There is a book in the works

Hi everyone-
I wanted to let you all know that I have started to compose a book about my experiences here in Honduras. When in 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship he outlined the organization's mission as having three simple goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

It is that third goal which I'm working on by writing this book. I reach my 6th month mark after swear-in this Saturday ( 9 months in country). I have had a bunch of experiences and insights that I need to put into type because I don't want to be selfish with this. I want to share these experiences. They have changed my perspective and the way I view life and hopefully I can convey some of these feelings to you the reader. By doing helping to create some sense of what life is here I am an advocate for those I have created great friendships and other lasting relationships. In that way I am fulfilling the 3rd goal by promoting the understanding of others back home. Also, remember, that Peace Corps is funded by your tax dollars. If not a novel it will be like a really long essay.

You may be wondering, "Jeez, this guy cant even keep a blog updated." Well, trust me. I have learned how important is to write and to convey these ideas. The most important thing I can come away with from here is an experience I can expose and get others to understand the human condition of life down here. My work here in the long run doesn't mean much. What matters is that though an understanding there can also be a change of heart. That means the way we talk about people and groups. We begin by not using words like Mexicans as a pejorative, wetbacks, invasion, job stealer', and law breakers. We should see people as they really are and once you begin to really know them then we treat others as ourselves. When one speaks of our current situation with immigration having a more loving attitude may create an environment where healthy and humane solutions begin to come forward.

So, this book is a cursory introduction to some of these people who have families and houses and put all they can into making a living. That perspective hopefully will be well portrayed here from the campo (farm/ rural area) and I want to bring it to you. It's also just a great way to show how I lived day to day along with some of the more adventuresome and cool things I have come across.

Also, The blog is also beginning to be updated regularly and parts of it may become passages in the book. I will also try to put parts of the book I already have and post them on the blog. The brownie story was one of those from the book.

I want your input! Please please please send me questions about life here or other general things that you think would be important to add to this writing. Thanks!