COS (Close of Service) Survey

In Peace Corps, we close out our service with a number of official documents, that will stay on our government records forever. This, however, is not one of them. In the final informal newsletter in Honduras, each terminating volunteer does a recap of their service. I will advise you that over the course of two years living in a developing country, we all become accustomed to talking about things that we would not normally talk about in the United States. And there are things we do to get by in life down here that would not be acceptable back home. Read with caution and please do not be offended if some things come as a surprise to you...But most of all, enjoy, because you will all learn some funny things about me in the following post that you might not be expecting...LOL, Stephanie

Name: Stephanie Ann Leedom

Site: La Paz, La Paz (where the streets are paved of gold)

Sector: Municipal Development

Nicknames: Ana, Anita, La Perdida (The Missing Girl), Estefany Maria, Ana Estefany

Biggest Accomplishments: Seeing my park under construction, finding financial support for Clementina’s Comedor Infantil, connecting my friend’s deaf/mute son with a school where he could learn sign language, building houses with Habitat, learning to scuba dive, speak Spanish, dance, identify trees, and catch a good jalon.

Biggest Disappointment: The realization that my closest Honduran friend was stealing from me.

Defining Peace Corps Moments: Seeing Cruz cry at the sight of his new habitat house, consoling a family as they watched their son die in the hospital in Comayagua, and reminding a woman who told me she wanted to die that she had a reason to live!

Things you will miss most: How people with the least are willing to give you the most.

Things you will miss least: Guaro and mac-n-cheese Sundays, Dogville, washing clothes by hand, the bus ride from La Paz to Comayagua, “Si Dios Quiere”, cohetes, street dogs, bolos, poverty, loneliness, inability to express myself…

Biggest Irony: My entire life exists within 4 square blocks…I can go to work, the gym, the park, the supermarket, have a beer, eat dinner, stop and talk to Mariano, visit friends, use the internet, rent a video, get my shoes repaired, and buy a bike or a milkshake or dog food all within a 5 minute walk. Now that’s an impressive ecological footprint!

Worst Illness: Ha…which one? July 4^th in Hospital Viera? Halloween with vomit and diarrhea but no running water or toilet paper? Christmas Eve asthma attack? Or 10 days near death with Dengue?

Biggest Freak-out: One year anniversary in country. I think it’s the most I’ve ever cried…My friend Erin consoled me

Favorite Hondureñismo: Que le vaya muy bien!

Greatest lie I ever told: to a cab driver in Tegucigalpa…that I had to get to the bus station quickly because my husband, the bus driver (ha!), was there waiting for me.

Favorite Honduran Inquiry: (not in any particular order) why I don’t have kids, why I’m not married, why I don’t have a boyfriend, and of course…will I take them to the states with me!

Best Honduran Gesture: Definitely the lip-point, and I do think that I’ve gotten quite good at it!

Favorite Artists during my service: Julieta Venegas, Franco De Vita, Los Toros Band, El Torito, Frank Reyes, Juan Luis Guerra, Enrique Iglesias, and Ian Everhart’s versión of Livin’ on a Prayer

Song I would be content never to hear again: “Hoy es Noche de Sexo,” “Baby, Te Quiero,” “Red Red Wine”

Favorite books during service: Mating by Norman Rush, El Zahir by Paolo Coelho and The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Best jalon: Four hours standing up in the back of a camion with Mike Landis (H7) from Camasca to La Esperanza – It’s the most beautiful part of Honduras – and there’s possibly nothing better than the wind in your hair and the sunset on the mountains while riding in the back of a truck!

Worst jalon: While driving, a guy showed me the massive scars that he received on his stomach and legs from a motorcycle accident even after I told him I didn’t want to see them. Did he not hear me?

Best bus ride: Hedman Alas. First class. La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula. For Free.

Worst bus ride: When Mia threw up on the lady sitting next to me.

Favorite foods: sopa de caracol, baleadas, carne asada, pollo frito y tajadas, licuados, fresh mangos and avocado

Worst thing I ate/smelled: Nance (horrible honduran fruit)…my host mom had it bottled up to make into wine for Christmas, but the pressure built up and one day we came home to the smell of nance filling the house - it had exploded and covered the walls, floors, ceilings…

Stupidest thing I did in the past 2 years: I “accidentally” climbed over the wall at the church in La Paz to take in the night scenery and then was escorted out by the cops! This is when it pays off to be the blonde girl in town!

You know you’ve been in Hn too long when: you aren’t sure you want to leave

I never thought I would: use a one lempira note as toilet paper. When in need, one must be resourceful.

When I grow up I want to be: a gecko, so I can hang from the ceiling, eat mosquitoes all day, and escape through a crack when I need to get away. Or Julieta Venegas, because she is so damn cool!

Favorite (Least) piropo: “Baby, I’ll love you forever!” It’s as simple and as complicated as that!

Favorite Ropa Americana t-shirt: “Cancel my Subscription; I don’t need your Issues”

Favorite animal story: It’s not my favorite, but it’s true. My friend hands were mutilated by his pet raccoon.

Best habit acquired: compassion, patience, and esperanza (hope)

Worst habit acquired: Umm, now I show up late, too!

Things you missed most from the US: my family, thai food, sushi, trader joes, chocolate, wine, cold milk, intellectual conversation, a comfy bed, a hot shower, and being sure there weren’t cockroaches in my toliet or shower.

Things you missed least from the US: consumption, greed, entitlement, traffic, and 10 hour work days

Things you wish you’d known when you signed up: That there would be great disappointments, that I would get my heart broken, and in the end, I still wouldn’t be ready to say goodbye to it all.

Additional comments: Peace and Love to the Delegation - Erin, Jerome, And Raul: It wouldn’t have been as fun or interesting without you guys!!! Adrienne: You’re an exceptional person…thanks for being so real and offering your eye shadow to a girl in need! Good luck in the DR. Liz: I wish you and Fito all the happiness in your life together! And Pat: Thanks for putting up with me (and Mia) as roommates. We made it!!!