Lunes/Monday

Now that my schedule is becoming a bit more fijo/fixed, I can let you all in on my daily routines. :) I usually wake up around 6:15 am, get dressed, have breakfast (not ranch food...I've now invested in a granola/oatmeal/corn flakes mixture with a piece of fruit chopped up in it with leche de polvo/powdered milk, which you have to add water to), and head off to the clinica interna/internal clinic. There I do oral motor exercises and feeding therapy with a 13-year-old boy named Ariel. He is not from the ranch, but his family lives nearby. In February he was in a car accident, of which he was the only survivor. He suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and extensive damage of his left leg (his pueblo/town raised the money so he could have surgery, but the doctors messed up the operation...leaving his leg permanently damaged). His mother has been staying with him and my goals are to teach her exercises that she can do with him when they leave the ranch. There is a picture of him before the accident hanging in the room; it is so sad to see the difference. Afterwards, I walk down to the school and have therapy with the "especiales"/special ed kids. Carlos, who is a product of incest, and Pablo, who is labeled as autistic, but who really knows?! They are 20 and 18-years-old, respectively, so therapy is more pragmatic-based. After therapy is recreo/recess, where all of the therapists are assigned to an "especial" to take care of. We march down to the special ed. classroom, pick up our kid and head to the courtyard where merienda/snack is served (usually sandia/watermelon, minimo/banana, manzana/apple, or a naranja/orange --which are actually green in Honduras). Then it's back to the therapy room. I should mention that my therapy room is awesome. Fellow SLP's know that we are not always privileged to our own classroom; we're usually stuck in a storage closet, the hallway, or share a room with many other people. Julia (the SLP from Austria) and I share a large classroom, which is full of great therapy materials (the majority donated from Bilingual Therapies!); however, we've arranged our schedules so that we're rarely there at the same time. After recreo I work with 3 school-age children (all individually). Mostly articulation, vocabulary building, and narrative activities. School is let out at 1:00 pm. I meet up with the special education teacher, Yolanda, as we are in charge of repartiendo/serving lunch to the psicopedagogia/special education department. Food is dropped off in thermos' by a pick-up truck that we have to carry to the school from the road. We serve the food, eat lunch together, clean the thermos', and return them to the curb to be picked up later. Then I head to Casa Eva, which is the home for the abuelos/granparents. I do cognitive therapy with two of the abuelos there. Then I have to quick pack my bag, take a shower if I have time, and head to the employee bus at 4:00 pm, where I meet up with Jean (physical therapist from New York). We take the bus into Tegucigalpa and spend the night in Casa Alistar, a bachillerato/high school hogar/home for about 7 boys. It's nice to be able to go out for dinner, meet up with fellow ranch people, catch a movie, have a few drinks, etc. Monday is definitely a jam-packed day, but it's fun!

My First "Turno"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!!!

This weekend is my first working weekend with my hogar. Last night I volunteered to do "turno" (sleeping at the hogar) with one of the tias. It was really fun. We had dinner together as usual (black beans, mantequilla/butter, bread) and then went to the sala/living room, where the girls were putting on a concert. One of the girls, Digna, was all dressed up with a fake microphone singing all sorts of popular Spanish tunes. It was hilarious. They call her "Michael Jackson". Then a few of us went to the dormitorio/bedroom (a big room full of 3-story bunk beds). I had a Self magazine in English. The girls were all so intrigued and interested in it. They liked the ads more than the stories, as well as all the pictures. I showed them a few yoga poses and they showed me their photo albums. When it came time to get ready for bed, the girls all gathered around to watch me take out my contacts. They were amazed!!! It was really funny. They had never seen anyone wear contacts before. They also watched to see how I brushed my teeth. At times, I feel like I am in the movie Annie. Seriously. Twenty-six girls running around, mopping the floors, singing songs, playing, doing the dishes, etc. It's not that far off if you're looking for an image. I slept okay in the hogar. On Saturday morning we had breakfast (friend eggs, avocado, rice) and then headed outside to do aseos/chores. It is my working weekend, so I attempted to work right alongside them. The aseo for Saturday was chopeando/chopping the grass. They do not have lawn mowers on the ranch; they use machetes. Imagine, kids as young as five-years-old, using machetes to cut the grass. It's very common here...and they love laughing at the new volunteers (a.k.a. "gringos") who attempt to learn. Well, they gave me a short lesson, and then I grabbed the machete and started chopping the grass. All the girls were cracking up. "Mas abajo"/lower, "a los raices"/to the roots, were some of the advice the girls shouted out to me. I eventually got the hang of it, and the girls said I was a quick-learner. Afterwards we lounged outside picking piojos/lice and liendres/lice eggs out of the girls hair. It sounds gross, but it's very common. We looked like little monkeys picking at their heads. It's no wonder they have lice: they share everything and I don't think they wash their sheets that often. The tias were picking out lice with the same comb for each girl. In the afternoon we had almuerzo familiar/family lunch in the maranon/boys ranch. That was pretty fun, especially now that I'm getting to know more of the kids and making connections as to who are the siblings. I then retreated back to Casa Personal/volunteers' house for some rest and a ducha/shower. The actividad/activity for Saturday night was a movie under the stars. We watched the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Spanish. It was a beautiful night. Just like being at a drive-in, without the cars. We then had elote/corn on the cob for a merienda/snack and went to bed. It was a nice working weekend; I'm feeling a lot closer with the girls in my hogar.

