A few other bloggers in the Foreign Service are posting their Pros and Cons for their current Post. I feel that a little over halfway through my tour is a good time for me to compile my list. Here they are:
Pros:
1. Weather - The weather is always nice here, even in the hot/dry season, it doesn't get much beyond the mid-90s. Humidity is fairly reasonably and there is a good balance of sun and rain most of the year.
2. Proximity - Everything in town is pretty easy and quick to get to. Even in traffic, it takes a maximum of 20 minutes to get to the Embassy. Everything in town is about 10 to 15 minutes from our place. We can zip around easily to the few things in town there are to do. (See Cons)
3. People - Hondurans are very nice and kind as you get to know them, recognizing that it is a poor country and people try to get any advantage they can. This makes for generally stressless visa interviews. People don't lie as much as they do in other countries and they RARELY scream, argue or get angry even after being turned down for their visa. Most people say, "Dios le bendiga," and go on their way.
4. US is close and all products are available here - There are no marathon flights or more than two flight segments needed to get home or wherever else we may want to go in the US. The only slightly annoying thing is flying from Portland/Seattle requires an overnight somewhere en route due to the flight time restrictions coming into Tegucigalpa. Also, probably because we are so close, we can get anything we want here and in multiple brands. The only thing I really miss is Trader Joe's, but we can get everything else. I would even venture to say that things aren't much more expensive than retail prices in the US. Amazon stuff makes it in about a week!
5. Embassy (Consular) Team - I work with a great group of people, both Americans and Hondurans. There is good morale and we get the job done well. I'm glad to have such a great Consular tour...I hear they aren't all this way. Special shout-out to my office mate in the Pump Palace!
We like a lot of our colleagues and many families have small kids to hang around with. We have been lucky to have made a lot of friends, new to Post and people packing out.
Cons:
1. Nothing to Do - There is nothing to do. Malls, no green spaces without a significant drive, only the American school down the road. The famed Honduran beaches are 5-7 hour drive, or an expensive flight to Roatan. There are a few closer beaches, and hotels to visit, but they are marginal. N goes to school just to give him space to run around.
2. Security Situation - This is always on your mind. Sometimes you feel fairly safe, but when you look at a map of Tegucigalpa, there is very little area where the gangs don't operate and there are car break-ins and robberies in the area around the embassy and you see private security guards everywhere.
3. Americana - (Borrowing from another blogger) Most of the time you don't feel too far from home. Most the fast food restaurants are American owned and you can't find too many ethnic cuisines. There is Latin American culture around, but you have to get out of Tegucigalpa to feel the culture and personality of Honduras.
4. Lack of Green - I love trees, rivers, streams, grass, nature, etc and there is really none of that here, even as you drive out of town. The lush green that appeals to me so much apparently exists, but I haven't found it. I feel bad for saying it, but even the pretty areas can't match to what I love so much about the Pacific Northwest. I miss it dearly!
5. Nothing to Do - Since this encompasses so much and affects us a lot, I am putting this twice. It is really hard to get out and do anything. There is really no place to go after work to work out some of N's energy. Poor M only leaves our 4 concrete walls once a week if that.
Overall, it has been a good tour, but I really hope we can find a Post where we can at least walk around or get out a bit during the week.
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