August 1, 2008 - Copan, Honduras
“It’s hard to think of change taking place in Central America without there first being changes in the United States. As we say in Honduras, “Sin el perro, no hay rabia” – without the dog, there wouldn’t be rabies.
~Elvia Alvarado
A few weeks before arriving in Copan, our home stay mother’s dog had puppies. In the morning of my last day in Copan, one of the five puppies opened its eyes. Amparo, our home-stay mother, decided it was a good time to name him.
The second week of language classes ended with one-on-one teacher, Iliana. Iliana knows about as much English as I know Spanish, so we were a perfect match. The bond stemmed from an equal enjoyment of Aerosmith. Together we would sing “Dream On” in distorted harmony.
I think it was Aristotle who said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Archaeologists have not determined a specific reason for the Ancient Mayan Civilizations demise. However, the primary theory focuses on change in weather patterns due to deforestation. When the Mayan city of Copan was at it’s peak, about 1,500 years ago, the people needed more natural resources. They cut down all surrounding forests, which increased weather temperatures and changed rain patterns. As the result food growth cycles were jeopardized, creating political and social unrest, which led to greater corruption and the civilizations eventual collapse.
Ex-patriots whom have lived in Honduras for decades noted the dramatic change in rainfall, specifically this year. The timing of the afternoon rainstorms remain similar, but the increased intensity is resulting in dramatic floods never witnessed before. In addition, due to mountain logging, erosion is washing way ground soil causing mudslides, like the one that wiped out the city water pipe. In the twelve days visiting Copan, we had running water for only four.
Although time to go, it’s realized that two weeks is not enough time, three weeks for international travel is perfect.
Oh yeah, the name Amparo chose for the wide-eyed pup – Jackson.
