thanks.

what i was thankful for yesterday, celebrating thanksgiving in honduras, for the 4th (?) time...

Thanks...for the beautifully chilly night, making for a comfortable walk down to the front gate, en route for Tegucigalpa.

Thanks...to the bus driver that nearly threw me on my face (repeatedly) as i was getting on (there was a woman sitting right in the middle of the aisle on a huge bucket, not concerned about the fact that it made it nearly impossible for anybody to get by her)

Thanks...to the ayudante on the bus that forgot to take my money.  I would not have had enough cash to get me into the city center otherwise. I took that as payment for the driver nearly breaking my nose. If you don't ask for money, I'm not going to offer it.  I guess that makes up for having to pay double the other day on the rapidito going back to the Ranch.

Thanks...for the longest line of cars I have ever seen in my life (that might be a slight exaggeration), going down from Cerro Grande into Tegucigalpa. It took at least 45 minutes to get to the center, making me late getting to Hospital Escuela. I found out the backup was caused by road construction. Construction sign read something like "working to save you time". Thanks.

Thanks...for the precious little men that sit in front of the post office in the center that were so excited to see that I had come back to exchange more money with them.  Thanks...for not charging me a huge commission fee, and for being so kind.

Thanks...to the colectivo driver that kicked me out of his car when he found out a friend that had just run up to his car wanted to go down a different street than I did (I was already squished between 2 people in the backseat, and his buddy was still standing outside of the car).

Thanks...to the other colectivo drivers that got angry with him because he kicked "la gringita" out of his car.

Thanks...to the next colectivo driver that then forgot to drop me off at the hospital, having to take a rather long detour, including a stop to gas up (by the time I got into his car I was already 20 minutes late for my appointment with the doctor to discuss my research project).

Thanks...to that colectivo driver for dropping me off right outside of Espresso Americano across from the hospital. I took advantage and bought lattes for myself and the doctor.

Thanks...for the women at Espresso Americano that were much more interested in discussing their jewelry than in taking my order and serving me my java.

Thanks...for the viligante at the gate inside the hospital, leading up to the infectious disease department. He remembered me after not having visited them for 2 years. Sweet man.

Thanks...for the doctor finishing late with consults, making me not late at all in the end.

Thanks...for el tiempo latino. Embrace it.

Thanks...for the woman I met while waiting for the doctor. She's in a Master of Social Work program, also doing research in the hospital, looking at factors that influence pediatric anti-retroviral medication adherence.  Really interesting lady, and a great research topic.

Thanks...for the clowns (yes - actual clowns) that were on the bus i grabbed in Cerro Grande, heading back to the Ranch.  For some reason, Honduran clowns always creep me out way more than clowns at home.  My favorite part of their act was when they finished by saying "Para los que nos dieron una ayudita, que Dios les bendiga.  Para los que no nos dieron nada, que se cuidan solos."..."For those that gave us money, may God bless you (take care of you).  For those who didn't give us anything, may you take care of yourselves."

Thanks...for the evangelist that stood up immediately after the clowns stepped off the bus, and kindly asked the driver to shut off the Reggaeton they had blaring. I wonder if he gave the clowns an "ayudita".  He preached until he was blue in the face. Told us about when he was a child and had pancreatic cancer, and he made a pact with Dios that if he would give him 10 more days of life, he would be a better person.  ATTENTION ALL ONCOLOGISTS & ONCOLOGY NURSES: he stopped receiving chemotherapy, decided not to have the surgery that he supposedly needed...he was cured and has lived to be 50 to tell his story. Start telling your patients to just make 10-day agreements with Senor Jesus, and poof. No more cancer.

Thanks...also to the evangelist, that sold coloring books and foot-shaped bottle openers when he was done preaching. I wish I would have bought a bottle opener.

but most of all...

THANKS...to the NPH volunteers that made an amazing Thanksgiving dinner last night, and held quite the party. It was so nice to spend some time with old friends, and to meet new ones (since I couldn't be with family and friends back  home).