It’s a strange time throughout the entire world. You’ve heard it all before. I don’t want my first two sentences make you think that I care not for the severity of the situation, especially for those who have lost loved ones and employment. But you, like me, are probably a bit weary of being at home so much.
I’m beginning to detest Netflix. My job is remote, which I have held since July last year, so I am well-accustomed to working from home. However, being in front of a computer screen all day and then shifting a few metres to the TV isn’t great for my flexibility and mentality. I’m reading four books at once. I’m doing a reiki course. I’m trying to plant the seeds of fruit and vegetables I eat. I’m learning to play the guitar. I (sometimes) do yoga. I keep in contact with family and friends. Nothing out the norm, I think. But I feel exhausted by the news, monitoring both UK and Honduras, while Trump likes to stick the US in my news agenda, as he does with everyone else’s, especially when suggesting to his compariots that they inject disinfectant.
Lockdown seems to be easing in many countries in Europe, as well as the US. Honduras seems to be getting tighter with restrictions. I daresay, the country was pretty quick with implementing restrictions and, on the most part, people have respected those rules, probably more so than the UK. The authorities and nation no doubt knew that implementing and obeying such restrictions was necessary as the health system was already very weak.
While initially agreeing with these restrictions, especially as there was no nonsense or wishwashiness as with the British government, there were concerns about how much of the population would survive. You see, as with a few countries in Latin America, the day we can leave our house and visit the shops and banks etc depends on the last digit of your ID card number. To begin with, it was two numbers per day. My day was Friday in the week. Then it changed to one number a day, meaning we can leave the house pretty much every nine working days (no one is designated is designated to leave at weekends). My new day is Thursday. Magic Thursday. Liberal Thursday, or in Spanish, libre jueves.
For me, it’s okay. I have nice wage. I’m extremely lucky. One of the fortunate ones. I can shop at the supermarkets and pharmacies. I can stock up for a couple of weeks. Supermarkets aren’t cheap for me, mind. Approximately 65% of the country live in poverty, much of which have informal jobs, selling in the street or agricultural work which is not forbidden in lockdown. They live on a day-to-day basis, with no economic resources to stock up for a week or two. The military have closed the markets, and supermarkets such as La Colonia is out the question. Of course, they can get stuff from the pulperia convenience stores, but the government is doing little to support the most desperate, and it forces people to break curfew and often work illegally and risk being caught and detained for the day. There has been looting in some parts of the country, as well as road blocks with people demanding a 20 Lempira fee to pass.
It’s worrying, and saddening. It could be worse next week if they close off the Francisco Morazan state, where I am based, due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases. We wait to hear the news – la cadena – the official announcement from the government. It’s bizarre for a foreigner here, like something from North Korea, where all the channels and radio stations have their programmes interrupted. There’s usually a fella named Francis Contreras, with big scary eyes, tells us the number of cases across the country, as well as a snippet of official advice – more clear and concise than anything Boris Johnson or Donald Trump can muster – and he’s become something of a household name, and for some, a bit of a sex symbol (it’s those piercing eyes – see the image below). Sometimes someone from the military speaks, sometimes President Juan Orlando Hernandez himself. Nonetheless, we await today’s news and what will be the situation next week.
Francis Contreras – Honduran COVID sex God
I don’t want to be all doom and gloom though. I try to laugh at my own silly irony plight of COVID-19 lockdown. One of which is the fact that I live in a truly beautiful country, with majestic mountains, lush forests and breathtaking beaches, but now I just feel excited to go to a supermarket. It’s pathetic, but I have never been so grateful for the selection. I have recently found a Honduran version of Shreddies. Sad though it is, I have spent the best part of decade hoping for find this cereal. It may have always been there. Maybe the zen spirits have opened my eyes a little wider and I embracing all the little things in life. It’s a happy moment nonetheless. Although I can’t wait until the end of COVID-19 and I can return to shopping in the markets. I rather spend my money on food where the everyday man profits – they need it more – rather than another supermarket chain.
Honduran version of Shreddies – happy moments
I wish everyone reading this that they are well, as well as their families. I am concluding this blog post with the below image. The photo is of Uyuca, the highest point in the state. I tried to climb it almost 10 years ago with Daniel Padgett when I spent a my first few months of my time in Honduras in the town Tatumbla, a village to the East of Tegucigalpa. We almost reached the top but mites and mosquitoes sucked the blood and will out of me. We also didn’t go up a set path – silly of us really. But I loved it; a memorable adventure. I promise myself that I will climb it though. It was a resolution at the start of the year with Vicente, our dog. I hope it is still possible.
(Although this time I shall taking a set path!)
NICK "EL CATRACHO" ROGERS 