Honduras part 1: Under the caribbean sea

I’ve always been a bit scared of water. Getting water in my eyes and nose has always made me panic. My mom used to make fun of me saying that when I was a kid I managed to take a shower without getting water in my face and that when I went swimming I always kept my head about a meter above the water to make sure that i never got water in my nose. So as you understand, water has never really been my strongest side.

And then, all of a sudden, I find myself on the small island of Utila in the caribbean sea on the northern coast of Honduras signing up to learn how to scuba dive!

Julianne, Erik and Vegard (three friends from Norway) had gotten to Utila a day before me, and as I step out of the boat (more like a floating metal box than a boat) from the mainland I expected to see them waiting. But no, on the dock I see a tall, blond, stranger standing with a sign saying “Ms. Maren Trondsen Johansen”. Surprised, I walk over to him and introduce myself. I figure that Julianne and the crew had sent him to get me. I find the whole situation quite funny and start laughing when I see my friends heads pop out from behind a building just down the road.

The four of us together with a funny danish guy starts our diving lessons the same afternoon with the first bits of theory that we have to go through. Our teacher is a laid back californian girl called Sarah and she turns out to be a great help as I struggle to conquer my fear of getting water in my nose.

Day two at the Island we get ready to go diving for the very first time. Putting on our super tight wet suits, fins and masks, weight belts and oxygen tanks I realize that I’m actually quite nervous.

The equipment ready to be put on

We get ourself with all the equipment on over to the end of the dock, it’s surprisingly heavy and walking with fins, weight belts and the tank on our back is a challenge on it’s own. And then we jump in, sink to the bottom (it’s only about two meters deep) and stand on our knees on the bottom. It takes a while before I realize that I can breath, but once I start breathing it’s pretty amazing to be down there. There’s a few exercises that needs to be done under water and everything goes just fine until I have to fill my mask with water and clear it out while being under water. Filling it up, water gets in my nose and I panic and shoot to the surface. I panic the first time, the second time and the third time. After about 5-6 failed attempts I finally manage to do it and the class continues.

happy divers

The next three days we dive of the boat in deeper water out in the lagoon. Our first dive we go down to 12 meters, swimming around the coral reef amongst tropical fishes in all sorts of colors is a wonderful experience. But what gave me the biggest kick was floating weightlessly under water, seeing other people above and below me and then, realizing that we’re actually breathing under water!

With every dive I get more and more exited about diving, the fear goes away as I got comfortable with the equipment, learn how to control my buoyancy, realize that I’m not going to drown under water and that I can handle (sort of) getting water in my nose.

After four days of classes, a day of fun diving and a very relaxed exam, I get certified as an open water diver. And yes, I am proud of that.

The girl who was scared of water learned to dive!

A day at the farm

Once again I find myself in a place where the day starts early.

early morning view over the Oaxaca valley

At 6am my alarm goes of and it is time to get up. It´s pitch black outside an all I can see is the lights from the city further down the valley. I head over to the outdoor kitchen and make myself some breakfast. Oatmeal porridge, a cup of tea and a good book is all it takes to cure me of my grumpy-morning-mood. And as I sit there, every mo
rning, looking out over the valley as the smallest hint of daylight starts appearing I realize that I actually like this time of day. Dawn is when everything starts over again and I think I like the thought of starting over again.

And then, an hour later, the work starts. Digging ditches, working the fields, cutting grass, making paths and harvesting honey from the agressive africanized bees they have at the farm, always making sure all the hard work gets done before the sun starts heating for real.

Around noon it´s time for lunch. Freshly coocked vegetables straight from the garden is enjoied in the shadows of the kitchen, away from the burning sun.

Some days we go out to the bees. I´m terrefied of bees, but dressed up in a space-suit-looking costume I went out there. The queen bee was moved, honey was harvested and braught back to the farm. I think it is the best honey I´ve ever tasted!

An afternoon nap is mandatory, a nice way to avoid the midday heat. When nap-time is over, I head out to the fields once again. It´s mostly planting and watering in the afternoon, not much hard work and that suits me very well.

And when the work is done for the day, I stit down with a cup of tea made of herbs from the garden and watch the mountains change color as the sun sets behind them. Every evening it looks different as the mountains turns different shades of blue, purple, orange or pink. And every evening is calm and quiet as the night slowly sinks in over the valley. I retire to my room after dinner to get a good nights sleep, because tomorrow is yet another early morning.