The first thing we noticed was the heat. As we made our way through customs, picked up our bags and went to meet the bus, the sensation of sweat dripping down our spines prevailed.
We were met by our Habitat for Humanity group leader Claudia (GREAT name) and the bus (mercifully air conditioned) that would take us to our hotel. Claudia is cheerful and enthusiastic and we've peppered her with questions since our arrival. She tells us that the most exotic wildlife we might see is the armadillo, and that the men with guns that fascinate the kids are privately hired security, designed to dissuade any criminal activity.
Our hotel looks very authentic and is far nicer than I had expected it to be. We're staying in one of the nicer parts of the city, and still the evidence of poverty is pervasive. The contrast between the influential and the poor is very obvious both in terms of vehicles and housing. One of the first things we noticed was the lack of Western rules regarding safety. People riding in the beds of trucks, standing on the side of the road waiting for buses, and a complete disregard for traffic laws.
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