by Dreidle Flare

Created on: January 30, 2009

Traveling to Honduras will be one of the greatest adventures of your life. One full of unique and humbling experiences that will change you forever. While Honduras is a place to fall in love with, the culture shock is something that is very real. For some, no matter how many times they visit Honduras, the culture shock only lessens, but never really disappears all together. It is a different world. And there are many things to be mindful of before you go. Here are a few things to expect.

-Don't bother bringing an alarm clock. You will woken up, likely earlier than you'd like, by:

1.The Roosters. They generally start crowing around 4 am. And they will wake the heaviest of sleepers.

2.Car Horns. If you are staying in the city, the horns start around 6 am and don't stop until well after dark. Honking your horn is extremely normal in Honduras. It doesn't mean the person behind you is going to speed past you at his first chance to flick you off or cut you off. The horn is just a way to let you know, "hey I'm here. Watch out", or "Just making sure you know the red light turned green". Trust me, I love the Honduran people, but they drive crazier than the craziest New York City driver. They'll admit it to you too. There aren't many rules on the streets of Honduras.

-Expect beautiful scenery everywhere you go. Take it in. Breathe in the air. This is a land that is so untouched compared to the United States. Even in the middle of the city there is breathtaking beauty. Take every moment you can to experience it. There is no place on earth like this place.

-Don't bother trying to drive. Even if you found your way around, you wouldn't know what to do when you saw random cars driving towards you ON YOUR SIDE OF THE ROAD. Leave the driving to the bus and taxi drivers. They are very affordable, and you'll be safer.

-Don't be surprised if you see areas where the road simply stops, or cuts off. Often, landslides destroy roads, or bridges collapse, and you have to find another way around.

-You'll find cows, dogs, chickens and any other kind of animal in the streets just as much as you'll find cars, bikes and people.

-If you are female, expect stares, cat calls and whistles just about everywhere you go. Don't be offended. This is just part of their culture. The best way to handle it is to never walk anywhere alone, dress conservatively, and don't make eye contact with anyone you don't know. Pretty much, just like in the U.S. Be smart, don't travel alone, and if you must, be sure to stay alert to your surroundings and use caution.

-Tap water is not cleaned like it is in the States. Don't drink it, and remember to spit when you brush your teeth (this is important to remind children of if you have them with you since they tend to swallow when they brush their teeth).

-Use caution if you eat food from street vendors Some eat from the street vendors and are fine. Others get extremely sick. Feel free to try it if you'd like, but just use caution and good judgement.

-Be prepared to meet a people who are strong, yet humble. People who give and love with very little. People who are grateful for life and love. Be prepared to be introduced to a world you will fall in love with.

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