San Pedro Sula

It's hard to believe but the fieldwork is done. We arrived back here in San Pedro Sula yesterday after a very busy and tiring week with the final brigade and are now enjoying a short rest before beginning the journey home!
Last week was definately an adventure. This brigade went to comunities in the mountains around the El Cajon dam in central Honduras. These communities were remote- it took 3 hours travelling (each way)- first by bus, then boat then 4WD. The "road" up the mountain was the worst I have seen, steep and rough. I was one of the lucky ones- being given a seat in the cab every time because of the pregnancy (although it still gave new meaning to the term "bouncing baby"), Luis gained a very sore rear end from bumping up and down the mountain in the back of the truck. The days were long- waking at 5:30 in order to be on our way before 7am, and usually not back until after 6pm- a bit of a shock to my system!
The medical clinics and the research went well. I was impressed that this organisation has what appears to be an effective follow up program which includes having full time Honduran staff, so that patients who need further care (including a small boy with a heart defect, and another child with nuerological problems) should get it. The team also had a lot of clothes and shoes to give away and I spent much of the week assisting with this (something I think I will need to address in my thesis) and even doing some basic translating! Luis got himself involved in "de-worming" translating for and assisting those distributing parasite medication.
I guess I should have expected it but it took me until the last couple of days of the last team beofre I really felt like I knew what I was doing with the research. I am starting to get an idea of what direction my thesis will take, but am hoping there is not too many gaps in my data!
Meanwhile the baby has starting moving- I wonder if all that bumping up and down the mountain woke it up! It took me a few days to convince myself that it wasn't just gas... but yesterday Luis was able to feel it also which was amazing. It's a very strange but exciting experience to have a baby moving inside you... it certainly makes it all the more real.
Anyway we were able to get a ride back to San Pedro Sula with the team (no more chicken buses) and are treating ourselves to a couple of days in a nice hotel to relax and catch up on rest (lie in the hammocks, swim in the pool, sleep....). We travel by bus to Guatemala City on Tuesday, and fly from there on Wednesday, arriving in NZ on Friday. So see you soon!