Category Microfinance in Honduras
The Professional
Everyone graduates an amateur in what comes next. It first hit me that I wasn’t a student anymore when I filled out the immigration form on the plane to Honduras. “Student” was no longer a good cop-out for the profession question. When the plane touched the tarmac, it was as if I’d arrived in the land […]
Watching A Mistake Unfold
October 19th, 2015 – Dery calls a client. Dery works on our Constant Client Contact team (CCC), responsible for keeping up communications between students and clients. He asks her if she has any other questions or concerns. She says ‘yes’ and that she’s worried about her loan. They talk for thirteen minutes. He recommends she […]
Better Than A Desk
I love this job. I love being the Program Director of La Ceiba Microfinance. Before graduating, I walked through the university columns every day and took my seat behind a desk. I learned how to think and how others thought for themselves. Sporting a cap and gown, I prayed to be spared a desk job […]
Twenty-Twenty Humanity
“It’s important you share what you’ve learned, but do not include my name. I feel that this is my personal information.” We talked a bit about her daughters, one of which I taught in the bilingual school, and touched on current issues like the community’s water pump that broke and a number of neighbors she was […]
Flagging Friends
I stood on the side of the road with a bag of chicken. The moon had risen into the sky and the cars came with headlights blazing. I had just finished eating at the Carcamo’s, a family who had worked with La Ceiba for years. It was the grandmother, Donia Sonia, who started inviting me […]
Diamonds In The Rough
These are my best photos from my time here. I figured I would share them on the blog…
MFI Goggles
We all remember the shape shifting appearance of things through drunk goggles. It was a fantastic way to show us high school kids just how deformed the world appeared to our inebriated senses. What I have learned beyond the walls of academia is there are many goggles we don’t even know we’re wearing. They can […]
A Most Interesting Conversation
In June, a deaf kid approached me under a small apple tree. I had no idea who he was nor why he was trying to sign to me. I assumed someone had told him to seek out the gringo as a joke. I politely mimed I wasn’t the right person and took my leave. In […]
Grains Of Sand
“This is a picture of Sulma’s sixth grade graduation.” There’s a group of girls in light blue dresses sitting against the wall. “Look at this one. That’s Sulma’s teacher there. She’s giving her a medal.” A dark haired girl stands in front of a microphone as a taller, older woman lifts a ribbon around her […]
Demons In Development
“You look sad” I was leaning up against a pole in Villa Soleada, munching on a bag of chips and watching the guy’s soccer game. The sun had already disappeared behind the trees and a purple twilight tinted the scene. I barely noticed the game; I was zoned out and exhausted. My hand robotically put […]
Jeff Paddock
Suddenly-Human 