this small!?"

"Oooo! Look! There's even a cute little matching stool/table thing."

Miss Myla trying on some gorgeous heels!

Attempting to master the little hula hoop.

It was great to escape from Comayagua for a day and visit the "Big City". We joked about being the little country mice going into the giant city. Kind of true. We visited Metro Mall and Multiplaza mall. I bought some new silverware and glasses that were on sale for the house. Kadian and Miss Myla both purchased slow cookers. We also found zucchini, jicama, and snacks. Oh! And I got an awesome cowgirl hat, picture will follow later once I take some.
School tomorrow. Really? It's fun to run away from the normal Sundays of cleaning and grocery shopping. However, coming home to find that the responsibilities are still staring me down seems to be one of those "growing-up" revelations. This weeks is going to be so full! Miss Myla's birthday is tomorrow, Michy might be coming over Tuesday for dinner, dance class every evening, grocery shopping, and--most exciting of all--getting ready to leave for Choluteca Friday morning! Woo.

Let's Face it, I Look Forward to Food.

This week was stellar, because preschool had exams. Now you see, the last time we had exams, I thought that I had to stay and help out in first grade anyway. But this time around I learned that I can leave early just like the other preschool teachers. Can you guess where part of my spare time went? Baking. I love baking. There's nothing like a nice batch of muffins to brighten your day. One day this week, Kadian and I made these ^ chocolate chocolate chip (vegan) muffins. The mini chocolate chips I got for Christmas were perfect!

Okay, this picture is a little random, and I can't think of a good caption for it. However, I figure some of you might like to see my face every once in a while, so here it is :).

Thursday, I made up a batch of banana muffins. They're actually quite healthy, but I couldn't resist sprinkling a little cinnamon & sugar to top it off. These muffins didn't even make it to see the morning. To me, that has to be one of the truest signs of success. Although it might have also had something to do with hunger.

On occasion, giant oxen stroll nonchalantly past our gate. Although this doesn't have anything to do with food (unless perhaps you are interested in eating an ox), I thought you should know. TIH--This is Honduras. Oh! I also made candy bar cookies on Friday, but I never got around to taking a picture of them. I had received so much chocolate (which is my weakness) for Valentine's Day that I had to find a way to get rid of it quickly.

And that brings us to this beautiful Sabbath morning. Towards the beginning of the year, I would often get up early every Sabbath morning and make pancakes. However, as the year progressed and my weekend bedtimes slipped later and later, I stopped. A few weeks ago I realized how badly staying up late on the weekends was affecting my sleep Sunday and Monday night, so I started trying to go to bed on time again. Thus, this morning I only slept in until 6:30 and headed straight to the kitchen to make our traditional coconut banana cream pancakes.

Last Sunday, Kadian and I found berries (I think black berries, although they look more like mulberries and taste like neither). So far I've managed to use my bag in smoothies. They taste absolutely dreadful--sour!--by themselves. Good new though--they are perfect for fruit sauce!

Nice 'n Thick

After church Kadian and I started on the runzas. If you have never heard of a runza before, you probably aren't from Nebraska. Nebraska has this fast food chain called Runza. I've never actually eaten one since I'm a vegetarian (except for occasionally when I'm not, here in Honduras). I think they originated in Germany (the food, not the restaurant). Anyway, my mom makes delicious homemade ones, and I wanted to give it a try.

Miss Myla pretty much saved the day since she kneaded the bread for about ten minutes for us.

The inside is generally just cabbage, meat, onion, salt, and pepper. Since we had left over cabbage from earlier in the week, we used that. Hence, the random red pepper.

Yummmm. Fresh from the oven--best time to enjoy them.

Taking one to share with Miss Myla

I am so happy they turned out well!

As you can see, food is pretty big around here. This isn't even getting into our suppers!

Sore

Day 5 of dance class--I am exhausted. Plum tuckered out. My legs are crying. Good thing we don't go back until Monday.

Chels

Tonight I want to write a blog to tell you why my friend Chelsea is awesome. Chels and I first became friends when we both had German foreign exchange students live at our houses for two weeks my junior (her sophomore) year of high school--wow, let's not think about how long ago that was! Anyway, ever since then we realized that life was better because we knew each other. We have made so many memories through the years. Oh where to begin...

