Newsletter No 3

March 2001

Steve and Jude in Honduras

Since we left the UK on 12 January we have been studying Spanish in Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala, in preparation for four years in Honduras working as Environmental Advisors with MOPAWI.

Guatemala

Before we came here, several well-travelled friends told us that Guatemala was the most beautiful country they had ever visited.  Guatemala is indeed spectacular, both geographically and culturally.

Approximately 60% of the population are indigenous Mayans who, despite being in the majority, have suffered considerable discrimination from the more wealthy and influential Ladino (mixed race) population.  In the past this has contributed to social unrest, culminating in a brutal guerrilla war from 1982 to 1996. Today, although poor, Guatemala is generally stable and has a rapidly expanding tourist industry.

Lake Atitlan in the Highlands

Antigua with Volcan Agua behind

Antigua

The city of Antigua was established in 1543 by the Spanish conquistadors and from here they governed a huge swathe of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama.  In 1743 an earthquake destroyed the city and, as a result, the capital was relocated to the present day Guatemala City.  During the mid-1800s however, people began to return to rebuild the city’s many colonial houses, churches and other public buildings. In 1979, Antigua was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list and today is a bright, cheerful city with a wonderful array of colourful colonial buildings, interesting ruins and cobbled streets.  

Spanish Studies and life in Antigua

Antigua is famous for its Spanish schools of which there are currently around 70.  We have one to one tuition for 6 hours a day followed by a couple of hours of homework in the evenings. It’s often quite exhausting, sometimes great fun, sometimes extremely demoralising!  Overall we are making slow, steady progress but the prospect of living and working in a totally Spanish environment is still pretty daunting.

We are staying in the home of a warm and friendly Guatemalan family with several other students. Our room opens into a sunny courtyard with great views of the volcanoes that surround Antigua.  At the school we are enjoying meeting lots of people of all ages, backgrounds and aspirations and from many different countries.

The most novel experiences we have had so far have been the earth tremors.  The devastating earthquake in El Salvador was the day after we arrived and since then we have felt quite a few after-shocks. 

Mayan children near Lake Atitlan

Travels

In addition to our studies, we have had opportunities to travel and experience more of Guatemalan culture away from the rather touristy Antigua.  We were joined for a fortnight in March by Jude’s parents and had a weekend with them in the Highlands at Lake Atitlan, a stunning location surrounded by steep mountain ranges and volcanoes.  With Jude’s Dad we also climbed Volcan Agua, the 12,355 ft mountain overlooking Antigua.

We would whole-heartedly recommend Guatemala as a holiday destination for the more adventurous tourists amongst you. The new Lonely Planet guide provides excellent details on places to stay and

visit and how to get around.  By using this you can easily by-pass the major UK tour operators and make sure that more of your money goes directly into the local economy.

The Next 3 Months

On 16 April we will fly to Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, to start a 3-month period of orientation with MOPAWI.  This is likely to include the following:

·        An environmental protection workshop in Costa Rica.

·        A marine resource seminar in Miami.

·        Three weeks at Cayos Cochinos, a group of 13 islands and keys off the north coast of Honduras.  Since this area was recognised as a reserve by the Honduran government, the surrounding coral reefs have recovered dramatically and fish populations are beginning to return as the reef regenerates.  The reserve is also home to a wide range of birds and an indigenous Garífuna community.

·        Three weeks at Pico Bonito Cloud Forest, another reserve that rises from sea level to 7,300ft.

·        Three weeks at Punta Sal National Park on the north coast, close to the Guatemalan border.  This park includes a lagoon, a coral reef and mangrove swamps.

In July we will move to Belén, a small village in La Mosquitia in the east of Honduras which will be our home for the next 4 years.

Thank you

A big ‘thank you’ to all of you who have written to us over the last few months and sent us emails.  It is always really exciting to receive mail and your thoughts and prayers mean a huge amount to us.  MUCHAS GRACIAS!

If you move house, get a new email address or would like to be removed from our Newsletter mailing list, please contact Jude’s sister and brother-in-law, Ruth & Stephen Smith.  Please also contact them if you would like to receive our monthly prayer bulletins.  Their contact details are:

email: ruthandstephen@ukonline.co.uk

From April onwards our correspondence address will be:

c/o MOPAWI, Residencial Tres Caminos, Apartado Postal 2175, Tegucigalpa, MDC, Honduras

Our email address is: s-j.collins@tearfund.org