**Picture of Digna, Estrellas de Belen**

Update on Mirna

An update on Mirna and the funeral: A mass and a funeral was held on Friday for Mirna, the 30-year-old mother who is an ex-pequena and has 2 daughters who now live here on the ranch. She died of ovarian cancer. The past few weeks were really hard for her. I have seen firsthand the medical resources that are lacking in "third world countries". In the United States there is no way that a woman this young would die. As I said, the past few weeks were really hard. She stopped eating completely about a week ago. The only medication/medical care she was receiving was morphine pills (which for the last 3 days of her life they couldn't administer because she couldn't swallow the pills). It is really sad. The culture of Honduras conducted a wake of the body on Thursday night (about 3 hours after she died). There was a mass on Friday morning and then we all walked to the cemetery to bury her. Her extended family came to the ranch, including three of her sisters. Mirna had a husband, but he left her when he found out she had cancer. Then she had a boyfriend, but the doctors wouldn't allow him to see her (I guess something bad happened, but no one knows exactly what). Cynthia and Paola were at the mass and funeral. Cynthia (the older sister) seemed to take it harder than Paola, at least on the outside. Cynthia has had to do some quick growing up, as she did a lot of the care taking of her mother once she became sick. Really it is a blessing that the girls are so young I think. They also have a lot of support and empathy here on the ranch, as many of the other pequenos have lost one of both of their parents. I'm sure they will both continue to live on the ranch. Thanks to everyone for their concern and sympathy.

Mirna

If you look back on my previous blogs, you'll see the connection I have made with two pequenas here on the ranch, Cynthia and Paola. They were the first pequenos I met, as they were in the pick-up truck to get me when I arrived at the airport in Honduras. Their mother, Mirna, has been battling ovarian cancer for a while now. She is an ex-pequena and brought her kids here in April when she started getting really sick. I had the privilege to spend a couple evenings with the three of them and had dinner with her bedside. It was a very special time. Well, this evening Mirna passed away. Some of the kids are taking it really hard, as it brings back memories of when their parent(s) died. The ranch hasn't told Cynthia or Paola yet; I think they want to wait till tomorrow during the daytime. Even though I think they were prepared for her death, it's a sad situation. I'm sure this experience and grieving process with the pequenos will be really important and memorable.

