Week 2

Roatan is an island of mixed cultures. The island was once a British Colony before it was ceded to Honduras. Today the island consists of communities, such as, the Garifuna people (Afro-Carribbean) native to the island and Hondurans from the mainland. Native islanders often speak English as their primary language and the Garifuna people speak the language Garifuna, as well. Hondurans from the mainland speak mainly Spanish and some English. The diversity and richness in cultures in Roatan sets it apart from the rest of Honduras.

While working at the clinic and hospital some patients have preferred English, while others are more comfortable speaking to me in Spanish. Being bilingual has really helped facilitate the visits for patients and has also allowed me to help health care providers understand and communicate with the patients.

It is really interesting to see the mix of cultures here! This past week, some of the other volunteers and I got the chance to visit the village of Punta Gorda. Punta Gorda is where most of the Garifuna people reside in Roatan. They were so kind and welcoming. They performed traditional songs and dances for us. They even tried to teach us the traditional punta dance. Overall, it was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the island’s native people!

A typical house in Punta Gorda

The Punta Dancers

He was using a turtle shell as an instrument!

The dancers made their costumes our of household materials and garments