• Many Friday nights spent making granola and spilling our hearts out to each other
• Getting ready for banquet together--Being on SA together! Ah. Remember when you made me put lip gloss on my eyelids, because you thought it was the eye shadow? ;)
• Sorting through all our boy drama
• The Road Trip
• Sleeping on the trampoline
• Going to Peru!
• Singing together, musicals together, seeing Wicked together!
• Remember that one time? With the sign that was definitely not noticeable enough? Yeah, enough said. ha ha.
• Looking at facebook together--hey, it was companionable
• Taking naps when we were too tired to do anything else but still wanted to hang out
• One name: Wal-Greens
• Also, Target. And fishy crackers!
• All the parties we had at our houses
• Eating gummy bears
• The few number of times we have skyped this year

That's just to name a few. Basically, I REALLY miss her. Chelsea, when you read this (because I know you will), I want to say thank you. I know you are having a crazy week, and I want you to remember how loved you are.

• Thank you for never judging me, and accepting me faults and all, even if I do love avocados more than the average person.
• Thank you for spending countless hours giggling with me. Thank you for being silly with me.
• Thank you for eating toast with me.
• Thank you for all the times you've listened, and thank you for sharing your secrets too.
• Thank you for believing in me.
• Thank you for being happy with me, and thank you for being sad with me.
• Thank you for showing up and being there (Skype included) when I don't even want to be cheered up. Thanks for making me laugh.
• Thank you for making my friends your friends without hesitation. I really appreciate how accepting you are.
• Thank you for being a wedding dork. I love it!
• Thank you for all the notes you write to me and put in the boxes at school.
• Thank you for being honest with me, and for understanding me, and liking me even when you don't understand me. Let's face it, sometimes I don't make sense.
• Thank you for sending me a most awesome package in the mail.
• Thank you for being my friend. You are one of my truest. Words will always be lacking to thank you enough. Remember...

ILY! 
-EM

These pancakes are courtesy of the awesome pancake shaker you sent me. They were delicious and so ingeniously easy!

Puchika

We are told not open our gate except for when we absolutely have to. We are told not to walk alone unless we must. We are told to be home before dark. Don't wear shorts. Check to be sure that there isn't another male passenger in the taxi, they may abduct you. Hide your money. Don't carry a purse. Be aware of your surroundings. Walk on the street if there is more than one man standing on the sidewalk.  Oh, and don't ignore the men when they call you "preciosa" or "princesa" or something else, because they might think you are stuck up. Say "adios" to acknowledge them without striking up conversation. Never get too comfortable. I've even read that it's bad to make eye contact with people. But at the same time, we are told to embrace the culture, be friendly, and let Jesus shine through us. The Bible tells us we have not been given a spirit of fear. How do I balance this?

Often I find myself in the limbo of fear and trust. Fearful of men, but then reminding myself I trust in God. God is bigger. God is in control. All things work together for good with God. But sometimes that still means staying inside when I'd rather be out. Like today. I was going to go to the post office, then to the bank, then to the Hogar. Instead, I am stuck at home. A van from the Hogar was abducted today along with the driver. Everyone is shaken up about it. The windows are tinted and rumor has it that the criminals might have been hoping Americans were inside since so many come and go from the orphanage. I kind of feel like I was told that just to be sure I would stay home. Kadian called me just before I was about to head out the door.

Fabulous.

Why Today is Fantastic

• New pink hair ribbon, courtesy of Valentine´s Day gifts. Plus, my hair dried nicely today.
• Delicious oatmeal for breakfast thanks to Miss Myla, and a yummy smoothie.
• Free period for recess
• Going to the museum twice with first graders
• Turns out, lasagna is easy to make. Lunch was good.
• Preschool is having parcials, I think I can leave at noon!
• ¿Tiempo libre en la tarde? (free time in the afternoon) Yes, please! Oh whatever shall I do...Laundry, lesson planning, cooking. So many choices lol.
• Dance class at 5! I´m so excited.
• I´m not sleepy.
• A letter for Steven is on its way to me.

Hey, March. You´re looking fabulous.