Amapala

This past weekend, all volunteers had "salida"/free. So, a group of nine of us headed down to Amapala on Isla del Tigre, which is on the Pacific coast. We took a jalon/back of a truck part of the way and bused it the rest of the way to get there. Afterwards we hopped into a lancha/boat, which took us to the island. The island is an extinct volcano; it's not touristy at all; it's a small, poor, fishing town. It was a nice getaway for sure. We splurged on a nice hotel, which cost 150 lempiras/person/night (~$7.50/night). It had a swimming pool, a restaurant, a workout room, cable TV, hot water, and air conditioning. I should mention, however, that the electricity was out most of the weekend, so we didn't get to enjoy all of these amenities. In fact, they had to bring us a bucket of water so we could flush the toilet manually. On Saturday, after being awakened by gallos/roosters, Aline (France), Eliu (ex-pequeno), and I attempted to hike to the top of the volcano. About 45 minutes into the climb we lost the path, so we didn't make it all the way. It was a beautiful hike though through dense forests. We saw lizards, colorful birds, and a huge spider. It is so hot in Amapala! I don't think I've ever sweat so much in my life. We met up with the rest of the group at Playa Negra (so named for it's black sand beach). We spent the afternoon swimming in the Golfo de Fonseca. Two of the volunteers, Annemarie (Minnesota) and Franca (Germany) were stung by jellyfish. We headed to Playa Grande for dinner. It was a long, hot walk, but it was worth it. We sat right on the beach and ate fresh fish. There was even a man chopping coconuts to drink and eat as well. The beaches are a little different here in Honduras. People swim in their clothes, there are pigs on the beach, and lots and lots of dogs. All in all, it was a nice weekend. Definitely a needed and appreciated getaway.

Back in Tegucigalpa

Well, it´s been two weeks since my assault and robbery, and here I am back in Tegucigalpa. I hate this city. I am constantly on edge, jumpy, nervous, and uncomfortable here. While that may be a good thing to keep me on my toes, it is just no fun to be here.
I arrived last night with Julia and Kathi (speech-language therapist and physical therapist from Austria). We walked around a bit, ate fresh mangoes from street vendors, had a coffee, and I was finally able to talk to my parents on the phone. It was a bit emotional on both sides of the phone line, but it sure was a relief to talk to them! Afterwards we went to Casa Alistar (a home for bachillerato/high school boys) and picked up Teresa (from Germany) who is living there. We went out for a few drinks and were able to unwind and socialize for a bit. This morning we did therapy at Casa Angeles, which is the home for severely disabled children. We then went to the centro and had licuados and are now in the internet cafe.
This afternoon I´m meeting up with my roommate Monica and Ryan to head down to Amapala. Amapala is an island in the south of Honduras on the Golfo de Fonseca. It´s a poor, fishing community that has many beaches and a volcano. It should be a nice, relaxing getaway (let´s hope so!). About five other volunteers are going too.

**Question from Rita**
Do you speak English or Spanish with your roommate?
We normally speak English when it´s just the two of us. However, in a group of people, we speak Spanish. That´s how it is with just about all the volunteers. Usually if we´re with a mixture of Americans and Europeans, we speak Spanish. Sometimes though, even with just each other we speak Spanish. It just depends. Even when we speak English, it´s always a little combination of both English and Spanish (a.k.a. Spanglish).

**Picture of my roommate Monica and me riding in jalon/back of a truck in Amapala

Padre Wasson

Below is an announcement of Padre Wasson´s (the founder of NPH) death. The ranch is dedicating a lot of time, ceremonies, and misas/masses towards his rememberance. While it´s a sad occasion, it´s kind of cool to be on the ranch during this time, as it is a part of the ranch´s history.

Dear Current and Former NPH Volunteers,

As many of you may have already heard, our beloved Founder and Director, Father William Bryce Wasson of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH; Our Little Brothers and Sisters) passed away this morning, ­­­­August 16, 2006.

You have been very kind in your loving service to Father Wasson’s family. I want to assure you that his work to care for these precious children will carry on. Please say a prayer for Father Wasson, the children, the volunteers and our staff.

Memorial Services will be held in the coming weeks in Arizona, Illinois, Mexico, Minnesota and Washington. Further information will be posted on our website: www.friendsoftheorphans.org and on the NPH website: www.nph.org as soon as details are arranged. Private internment will be in Yarnell, Arizona at a later date.

