In addition to a smooth and economical ride, Honduran busses often provide unexpected entertainment: preachers giving sermons about the end times, salespeople pitching various skin creams and magical pills that cure everything from earaches to cancer, and, my personal favorite, clowns.
Yesterday on my way home from work with one of my co-workers, Deily, we treated to an act by a very cute, very young clown couple. It was probably the best clown act I had ever seen on a bus, due to their genuineness. This wasn’t just a sad way to make money by telling crude jokes about women and mothers-in-law, as most clown acts are. They really took their art seriously. And the rest of the bus really found it hilarious when they used the gringo—me—as their volunteer.
It went something like this, with the actors being Boy Clown, Girl Clown, Gringo, and Deily:
Boy clown: *Something about what would happen if all the women on earth suddenly died. Morbid, but fodder for a good clown act.*
Girl Clown: But if all the women on the earth died, you men would be in big trouble. Who would cook for you?
BC: Not a problem at all. Look. Hey, gentleman standing there. (Points at gringo.)
Gringo: (Turns to Deily.) Uh-oh.
BC: Gentleman, can you cook?
G: Uh, yes.
BC: See, Girl Clown? He can cook. Problem solved. He’ll cook for me, and I’ll cook for him.
GC: Ah, but who would wash your clothes?
BC: Not a problem at all, Girl Clown! Gentleman, gentleman. Can you wash clothes?
G: (Face red, trying not to notice that everyone is staring and laughing at him.) Yes.
BC: See, Girl Clown? He’ll wash for me, and I’ll wash for him.
GC: Ok, Boy Clown. But I know one thing that you can’t do. Who will have babies?
BC: Gentleman, gentleman. Can you have babies?
Deily: (Jabbing Gringo in the back.) Tell him no, Andrés! Tell him no!
G: (Wags finger at Boy Clown.) No.
BC: Some punch line that couldn’t be heard as entire bus was laughing at the gringo who can cook, wash clothes, but can’t have babies.
Good stuff. So good that I gave them 10 lempiras. It was probably worth at least 12.
Making bagels. I was not able to flip this picture. Yes. Lame. But the bagels were NOT lame; in fact they were quite tasty and a new personal favorite, and pretty much the only thing I'm willing to bake.
This we took on a recent day venture to Santa Lucia, my new favorite little town in Honduras. Unfortunately, none of the scenic pictures I took are worth posting, since it was gray and rainy most of the day... but you can see how happy we were to be out of the city for a bit.
My first English students with their diplomas. We were just missing Jessica, who couldn't make it due to one of the demonstrations that blocked her way back home after a visit to her family out East.
Painting flowers on Saturday.
This little friend landed on Andrew's hand while we were waiting for the bus one day. I kind of think he was blowing a kiss at me. Flirting a little bit.
