2008 Honduras

The day before I left for my first trip with grandma, my dad said, "Where are you going again? "

When I said Honduras, he said, "Wait that's not very safe. I don't think you should go."

But it was too late. I was already determined to head to the Central American country on my big trip. Grandma and I had gone through the list of tours that we could sign up for, and I was drawn to the descriptions of rainforests, rural villages, and turquoise water. Little did I know that Honduras was a country filled with drug-related gang violence and corruption, a clear indicator of my privilege.

I was completely enthralled by the country. It was not the Ohio suburbs I was used to. We boarded our coach bus and travelled out of the city into the winding jungle roads. We passed villages filled with fruit stands and dirt soccer fields. We drove through travel stops lined with armed guards, who checked our passports and took payments from the guides.

One day we went to a cocoa plantation and learned about how coffee is made. Another day, played a game of soccer with some local kids. My favorite adventure was snorkelling in the crystal clear water, chasing after the bright fish and corals. This probably was the experience that got me hooked on scuba diving. Grandma probably enjoyed the Mayan ruins the most.

This experience was a great reminder of how lucky I am to have such a super grandma. She's the one who has given me my curiosity and sense of adventure.