Olimpiadas

Well, it's been one month since I've been here...12 more to go! Per my previous blogs I'm sure you can see I've had a bit of a rough start. I'm finally feeling on the upswing though and am trying to keep a positive attitude. I'm liking my work schedule; it's quite laid back, you get to spend a lot of personal time with those on your caseload, and it's quite varied. I'm finding that I'm a little rusty in some areas (e.g., swallowing, adults, communication boards, oral motor), so I've been doing some research online for new therapy ideas.
This weekend the ranch celebrated the Olimpiadas. It was a fun, chaotic, exhausting time. They split the ranch into 18 teams. During the past 4-6 weeks the teams have been meeting to choreograph a dance, paint a flag, decorate t-shirts, etc. While the meetings seemed unorganized and were frustrating to attend, when Friday rolled around the teams seemed to pull it all together. It was fantastic...these Hondurans can dance!!! It was very impressive. I took a couple videos on my camera as a keepsake. Saturday the games began. We attended mass, had a torch passing opening ceremony, and played serious field day games. It was a little rough for me playing with my fractured pinky, but there was no way I was going to sit out. Games included a cultural trivia game, a slip and slide basketball race, tug-of-war knee-deep in mud trenches, handball, tether ball, long jump, a serious military obstacle course, and a traditional pole climb (team members try to reach the highest point possible on a super-high pole covered in cow lard and grease by climbing on top of one another...this game would never be played in the U.S....it was super dangerous...I remember seeing something similar on a National Geographic show or something). There were also relay races, a concession stand, and lots of musica latina. It brought me back to the days when I used to kick butt in sporting events, but man have the times changed! I did alright, given my fractured finger, but I also made a complete fool of myself. I somehow was one of the ones picked to do the long jump (me, with my stubby legs!). We were each allowed to do a "prueba"/practice jump. Well, in my defense, the ground here is very uneven and the grass is long so you can't always see where you're walking. Anyways, shortly into my running start, I tripped and went skidding on my face. I wasn't even near the long jump line. Seriously, if someone had a video camera, I could've won the grand prize on America's Funniest Videos. I just started laughing along with everyone else. It was quite embarrassing. People came up to me later in the evening telling me they heard about what happened. Yeah, great. Despite my little trip up, our team came in second place overall. But man was I sore on Sunday!!! Everything ached. Saturday night there was a dance. It was a lot like a middle school/high school dance in the U.S., but with much more risque dancing. The kids were allowed to stay up till 1:00 AM, so it was a very special occasion.
Sunday was a recovery, lazy day. I did yoga to stretch out all the kinks and aches in my body, napped for a few hours and watched videos with some other volunteers. Sunday night ended with a despedida/fiesta for Laura (22nd birthday, from Mexico, resource teacher) and the family (going away party, mom Liz - doctor, dad Jake - maintenance, two sons, from Maine).
I'm getting settled into my new room as well. My roommate is from Seattle, Washington. Her name is Monica and she's 22-years-old. She just graduated from school and will be volunteering here as a nurse. I feel super-lucky to have her as a roommate...she's been taking care of my fractured pinky. We've been getting along really well so far. I think it'll be a good roomie situation.

Huelga/Strike

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
To: All American Citizens
From: American Citizens Services Unit, Consular Section
Date: August 9, 2006
Subject: Warden Message – Teachers Demonstration
Previously peaceful demonstrations in favor of increased salaries for teachers became violent on August 9, 2006, with both demonstrators and law enforcement officials reported injured. There are credible reports of gun fire and the use of tear gas by law enforcement officials. Demonstrators have blocked major highways, including those providing access to the capital of Tegucigalpa, occasionally for many hours at a time. U.S. citizens are advised to monitor media reports closely and to avoid all demonstrations.
Access to Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa has also been occasionally impeded. U.S. citizens considering travel to or through Toncontin should ascertain whether the airport is open before they begin their travel.
American citizens with questions about this message may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Consulate via e-mail at: usahonduras@state.gov
Always remember to refer to our Embassy website http://honduras.usembassy.gov and choose the Consular page to obtain information on matters pertaining to American Citizen Services.
Please pass this message to American citizens who might not be registered with the Embassy and suggest they do so at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/

CBS Evening News...Tune In!!

Ben was here in Honduras a couple weeks ago. We hung out and his project is really cool! Will someone please tape it for me so I can watch it when I get back???

Dear Friends….

Tune in to CBS Evening News with Katie Couric on Tuesday, September 5th (right after Labor Day) to see an inspiring clip featuring Ben Schumaker of The Memory Project visiting NPH Nicaragua!

To learn more about the good work being done by The Memory Project, go to http://www.thememoryproject.org/

The film clip is only 2 minutes and 15 seconds long, so be sure to watch the whole show or record it. It will be crammed full of footage from NPH Nicaragua, interviews with Ben and the students, etc. At the end, CBS will show their usual banner “visit cbs.com for more information.” On their website they will include a brief write-up of the story with links to The Memory Project as well as to Friends of the Orphans and NPH.

Warning: Although this clip is scheduled for September 5, there is no guarantee that another news item won’t pre-empt it. If it doesn’t air September 5, it will definitely be on sometime during Katie’s first month on CBS.

Feel free to share this information with everyone you know – let’s get the word out!

Shaken up, but doin alright

Well, the term "third world country" rang true for me today, as I was robbed and assaulted at knifepoint. Before I tell what happened, know that I am okay!

Two other girl volunteers and I were walking down the street in Tegucigalpa. We were walking single file b/c the sidewalks are very narrow. It was the middle of the day on a Saturday in a relatively safe area where the volunteers walk through often. I was walking last in line and had on my purse that goes across my body (so I felt safe). I was also carrying a grocery bag. All of a sudden, two guys (early to mid 20's) came up behind me and I felt a tug on my back. I quick turned around and realized they were trying to steal my purse. One of the guys had cut the strap with a knife. I started yelling NO, NO and trying to get the purse away from them. That's when the other guy pulled the knife on me. He lifted it in the air and aimed it at my arm. At that point, Vanessa (one of the volunteers) also started yelling and tried to help me. Seeing the knife, though, I gave up the fight and let the purse go. I chased them and tried to get other people's attention, but they got away. I'm lucky nothing worse happened.
My pinky finger on my right hand is a little messed up. My pinky was stuck in the clasp of the purse as they were yanking it away. Lucky for me, Monica (my new roommate) is a nurse. On the spot, she made a make-shift splint, which really helped. When I got back to the ranch, I saw the doctor. She made me a splint and recommends I go get an x-ray on Monday to make sure it isn't fractured. I'll keep you posted as to the results.
Petty theft is very common here. All they probably wanted was my cash and cell phone and probably ditched the purse. I'm doing surprisingly well. Everyone here has really helped me by cancelling my credit cards, loaning me money, etc. I feel a little bothered, a little mad, a little violated, and a little victimized. Then again, for all the traveling I've done in my life, I've been very lucky. This could've (and does) happen to anyone. I learned a lesson. This no longer feels like a vacation. My street smarts have to be increased and I've got to be alert at all times.

My New Home

Today I said goodbye to the dorms and moved into my permanent room. I feel like I'm a freshman in college. Two varones/males lived in this room before me, so I had to do some mega cleaning. I swept, I mopped, I painted my desk and chair, I dusted, I cleared out cob webs, I bleached everything in the bathroom. It was a long day. However, I can now say that it was worth it as I'm lying in my new bed with my mosquito net draped around me. The room is painted blue and yellow. It definitely needs some personal touches. I have the room to myself tonight. My roommate arrives tomorrow. Her name is Monica and she's from Seattle. She'll be volunteering as a nurse. I'll let you know how that works out. I have to admit I'm happy I'll be living with an American :)
This weekend, the old volunteers had their "despedida"/going-away. We all hitchiked (yes, hitchiked...all the volunteers do it) to Tegucigalpa and had checked into the Nan King. It's a hotel in Honduras that the volunteers go to quite often to get away from the ranch. It costs 80 lempiras a night (5 people/room), which is about $5/person. They choose this hotel over others because it has cable tv and hot showers. We got dolled up and met everyone at a Mexican restaurant called Taco Taco. Funny that they call it Mexican, because it's really not. I ordered vegetarian enchiladas. The waitress responded that they did not have vegetarian enchiladas, so I asked for enchiladas without meat. That she could do. Strange. Anyways, I received two tostadas with cabbage, sauce, and cheese. Not what I expected. But, according to others that's typical for Honduras. There was a group of about 30 of us. Old volunteers, new volunteers, ranch employees and ex-pequenos. After dinner we headed to Bamboo, a discoteca. We danced the night away to reggae, salsa, reggaeton, and hip hop. It was hot, crowded, and sweaty. All in all it was a fun night. The next morning Anamaria and I woke up early and ran some errands in Tegucigalpa: went out for breakfast, internet cafe, grocery shopping.
Sunday afternoon I met up with Cynthia (8) and Paola (7), who are pequenas on the ranch. They are the first two pequenas I met, as they were in the pick-up truck that came to get me at the airport. For that reason, I feel closer to them than others. Their mother, Mirna is an ex-pequena. She's around 30-years-old and is in the final stages of cervical cancer. She's staying at Casa Pasionista, which is a hospice center for people with AIDS. I told Cynthia that I wanted to meet their mom, so Sunday we went to Casa Pasionista for our visit. It was a nice visit, she was very happy to have a visitor. In fact, when Paola and Cynthia had to return to their hogar, Mirna asked me to stay and have dinner with her. We watched Spanish television, chatted for a bit, had dinner, and I helped her with her meds. She is a wonderful woman. She came to the ranch when she was six-years-old, having lost both of her parents.It was a special night. She told me about how the ranch had changed since she was a pequena 11-years earlier and how much she had suffered since leaving the ranch. She asked me to come back, so I hope to do so soon.
Monday was my first day of work. I met with my supervisor Saily, introduced myself to teachers, etc. This week at the school they are celebrating English Week. So each day there is an assembly where the kids participate in some sort of English activity. For example, singing popular English songs (i.e., Like a Prayer by Madonna), spelling bee, etc.

** Questions from Courtney**

What do you miss the most?
Asides from my family and friends, I miss the internet. I miss being able to lie in my bed at night and surf the web. I miss variety in food. Here it's whatever is available at the ranch (i.e., beans, rice, eggs, platanos, tortillas). I like the food, but I miss having 3 different meals a day. I also miss Bally's. Even though I do a lot of walking here, I miss power flex and spinning classes.

What do you love the most so far?
Going to my hogar every night. All the volunteers say that that's their favorite thing and what they remember most here on the ranch. I'm getting to know the girls more and it's a great way to end the day. Also, the scenery. No matter where you go, it is absolute beauty.

Are you itchy?
While my legs are covered in little bites, I'm actually not that itchy. I do put on 98% deet every morning though, as the bugs are worse during the rainy season. I have my mosquito net now, so we'll see how that goes.

How are things working out with SKYPE?
I've used it only twice. I can only use it if I'm the only one in the computer lab, as it kicks off other users. So, it's not as easy as I thought, but still a nice option.

**Questions from Kristin**
Who are you feeling closest to friendwise?
As of now I am feeling closest to two volunteers: Anamaria from Minnesota and Vanessa from San Francisco.
Anamaria is 23 and works as an English teacher. She has been to the ranch twice before with school and church groups, so she knows a lot. She's a good person to go to just to talk. She's been here since January and she's trying to extend her stay at least another 3 months.
Vanessa is 27 and also works as an English teacher. She's a total hippie. She found a stray kitten that was soooo tiny, so she and I were taking care of it together. Today she gave it to the family that's here volunteering, so she was sad.

Any cute boys? (had to ask)
Not really. In my group there are three guys: Doug from New York, Ryan from Wisconsin, and Daniel from Austria. None of them are that cute, although Hondurans call Daniel Brad Pitt. Ryan has super bright red hair (seriously, it's neon). The kids call him "hijo del sol"/son of the sun. He's super friendly, but can be annoying. In regards to guys on the ranch, there a few cuties, but I don't know them that well yet.

How are you feeling physically? stronger, tired, sick, all of the above at different times i am sure!!
The first couple weeks, I was really tired. Orientation was really tiring: walking, sitting, listening...doesn't sound too bad, but day after day of that was tiring. I'm feeling better now...getting into my routine (and still able to fit in a nap here and there). I've gone on a couple runs, but it's harder here...rougher terrain, higher altitude. I've also done my yoga DVD a couple times, which feels good after a long day of walking and hiking. I get sore from weird things...today I'm sore because I was doing laundry for an hour and a half by hand; so my arms are really sore. I was sore after going to the cascadas, because I had to climb out of the waterfall and trudge across a bunch of rocks. Some days I feel fine, others I have stomach aches that come and go. But, from what I hear and observe, even experienced volunteers have stomach issues!

I love all of your descriptions of the food (animals that will become the food)...what are the smells like?
Well, the farm smells like a farm. Honestly, I can't say that there is a distinct "smell" here. Like Kristin said in reference to Hawaii, maybe it will take me leaving and then coming back to recognize the "smell". The food here is very bland on account of the kids, so you don't smell all the spices and flavorings of home cooked meals.